and consequence For the River Vistula arising in the extremest bounds of Silesia watereth all Poland the lesse and part of the Greater Mazovia and Prussia and then it falleth into the Baltike Sea below Danske whither it transporteth the greatest quantity of Rye Corne Honey and Wax of the whole Kingdome a journy of foure hundred miles From another coast the most famous River Duina arising out of the Lake Ruthenigo and parting Livonia into equall portions falleth into the Sea about Riga a City of great concourse There are in Prussia and Livonia many Lakes amongst which one is called the New-Sea 100 miles long in Livonia is a Lake called Beybas more than 400. miles long from thence spring the Rivers which running by Pernovia and Narâ—e make two notable Havens for traffike Betweene these two Cities stands Rivalia giving place to neither in beauty Samogithia is more rude and barbarous than the other Provinces and Podalia more barren which is not to be attributed to the nature of the soile for it is plentifull of those Commodities which the climate under which it lieth can afford but to the cruelty of the Tartars which so vex it with continuall inrodes that the Inhabitants are driven either to flie for feare or to bee led away captives by these barbarous people The riches of Poland are the abundance of Corne and all sorts of graine which grow there in such plentifull sort that in it selfe it never suffered want but evermore as in the yeare 1590. and 1591 it releeved not onely the bordering Nations oppressed with famine and scarcity but also yeelded some portion of releese to the wants of Genoa Tuscanie and Rome It floweth with Honey and Wax And whereas in all these Northerly Nations of Poland Lituania Russia Muscovia there are no Wines growing in stead thereof Nature hath bestowed upon them incredible quantities of Honey whereof these people doe brew an excellent kinde of Beverage The Bees make Honey either in Woods where they finde the trees made hollow by rottennesse or mans industry or in Hives set in open field by the Country people or in holes of the earth or in any place where they can finde never so small a liking It aboundeth with Flax Hempe with Sheepe with Cattell tell and with Horses Amongst the beasts of the wood are sound wilde Oxen wilde Horses and the Buste which cannot live out of the Wood of Nazovia The riches of the land consist in the Salt-pits of Bozena and Velisca in the territory of Cracovia The Revenues of the Kingdome for the most part are equally divided between the Noblemen he Gentlemen for no man is left so rich by inheritance that hee may exceed others above measure and the greatest Revenue of all exceedeth not five and twenty thousand Ducats Onely the Dukes of Curland and Regimount exceed this meane For although they are feodaries of the Kingdome and acknowledge the King as their superiour yet are they not as lively members of the State they come not to the Diets of the Kingdome they have not their voices in the election of the Prince neither are they accounted as naturall Lords of the Kingdome but for strangers as in truth they are the Duke of Curland being of the house of Ketlert and the Duke of Regimount of the family of Brandenburge All Prussia did belong to the Dutch Knights who had their Great Master resident there but he not being able to withstand the force of the Polonians yeelded himselfe feodarie to King Casimere Afterwards when Albert of Brandenburge their Great Master became a Protestant hee was created Duke of Prussia and the Country was divided into two parts the one regall mediately holden of the Crowne the other Ducall allotted to Albert and his successors to hold by fealty In the Kings parâ—ition stand Marieburge Torovia Culma Varnia and Daâ—â—keâ— in the Duchie which yeelded an hundred and twenty thousand Ducats yearely the chiefe Towne is Regimount the Germans call it Conningsburgh and there the Duke keepeth his Court. The Government of Polonia is altogether elective and representeth rather an Aristocracie than a Kingdome the Nobility who have great authority in the Diets chusing the King and at their pleasure limiting him his authority and making his soveraignty but a slavish royalty These diminutions of Regality beganne first by default of King Lewis and Iagello who to gaine the succession in the Kingdome contrary to the Lawes one for his daughter and the other for his sonne departed with many of his Royalties and Prerogatives to buy the voyces of the Nobility Whereupon by degrees the King of Poland as Stanislaus Orichovius confesses is little more than the Mouth of the Kingdome which speakes not but what his Councell prompts him The great Officer whom they call the President of their liberty and Guardian of it is still joyned with the King as it were to Tutor him and to moderate his desires The power royall there is no more but what King Sigismund assumed in full Parliament at Petricovia Anno 1548. which was to conclude nothing but by advice of his Councell To give instances of the power of these great Counsellours they made void the testament of King Casimire forbade King Iagello to warre upon the Knights Hospitalers unto whom in his expedition into Lituania they adjoyned the Bishop of Cracovia limiting their King to doe nothing but with his approbation Casimire the third had foure Commissioners joyned with him Without their leaves the King cannot chuse his owne wife for which reason King Iagello was by them perpetually perplexed Appeales the supreme marke of Soveraignty are not made to the King but to the States King Alexander Anno 1504. was faine to remit the disposing of the publike treasure unto the Lord Treasurer to which Officer Iagello Anno 1422. could not but grant the royalty of coining monies also Well therefore as Cromerus reporteth might Queene Christina complaine That her Husband was but the shadow of a Soveraigne They have neither law nor statute nor forme of government written but by custome from the death of one Prince to the election of another the supreme authority resteth in the Archbishop of Gesna who is President of the Councell appointeth the Diets ruleth the Senate and proclaimeth the new elected King Before King Stephen erected new Bishops Palatines and Castellanes in Livonia few other besides the Archbishop of Leopolis and his thirteene Suffragans eight and twenty Palatines and thirty of the chiefest Castellanes were present at the election of the new King They hold an assembly of the States every yeare for two causes the one to administer Justice in Soveraigne causes unto which are brought appeales from all the Judges of the Country the other to provide for the safety of the Common-weale against their next Enemies the Tartars who make often incursions upon them In the time of their Diets these men assemble in a place neere unto the Senate-house where they chuse two Marshals by whom
discipline they only of all Christendome have made best use thereof As the people to whose glory industry patience and fortitude and that in a good cause too much honour and commendation can never be attributed The States of the Low-Countries ALL the seventeene Provinces of Netherland were sometimes under one Lord but privileges being broken and warres arising the King of Spaine the naturall Lord of all these Low-Countries was in the treaty of peace Anno 1606. inforced to renounce all pretence of his owne right to these confederate Provinces Since when we may well handle them by themselves as an absolute and a free State of Government as the Spaniard himselfe acknowledged them The Provinces united are these Zeland Holland Vtrich Over-Isell Zutphen Groningen three quarters of Gelderland with some peeces of Brabant and Flanders This union was made Anno 1581. The Fleets and Forces of which Confederation are from the chiefe Province altogether called Hollanders The first of these is Zeland whose name given it by the Danes of Zeland in Scandia notifies its nature A land overflowed with the Sea Broken it is into seven Ilands whereof those three to the East beyond the River Scheld and next to Holland are Schowen Duvelant and Tolen the other foure be Walcheren Zuyd-beverlant Nort-beverlant and Wolferdijck 1. T'land van Schowen is seven of their miles about parted with a narrow fret from Nort-beverlant The chiefe towne is Zierickzee the ancientest of all Zeland built 849. The Port sometimes traded unto is now choaked with sand which they labour to cleare againe 2. Duveland so named of the Doves foure miles about hath some townes but no City 3. Tolen called so of the chiefe towne as that was of the Tolle there payed by the boats comming downe the Scheld 4. The chiefe of the seven is Walcheren ten miles compasse so named of the Walsh or Galles In the middle of it is Middleburgh the prime Citie of Zeland and a goodly Towne other Cities it hath as Vere Armuyden and Flushing all fortified 5. Zuyd-beverlant Nort-beverlant so named of the Bavarians The first is now ten miles about The Cities are Romerswael much endangered by the Sea and divided from the Island and Goesse or Tergoose a pretty and a rich towne 6. Nort-beverlant quite drowned in the yeare 1532. but one towne 7. Wolferdijck that is Wolfers-banke hath now but two Villages upon it Zeland hath ten Cities in all The land is good and excellently husbanded the water brackish Their gaines comes in by that which brought their losses the Sea Their wheat is very good some store they have the Cowes but more of Sheepe great store of Salt-houses they have for the refining of Salt of which they make great merchandize The Zelanders were converted to the faith by our Country-man Willebrord before Charles the greats time HOlland so named either quasi Holt-land that is the Wood-land which woods they say were destroyed by a mighty tempest Anno 860. the roots and truncks of which being often here found or quasi Hol-land Hollow and light land as it is indeed But most likely it is that the Danes also comming from Olandt in their owne Countrie gave name to this Province as they did to Zeland also The whole compasse is not above sixtie of their miles the breadth in most places is not above six houres travelling with a Wagon and in some places scarce a mile over The whole is divided into South-Holland Kinheymar West-Freesland Waterlandt and Goytland The chiefe Towne is Dort but the goodliest and richest is Amsterdam one of the greatest Townes of merchandize in the whole world they have almost twenty other Cities strong and elegant At Leyden there being a College and Vniversity Their banks mils and other workes for keeping out the Sea be most admirable vast and expensive Three of the foure Elements are there and in Zeland starke naught then Water brackish their Aire foggie their Fire smokish made of their Turses for which they are said to burne up their owne land before the day of Iudgement The men are rather bigge than strong some accuse them to love their penny better than they doe a stranger Their women are the incomparable huswives of the world and if you looke off their faces upon their linnen and houshold stuffe are very neat and cleanly At their Innes they have a kinde of open-heartednesse and you shall be sure to finde it in your reckoning Their land is passing good for Cowes they live much upon their butter and they bragge mightily of their cheeses As for flesh-meat I thinke that a Hawke in England eats more in a moneth than a rich Boore nay than a sufficient corporall Burger does in six weekes The industry of the people is wonderfull so many ditches have they made thorow the Country that there is not the most Iâ—land Boore but he can row from his owne doore to all the Cities of Holland and Zealand The Dutchman will drinke indeed but yet he still does his businesse he lookes still to the maine chance both in the City and Country by Sea and Land they thrive like the Iewes every where and wee have few such drunkards in England too many wee have apt enough to imitate their vice but too too few that will follow them in their vertue THis Duchie lies on the East of Holland and Brabanâ— touching also upon Cleve and Iuliers It hath two and twenty Cities and good Townes whereof Nimwegen Zutphon Ruremond and Arhneim are the chiefe Some peeâ—es the Spaniard here hath â— and the whole Country having heretofore beene infeâ—ted with the warres makes â— a little to come behinde his fellowes The land and people differ not much from those of Holland saving that towards Cleveland it is more mountainous the Champian is very rich pasturage for grazing THis touches Gelderland upon the South West-Freesland upon the North Westphalia upon the East and the Zuydersee on the West The chiefe Citie is Deventer others of the better sort be Campen Zwol Steinwick Oetmarse Oldenzeel Hesselâ—â— Vollenhoven c. This Countrey was of old inhabited by the Franks or Frenchmen of which there were two tribes the Ansuarii which gave name to the Hanse-townes whereof Deventer was first and the Salii which tooke name from the River Isala upon which Deventer stands and these gave name to the Salique Law which you see did rather concerne these Countries than France it selfe and was made by a barbarous people in an age as barbarous though this onely was pretended to barre women from the crowne of France and to hinder our Kings and occasion those warres and bloudsheds THe Bishopricke of Vtrecht hath Holland on the North and Gelderland on the West The circuit is but small yet hath it five pretty Cities whereof Vtrecht it selfe is large delicate and rich inhabited by most of the Gentry of Holland Much harassed hath it beene but now well recovered since it came into the union GRoningen
cause why none of them rise by their owne industry to any great wealth They never combate amongst themselves but revenge injuries with words except upon objection of cowardize whereof the charged is never disburthened untill he have proved himselfe in singular combate with a Turke It hath beene an ancient custome amongst them that none should weare a feather but hee who hath killed a Turke to whom it was lawfull to shew the number of his slaine Enemies by the number of feathers in his Cap. They punish Adulterie and Fornication with death the Husband forcing his Wife the Father his Daughter and the Brother his Sister to the place of Execution The Sonnes inhabit equally after the death of their fathers occupying for the most part the possessions left them in common The Daughters have the value of the part of the Lands in money They are desirous of warres above measure they admit no unprofitable man into their Campe but such as hold servants are served with men They march in troopes both Horse and Foot lodging apart but not in that good order which is used by the Germans who distinguish both their Companies and Regiments into streets placing their baggage at their backs or flankes according to necessity They goe no round neither in their Campes nor Townes but in stead thereof one Sentinell whoopeth to another as in like case doe the Turkes The Horse-men in battell range themselves in files after the German order as doe also their foot placing all their shot on front They give a furious charge and the Enemie broken fall presently to spoile leaving to follow the execution for any small booty but being broken they fly every man home without ever turning head lying in wait by the way for their enemies whom they rob in their flight counterfeiting for the more terrour the clamour of the Tartars from whom they differ in the fashion of their Caps The Government in the times of the Kings of Hungarie which in these latter ages were still elective was administred partly by the great Officers of the Spirituality and of the Secular powers The chiefe of the Spirituality was the Archbishop of Strigonium who was ever to be the Lord Keeper or Chancellour principall Secretary of Estate and Primate of Hungaria The other Archbishop was hee of Colozza these two had fourteene Suffragan Bishops under them all now swallowed up by the Turke except Sirigonium Nitria â—averâ—ne and â—â—cia The chiefe Officer of the Secularitie is the Palatine of Hungaria chosen by the States and Lords of the Kingdome his authoritie is marvellous large both in the Court of the King the Courts of Justice in the ordinary Diets and especially in the vacancie of the Throne The Kingdome of Hungaria is now divided betweene three First the Turke who hath the greater part and is Master of Buda it selfe the chiefe Citie of the Kingdome Secondly Bethien Gabor who possesses most of the upper Hungarie lying betwixt Transilvania and the River Tibiscus and the third part is in possession of the Emperour whose sonne was lately chosen King of Hungaria For the due administration of Justice under the Secular the ancient Lords divided their Land into twenty Counties appointing to every County a Baron for Governour with one and twenty Doctors of Law to be his Assistants reserving ever to themselves an Appeale for the redresse of Injustice and preventing of extortion Now since the Princes of Austria got the Crowne their tyrannie so yoketh the Peasants that nothing may bee done without the Lords leave Insomuch that these people living in the true condition of slavery want nothing but the name thereof In the time of the ancient government when the Kings would alter any thing in the administration of the Common-weale undertake a forren warre or conclude a peace there assembled together at one place three degrees of Subjects Barons Bishops and Gentlemen with consent of the greater part whereof the Kings had authority to confirme abrogate or institute lawes to denounce warre to conclude peace and to charge their Land with impositions fit for their necessities This assembly is still in use but the freedome thereof is altered nothing being at this day propounded to the assembled by the new Governours but a contribution of money to which demand at a day given the Nobility give their resolutions which in the yeere 96. and 97. when the Turkish Emperour threatned to descend himselfe in person was That the Nobility would put themselves in Campania with their Forces and promised for their subjects for so they terme their Peasants that every Housholder should send a man and give two Dollars of money for entertainment of Souldiers but the Turkish Emperour not comming in person the Gentiles did not further bind themselves than that their subjects should pay every house one Dollar with which money were to be waged 20000. horse and foot the halfe of which never appeared in field there being not at any time in armes under the three Generals of Teufeubach in upper Hungarland of Palfeis upon the border of Danubius and of Zerius in nether Hungarland above nine thousand men And at the battell of Keresture in 96. where were assembled the greatest forces that could bee made by the three Confederates Germany Hungary and Transilvania the Combatants amounted not to above 51000. viz. out of Hungarland arrived six thousand horse and 10000. foot out of Transilvania six thousand horse and 12000. foot out of Germany nine thousand five hundred horse and seven thousand foot The Germans were so well appointed horse and foot as for quantity of Armes and goodnesse of horse nothing could be better devised Of the foot the third part were Pikes armed compleat the rest were shot whereof three parts were Muskets the Horsemen were allarmed many of whose Curases were Musket-proofe some of them carried five Pistols most foure all two That which was indeed a want amongst them was that three parts were Servants according to the German custome many of whom tooke pay for eight Horses The Hungarish and Transilvanian foot were all naked part of whom carried Fire-lockes of two foot and the residue Pikes of nine foot long either Armes of small or no use either in offence or defence whether in Forts Streights or Campania The Horse-men carried hollow Launces of twelve foot long which they brake by the helpe of a leather thong fastened to their saddles for the rest they were armed according to their meanes the rich with Curaâ—es the meane with Shirts the poore with Sleeves of Male and all with Caskes which kind of arming as it maketh them much defective in proofe so are they of lesse worth for their horses which for their manner of riding bridles and saddâ—â—s are more forceable to doe execution upon victory to make excursions and to discover than they be either to give or to sustaine a charge Their forces by Water or to speake more properly the Emperours were much impaired by the losse of
first was once a Monarchy and secondly since the decay of that it hath ever continued a rich a great an active and a glorious kingdome which neither Assyria Macedonia nor Rome it selfe can boast of This one thing let me note that the glory of these Northerne Princes hath beene much more powerfull but nothing comparable to the state and Majestie of the Easterne Monarchs That of Assyria was planted in the very garden and treasurie of the world both for wealth and delicacie and whereas the meanest subject may put a petition into the hands of one of our Princes the Kings of Persia kept such state that it was death even for the Queene herselfe to come neere the throne untill Ahashuerosh held forth the golden scepter The King of Spaine weares at this day perchance a homely Cassocke of blacke Serge many a Curate in his Country having a better whereas the King of China gives not presence but rarely at the great suit of his people and that out at the window of a gilded chamber himselfe gloriously shining in Rubies in Gold and Diamonds and that at such time too as the Sunne shining upon him even dazles the eyes of his adoring subjects with the glitter of the reflection and this they thinke the Sunne doth in favour of him whence they call him The Sonne of the Sunne No Northerne or Westerne Prince at this day keeps state but the Emperour of Russia and the great Turke nor are any so obeyed but their governments as those of Assyria and Persia of old and the great Mogore and China at this day are rather Tyrannies than Monarchies Now most certaine it is that all these Monarchies and mighty kingdomes arrived not to that height of Empire but by time by meanes and by degrees Time indeed perfected the designe but t was the meanes that effected it Let this be therefore laid for the ground of our discourse that there be many though secret yet irresistable causes of enlarging of Empire which being made the right use of by a wife Architect of State presently shewes the advantage to lie on his side that hath the true knacke of King-craft T is true That no man by taking thought can adde one cubite unto his stature but yet in that vast frame of common-wealths by observing off me naturall and casuall advantages and by introducing of some good ordinances and constitutions there may be found out that Art of Themistocles To make a small towne to become a great Citie and to sowe greatnesse to posteritie And these means conducing unto the enlargement of Empire we will reduce unto seven heads First numbers of men Secondly valour of the Natives Thirdly pretence of Religion Fourthly plentie of money Fifthly advantage of weapons Sixthly happinesse of situation Seventhly the prudent apprehending of an opportunitie The inlarging of Dominion is the uniting and establishing of divers Territories under one Soveraigne government whereunto is necessarily required such numbers of men and those not mercenarie if it may be avoided as may exceed the fatall dangers and doubtfull chances incident to casualties For small numbers are soone consumed by diseases or oppressed by a more mighty enemy overthrowne in one battell or extenuated by a long warre to which inconveniences great numbers and populous Nations are not so subject By these advantages the Barbarians the Aegyptians the Assyrians and the Persians have for the most part brought their attempts to happy ends The Romanes if in respect of their honour they did not ordinarily use huge Armies yet they alwayes prevailed by reason of their populous territories or their indefatigable continuance being thereby able the second and third time to reinforce their Legions and finally with fresh supplies to overcome their enemies being weakned with overcomming And to multiplie and maintaine these numbers as they sometimes received into their territories their very enemies so at other times they sent forth Colonies of their owne people By meanes whereof and other such like policies they grew to such multitudes that in the eighth yeare of the reigne of the Emperour Claudius the people were numbred to be six millions a number at this present not to be found in the bounds of all Italy whereby they became conquerours of the parts of the world then discovered Conquest say I undertaken by them as much in regard of their numbers as of their valour A good Manroode is an inexhaustible stocke By populous armies did the Northerne Nations called officinae hominum the shops of men overrunne farre greater Nations than their owne Small numbers are quickly consumed by mortalitie or one overthrow whereas the Romanes by frequent re-inforcing their legions with new Recruites put Pyrrhus who had often overthrowne them to confesse at last That if he overcame the Romans once more he should be utterly undone Saepius possunt vinci quà m tu vincere Multitudes can indure to be overcome oftner than a few are able to overcome them But most expedient it is that the bodie and flower of the Armie be made up of the natives and not of strangers for he that trusts to mercenaries may suddenly rise and spread his feathers but he will mew them soone after The Auxiliaries that the Romanes made use of were either first made their owne by Indenization or as good as their owne by entring a league offensive and defensive against a common enemie Necessary it is withall that amongst those numbers there be a race of military men such be the Timariotes amongst the Turkes and most of the Gentry amongst the Polonians and Hungarians Let every Prince thinke soberly of his forces unlesse his militia of natives be good and valiant souldiers able and hardy bodies and stout and sturdy stomacks The plough 't is true breeds the souldier that is the Foot which makes the bodie of the Armie but they must expect much time to harden to drill and exercise them and therefore the sudden French nation though they must have an Infantery of Foot yet their maine trust and glory of service they lay upon their Cavallery which bee their Gentry which use themselves to horse and Armes continually But the chiefe secret of all for enlarging of Empire is the maintaining of a sufficient number in Armes such as hath beene on both sides in the Low Countries these 60. yeares and such an Army may well deserve the name of a Schoole of Warre and of a true Militia indeed The Venetians contrary to the former discipline doe with great wages levie sudden forces and when the service is done as suddenly disband them but they doe it meerely to keepe Empire and not to enlarge it their subjects be but few and therefore their dominion enlarges not True Valour consisteth partly in judicious apprehension whereby both convenient opportunities are discerned and entertained and all difficulties discovered and prevented and partly in the forward resolution of the minde by conjunction of which two Vertues great enterprizes are undertaken with good successe dangers
and in Armes the State being disarmed not looking for any such innovation So the Barbarians subdued the Empire of Rome The Arabians the Empire of the East of Aegypt and of Spaine Charles the eighth King of France gained Italy The Portugals India The Castilians the new world and Soliman the Kingdome of Hungary The division of the neighbouring States either into Common-wealths or into petty Seigniories and those of small power gave courage to the Romans to make themselves Lords of Italy and made an easie passage for the Venetians into Lumbardy This also made the attempt of Thusian light unto the Florentines and no lesse that of Barbary to the Castilians which they would have found very hard of either the one or the other had expected them with armed forces The variance and jarring of the adjoyning Princes did open the way to the Turks to enter so farre into Christendome and with little trouble to invest himselfe of many kingdomes therein So Amurath the third presuming upon the civill discords of the Princes of the bloud Royall of Persia made that attempt with great advantage So againe the Persian upon the difference of the Scrivano and the Bashawes of Syria hath resumed the advantage and accordingly prospered Neither doth the whole mischiefe arise out of these intestine jarres onely but in all factions one part will be sure to intreat the aid of some forren Prince against the other than which no man can have a better occasion because then he commeth armed into the owners house at his owne request So the Romans set foot in Sicil being cald in by the Mamertines In Greece by the Athenians In Numidia by the sonnes of Micipsa In Provence by the Marsilians In France by the Hedui and so from time to time by divers others So Amurath the first King of Turks got hold in Europe being requested in aid by the Emperour of the East being then in warre with the Princes of Greece So Soliman in Hungarie being intreated by Queene Isabel and afterwards by King Iohn So the Aragons in the kingdome of Naples being drawne thither by Queene Ioane the second and so Henry the second King of France made himselfe Lord of three great Cities of the Empire Often hath it beene seene that he that is now called in as a friend does after prove an enemie and if one party in a civill warre cals in a forren arbitrator both parties cannot get him out againe But another no lesse successefull opportunity hath also beene made use of and that by way of marriage By apprehending the opportunity of a marriage were the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster and the two kingdomes of England and Scotland united But no Prince hath made so great advantage of marriage as the Spaniard The match of Ferdinand and Elizabeth was the very foundation of their greatnesse By marriages were the severall Provinces of the Low Countries united all which fell to Spaines at a clap Finally for this advantage hath the house of Spaine three times purchased dispensations from Rome for incestuous marriages and more they intended too Charles the fifth Emperour was solemnly contracted to our Queene Mary and Philip the second King of Spaine sonne to the said Emperour both wedded and bedded her nay upon strong appearances suspected it then was that King Philips curtesies to Queene Elizabeth were for his owne ends that if Queene Mary should die without issue he might marrie her also which he afterwards attempted by the Count de Feria promising to obtaine a dispensation so should England have beene laid to Spaine and what should then have hindred his Monarchie Now besides those advantages of humane policie and strength before mentioned God himselfe hath reserved a power at his owne disposing in the giving away of victories and in the cutting short or inlargement of Empire And to this end hath ordained these naturall Agencies and Assistances of Seas Rivers Mountaines Marishes Wildernesses and the sandie Desarts By these helps he the weake to hedge and ditch out their incroaching neighbours and by granting the mastership over these to another Nation he can at pleasure scourge the rebellion or unthankfulnesse of those people whom before he defended by them And of these helps of nature something will we say and in their order And first for the benefit of the Sea Concerning the profits of Merchandize both for importing and exporting of commodities I will not here speake though even that tends so much to the inrichment and augmentation of the honour of the State that in all treaties of warre and peace I see that the articles concerning traffike are sometimes two thirds of the treatie for so were they I am sure in that politike and nice-driven negotiation of the peace betwixt England and Spaine in the beginning of the Reigne of King Iames the Lord Treasurer Cecil Northampton and the greatest Sages of the kingdome being Commissioners on our partie and the best pates of Spaine for theirs but here I will onely treat of the Sea as of a Soveraigne friend and bulwarke to that Nation that is neerliest situated unto it and a maine helpe towards the keeping or inlargement of dominion The Poets you know made a God of Neptune that obtained the soveraingty of the Sea as well as of him that had the government of the Land and truly to be Lord of the narrow Seas and to enjoy a royalty That the ships of all Nations shall strike faile to one of the Kings ships is none of the least honours and to bee master of the Sea is more of it selfe than a pettie Monarchie He that is so indeed may give the law as well as he that is master of the field The Sea-fight at Actium was it that made Augustus Caesar sole Emperour of the world and Pompey learned it of old Themistocles that he that had the best Navy would in the end prove the Conquerour The victory that the Christians got at Lepanto so arrested the inâ—â—â—aching of the Turkish greatnesse that they have done little upon Chirstendome never since I mention not 88. nor that the resistance that the Hollanders have beene able to make against the greatest Monarch of the world proceeds meerly from the advantage they have of him by their commodious situation upon the Sea and by having more havens and ships than he This certainly will prove true that if ever the Monarchie of Spaine be broken it must be by Sea even by the Fleets of England and Holland and that know the Counsellours of the Emperour and Spaine well enough who to make themselves masters of some good ports have supplied their defect of a Navy by a chargeable land army For what thinke you else should be the designe of Monsieur Tilly but to take the Sea by Land to make his master Lord of Stoad Hamborrough Luckstadt with other Hansee townes and the Sowndt of Denmarke and what makes the Emperour who yet had never greater vessel than a Punt or Yaugh upon the
them beautifull and commonly all painted and deceitfull except some few of rare worth which may bee the wonder of the country And therefore as you finde them so let them have their due honour For Germany you shall finde the Nobles and chiefe Gentlemen either great Schollers or valiant Souldiers rather resolute to gaine honour than proud of Authority their Cities strong and their Merchants very rich and their Countries well peopled For their Ladies and Gentlewomen by the grossenesse of their diet and too much delight in drinking and banquetting they are for the most part a corpulent kinde of people yet many of them strong and of bigge bone as we commonly say good bearers and good breeders The younger sort as well men as women very industrious and the elder sort rather politike than Religious their Lawes very severe and therefore the people in better order and obedience For Poland the Cities are strong and the people rather wise than wealthy the Gentlemen for the most part given to armes and the peasant in much subjection to the Gentry The Merchant rather covetous than honourable and the Schollers rather beloved than advanced the women indifferent faire and better witted than spoken the old men studious and the younger sort seldome idle little given to drinke and as little accounting of honour except it be in the field For the Low-countries and Denmarke you shall finde them much to agree in nature but that Denmarke will admit a King which I finde not willing in the Low-countries Their Magistrates are rather wise by experience than by study and the Souldier fitter for the Sea than the field Denmarke is governed by the Kings law set downe but the Low-countries have divers formes of Government in a manner according to the disposition of the States and Governours much given to drinke and yet serving their times politike in their government their old men wise and covetous their young men thrifty and industrious and their Merchant very ambitious For their religious thinke of them as you finde them I have seene them much reverenced and well maintained And as for their Ladies they are wittie and of a good complexion for the most paâ—â— many of them are very faire and much given to honour vertue rather neat than proud in their attire very kinde where they take affection The Muscovite is proud stately malicious and those which be slaves are slaves indeed especially when their Emperour or Lord controlleth Superstitious tending almost to idolatry jealous as having many wives and bad performers of promise nor must you challenge him of the same for the good which floweth from him commeth commonly from the fountaine of free will Their women are very private fearefull to offend but once lascivious intolerably wanton beastly idle and ill attended The Greeks are merry lyers blasphemers promise-breakers buggers strong membred and blacke haired Their women are stately comely of person proud without doores no lovers of dalliance yet desirous of the company of men cleanly in washing and shaving themselves whom the Italians imitate as also doe the East hot Countries by reason the company of many men may grow otherwise to great inconvenience mercenary fantasticall in apparell and loving those who speake their language The Turke is a warlike proud man a scorner of other Nations and languages no idle talker or doer of any thing superfluous a judiciall sound fellow hot and venerious comely of person majesticall in gate a slave to his Emperour and a lover of Mahomets race and Religion Their women small of stature for the most part of good complexions and not to be seene or spoken to abroad jealous revengefull when they have opportunity lascivious within doores or in their baths very pleasing in matters of incontinency and cleanly The Persian is lordly in his complement rather fantasticall than curious in his apparell yet sumptuous and in his expences magnificent maintainers of Nobility lovers of learning and good qualities fearfull of troubles desirous of peace and superstitious in his Religion Their women gorgeous in attire with high Tiaras and veiles like the Sultaneses amongst the Turks long sitters at feasts delightsome in sequestration of pleasure as beginning with a modest shamefulnesse but ere you have concluded delicately wanton cleanly in much washing but withall using perfumes and odours loving truly and desirous to be preferred in the first place of her husbands affection For hauing many wives they are desirous to please The Armenians are very merry sluttish carelesse of greatnesse desiring peace and ease though it tend to slavery and bondage having great bodies comely and willing to be soothed in any thing Their women tall and not faire soone old poore loving their children and incontinent The Tartars are swartish illfavoured with a great thick lip flattish nose carelesse of outward ornaments swift on foot vigilant laborious warlike yet loving presents and desirous to be much made of their women sutable only wanting or scorning money they will bedecke themselves like the people of Virginia with gewgaies of copper and latton about their armes and necks The Moore is comely of body stately of gate of sufficient constitution to endure any worke or travell implacable in hatred treacherous tumultuous and superstitious Their women have delicate soft skins sumptuous in jewels odors and perfumes incontinent good bed-fellowes in the darke beautifull in blacknesse and revengefull yet being bought a slave extraordinary loving to their masters so they be well pleased and used accordingly but being once got with childe they expect manumission according to the custome of the Mahometan Law The Savoyen is penurious foolish and ill-nurtured yet doe the better sort imitate the Spanish pride and by reason of his neighbour-hood to France and Millane are reasonable good Souldiers and the better enabled by the hardnesse of the mountaines The women are strangely apparelled ill-favoured scolding must be discommended and for the most part wenny that is having great bunches under their chinnes with drinking snow water like the Helvetians and 13. Cantons The Switzer is strange in his attire yet not transgressing the limits of his inheritance have great bodies and are mercenary as performing what he is commanded and one that best approveth of his owne Country and habit even preferring his owne snowy hils and coldnesse before the fertillest places of Lumbardy Their women are honest somewhat better favoured than the Savoyen ill brought up plaine dealers and so loveth her husband or friend that she will goe with him to the campe and dresse his meat As for the Kingdomes of Saca Bactriae Sogdiana and many like Nations invironing the East and South of the Caspian I meane not to relate of because I finde the best Authors unacquainted with their properties and discoveries The Armenians report them to be tyrannous their chiefe exercise to be rapine and murthering of passengers without forme of government or controll of superiours
Which done they flie to the mountaines and in despight of any forces continue unsubjected howsoever unpunished And therefore since I have deciphered the persons let me in a word advise thee of their properties that is to take heed of the pride of Spaine the poyson of Italy the treason of France and the drinke of Flanders Beware of company and let not rash trust in friendship produce matter of fruitlesse repentance Remember that Damon and Pithias Pilades and Orestes are all dead or else it is but a dead story Nature alters like humours and complexions every minute of an houre And should I not speake too much to the worlds shame I would advise thee to thinke that there is no one man faithfull to another in the world And therefore in this dangerous age since every man is neerest and onely neere unto himselfe and hee is held the onely wise man who hath the world at most command let no man so presume of his owne sufficiency as to neglect the benefit of counsell Take a young man for thy companion rather than for thy friend The world affordeth but one Phenix and let not any man be so conceited as to thinke to finde him in his owne imagination Serve God with devotion and then care not for the devils illusion When thou returnest from these forren men and forren places resolve then also to leave their forren manners First come home to thy selfe and then fashion thy carriage thy apparell thy studies thy conscience and thy conversation to the best patterne of the place from whence at first with good intent thou began'st thy pilgrimage So shall the remembrance of thy travell be pleasant the profit infinite and thy returne an ornament to King and Country THE SECOND BOOKE Of Europe The Commendations Bounds Religions and Languages of it IT now remaineth that I beginne to tell you how according to our best and latest Cosmographers this great Globe for parts and parcels whereof so great and universall quarrels have from the beginning beene entertained amongst Princes Peoples and Nations hath beene divided into seven parts The first three whereof viz. Europe Africa and Asia were knowne to the Ancients The fourth is America Septentrionalis containing the Provinces of Estotilant Terra de Labrador Terra de Biccaleos Nova Francia Norimbega Florida Nova Hispania and others The fifth is America Meridionalis which is a peneinsula and disjoyned from the former by a small Isthmus or necke of Land containing the Regions of Brasil Tisnada Caribana Peguana and Peruvia The sixt is termed Terra Australis wherein lieth Psitaicorum regio Terra del feugo Beach Lucach and Maletur situate betweene Iava major and Iava minor The last being under the Northerne Pole is the least of the residue all almost unknowne and divided by Mercator upon a meere fabulous report of one that was never there into foure Islands lying in a manner under the very Pole This part hath not hitherto beene discovered the neerest approach that any man of Europe ever yet made to the North Pole was by one Marmaduke who in a ship of Hull arrived in 82. degrees that is no neerer than within 8. whole degrees of the Pole mountaines of Ice keeping him from discovering further Of all these seven parts because Europe is farrelesse than any of the rest and yet exceedeth them all in Noblenesse Magnificence multitude of people in might puissance and renowne we will first beginne with the description thereof It is bounded on the North with the North Ocean Sea on the South with the Mediterranean on the East with the floud Tanais and on the West with the West Ocean It containeth more than foure and twenty Christian Kingdomes at this day as farre excelling the residue of the Provinces in Religion Arts Valour and Civilitie as in elder age it did surpasse them in Prowesse and Reputation The principall Provinces are Spaine France Belgia Germany Italy Sclavonia Greece Hungary Poland Lituania Moscovia and that toward the North called Scandia wherein are Denmarke Norwey Swethland Iutland c. The Islands are Brittaine containing the Kingdomes of England and Scotland Ireland Island and Engroneland in the North Ocean In the Mediterranean are Sicilie Candia Corsica Sardinia Majorca Minorca Nigropont Malta Corsu Salamine Mitâ—lene Sciros with many other in the Archipelago The aire hereof is passing good wholesome temperate and soile exceeding fertile Therein are many goodly Cities famous Mart-Townes and learned Vniversities The people thereof have in all ages excelled all other Regions in Courage Arts sharpnesse of Wit and all other gifts of Nature In times past it commanded Asia and Afrike by the Armes of the Greeks and Romans and at this day it is of great force by the power of the Turks and Muscovites and of no lesse reputation by the Navigations of the English Dutch Spaniards and Portugals so as it seemeth that Nature hath given unto this people a precedency to rule and governe forren Provinces as men farre surpassing all other Nations in wisdome courage industry and invention This least and best part of the greater portions of the world was so named of Europa daughter of Agenor King of Phoenicia brought into these parts by Iupiter in honour of whom the Phoenicians being the first Navigators and discoverers of these countries might as well leave her name to all their new discoveries the habits manners and languages of these parts especially at those times being all one or not much different as the Turks Aethiopians and all those of the East call us by one name of Franks and the Kingdomes of France England Spaine Germanies c. are in the histories of the warres of the Holy Land all together called the Kingdome of the Franks our Languages the Franke tongue and our Religion the Franks Religion The figure of Europe is fancied to resemble a Queene and so is she indeed of all the world her Princes having some dominion or other in all parts of the world and they none in her The Crowne and Head of this Queene is Spaine her Necke must bee that part of France under the Pyrenaean mountaines her Brest France it selfe her Armes Italy and Brittaine her Belly Germany her Navell Bohemia the rest of her Body hidden under her lower garments are Denmarke Sweden Lituania Prussia Poland Hungaria Dalmatia Grecia Moldavia Tartary and Muscovia This Queene at this day commands 28 Kingdomes all gathered up by three Emperours the German Turke and Muscovite and eight Kings France England and Spaine hereditarie Bohemia Hungaria Poland Denmarke and Sweden elective Princes States and Common-wealths in Italy and the Germanies many and potent some one of them Venice or the Low Countries by name too hard a match for the most potent Prince of Asia or Africa could they but come at him For Riches we have the most usefull and substantiall for goodly Cities Italy alone hath more than Asia Africa and America all together if other parts have any fortified townes thye here saw
command all So that Adams wisdome gave them titles and his superioritie prescribed subjection but how to mans use for mans sustenance for mans necessitie and lastly for mans delight Thus doth oile make a cheerefull countenance and wine a gladsome heart Thus did the Kings table furnish it selfe in this sense the songs of David praise God for his many blessings Thus were incense and odours provided and the love of brethren compared to the dew of Hermon and the costly ointment on Aarons vestures which blessed allowances make mee to remember a speech of Sir Roger Williams to an idle Spaniard boasting of his country citrons orenges olives and such like Why saith he in England wee have good surloines of beefe and daintie capons to eat with your sauce with all meat worthy the name of sustenance but you have sauce and no sustenance and so mich God dich you with your sustenancelesse sauce Canaan had neighbourly meetings feasts of triumphs and times of private rejoycings Spaine dares not nor can bid you welcome Idle jelousies private hate or hatefull pride feare of expences and vaine-glorious speeches will quickly debarre you from the pleasure of invitation from the freedome of conversing one with another which cannot savour the noble entercourses of mutuall amitie Canaan had the Temple furnished as God commanded the Priest obedient to the King the Prophets in estimation and the Feasts orderly celebrated Spaine is polluted with worse severitie than Paganisme hath invented viz. the cruell Office of Inquisition wherewith the Kings themselves have beene so over-awed by the insolence of the Clergie that some of them have not spared to commit repentant error to please the Pope Canaan was a receptacle of strangers and Princely solemnities Spaine hateth all men commits them to fire and sword and cannot order one solemne Festivall unlesse at a Kings Coronation a Princes mariage or a Cardinals jollitie where yet an Italian invention shall fill a table with painted trenchers and dishes of China but a hungry belly may call for more meat and he never the neerer Canaan had cities of refuge cities of store cities of strength cities for horses and all for the Kings magnificence to all which the wayes lay ordered and men passed to and fro without danger and want In Spaine you must have a guide yea sometime a guard and are so farre from expecting releefe after your dayes travels that if you have not a Borachio before your saddle and made your provision on the backe of an Asse you may happen to be tired for want of sustenance and faint with Ismael for lack of water Canaan had beautifull women and the Scripture sets it downe as a blessing of God But Spaine must mourne for strange disparity and either lament that her women are painted like the images of the grove or sit in the high-way as Thamar did to deceive Iuda For in truth they are for the most part unpleasing swartish or else by comming to be Curtizans dangerous and impudent Thus as yet Salomon must sit without compare and his kingdome unmatchably triumph with a noble prerogative But what must we thinke of France sayes one is not your breath now almost spent and will you not be satisfied with the goodliest kingdome of the world The answer shall not be peremptory nor derogate from the merit of its least worth of vertue yet are they traduced for many defects and I beleeve will fall short to our expectation at least I am sure dare not abide the touch of triall In Salomons Court the Queene of Saba commended the obedience of the Princes the sitting of the Kings servants the ordering of the Palace and the multitude of the provisions daily brought in In France the Princes contest with the King the Clergie affront the Princes beare downe the States the Pages mocke the Gentlemen and the Gentlemen are proud of nothing but slovennesse unbeseeming familiarity and disorder So that with much adoe the mechanicall man stands bare to the King and the Princes sit at meat like Carriers in an Hostry without reverence silence or observation and a vile custome having got the upper hand hath depressed the Majestie of such a place which indeed reduced to uniformity would much augment the glory of Europe A wise State and potent Kings have built Navies and travelled themselves in person to view them raising customes from their Merchants loving and maintaining good Mariners and Pilots contracting leagues with remote Princes and making the confirmation of them honourable and advantagious But France wanteth shipping is carelesse of Navigation can raise no good Sailers seldome attempteth voyages or discoveries and consequently hath its Cities and Merchants conversing without forme or noble condition For in Paris they dare talke of the Kings mistresses intermeddle with all tractates of Parliaments and State call any Prince Hugonet who dares onely say That Nostre Dame is but a darke melancholike Church and finally justifie very monstrous and abusive actions So that to tell you of their inconstant and refractorie dispositions at all times would sooner discover their loathsome effusions of Christian bloud than prevent the customary and mischievous practices of this people As for the Court by reason of inveterate disorders it is a meere map of confusion and exposeth many actions more ridiculous than worthy of imitation The Husbandman he is termed a Peasant disparaged in his drudgery and servile toilsomnesse liveth poore and beastly is afraid of his owne shadow and cannot free the Vineyards from theeves and destroyers Yea all the Countrey swarmeth with Rogues and Vagabonds whose desperate wants drive them to perpetrate many hainous murthers although for the most part the Provosts of every government are very diligent The cause as I conjecture for that the passages are toylesome and disordered yea many times dangerous to which may be added the much connivencie at notorious crimes with many particulars choaking the breath of happinesse from giving life to a glorious kingdome indeed if the reciprocall duties betweene Prince and Subject were but moderately extended But now to produce England shall we say that it is matchlesse or faultlesse Surely no we have no doubt our imperfections as well as other Nations But certainly by that time the Reader in the ballance of judgement hath poysed the differences of plenty and scarcity of necessaries and abilities for Peace and Warre the one for life the other for defence I make no question but for the first when he hath read the censure of the Pope how that England was verè hortus delictarum vere puteus inexhaustus his Holinesse if he might have it for catching had no reason but to conclude Ergò ubi multa abundant de multis multa possunt extorqueri For the second how ever France and Spaine have beene alwayes accounted the ballances of Europe yet hath England stood as the beame to turne the Scale which particularly to prove I will never goe about by recitall of our Ancestors
undertakings or our Merchants adventures over the face of the universe of French or Spanish Victories releevement of neighbours or expatiating of honourable reputation amongst the Mâ—sâ—ovites in the North or the Mogores in the East but unpartially bid you looke upon the face of the kingdome as now it stands If the glory of a King consist in the multitude of subjects how honourable is the State of England at this day which most harmoniously and absolutely commandeth over the English Scotch Irish Welch the French of Gernsey and Iersey If you desire to behold Palaces goodly buildings where are so many so good belonging to any kingdome in the world If a Court I verily beleeve for State good order expences entertainment and continuall attendancie other places will be found to come farre short If shipping a Royall Navie I hope you may depart with satisfaction especially if you were instructed in the secrets of their service and strength But let late triall performed in the face of the world make due report of those vertues If you will mâ—â—ter us at land who can shew such companies of foot such sufficient troops of serviceable horse and so many worthy â—â—â—â—tors and so well appointed what subject living in a civill Common-wealth can shew me as I can doe many in England a Gentleman of his owne tenants able to bring such faire companies of men into the field If martiall spectables be distastefull then looke upon the Nobility and grave Counsellors but withall prepare a reverent respect and settle your esteeme so resolutely towards them for their orderly life their sweetnesse of manners integritie in deciding of controversies and affability in admitting of Sutors that although you come from the Grands of Spaine the Princes of France and the ostentous pompe of Cardinals yet be not too prejudicate nor transported with selfe-conceited wilfulnesse and you shall see as great bravery retinue and observation amongst us as any subject in the world dare challenge After them looke upon inferiours you shall see them generally so many and so well attended and appointed that I protest them farre exceeding other places both for gracefull shew and sufficiency of execution Will you be ravished indeed and transported with the love of the world Come and behold the beauty of our Ladies and their disposing at a night of solemnity to which if you adde the generall contentment which our English women afford without sophisticate and adulterate favours there is no man can hold his peace but proclaime our preheminence If you would see justice proud of her entertainment and how she presents both praemium and poenam to the severall attendants at the barre looke into our Courts and view the same in most perspicuous eminence without so much as the least cloudy respect of persons If you will enter our Gentlemens houses I hope there are no such cupboords of plate beds of velvet or imbroidery hangings of tapestrie variety of roomes duty of servants order of house-keeping store of pastime and all in grosse that man can desire in any Country in the World If you will search our Cities and Townes what they want in outward deceit of formality it is supplied in sweetnesse and delicacie within doores surpassing the best of them in wealth and furniture As for expences I am sure some Citizens of London are at more annuall charge of diet than the Dukes of Venice Florence or Genoa If you will examine our Merchants however some great Fowker or Agent for a whole Kingdome for Genoa Antwerp Brussels or other Cities may surpasse us for usury and supposition of wealth there died not two such in one yeare and out of one Towne in the world as Sir Iohn Spencer and Master Sutton Generally all the rest surpasse for curious fare statelinesse education and orderly contributions Besides they live at home in case purchase Land with security bring up their children daintily and decently maintaine their families in obedience and cannot be matched by any forren opposition Finally if you would bee acquainted with the tradesman artizan and other of manual occupations looke how he lives looke how he fares looke where he dwels looke what he weares looke where he goes to buy his meat to such markets and shambles that the very sight astonisheth all strangers being once made acquainted with their rarity and goodnesse But indeed if you would have cause of wonder then looke upon the husbandman and compare him to men of like ranke in other places and I beleeve upon mature consideration our adversaries will repine at their felicities and our friends embrace our noble freedomes with desire of limitation In Turkie with the rest hee is a poore and unfortunate slave and whether Muscelman or Christian he dare not manure his ground to the best profit and therefore liveth poorely and sluttishly In Hungary and those parts they resemble carrion for living under the Turke nothing is his owne and in the Christian government all is taken from him either to furnish the warres or to maintaine the souldier In Italy they are a little better as long as they be able to pay their rents and husband their grounds Yet doe they seldome live of their owne or lead a life beseeming the freedome of conversation Besides in many places they are so terrified with the wretched troopes of the Bariditie who make prey of their labours that they know the robbers yet dare they neither detect them nor deny to entertaine them After the fashion of Italy they will be a little gawdie especially the women in apparell and are very industrious as having in one selfe-same field if the soile will yeeld it though it consist but of an acre both Corne Vines and Fruit-trees Honey Roots Sallets Bees and Silk-wormes He is now called a Villano and serveth to no other use than to inrich his Lord feeding himselfe upon Garlike and Onions and is acquainted with no good thing but superstition a few gawdy cloaths and the incontinent life of Curtizans In Spaine it is farre worse the Contadini are numbred amongst the reproaches of their government and esteemed almost as the Asses that bring their Cabages Melons and such like trash to the markets For he dare not attempt to cheapen any thing appropriate to the use of the Gentleman As flesh fish wheat or excellent fruits Nor must he if he have of his owne but furnish the market with the best feeding himselfe on the worst and vilest stuffe Besides the errour of Italy if the mother have a comely daughter or worse she is contented for money to yeeld to prostitution c. In France the peasant is not onely beastly within doores but churlish savoring nothing but his labour with base and servile behaviour with poore and miserable expences with obscene and filthy lodging with jealous and malicious entertainment with illiberall and ill-becomming freedome of speech against both Court and
there to have entertained the enemie if hee had kept his resolution which was by the Thames mouth to have assailed London upon the sudden For the guard of Her person under the command of the Lord Hunsdon she levied out of the Inland shires fioure and thirty thousand footmen and two thousand horse besides those goodly troops which the Nobility and Gentry presented unto her Majesties view to their meere love and zeale to Prince and Country For neighbourhood in France it may be supposed that the Princes of the reformed Religion will be alwayes glad to finde good correspondency from those who are interessed in like disadvantages as themselves What may be done by the perswasions of the pestiferous Iesuites God onely knoweth But this is certaine that betweene nations ingaged in ancient quarrels and both aspiring to one and the same greatnesse Alliances may easily be made friendship never At worst the Frenchman is a tolerable friend though a doubtfull neighbour Francum amicum habe sed non vicinum The like saith He for us As for the Spaniard it is a proverbe of his owne That the Lion is not so fierce as in printed His forces in all parts of the world except those in the Low-countries are farre under fame And if the late Queene would have beleeved her men of warre as she did some others addicted to peacefull courses she might peradventure have broken that great Empire in peeces and made their Kings as in old times Kings onely of home-bred commodities Well was it for them that her Majesty alwayes inclinable to peace did all by the halfes and petty invasions which indeed was her onely errour for future to teach the Spaniard how to defend himselfe and to see his owne weaknesse which till her attempts had taught him was hardly knowne to himselfe foure thousand men would have made a shrewd adventure to have taken his Indies from him I meane all the ports by which his treasure passeth wherein he is more hated by the natives than the English are by the Irish. And then what shall his Low-countrie Armies doe if the Indies pay them not nothing but mutinie and spoile their owne territories as they have often done and that of late yeares almost to the ruine of the Archduke So againe in 88. if that Queene would have hearkned to hazard yet not without reason we had burnt all his ships and preparations in his owne ports as we did afterwards upon the same grounds and intelligence in Cadiz He that knowes him not feares him but excepting his Low-countrie army as aforesaid which hath continued in discipline since Charles the fifth his time he is no where strong they are but follies that are spoken of him elsewhere Hee knoweth that we are too strong for him at Sea and have the Hollanders to helpe who are now by their industries in way to be strongest of all They are a wise people and tooke it somewhat in ill part that we made peace without them which in truth forced them to conclude their long truce They were the last that put downe armes and though they compounded upon the greatest disadvantage France and England having first capitulated yet they made a farre more noble peace than their associates did Since that time we finde the people to be more provident and by degrees lesse respective of their neighbors All histories will tell you it is a point worth the looking unto For unto whom they fasten themselves he that enjoyeth them will be the greatest and give law to the rest If any man doubt it he knowes not much all nations have their imperfections and so have we faults have at all times troubled the eye of understanding For whereas in her Majesties time it is well knowne that one of her ships hath commanded forty of theirs to strike saile they will now undertake us one to one and but for the jealousies of time scant vouchsafe us a good word But Kings are not like private men they forsake not one another in adversity though not alwayes for their sakes who are oppressed but for their owne securities because they watch and reason good the surmounting power of confining neighbourhood These are the greatest States to bee looked after As for the Archdukes these united Provinces for their particular interests will well enough attend him Let us no more therefore be frighted with the Spaniards greatnesse the Venetians wealth and Arsenall the confederacie of Florence Malta Genoa the Pope Naples and Sicil yea worst of all with report of the Mahumetan invincible fleet Let none save fooles admire wonders without knowledge Why Ward and the rest of the Pyrats who at their first comming into the Seas might easily have beene choked from becomming a terrour to all the Levant let wise men judge for my part I can give no other ghesse but the president of that admirable fight which Captaine Iohn King when he was Master of the Merchant Royall made against three great ships and fifteene gallies layed purposely in wait in the mouth of the Straits to intercept all English passengers And surely some Sea-men have beene of opinion with twenty good men of warre in contempt of the proudest Armada or frie of Gallies as they have termed them that those Seas can afford to performe actions beyond credit Neither let fugitives flatter themselves with conceits of forren greatnesse No people were more beholding to Tyrone and Terconnel than the Spanish in their miserable shipwracke upon the Irish coast No men received larger promises The great King should remember his humanity and noble respect The Pope himselfe shall gratifie him with a Phenix plume as he did King Iohn with a crowne of Peacocks feathers yea they can complement with him that he is more worthy of a Diadem than a subjects prostitution But is Tyrone in distresse and after shipwracke of his loyalty driven to make triall of his Spanish and Romish requitall At Millan hee is like to lie without doores if his stomacke cannot brooke the entertainment of a common Inne and at Rome bee welcomed with the allowance of a subject of charity As for defamations breathed from the poyson of malice I make no question but by the generous disposition of noble Governours they will returne to the disgrace of the brocheri As it fell out to Captaine R. Yorke by the worthinesse of an honourable enemy Count Mansfield who hearing this traiterous Captaine to transgresse the bounds of patience in undecent railing upon the government of England and the life of the late Queene Sir Rowland quoth he in plaine termes I assure you that the custome of my table will allow of no such irregular behaviour Thus have I shewed you the love of some and the malice of others abroad with our owne happinesse at home if we can be thankfull for it Amongst the which as last but not least I account the continued tranquillitie of England especially to consist in the moderate yet
Paris Others say it was called Paris of Parresia a Greeke word which signifieth saith this Author hardnesse or ferocitie alleaging this verse Et se Parrisios dixerunt nomine Franci Quod sonat andaces c. And the Franks called themselves Parrisians which signifieth Valiant And by this Etymologie would inferre that the French is a warlike Nation But he is much mistaken in the word for it signifieth only a boldnesse or libertie of speech which whether they better deserve or to be accounted valiant you shall see when I come to speake of the Frenchmans humour and nature in generall As for the nature of the people of this Towne their Histories tax it of infinite mutinies and seditions matchable to the two most rebellious Townes of Europe Liege and Gant and yet this last is praised in one thing That they never harme their Princes person whereof the Baricades as also the late assasinations of Henry the third and Henry the fourth make Paris most unworthy And du Haillan saith of them when they stood fast to Lewis the eleventh against the three Dukes above named That the Parrisians never held good side nor never shewed any honestie but then only But I can read no such matter in Commines for I well remember that even then divers of the chiefe of the Towne had practised secretly with the enemie and were upon termes of concluding when by the Kings wisdome they were prevented The Armes in this Citie were given them Anno 1190 by Philip le Bel who creating them a Provost and Eschevins like Office as our Maior and Aldermen Gave them for Armes Gules a Ship Argent and a Cheefe seeded with Flower de Lyce Or. Yee shall heare the French bragge that their Citie hath beene besieged an hundred times by the enemie and yet was never taken since Caesars time The reason whereof one of their best Writers gives because saith he iâ— is very weake and therefore alwayes compoundeth I compare Paris with London thus Theirs is the greater the uniformer built and stronglier situate ours is the richer the more ancient for I hold antiquitie to be a great honour as well to great Cities as to great Families Yea if to some comparisons would not seeme distastfull I dare maintaine that if London and the places neere adjoyning were circum-munited in such an orbicular manner as Paris is it would surely exceed it notwithstanding all its attributes of a Winding river and the five Bridges sorting forsooth to uniformitie of streets as indeed we now behold it And more than that I am nothing doubtfull in opinion that the Crosse of London is every way longer than any you make in Paris or in any other Citie of Europe By this word Crosse I meane from Saint Georges in Southwarke to Shoreditch South and North and from Westminster to Whitechapell West and East meeting at Leaden-hall All the way she environed with broader streets comelier monuments and handsomer buildings than any you can make in Paris or ever saw either in Millan at this houre being the greatest Citie in Italie in Noremberg or Ausburg for Germanie in Madril or Lisbone for Spaine or finally in Constantinople it selfe Concerning populousnesse if you please to take London meerely as a place composed of Merchants Citizens and Tradesmen and so unite the Suburbs adjoyning it farre exceedeth Paris But taking all'together and at all times it must be confessed that there be more people of all sorts two for one if not more in Paris than in London Or if you will behold it in a Terme-time according to our custome of speciall resort I doubt not but you may be encountred with equall numbers of callings and professions As for Paris the better halfe are Gentlemen Schollers Lawyers or Clergie-men The Merchant liveth obscurely the Tradesman penuriously and the Craftsman in drudgerie yet all insolent and tumultuously affected upon the least unaccustomed imposition or supposall of alteration of their ridiculous ceremonies Instead of a beastly Towne and durtie streets you have in London those that be faire beautifull and cleanly kept Instead of clouds ill aire and a mirie situation London for the greatest part of the yeere affordeth a Sun-shining and serene element a wholsome dwelling a stately ascention and a delicate prospect In stead of a shallow River bringing only Barks and Boats with wood cole turfe and such Country provision you have in London a River flowing twenty foot high adorned with stately Ships that flie to us with merchandize from all the parts of the world And to descend to inferiour observations I say that the River only Westward matcheth that of Paris every way supplying the Citie with all the fore-mentioned commodities at easier rates In stead of ill-favoured woodden bridges many times indangered by tempests and frosts we have at London such a bridge that without exception it may worthily be accounted the admirablest Monument and firmest erected Collosseum in that kinde of all the Vniverse whether you respect the foundation with the continuall and substantiall reparation of the Arches or behold the imposed buildings being so many and so beautifull In stead of an old Bastile and ill appearing Arsenall thrust as it were into an out-cast corner of the City wee have in London a Fabrike of greatest antiquity for forme majesticall and serving to most uses of any Citadell or Magazine that ever you saw It containeth a Kings Palace a Kings Prison a Kings Armory a Kings Mint and a Kings Wardrobe besides many other worthy Offices so that the residents within the wals have a Church and are a sufficient Parish of themselves In stead of an obscure Louvre lately graced with an extraordinary and immatchable gallery the onely Palace of the King In London his Majesty hath many houses Parks and places of repose and in the shires confining such a number for state receit and commodiousnesse that I protest amazement knowing the defects of other places Nor doe I here stretch my discourse on the tenter-hookes of partiality but plainly denotate what many my country-men can averre that to the crowne of England are annexed more Castles Honours Forrests Parks Palaces Houses of state and conveniencie to resort unto from the incumbrances of the Citie than any Emperour or King in Europe can at this day challenge proprio jure In stead of an old ruinous Palace as they terme their House of Parliament Hall of Iustice concourse of Lawyers and meeting of certaine Tradesmen or Milleners like an exchange London hath such a Cirque for Merchants with an upper quadrant of shops as may make us envied for delicacy of building and statelinesse in contriving For a state-house we have in London the Guild-hall and for Courts of Iustice Westminster hall two such fabriks that without further dispute they make strangers aske unanswerable questions when being brought to the light of understanding by particulars they lift up their hands and say Oh happy England Oh happy
the house of Burbon In this space of time you must observe the three ages of France her child-hood till Pepin her man-hood till Capet her old age till now For in the first age the Kings were like children content to be taught by others in matters of Religion as then ye may note that Clovis received the Faith and was Baptized as also in matter of policie they were content that others should beare the whole sway and rule them also such were the Maieurs de Palais whereof Pepin was one that usurped In their man-hood they did like men conquer Kingdomes releeve distressed Christians overcome Saracens and Infidels defend the Church against all assailes as yeâ— may perceive by the History of Charles the great and his successors And lastly now in her old age she grew wise erected Courts for Iustice made Lawes and Ordinances to governe her Inhabitants wherein no Countrey in Europe hath excelled her for so saith my Author There is no Countrey in the world where Iustice is better established than in ours which is true but with this addition of a later Writer if the Officers thereof were not too too many and if their places were rightly executed To force this Relation with many notes of things here hapning in former ages were both impertinent and tedious only I would wish you note that in 482. the Christian Faith was here received and in the yeare 800. the Roman Empire hither translated Concerning the Countrie of France the State is a Monarchie and the government mixt for the authoritie of Maieurs Eschevins Consuls Iureurs c. is Democraticall the Paires the Councels the Parliaments the Chambers of Counts the Generalities c. are Aristocraticall The calling of Assemblies giving of Offices sending Embassages concluding of Treaties pardoning of offences ennobling of Families legitimation of Bastards coyning of moneys and divers other to the number of foure and twentie are meerely Regall called of the French Droicts Royaux And sure it is that no Prince in Europe is a more perfect Monarch than he for besides all these Privileges named as we say of the Parliament of Paris that it hath the prerogative to be appealed unto from all other Courts which they call the last appeale so is it likewise true that the King himselfe hath the meere and absolute authoritie over this For though no Edict or Proclamation no Warre or Peace which he makes be good without the consent and Arrest as they call it of this Court Yet true it is that when he sending to them for their confirmation and ratifying thereof if at first they refuse and send Deputies to his Majesty to informe him of their reasons with humble suit to revoke the same he returnes them upon paine of his displeasure and deprivation of their Offices to confirme it Sic volo sic jubeo As touching the Lawes we must know that most of them are grounded on the Civill Law of the Emperour but so as this State ever protesteth against them insomuch as in former times it was ordained that he which alleaged any Law of Iustinian should lose his head Of the Lawes in force some are fundamentall as they call them and immortall Such as nor King nor assembly can abrogate others are Temporall Of the first sort I will only remember you of two examples the Law Salique and that of Appennages As for the first they would needs make the world beleeve that it is of great antiquitie where with they very wrongfully tromped the heires of Edward the third from the enjoying of this Crowne which to them is rightly descended by the Mother and whose claime is still good were the English sword well whetted to cut the Labels of this Law Of which Haillan himselfe confesseth that before the time of Philip le Long 1321. That the Law Salique was never heard tell of before this Kings time who caused it to be ratified by all the Nobles of his Kingdome some by faire promises and others by force and threats Whereupon they have since this proverbe The Kingdome of France cannot fall from the Launce to the Distasseâ— which another would needs as soundly prove out of Scripture for that it is said The Lillies spinne not that is the Lillies or Flowerdelyces being the Armes of France cannot descend to a Spinster or woman Touching the Appennages it is also a Law of great consequent for the Crowne for by this the Domaine cannot be aliened and by the other the Crowne cannot fall into the hands of strangers You must note that this Law imports that the younger sonnes of the King cannot have Partage with the Elder which till the time of Charlemaigne when this was made they might they must onely have Appennage suas propriete By which Charter of Appennage is given all profits arising of the said Apannes as Domaine the Hundreth Rents rights of Seigneurie parties Casuelles â—ots Sales Homages rights of Vassalage Forrests Ponds â—â—â—vers Iurisdictions Patronages of Churches Provisions and Nomination of Chappels Goods of Mayn-mort Fift s of Lands sold and all other profits and commodities whatsoever to returne to the Crowne for want of heires male But the levying of Taxes and aids the minting of money and all other things of Regalitie are reserved Concerning the other sort of Lawes in this Realme they are infinite which argueth à consequente that they be ill kept for Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas and ab antecedente that the people of this Countrey have beene ill inclined for Evill manners cause good Lawes These French Lawes are too full of Preambles Processes Interims and Provisoes as by all their Ordinances and Edicts appeareth There is nothing me thinkes colder than a Law with a Prologue Let a Law command and not perswade Of all these Lawes I will only name you this one That the minority of the King shall be assisted with a Councell chosen by the States of France wherein the Princes of the bloud ought to hold the first place and strangers to bee excluded Which was enacted at Toures by Charles the eighth Anno 1484. I tell you of this as of the true source and spring of all the late civill warres because the Cadets of Lorraine by insinuation with the young Kings Francis the second and Charles the ninth under the favour of the Queene Mother took upon them to manage all publike matters at their own pleasure and thrust out the first Princes of the bloud of the house of Burbon Whereupon Navarre and Condie the Princes of this Family assisted by many of the French Nobles embarqued themselves in the action of reforming such an abuse and displacing the Gursard out of this authorite tooke it upon themselves to whom it rightly belonged Howbeit out of that which I there saw which I have heard of others and read in Authors I will adventure to relate concerning the Officers of this Court for as for other great Offices as of Constable Admirall Marshall Grand Master of the Eaues
that there may easily be mustred and maintained fourescore and odde thousand horse of one sort or other that is launce and light-horse But I feare me we may say of them as Plutarch saith of the Nobles of Athens having usurped upon the Democracie of that Citie They were indeed but foure hundred and yet caused themselves to be stiled the five thousand So I feare me hee reckoneth after the Athenian rate ten for one The Cabinets reason is this There be in France 50000. Gentlemen that are able to beare Armes for saith he rate this proportion at a Gentleman in each league by the measure of â—rance which are forty thousand in square and it wanteth but a fifth Howbeit saith he in some Countries yee shall have thirty or forty within the compasse of one league besides their children Out of these if the King would he might compose a Gens d' armerie of 8000. men at Armes and 16000. Archers which body of 24000 Gentlemen would represent in the field 60000. horse Hee aught also have a cavallerie Legiere of foure or five thousand Gentlemen He might also furnish the Ban and Arneâ—-â—an according to the old fashion with twelve or fifteene thousand Gentlemen And yet might he have besides all this foure or five thousand for the state of his Court and government of his Provinces This is his computation But you shall see it proved when we come to speake of the Nobility of France that it is exceedingly shortned in number and decayed in estate and therefore nothing able to come neere this number As good a consequent it were to say â—hat because ye have two or three millions of men in England able to fight that therefore our State can bring so many into the field without considering the provision of Armes and all other things necessarie But this Cabinet was made by one of the Religion that was transported out of himselfe by the heat of his zeale and hate to the temporall livings of the Church Whose projects and drifts are much like those of the Supplication of Beggers a booke made in King Henry the eighths dayes where he frameth in his fanâ—â— an Vtopia and felicity not to be hoped in France building Castles in the Aire and concluding that if it would please the King to alien the Church temporall livings and unite them to the Domaine nihil est dictu facilius a thing easily said but not easily done that over and besides the forces o fourescore thousand horse abovesaid he might alâ—o maintaine an Infantery of the French Gentlemen of twâ—lvâ— thousand Item another of the popular of forty â—â—ght thousand and lastly yet another Infantery legionarie of forty eight thousand The Supplication was answered by Sir Thomas Moore his booke called The Pitifull complaint of the puling soules â—â— Purgatory How well I know not but of this I am sure that if such a number of horse and foot should either bee â—aintained upon the Church living or upon the poore people upon whom all these charges of the Gens d'armes lieth here would be many more pâ—liâ—g soules and pitifull complaints in France than are in Sir Thomas Moores Purgatory It then remaines that wee hold our selves to the judgement of La Nove afore set downe who also confesseth that in Charles the sixth his time there were in the field twenty two thousand Launces but since the Gens d'armerie was inâ—â—ituted were never but once at Valencieâ—nes above ten thousand For as for that great number whereof yee reade in M. d' Argenton that besieged Lewis the eleventh in Paris they were the forces of three great Princes and the better part Burgognions The French reckon above an hundred and twenty strong Townes some very strong already all the rest easie to be made defensible Their Ordnance and Field-peeces they have reduced to a proportion of boare and length that so the gartridges and bullet of the same weight may be service able for most of their peeces and if a carriage breakes the peece may be readily mounted upon another The usuall length of their Field-peeces is almost ten foot the length of the carriage fourteene foot so that both together take up nineteene foot being mounted upon the Batterie Of all Nations the French confesse that they feare none but the Switzers and them they doe for that being so neere neighbours they may fall upon them at unawares To prevent which they have fortified the Frontiers next to them knowing well that the nature of the Switzer is rather to hazzard a field than to sit downe about a lingring siege But these Frenchmen have forgot that England is farre too hard for them at Sea and that Spaine and the Emperour together have in a manner besieged them round about by Land I must now remember you of the Officers for the warre in France and because warre is made both by sea and by land I must also reckon the sea Officers but as for the French Kings forces at sea I have not yet learned that he hath any and therefore can say little thereof The first and principall and which commandeth all in the Kings absence even the Peeres and Princes of the bloud whaâ—soever is the Constable who as hath before beene remembred hath his name of Comes stabulâ— for in former tâ—nes the Kings chiefe Officers were called Counts with an addition of their Office as Comes Palatit Comes Praesidii Comes reâ—â—m privatarum Comes sacrarum largitionum Com 〈◊〉 Comes navium Count of the Palace Count of the Guard c. And though he hath not now the command of the Kings horse yet keepeth he still the name This Office was erected in Lewis le Gros his time it was bestowed upon the house of Memorencie in Francis the first his time and remaineth still in the same The ancient device of the house of Memorencie is this God and the prime Christian and ancientest Baron of France He hath the keeping of the Sword Royall And as the great â—squire hath the Sword in the Scabberd Azure seeded with Flowers de Lyce Or added to his Armes so beareth the Constable for an honour the naked Sword The Marshals beare the Battell-axe and the Admirals the Anchor The Constable and Marshals give the oath to the King He sitteth chiefe Iudge at the Table of Marble upon all perâ—â—â—s â—â—its actions and complaints whatsoever touching the warres When the King entreth a Citie in his greatest pompe or upon a deliverie he goeth before with the Sword naked and when the King sitteth in Assembly of the three States he is placed at his right hand He that killeth the Constable is guiltie of high Treason The Marshals are named as some say of Marc. Cheval a Horse and Schal Master or Commander of the Horse Others of Marcha that is March or Frontier quasi Praefectus limitum as it were Governour of the Marches Till Francis the first there were but two in all France afterward foure and now ten for
They be good foot and better than their neighbours as we may say now adayes of the English and Swissers And in another place where he opineth of the manner of service he saith My opinion is that in battels Archers are the weight that turnes the balance And of Archers the English are the flower where he likewise discourseth how dangerous a thing it is to abide a battell except your foot be much the better which in my opinion was no little cause why the French King fought not with the Cardinall in the yeare 97 before Amiens because the enemies foot were holden in number eighteene thousand though I hardly thinke they were so many A number full as great as the French and the souldier farre better they being all French except some three thousand English and Swissers and theirs the choice men of all his Garrisons and experienced souldiers in those Low-Countries For true it is that the Kings Gens d'armes were two for one and holden also much the better men as well because there was in a manner all the Nobilitie and flower of France as also that they had the advantage in the manner of weapon for that the French serveth with the Pistoll and the Spaniard still holds him to his Launce But I make no question that the consideration of the oddes on foot was not the chiefe cause why there was no battell that day for wee had a goodly faire field and plaine as might bee possible as also large a singular advantage for him which is strongest in Horse So had wee the wind and Sunne in our backes which are holden no small helpes But this was the reason the King thought it no policie to play all his Rest at once where hee might have lost more at one Game than he had got in eight yeares he had no reason but to make the Card that was now going a Bridge of Gold as the Proverbe is considering that by this meanes he should gaine the Towne of Amiens re-assure other Cities that then stood wavering and recover his reputation in the world which by the losse of that Towne was much disputed It now remaineth I speake of his Expence which chiefly consisteth in these two things before spoken of namely his Court and his Forces wherein it is very hard to relate an exact proportion considering not only the variety and difference of Writers but also the uncertaintie of the number of Pensionaries or provisioned And lastly the change and alteration of their allowance not continuing alwaies the same Howbeit that which is most commonly reported and seemeth neerest the truth is this The maintenance of five Regiments of foot at six crowns the moneth commeth to foure hundred sixty eight thousand crownes the yeare besides the pension of five Collonels at two thousand crownes apeece thirtie Captaines at one thousand pension a man as many Lieutenants at five hundred and Ensigns at three hundred apeece which is in all seventie foure thousand which added to the first summe makes the whole charge of these Regiments yearely to amount to the summe of five hundred fortie two thousand crownes This proportion differeth not much from that of Bodin where he saith The King might maintaine in ordinary twentie thousand foot at the rate of three million and five hundred thousand Livres which if you reduce to crownes and to one number of six thousand foot commeth to a lesse rate than that other namely to foure hundred eight thousand three hundred thirty three crownes but I thinke that former is neerer the truth For the allowance of his Gens d'armes which are reckoning at six thousand as is before said though in truth there bee but foure for he payeth thus many I follow the proportion of them that say that 51750. crownes is the ordinary allowance for one company of an hundred yearely for where are six thousand men at Armes in the field are eighteene thousand Horse in all After this rate then of the hundred before set down the whole Gens d'armery amounteth to 3105000. crownes For the expence of his Court you shall heare it to be thus rated The Table of the King and those of the Gentlemen of the Chamber at 112000. crownes for his pettie pleasures a thousand crownes a day in all 165000. But this was a proportion for the last King who was a great giver For the great and little Stable 190000. For the Constable 24000. For the Gran Maistre great Master 20000. For the Marshals of France 18000. apeece when they were but foure for now it is a Title only without either pension or command save only in the foure chiefe For the Admirall 15000. For the Grana Veneur great Hunt 16000. For the Governours of his Provinces in all 188000. For the Gentlemen of his Chamber their pension 1200. crowns a peece in all six hundred thousand For the Captains of his Guards on Horse two thousand apeece For their Lieutenants eight hundred For two thousand Swisses of his Guard ten crowns a moneth 24840. For all other domesticall Officers one hundred thousand For Heraults six thousand For Marshals of lodgings and Fourriers 4600. For Prevost Marshals of Provinces a thousand apeece in all twentie foure thousand For twenty foure hundred Archers to attend these Prevosts in the execution of their Office seven hundred and twenty thousand crownes For his Ambassadours in divers Countries two hundred and fiftie thousand For his Officers of Finances Treasurers Receivers Controllers and such other like Offices thorow France an infinite and incredible summe As also for such numbers of horse and foot as the Cabinet setteth downe besides these Gens d'armes and Regiments which ye heare provided for and in the Kings pay But yee must observe that of all these Court-charges and others here before mentioned except those of his forces yee are not to make any ground as of a truth they being only the supposed charges set downe by the said Author who for his errours in other matters hath also lost his credit in this To speake either particularly of the Court-expences or generally what they be certaine I cannot not having heard any thing thereof but only that it is supposed the charge of the Kings House is five hundred crownes a day It now remaineth to speake of his Entrade or Revenue for a Prince cannot have peace without warre nor warre without men nor men without money nor money without meanes nor are there any meanes but these Domaine Conquests Gifts of his friends Pension of his Confederates Trafficke Impositions upon Merchandize brought in or carried out Impositions upon Subjects And yet one other which the Kings of France have lately invented to helpe when all other failed which is Sales of Offices more dangerous and prejudiciall to the State than any other Of these eight meanes I will give you particular observations and then conclude what is generally holden to bee the whole Revenue of the Crowne of France by all these meanes First the Domaine is
that of the Sunne is the best and the halfe Crowne Those of silver are the Livres or Franc which is two shillings sterling The quart d'escu which is one shilling six pence The Teston which is halfe a sous lesse The peece of ten sous which is one shilling sterling the halfe quart d'escu the halfe Teston and the peece of five sous that is six pence sterling Those of Brasse is the price of six Blanks which is three pence that of three blanks three halfe pence The sous of twelve deniers the liard of foure deniers the double of two and lastly the denier it selfe whereof ten make one penny sterling This baser and smaller kind of money hath not beene used in France but since the beginning of the civill warres The Teston is the best silver It remaineth I speake of the Administration and Execution of Iustice and of those places and persons where and by whom it is done I will therefore beginne with their assemblies as the highest and greatest Court of all which well resembleth the Parliament of England the Dyet of the Empire or the Councell of â—â—e Amphythrions in Greece There are three especiall causes of calling these Assemblies The first when the succession of the Crowne was doubtfull and in controversie or when it was to take order for the Regency during the Kings Captivity or Minority or when they had not the right use of their wits Hereof yee have examples Anno 1327. Saint Lewis an Infant and Charles the sixth An. Dom. 1380. a Lunaticke and 1484. Iohn a prisoner For all which occasions Assemblies were called to determine who should have the Regency of the Realme in the meane while The second cause is when there is question of reforming the Kingdome correcting the abuses of Officers and Magistrates or appeasing troubles and seditions The third cause is the want and necessitie of the King or Kingdome in which case the Estates are exhorted to give subsidies subventions aids and gratuities For in former times the Kings contenting themselves with their Domaine and impost of such wares as came in or went out of the land the two most ancient and most just grounds of Finances were not accustomed to levie and impose upon their Subjects any tax whatsoever without the consent of the three States thus assembled The next Soveraigne Court for so the French call it is the Court of Parliament The true Temple of French Iustice Seat of the King and his Peeres And as Haillan cals it the Buttresse of Equity This Court very much resembleth the Star-Chamber of England the Arcopage of Athens the Senate of Rome the Consiglio de' dieci of Venice There are no Lawes saith Haillan by which this Court is directed it judgeth according to equity and conscience and mitigateth the rigour of the Law Of these Courts of Parliament ye have eight in France That of Paris the most ancient and highest in preheminence which at first was ambulatory as they call it and ever followed the Kings Court whithersoever it went but since Philip le Bel it hath beene sedentary in this Citie That of Grenoble was erected Anno 1453. That of Tholouse Anno 1302. That of Bourdeaux Anno 1443. That of Dijon in the yeare 1476. That of Roven in the yeare 1501. That of Aix the same yeare And lastly that of Bretaigne at the yeare 1553. Anciently all Arch-Bishops and Bishops might sit and give voices in this Parliament of Paris but in Anno 1463. it was decreed that none but the Bishop of Paris and Abbot of Saint Denis might sit there except he be of the Bloud for all these are privileged The Presidents and Counsellors of the Court of Parliament of Paris may not depart the Towne without leave of the Court by the ordinance of Lewis the twelfth in the yeare 1499. The Senators ought alwayes to bee present because things are carried with more Majesty when the Court is full To this Parliament they appeale from all other subalterne Courts throughout the Realme as they doe in Venice to the Consiglio grande Neither can the King conclude any warre or peace without the advice and consent hereof or at least as Haillan saith he demandeth it for fashion sake sometime when the matters are already concluded The Parliament of Paris consisteth of seven Chambers the Grande câ—ambre and five others of Enquests and the Tournelles which is the chamber for the criminall causes as the other six bee for the civill It is called the Tournelles because the Iudges of the other Chambers sit there by turnes every three moneths the reason whereof Bodin giveth that it might not alter the naturall inclination of the Iudges and make them more cruell by being alwayes exercised in matter of condemnations and executions There be of this Court of Presidents Counsellors Chevalliers of honour Procureurs Advocates Clerks Sergeants and other Officers of all sorts not so few as two hundred Besides this Court there are also other Courts for the administration of Iustice in this Citie as the Chatellet of Paris with a Lieutenant civill and another criminall and the Hostel de Paris with a Prevost and other inferiour Officers which is as ye would say the Guild-Hall of the Citie So have ye throughout the Realme certaine places as all Cities in generall where there be Chatellets like our places of Assise and in them a Lieutenant civill and criminall to judge and determine all causes reall and personall and here many Lawyers and Procurers as our Counsellors at Law and Atturnies who plead before those Lieutenants and Prevosts and certaine Counsellors which are the Iudges in these Courts whereof the number is incredible in France Insomuch as you may well say of them as is said of Sienna There be more Readers than Auditors so here be more Pleaders than Clients This Chiquanery Petti-fogging multiplicitie of Pleaders came first from the Popes Court when his seat was at Avignon as my Author saith who in the same place cals these Advocates The Mice of the Palace The processes and suits in these Courts throughout France are innumerable wherein wee come nothing neere them and yet there is no want of these in England For I have heard of 340. Nisiprius between parties tried at one Assize in Norfolke as many I thinke as in halfe England besides But these are onely twice in the yeare that causes are tried at Assises in our Country whereas here they are tried every day in the yeare that is not festivall So that it is not much unlikely that here are as many Processes in seven yeares as have beene in England since the conquest There are besides these Courts of Chatellets in Cities the Courts also of Bailywicks and Sheriffalties who as Haillan saith keepe Courts in each Province and judge in all matters civill and criminall Here is also the Privie Councell or Councell of affaires of the Counsellors among which are his foure Secretaries he calleth certaine every morning at his rising to whom he
not the one to practise against the other upon the perill that may ensue to the offender In waiting with the Moscovite the Swevian hath most advantage because Finland which bordereth upon Russia by reason of the great Marishes whereof it is full yeeldeth hard and perillous passage to the Enemie oftentimes swallowing up whole Armies in those congealed Waters there be Keepers of the Castles of Viburge Narve Ravelia and other piles and peeces upon the borders of the great Duke of Moscovia excellent well fortified as bridles to stop his violent courses In which hee doth very wisely for those peeces which lie in the Territories of our Enemies are to be regarded most carefully because they bring forth two notable effects first they defend what is ours and offend what is the Enemies The further they are distant from our borders the better they stand us instead for while the Enemie is occupied in besieging thereof our owne State standeth in quiet and time affordeth meanes for rescue or delivery thereof at leasure and that without spoile to our owne people or losse of our proper revenues They grieve the Enemie with so much the more dammage by how much the neerer they are situated unto him Of this effect was Calais in the possession of the English and the places which the Spaniards and Portugals hold in Africke But the Fortresses built in our owne borders serve to no other end than to defend what is already ours and that to our great disadvantage for as often as they are invaded all things are done at a sudden and it cannot be avoided but somewhat will fall to the spoile of the Enemie To end with the King of Swethland he is so much better able than the Moscovite to defend his Territories by how much Sea-forces joyned to Land-forces are able to prevaile against a State furnished with Land-forces only Spaine EVROPE is in the Mappe shaped something like a Queene and there is Spaine made the head of it and perchance there may prove some fatalitie in it The shape of Spaine doth indeed resemble a Dragon which is a creature of prey and for devouting Spaine indeed hath in hope and designe already devoured all Europe and would be head of the Monarchie Bâ— stay the proverbe is That Serpens nisi serpentem come devis non fit Draco Vnlesse one Serpent eat another hee never proves a Dragon there be many Countries that Spaine must first eat up before it proves the European Dragon and Monarch England France Netherland c. all must be careâ— first But soberly to consider of the matter Spaine hath already done very well towards it for â—â—hence the remembrance of later times a larger Empire hath not befallen any Christian Potentate than that which the Spanish enjoyeth at this day especially since the union of the Kingdome of Portugal with the dependencies thereof unto this Crown For besides the large and faire Provinces in Europe the goodly Regions of Asia and divers rich Territories in Africke he enjoyeth in peace and securitie without any corrivall oâ— competitor the New World in circuit more spacious than either Europe or Africke In Europe hee is sole Soveraigne of Spaine holding it whole and entire A thing worthy observation for that by the space of eight hundred yeares before our age it never obeyed any one Prince but was dismembred and peece-meale claimed by divers Seigniors Hee hath very much shaken Belgia and Lordeth it over the Kingdome of Naples containing in circuit a thousand and foure hundred miles and retaineth Insubria otherwise called the Duchie of Milâ—une comprehending three hundred miles in circuit Of the Islands he holdeth Majorique Minorique and Evisa the first of three hundred miles circuit the second of an hundred and fifty the third of eight Sicil is reported to containe seven hundred Sardinia five hundred threescore and two In Africa he holdeth the great Haven called Masalquivir the most secure and safe harbour in the whole Mediterranean Sea Hee hath also Oran Mililla and the rooke commonly called the Paevion of Velez And without the Streights he possesseth the Canary Islands twelve in number and the least of seven containing ninety miles In the right of the House of Portugal hee possesseth the famous places of Sepra and Tangier and of late he hath conquered Alarach the which may rightly bee surnamed the Keyes of the Streights yea of the Mediterran Sea and Atlantique Ocean Without the Streights he holdeth the Citie of Mazaga and by the same Title in the vast Ocean he claimeth the Terceraz Port-Santo and Madera famous for the Wines which grow therein and the Lady-like Iland of all the Atlantique containing by estimation 160. miles in compasse Then the Ilands of Cape Verd seven in number Vnder the Aequinoctiall he holdeth the Iland of S. Thomas some what more spacious than Madera but most plentifull in Sugar and from thence rangeth over that huge tract of Land which tendeth from Cape Aguer to Cape Guardafu Lastly he pretendeth to be Lord of all the Traffique Merchandize Negotiation and Navigation of the whole Ocean and of all the Ilands which Nature hath scattered in these Seas especially betweene the Cape of Good-hope and the promontory of Guardafu In Asia in the aforesaid right of the Crowne of Portugal he ruleth the better part of Westerne Coasts viz. Ormus Diu Goa and Malaca Ormus for his commodious situation is become so rich that these verses are growne to a common proverbe among the Arabians As in a Ring the well set stone appeareth to the eye Such to the worlds round circle doth rich Ormus-Ilandlie A great portion of Arabia Felix belongeth to the Principalitie of Ormus as likewise Balsara the Iland-Queene within that Gulfe for plentie circuit varietie of fruits and the rich fishing of Pearle But this goodly Iland and Castle of Ormus is since taken from him by the Persians with the aid of our East-Indian Fleet and there are continuall fights with the Portugall Frigats maintained by the English and Hollanders So that on those coasts he rather exerciseth Pyracie than Dominion In this Sea the Portugals possesse Damian Bazain Tavaan and Goa which Citie to omit Chial Canora Cochin and Colan is of so great esteeme that it is thought to yeeld the King as great a revenue as many Provinces in Europe doe their Lords and finally the Portugals hold all that Sea-coast which lieth betweene the Citie Damian and Malepura wherein no Prince except the King of Calecute challengeth one foot of Land The Iland of Zeilan wherein they possesse a strong Haven and a Castle commonly called Columbo may rightly be called the delight of Nature They enjoy also Malaca which in those places is the bound and limit of their Empire as also the staple of the Traffique and the Navigation of the East Ocean and of all those Ilands being so many and so spacious that in circuit of Land they may well be compared to all Europe To continue their
wherein nature hath confined and heaped up as it were into her Closet all those delightfull happinesses which with her owne hands she hath here and there scattered and dispersed through the residue of the European Provinces whereof in their proper places The Revenue which his Majestie doth principally raise upon the Ecclesiasticall livings viz. the Tithes of the Church the Buls of the Crosse both amongst the Indies through all Spaine and the Kingdome of Sicilie doe amount to two millions by yeare and these may be well numbred amongst his ordinary revenues because they be yearely raised and be the surest and most certaine that this Crowne enjoyeth Commendums and presentations unto benefices doe yeeld yearely to his Majestie a great quantity of mony The whole revenues of the Clergie are valued at six millions of gold by yeare there being foure and thirty Cathedrall Churches all very rich of which some have fifty some one hundred and some two hundred millions of crownes of yearely revenues as in particular the Archbishop of Tiledo hath more than three hundred millions remaining over and besides free to his substitute Prelate two hundred Neither doth his Majestie care to bring these Churches to a greater number for then should hee with greater difficulty make use of the revenues and riches thereof when occasion required And it is said that the Cardinall Birago gave to his Majestie at divers times more than a million and a halfe of gold upon some simoniacall occasion So it is thought that the ordinary revenues of Spaine doe amount to six millions of gold whereof much hath beene pawned for the debts of the Crowne the rest is spent in charges of the warres in the government of the Kings houshold and in the Gallies which he maintaineth to safeguard the coast of the Kingdome as aforesaid In extraordinarie revenues he raiseth much more for in the Kingdome of Castile alone in one yeare his Majestie had nigh eight millions of Gold And while I was at his Court his Majestie sent a Iesuite through all Spaine who went from house to house requiring their benevolence as an almes for the expences in his warres by which meanes he raised a million and a halfe of gold but with much dishonour saving that it was said that hee did better to demand this money for the love of God than to take it by force yet was not the request such but that it had in it the effect of a command his Majesty excusing himselfe that the Emperour his Father whilest he lived did the selfe-same thing in his greatest and most urgent affaires and necessities There doe not want also other meanes and devices to raise money as the imposition of the Milstone which as it is supposed if it once take effect will amount to two millions of gold yearely There be also sales of Offices Escheats Penalties Amerciaments and other like meanes to raise money as in other Kingdomes His Majestie hath orders of Knight-hood also viz. of Saint Iames of Alcantera of Callatrava of Montesea and of Christ this last Order is in Portugal which all together doe yeeld him yearely 275. millions of crownes and accrueth to them in rents paid by the Iuccarie The Order of the Crosse is much desired and greatly sought for by the great men of Spaine because it yeeldeth both honour and profit being in number two hundred and fifty which have in yearely revenues 15000000 crownes of gold But to some he giveth the Order and not the Fee to others the Fee not the Order but to many for their good service both Fee and Order There is also the Order of the Toison of which his Majestie is chiefe which is the most honourable and most sought for of Princes although it yeeldeth no profit Of this is made great account and herewith onely Princes and personages of quality are honoured In these Kingdomes are found divers discontented persons and ill satisfied with the government for that all those Moores which there inhabit being forced to turne Christians and by the same force constrained so to continue are wonderfully displeased And such as are called Iewes or halfe Christians doe daily increase in number and multiply in riches For they all marrie and never goe to the warres but continually intend their traffike and commoditie Besides these there be all the descendants of them that have at any time beene condemned by the Inquisition which live in Spaine most desperately because they are thereby held infamous even to the third and fourth generation and disabled to receive any dignity honour or office Of these sorts it seemeth by the late proscriptions and banishment of the Inhabitants of Valentia into Barbarie that he is most jealous Next these the Portugals may be comprised in this number by reason of their ancient hatred which they have alwayes borne to the Castilians and for the bad usage of the Spaniards being alwayes held under their command with minds cruelly affected The Provinces of Aragon also for their privileges broken and annulled for rising in Armes by meanes of Antonio Perez late Secretary to his Majestie doe evilly brooke this government The chiefe Citizens whereof having with losse of their lives paid the debt of that punishment due unto them have left a memoriall behinde them of that their fact the stroke whereof is imprinted in all the rest which are yet for a long time ready to lay downe their lives upon occasion Last of all bee the Nobles of Spaine which in times past were many in number and in great estimation with their Kings are now much abased and brought to the number of 36. only being unimployed by his Majestie and receive small charges from him and those in places farre remote and of little or no reputation some of which doe much blame the King therefore inferring that thereby he maketh the people more insolent in hating them and their greatnesse indeed because they would not that they should much increase it power the State being served in most affaires with common persons and those of no great estimation because these Kings for the most part suppose that by them he is the better served as also are very jealous of the greatnesse of their Officers For in truth the Spanish Nation by nature is very proud yet base and such as careth not to be hated so it be feared in all passages above all other Nations using and imitating a kinde of decorum which they call Respect we complement or a pish courtesie being full of servility yet in publike shewing more severity over their owne than over strangers which may well be if well understood For where he conquereth and commandeth no people so intolerable as they but mastered and subdued no Nation of the world so submissive and â—ouching At home in generall poore timorous and unwarlike abroad by hardning and custome a very hardy and valiant souldier on foot obedient to his Commander and patient in the
distresses and labours of warre but by night they never goe upon any service By it selfe alone this Nation hath done nothing of reckoning but accompanied with others it hath made good assaies of its owne valour alwayes boasting of the taking of the French King of the victories of Germany of the enterprise of the Tercers and of the happy fight at the Curzolary without once remembring their contrary successes of Goletta Algiers and England Of ordinary revenues from Italy it receiveth foure millions of gold Much of that of Naples is pawned the which the Kingdome of Sicilie doth yearly supply by sending thither ordinarily foure thousand crownes and the Councell of Spaine taking order for the rest These States in Italy are defended from the forces of bordering Princes partly by nature of site and partly by the aid of strong Forts ordinarily maintaining in the presidiarie places ten thousand Spanish foot-men 1200. men at Armes three hundred light-horse and thirty six Gallies for guard of the Sea-coasts Of sixteene are of Genoa twentie five of Naples twelve of Sicilie and three of Savoy This is the appointed number but you shall seldome see it so strong For notwithstanding this Armada the coasts are badly secured as it appeared by the late yeares example in the dammages done by the Turkish Navie upon Puglia and Calabria amounting as it is reported to the summe of more than a million and a halfe of gold He serveth himselfe also when occasion requireth with the Gallies of Malta with the Popes which are eighteene and sometimes also with those of the great Duke of Tuscan And all these charges are nothing neere defrayed by the foure millions of revenue so that Italy stands the Spaniard in much more than hee gets by it The witty Boccalini brings in Lorenzo Medices weighing the Estates of Europe and when the Spaniards saw the revenue of Spaine alone to weigh within a few millions as much as France with great chearefulnesse they gate on their spectacles and would needs cast their dominions of Italie into the scale but perceiving the beame to turne contrary to their expectation all ashamed they tooke them out againe and durst not put in their dominions in Africa and the Low-Countries The mindes of these his Italian subjects are exceedingly exasperated through the insolencie of their government their intolerable charges and the burthen of infinite taxations which are continually imposed upon them finding out daily one meanes or other to raise new summes of money The Neapolitans are most doubted for revolt by reason of the instability of that people alwayes desirous of change and novelties Millaine is also suspected by reason of the dammage which they undergoe by lodging of souldiers at discretion being growne to a custome with the small desolation of divers families The Indies are divided into Orientall and Occidentall the King pretending to be sole Lord both of the one and the other The Orientall not only are indangered by the English Navies which in time of warre doe continually trouble them but in hazard also if not to be lost yet to be forced to share quiet and peaceable Trafficke both to the English and Netherland Merchants The King maintaineth there for custodie of those Countries many ships of Warre having also distributed eight thousand foot-men for the ordinary safegard of the Forts The West-Indies exceeding rich and abounding with gold and silver are divided into two parts Peru and New Spaine These Countries are full of Mines in which is found great store of gold keeping therein the Indians continually at worke living very barely and undergoing the punishment of their ignorance and pusilanimity in suffering themselves to be easily overcome and so basely subjected The King hath the fifth part of all extracted from the Mines These Indies in the time of Charles the fifth yeâ—â—ded no more than five hundred thousand crownes of gold by yeare but they now yeeld an exceeding commodity to this King for in some yeares past comprehending the Buls of the Crosse and other confiscations in those parts he hath received from thence ten millions of gold yea fifteene and seventeene millions many yeares since that His Highnesse Ministers doe still procure some new gaine in those parts and the people still continue their Navigation thither with more gaine upon their returne than one hundred for another The Merchants carry thither Wines Woollen-cloth and other merchandize of these parts and bring from thence in lieu thereof over and besides divers sorts of Spices a great quantitie of Goldiâ— by extraction of which the fruitfulnesse of the Mines is no whit diminished but it seemeth that they doe rather daily more and more increase and multiply in such sort that the Countrey-men in tilling the ground doe finde great-store thereof together with the clods of earth when they dig it up and in my time there was discovered a Mine of Quicksilver which will yeeld exceeding profit and incredible gaine True it is that all these profits have their interest but they arise not to above twenty in the hundred laid out by reason of Convoyes for security of the Fleet. For there is alwayes maintained strong guards in the Isle of Iava apt by reason of the situation to give the Empire of all these parts to him that can make himselfe once Master thereof The souldiers which hee sent into these parts have for their pay two crownes a moneth in such sort that the Land-souldiers the guarders of the Forts and the Gallies which he maintaineth for this purpose is a speciall cause that his Majestie expendeth in interests and charges amongst the Indies more by a great deale than a million and a halfe of gold Which maketh me nothing to wonder that although this King by reason of his abundance of Treasure and many other infinite riches brought yearely from the Indies should seeme to be richer than other Princes and his state much more wealthy and aboundant yet in truth the great Turke not having any mines of gold is more mightier and farre wealthier And so in true interpretation is France England and Netherland as late experience the touch-stone of ambiguities hath fully discovered Whereupon it must needs follow that this Crowne is either much hindred by ingagement in war want of home-bred necessities or by uncertaine returnes of its Fleets subject every yeare to the casualties of Seas currents and surprisals If these be not the causes of so many crosses as our eyes have lately discovered then surely his neighbouring Princes must be thought to be Lords of a valianter people than are his Spanish For say they it appeareth by record from time to time kept in the Citie of Sivil that in threescore and fourteene yeares space there have come into Spaine two hundred and threescore millions of gold Of all which summe there remaineth now in Spaine by conjecture in ready money and plate wherewith this Nation is much delighted about six and fifty millions Five and twenty the
râ—ape the whole benefit of it For the Arch-duchesse wee know shee beares but the name of Governesse of his Provinces being her selfe otherwise wholly governed by Spanish Counsell and were the Kings younger brother but old enough to be Governour wee know that she must be thrust into a Monasterie However France seemeth now to rejoyce in a new alliance yet let the world not doubt but that out of ancient emulation which hath ever beene betweene these two Kingdomes being exasperated done against another by so many injuries so many wrongs and so many jarres and brawles new occasions of discontents will evermore arise For can the French thinke we ever forget their expulsions out of Italie their deprivation of Navarre or the intrusion of the late King upon the maine body of the Kingdome But fresh in memory and yet unrevenged as one this present yeare 1629. is the defeat of the French troopes sent into Italie in favour of the Duke of Mantoa nor does the Spaniard looke that the crosse mariages with the French the Kings marying one anothers sisters can make any attonement but lookes either that the French should invade Flanders or the Wallon Countries unto which hee hath so good and ancient pretencion or watch him some other good turne at his best opportunitie Betweene him and the Savoyard notwithstanding their neere alliance have there beene late warres the Spaniard depriving him of some Townes in Montferat and the Duke of Savoy in revenge on the other side distressing Genoa with an Armie which is under the Spaniards protection and the place from whence he borrowes his great summes of mony But these differences are so farre reconciled that contrary to all expectation the Savoyard in consideration of the restoring to him of those Townes in Montferat is now at this present turned on the Spaniards side hath levied an Armie in favour of him and blockt up the passages of his owne Countrey by which the French Armes should enter Italie to the aid of Mantoa But to be knowne it is that this Duke of Savoy is an old a subtill and an inconstant Prince jealous enough as all the States of Italie are of the Spaniards greatnesse and for his owne advantage will as readily turne to the French as he did now to the Spaniard With the King of 〈◊〉 he hath not any negotiation save good correspondencie And because betwixt these two Crownes there is not any pretencion of State or interest of Consines which are wont to be causes from whence discords arise and also for the most part evill intelligence among Princes As the Turke is Lord of a larger Sea-coast than the King so can he hardly compare with his Majesty either in furniture or mariners Along all the coast of Africke he hath not an harbour where he can build or keepe a couple of Gallies except Algier and Tripolie In the Euxine sea what place of name is there besides Capha and Trapezond What better report can we give to the coast of Asia More implements than a spacious Sea-coast are incident on either part to this businesse he must have plenty of Timber and Cordage he must be furnished with a people practised in Sea-affaires able to endure the labour and working of the waters delighting in traffike and navigation chearefull in tempests and rough weather which dare dwell as it were amongst perils and expose their lives to a thousand dangers and here in true judgement I take the King to exceed the Turke For the Turkish subjects as to the better part never saw Sea and those that have used it are not to bee compared to the Biskaines Catalonians Portugals and Genoâ—ais I adde this people for their good services and affections at all times to this Crowne To conclude in two things the King excelleth the Turke the first is that although the Turke can command more men yet the best and greater part of them being Christians he dare hardly trust the second that the Sea-coasts of the King are neerer conjoyned than those of the Turke and in that regard hath his forces sooner incorporated By this facilitie experience hath proved that the Easterne Navies have been often overthrowne by the Westerne the Southerne by the Northerne the Carthaginian by the Roman the Asian by the Grecian Octavius Caesar with the Navie of Italy defeated the Fleet of Aegypt and in our times the Armada of the Christians the Fleet of the Turke The Turkes themselves confesse that in Sea-fights the Christians excell and are unwilling to deale with those forces As often as Charles the fifth rigged forth his Navie it was so puissant that the Turke never durst leave the harbour In his journey of Algier he rigged five hundred vessels in his Tunis voyage 600. Andrew Dorie conducted 10 gallant an Armada into Greece that the Turke not daring to move out of his station the Christians tooke Patras and Coronna in Morea At this day they are at peace The Spaniard is doubtfull of the Turkish forces especially by Sea if he be not assisted by the league of Italie And againe the Turke is fearefull of him alone and of his associates For he knowes he is to deale with a Potentate of much estimation and well practised in the world and although of late there have fallen out betweene them certaine jarres and differences upon dammages done by the one and the other Prince reciprocally in each others dominions yet it is to be thought that these two so powerfull Princes will not easily bee brought to take Armes seeing they emulate each others greatnesse and contented with equall strife to bring all Christendome to their subjection pretending both one and the selfe-same end viz. Religion Besides it is sufficient for the Catholike King to have revenged his wrongs and for the Turke that he is no more molested by the Spanish Armadaes As the one hath a warlike and well armed Empire so hath the other an united and most rich Kingdome But herein the Turke hath the greater advantage that he spendeth but little in the warres in regard of that that not onely the King of Spaine disburseth but even all the Princes of the world For his souldiers receive for their pay those lands which he hath given them to hold for life with condition annexed alwayes to bee in readinesse to serve at an instant Certaine it is that the Turke being dreadfull to Christendome the Spaniard is the ablest to oppose him For which reason Andreas Hoia would needs perswade us that it were best for Christendome to chuse the Spaniard for their universall Monarch but Boccalini argues better that it had beene more convenient for Europe if the Moores had still beene Lords of Spaine Most sure it is that the Protestants yea all Christians in Hungaria live better under the Turke than under the house of Austria The Spaniards bee intolerable masters witnesse the poore Indians Hoia therefore vented this in an Oration at Doway to inflame our English fugitives
to treason His Land-forces consist in Cavalrie and Infanterie the best footmen of all the German Nations is the Wallon and it is well knowne that in all ages the Spanish have beene accounted one of the most valourous Nations of the world The French in nine yeares were subdued to the Roman yoke the Spaniards held out two hundred The power and person of Augustus Caesar were requisite to the subduing of the Cantabrians whereas they not onely delivered their owne Country from subjection of the Moores but invaded Africke and therein tooke many strong places So the Portugals invaded Barbarie tamed the coast of Guinea Aethiopia and Cafraria they conquered India Malaca and the Moluccas The Castilians sailing through the Atlanticke sea subdued the New-world with all the Kingdomes Provinces and people therein and finally drove the French from Naples Sicil and Millaine This people is much inclined to melancholy which maketh them solemne in their conversation slow and advised in action they love complement and stand much upon appearance presuming greatly of themselves and exceedingly boasting of their owne doings and to maintaine their reputation they will imploy all they have in furniture and apparelâ— in suffering of hunger thirst heat cold labour and extremities they will lay up any Nation in Europe By these vertues they have atchieved the glory of so many victories and although somtime they have beene overcome notwithstanding they vanquished their vanquishers as it fell out at Ravenna They never suffered any famous defeature but in the journeys of Algier and England the one by the casualty of Tempest the other by the skilfull prowesse and Sea-faring dexterity of the English Three or foure thousand of them turned topsie-turvie the better part of Germanie and made way with their Swords thorow the thickest of their enemies In the journey of Carven in Barbarie being foure thousand foot souldiers of great valour they made a brave retreit the space of foure or five miles beset and charged with twenty thousand horse by the King of the Moores at least five or six times with the losse onely of eighty men and the slaughter of eight hundred of the enemie They serve better on foot than on horsebacke although they have horses of excellent courage and better with the Harquebuze than with any other kind of weapon With great care they will cover their losses and weaknesse As concerning their Cavalrie it cannot be gain-said but that the Spanish Genet is the noblest horse of Christendome farre excelling the Courser of Naples or the horse of Burgundie so much esteemed of the French of the Freeslander and in so great request with the Germans It should seeme that nature herselfe hath armed this people in giving them the Iron Mines of Biskay Guipuscoa and Medina with the temperature of Baion Bilbo Toledo and Calataiut the Armories of Millan Naples and Boscoducis the corne and provision of the inexhaustible Garners of Apulia Sicil Sardinia Artesia Castile and Andaluzia with the plentifull vintages of Soma Calabria San Martin Aymont and sundry other places To conclude this Prince is so mighty in gold and silver that there with to spare his owne people ingaged in the defence of so many Territories Provinces and Frontiers from undoubted destruction he is able to wage what numbers of horsemen and footmen of the German and Italian Nations it pleaseth him The Princes whose dominions are bordering and in regard of their forces are any way able to endanger his dominions are the Venetians the Kings of France and England and the Turke The Venetians long since the Duchie of Millan came to the possession of this Crowne have set them downe with great quietnesse rather looking to the strengthning and keeping of their owne Townes and peeces than-to the winning of others from their neighbours And good reason it is sithence peace is the surest anchor-hold of their Common-wealth Concerning France sithence the French Nation hath put an end to their civill discontents what Trophee or Triumph can the Spaniard boast to have carried from them Indeed it cannot be denied but in elder dayes the warinesse of the one hath turned the furious attempts of the other to matter of too late repentance For the great Captaine surprizing Barletta and then encamping upon the banks of Gariglano first tooke from them the possession of the Kingdome of Naples and afterwards all hope of regaining it againe By the same temporizing Anthony Leva wearied King Francis at Ticinum and Prosper Collonna cleared the Duchie of Millan In assaulting of Townes and Fortresses I confesse fury to be of great moment I confesse likewise that by this vertue the French prevailed at Ioious Momedium and Caleis but in set battels as at Graveling Saint Quintins and Siena most commonly they have had the foile for in the field good order skilfull conduct doth more prevaile than valour and furious resolution In all assaults fury and resolution more than counsell or temporizing In the East Indies he confineth with the King of Persia betwixt whom there is not any evill intelligence but contrariwise rather great tokens of much love and amitie as by whose helpe that King hopeth to finde meanes to overthrow the Turke Howbeit hee hath very oftentimes denied him assistance and aid in those warres which hee made against the house and family of Ottoman being very much urged and sought unto by the Persian to send unto him some of his people men expert and skilfull in casting of great Ordnance as also in building of Forts and other the like matters of defence and assistance Excusing himselfe with the perill of his Religion which doth not permit Christian Princes to lend aid unto Infidels though indeed the true cause was because he would not thereby give an occasion of future trouble molestation to himselfe by communicating these two advantages so important in war in his navigation to the Indies which are adjoyning to the Persian Sea But the Persians taking Ormuz from the Portugal shews that they do not at this day much regard the Spaniard With the King of Fesse and Morocco his Catholike Majestie is in league upon interest of those States which hee possesseth in Africa His Catholike Majestie would very willingly that the great Duke of Tuscanie should wholly depend upon him but he is so farre from that that he doth not onely depend but in many occasions hath still shewed himselfe opposite unto this Crowne and hath lately discovered himselfe to be a welwiller to the Crowne of France by joyning alliance with the most Christian King and therefore it is not likely that any good intelligence can bee betwixt them In like manner the Ambassadour of Tuscanie is but of indifferent regard in that Court but since the Emperour and the Duke are allied by marriage there is greater respect The Duke of Parma is not onely a devout servant and a neere kinsman but also a subject to this Crowne by the
Citie of Placentia and therefore wholly depends thereupon having taken a secret oath to obey him in all commands Proceeding with all possible respect not to give the least occasion of offence by reason that the investiture of Placentia was not granted absolutely to the house of Farnesi but only to the fourth descendencie after which it returnes againe to the King of Spaine as Duke of Millan And therefore his Excellencie that hee may not separate himselfe from his Majesties good liking did lately refuse to linke himselfe in alliance with the great Duke lest hee should displease the King whose minde he saw was bent against 〈◊〉 The Duke of Vrbine being a Prince of small power wholly relies upon his Majestie as receiving his greatest benefit from him to whom he hath committed the charge of all his Italian Cavalrie The Common-wealth of Genoa is like a ship beaten at Sea and tost with contrary winds tempestuous stormes placed as it were betwixt two anchors which are Prince Doria a true borne Citizen and the Ambassadour of the Catholike King who hath the protection thereof in his Masters name to his great benefit If ever he chance to become Sole-Lord thereof it will adde a greater Dominion to his greatnesse for the nature and quality of the situation of that Citie whereof the Spaniards were wont to say That if the King their Master were but once Lord of Marsettes in Provence and of Genoa in Italy by the benefit of these two famous ports hee might easily arrive to the Monarchie of the whole World But howbeit the King of Spaine be not Lord thereof nor yet hath so great a part therein that he can assuredly say that it wholly rests at his command yet by favouring and upholding the greatnesse of the Prince Doria he maketh him the Instrument to serve his turne and by his meanes obtaineth what hee will or can in reason desire of that people deeply interessed in regard that his Majestie hath taken up great summes of money upon interest of them and therefore will take heed how they breake with him lest they be hindred of their gaines peradventure of their principall It hath beene thought that some Kings have beene behinde hand with them for more than a million and a halfe of gold How much Genoa depends upon him was seene in these late warres in which they were wholly protected by him Of the Religion of Malta the said King taketh a particular protection as that in like sort depends wholly upon his pleasure and doth readily execute his royall commandements serving his turne oftentimes in keeping the Coasts of Spaine and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicily from the incursions of Pyrates and that without any one penie cost or charges to the said King whereof in proper place The Seigniory of Lucca hath placed both it selfe and all that it hath fearing the potencie of the great Duke under the protection of his Majesty In generall the Spanish Nation beareth little love to the Venetian Common-wealth as suspecting it to favour the French and for the strict friendship which it holds with the most Christian King and the most renowned State of England of late his apparant and professed Enemies Againe there is also little inclination of love towards this State because they thinke that it maketh profession to ballance the States and Forces of the Princes of Italy and though they esteeme well enough of it yet they love it not a jot Notwithstanding the Spaniards know that in those warres which may happen betwixt the Turks and this people they cannot out of their particular interests but aid and assist them and that on the contrary from them they have no hope of retribution unlesse in like occasion But withall they assuredly beleeve that the aids which they shall afford it shall be but feeble and slowly subministred in such sort that they shall not give it any great re-enforcement but only such as may be sufficient to save it from ruine yea scarce that Finally for a perfect review of this tedious discourse I wil recite unto you these weighty secret and last instructions given by Philip the second King of Spaine to his son Philip the third father of this present King teaching him how to governe himselfe and his Kingdomes after the decease of his said father brought to light by a servant of Don Christophero di Mora called Roderigo and translated out of Spanish and Dutch into English that the world may see how judiciously this manuscript of the Kings owne hand agreeth with the purport of these Relations SOnne I have often troubled my mind and entered into most deepe and serious considerations how to leave a quiet and setled estate unto you after my decease Howbâ—â—â— neither the long time of my life nor the opportunity of Princes affected to my service would afford me sufficient assistance in this behalfe I confesse that I have spent more than 594. millions of Duckets in lieu whereof I have enjoyed nothing the space of three and thirty yeares but heart-sorrow and vexation of spirit True it is that I recovered Portugal but as lightly as France is escaped from me so likewise may Portugal slide backe Would to God I had followed the counsell of Charles the Emperour my Lord Father of famous memory for then could I much more quietly brooke those my sorrowes and die with a more willing minde leaving to you the succession of this mortall life This then besides so many stately Kingdomes and Seigniories as a perpetuall testament I leave behinde unto you as a mirrour and Looking-glasse wherein you may see how to frame your actions and to carry your selfe in your government after my death Alwayes looke well to the charges and alterations of other States and Countries to the end you make use and reap good profit thereby as occasion shall serve and withall have a cautelous and circumspect eye over them that be in Counsell with you Two meanes you have whereby to maintaine your Spanish Kingdomes the one is Government the other the Trade of the Indies Touching your Government you must draw unto you and relie either upon the Nobilitie or the Spiritualtie of your Dominions If you leane unto the Spiritualtie you must seeke to briâ—ile and curbe the other as I have done but if you meane to strengthen your selfe with the Nobility cut short the Livings and Revenues of the Spiritualtie as much as is possible For holding them both in equall favour they will consume you and besides you shall set your Realmes out of quiet and never come to resolution the ballance being over-weighed sometimes by the one and sometimes by the other My Counsell is that you hold in league with the Provinces of the Netherlands especially if you meane to helpe your selfe with the Nobilitie for they be friends to France England the German Princes And neither Italy Poland Sweden nor Denmarke can stand you much in stead As for the King of Denmarke
hee getteth his Revenues by forren Nations Sweden is alwayes at division and unfit in regard of situation The Polacks be as Masters over their Kings Italy though it be rich yet it is farre distant from these before named besides that all the Princes therein are of divers humours and dispositions But on the other side the Netherlands are exceeding populous and abound mightily in shipping the Inhabitants being a people most constant in labours diligent in searching out things profitable couragious in their attempts patient in adversitie True it is that I have bestowed those Provinces upon your Sister Isabella Clara Eugenia howbeit in the transport thereof are comprized an hundred meanes whereby you may helpe your selfe The principall whereof be that you are Tutor and over-seer of all her children and that shee may alter nothing in the Catholike Religion These two maine points being taken away you are absolutely dispossessed and quit of the Netherlands and other Kings would be so forward to draw them unto their allegeance that it may haply redound to your overthrow Contrariwise if you meane to rely and cleave to the Clergie and State Spirituall you shall purchase your selfe many enemies I have had the experience thereof but hold all correspondencie with the Popes Give them much bee friendly alwayes to them Entertaine such Cardinals as be most in credit with them Make your selfe Master of the Conclave Make much of the German-Princes Bishops and use to bestow no more pension on them by the hand of the Emperour but deale so as they may acknowledge your selfe for the giver surely they will serve you the more willingly and receive your gifts with greater gladnesse As for them that be of baser degree and qualitie let them not come neere you and so shall you seeme to give your Nobilitie and Commons the better countenance For certainly I must needs say their pride is great they are mighty in substance whatsoever they desire must be done they will be chargeable unto you and in the end will seeke to rule your Scepter Wherefore make your partie good by the meanes of such as are descended of Noble parentage and great Families and promote them now and then to some Spirituall livings The common sort is not so serviceable for they will procure you such unspeakable hatred as that thereby you might be forced to consume your treasure and therefore repose your trust in none of them unlesse they be of great qualitie Abandon and shake off your English Spies Cleare your selfe of the French charges Vse the service of some part of the Netherlandish Nobilitie so that you may joyne and knit them unto your best and most trusty subjects Now as concerning the travell and Navigation to the East and West Indies therein doth consist all the power and might of the Kingdome of Spaine as likewise the straining and bridling of the Italians France and England cannot be debarâ—ed from medling with the aforesaid Trade and Navigation their powers be great their Sea-men be many their Seas be too large their Merchants too rich their Captaines and souldiers too greedie of money and their subjects too trustie I have for your sake in the transport of the Low-Countries put down a proviso altogether to restrain the Netherlanders from dealing in the aforesaid Trade but I feare that time and men will prove changeable wherefore you must doe two things First alter often your Governours Secondly those which you draw from thence you shall put in Office here at home and make them of the Councell of India in Spaine So shall you never in my opinion be deceived but both parties will discover your profit and seeke their owne honour If you perceive the Englishmen prepare to bereave you of these commodities as being strong both in shipping and Mariners for the French I make small account see that you strengthen your selfe with the Netherlands notwithstanding that a great part of them be Hereticks and would so continue with condition that they shall have full liberty to utter all their commodities in Spaine and Italy paying their royall Incomes and Customes and all duties belonging unto you and then also you may grant unto them passage to travell and trade unto your East and West Indies provided that they put in good security in Spaine and take upon them a corporall oath that upon their returne from the Indies they shall arrive in some part of Spaine and there to unload upon paine of death if they shall be found to doe otherwise Mine opinion is that they will never refuse to accept of this easie condition and to accomplish the same and by these meanes shall the Indian and Spanish be linked and knit to the Netherlandish trade and England and France must then live upon their owne purses My Sonne I could relate unto you more secrets for the conquests of other Kingdomes and Countries but all such advertisements with the discourses thereupon delivered unto me and by me amended you shall finde in my Cabinet Cause Christopher de Moro immediately to deliver the key unto you lest these so weighty secrets come into the hands of some other Vpon the seventeenth of September I caused the transcript or last scribled coppy of these remembrances being in divers places intâ—rlined amended and altered to be cast into the fire but I feare somewhat thereof might underhand be kept and reserved wherefore set your eares to hearken thereafter I have this present day added thus much If you can deale with Antonio Peres to draw him into Italie or at least to procure him to doe you service in some other Countries but into Spaine or the Netherlands 〈…〉 come Touching your marriage the particular writings thereof remaine under the custodie of the Secretarie Moreover remember that you often read over this signed Bill and these Writings here-about was never any body in counsell with me but mine owne hand Have alwayes an especiall care over your Counsellors and over those that are neere unto you The deciphering of Letters you must your selfe take upon you Doe not offend nor anger your Secretaries deliver them alwayes worke of small or great importance make proofe of them rather by your enemies than by your friends And although you be enforced to discover your secrets to your dearest favourites yet locke the chiefest alwayes within your owne brest Thus much gentle Reader as it is thought hath beene saved out of those notes and writings which were seene to be burned and this I thought good to publish for the common understanding Portugal THis Kingdome which is not above 320. miles long and sixtie broad not very populous and but meanly rich in essentiall revenues by navigation and Acquisition of late dayes it held equall ranke with the most famous Provinces of the world yea this humour of industrie so possessed their minds that they solely undertooke the famous expeditions of Barbarie Aethiopia India and Brasile Wherein within these hundred yeares they have taken and fortified the principall places
The English by reason of their great puissance have of late builded the fairest ships of the World for that onely trade and therein as now seated a hopefull and peaceable Factorie The Roman Empire or Germanie THis Empire in its greatest glory viz. in the dayes of Trajan stretched from the Irish Ocean and beyond from the Atlantik to the Persian Gulfe and from Catnes in Scotland to the River Albis and beyond to the Danubie It began first to decline by the civill warres of Galba Otho and Vttellius for in those times the Legions of Britanie were transported into the Continent Holland and the bordering Countries revolted and immediately after the Sarazens finding the Frontiers of the Empire without Garrisons passed over Danubius The Alani won the Streights of the Caspian Hils the Persians endevoured to get them a name and reputation the Goths wandered thorowout Moesia and Macedonia the French-men entred Gallia But Constantine the Emperour restored it to the former glory made an end of civill Warre and tamed the barbarous and cruell Nations and had hee not committed two great faults this Empire might long have flourished The first was the translating of the Imperiall Seat from Rome to Constantinople which action weakened the West and overthrew the Empire as Plants removed out of their naturall soile and transported into Regions contrary in temperature and aire retaine small vigour of their radicall vertue as also because the manly and martiall people of Europe if they should rebell could not be reduced to obedience by the power of the effeminate Asians whom or none the Emperours of Constantinople must of necessity make use of by reason of their situation In which regard the Roman Senate would never consent that the people should leave Rome and dwell at Veij a Citie farre more pleasant and more commodious than Rome especially after the sacking thereof by the French-men The second fault of Constantine was the division of the Empire to his children Anno Dom. 341. By this division of one Empire he made three and withall a memorable diminution of his authoritie and forces For when his sonnes fell to civill dissention they consumed one another so cruelly that the Empire resembled a bloudlesse yea a livelesse body And though sometime under some one Prince it stood on foot againe yet it remained alwayes subject to division and parted into two Empires the East and the West untill the comming of Odoacer King of the Herules and Turingi into Italy with a mightie Hoast by which invasion Augustulus suffered such irrecoverable losses that in extreme despaire hee was forced to cast himselfe into the protection of the East Empire This happened in the yeare of our Lord 476. And about this time the Hunnes passed Danubius Alaricus King of the Gothes tooke Rome the Vandals first spoiled Andaluzia afterwards Africke the Alans wonne Portugal the Gothes conquered the greater part of Spaine the Saxons Britanie the Burgundians Provence Anno 556. Iustinian restored it somewhat to a better State driving the Vandals out of Africke and the Gothes out of Italy by his Captaines But this faire weather lasted not long for in the yeare 713. the Armes and Heresies of the Mahumetans began to vex the East Empire and shortly after the Saâ—â—â— zons wasted Syria Aegypt the Archipelago Africke Sieâ— and Spaine In the yeare 735. they vanquished Narbon Avignon Tolouse Burdeaux and the bordering Regions Thus by little and little began the Westerne Empire to droope and as it were to draw towards his last age As for the Easterne it stood so weake and tottering that with all the force it had it was scarce able to defend Constantinople against the Armes of the Sarazens much lesse to minister aid to the Westerne Provinces But in the yeare of our Lord 800. Charles the Great King of France obtained the Title of the Westerne Empire and in some sort mitigated the fury of these barbarous Nations And thus the Westerne Empire stood then divided That Naples and Sipont East-ward with Sicil should belong to the Greek Empire Bononia should remaine to the Lumbards the Venetians were Neuters the Popedome free the rest Charles should possesse Blondus saith that the Empresse Irene gave the first counsell to this division which afterwards was confirmed by Nicephorus For before Charles his time there was one forme of Government and the Laws Magistracies and ordinances which were enacted for the well-fare of one Empire tended to the good and honour of both as to the members of one body and if one Emperour died without issue the whole Empire remained to the survivour But when Charles the great was chosen Emperour of the West there was no more regard taken of the East Empire neither the Emperour of the East had to doe with the West nor the West with the East The Empire of the West continued in this line above one hundred yeares and failed in Arnolph the last of that house In the yeare 1453. Mahumet Prince of the Turkes tooke Constantinople and utterly extinguished the succession of the Easterne Empire And as for the West viz. Italy the Emperour hath no more to doe therein than hath a pilgrime who is admitted to visit the wonders of our Lady of Loretto For in the yeare of Christ. 1002. all claime of inheritance rejected the Creation of the Emperour was granted to the free election of seven Princes termed Electors The reason why the Empire became elective which had so long continued hereditary in the House of Charles was because Otho the third left no issue male After whom the Westerne Empire was marvellously curtailed and diminished nothing being left but Germanie and a part of Italy The Pope held Romagnia the Venetians lived free possessing great Dominions joyned to their State the Normans taking Naples and Sicil from the Greekes held them in Fee of the Church first under Clement the Antipope then under Nicholas the second and his successours who for their private gaine ratified the former grant of Clement Antipope In Tuscane and Lumbardie partly by the quarrels betweene Henry the fourth Henry the fifth Fredericke the first and Fredericke the second with the Roman Bishops partly by reason of the valour of the Inhabitants the Emperour reaped more labour than honour more losse than profit And therefore Rodulphus terrified with the misfortunes and crosses of his predecessours had no great minde to travell into Italy but sold them their liberties for a small matter They of Luques paid ten thousand crownes the Florentines but six thousand And so every State by little and little forsaking the Emperour no part of Italy remained but the bare Title The Dukes of Millaine and so every other state usurped what they could catch without leave asking only they desired their investiture of the Empire But Francis after the conquest therof did little regard this investiture saying That hee was able to keepe it by the same meanes that hee had got it The Princes beyond the Mountaines also withdrew their
is brought out of Germanie The Countie is so populous and so replenished with buildings in all places that here are credibly affirmed 29237. Cities Townes and Villages to be numbred Others say 780. Castles and walled Townes and 32. thousand Villages Here is also plentie of Fowle and great store of Fresh-water Fish by reason of the great Lakes which are found in many places of this Kingdome The people are for the most part Lutherans and their language is more than halfe Polish They are a free people and after the death of their King they may make choice of whom they will to be their Governour So did they lately chuse Matthias And for their more strength and better securitie against the Romanists they linked themselves with the Silesians their next neighbours in a perpetuall and firme bond of amitie offensive and defensive against all men whatsoever The people of Bohemia live in great plentie and delicacie they much resemble the English the women be very beautifull white-handed but luxurious and that with libertie of their husbands also They are divided in opinion of Religion the Protestants of the Augustane Confession being so potent that they were able to chuse a King and to put out the Emperour Their Kingdome is meerely elective although by force and faction now almost made hereditary to the House of Austria which it seemes it was not when as within these two Ages that State made choice of one M. Tyndall and English Gentleman father to M. Doctor Tyndall Master of Queenes College in Cambridge sending over their Ambassadors to him and by them their presents which story is famously knowne in Cambridge Their chiefe Citie Prague is one of the greatest of Christendome as being three townes in one each divided from other by the River Multaw and all three conjoyned by a goodly woodden bridge of foure and twenty arches by it runnes the famous Elve which receives two others into him in that Country Eger and Wattz The Kingdome hath many mighty men of estate into whose Lordships the Countrey is altogether divided and not as others into Shires and Counties The King hath three silver Mines and one of gold some pearles are there found also The tinne Mines there were first found by an English Tinner who fled thither for debt and is the best of Europe next our English All the Nobilitie and Gentrie are by their tenures obliged when their King is in the field to wait upon him on horsebacke completely armed which are enow to make an Army of twenty or thirty thousand This service the Protestants promised to King Fredericke of late but the tenth man appeared not They serve willinger on horsebacke than on foot and are rather for a Summer service than to lie in the field all Winter and yet are every way better souldiers than the Germans The Protestants were suffered to plant and increase there by the craft and plot of Cardinall Glessel who was governour to the Emperour Matthias his pretence was that they would bee a sure bulwarke against the Turke should spare the service and lives of the Catholikes this was his pretence but his plot was an expectation of some stirres to be raised by them which some lay he did in hatred of the house of Austria whom hee desired to see set besides the cushion others imagine it was but a tricke to make the great men of the Protestants to forfeit their Estates Howsoever the plot tooke and the Cardinall after the taking of Prague being invited to a banquet by the Elector of Mentz was by him sent prisoner to Rome where he remained two yeares but was afterward both inlarged and rewarded And this was one of the secrets of the Mysterie of iniquitie Moravia lying on the East of Bohemia so named of the River Mora for the bignesse thereof affordeth more corne than any Country of Europe It aboundeth also with good and pleasant wine like unto Rhenish and is wonderfully replenished in all parts with faire Cities Towns Villages all built of stone or bricke It is very mountainous and woody but the South part is more champian It containes two Earledomes one Bishopricke divers Baronies two good Cities and foure or six faire Townes The people be very martiall and fierce especially the mountainers who stood so stoutly to King Frederick at the battell of Prague that had all the rest of the Army done so the Kingdome had not beene lost It is a free State like Poland and may make choice of whom they will to be the Lord whose stile is to be called Margrave of Moravia And for that informer times the Emperour and Matthias his brother offered them some wrongs concerning religion they have sithence contracted a league offensive and defensive with the Nobility of Hungarie and Austria as well against the invasions of the Turke as the oppressions of the Romanists Amongst these Provinces Silesia and Lusatia are as large as Bohemia but in strength and numbers of people farre inferiour These two Provinces with Moravia are incorporate to the Crowne of Bohemia Silesia lies on the East of Bohemia Poland on the South of it to which it sometimes belonged Hungaria and Moravia on the East It is two hundred miles long and fourescore broad It is a most delicate and a plentifull Country finely divided in the middle by the faire River Oder on which stand foure or five handsome Cities the chiefe of which is Breslaw the Bishop whereof is for his revenue called the golden Bishop here is also an Vniversity Niesse is also another Bishopricke who now is a Cardinall The people especially of the Cities be civill and generous nor is there any where a more gallant or warlike Gentry which the Turke well tried in the warres of Hungarie for very sufficient serviters they be both on horse and foot and they are able to levie great numbers The government is Aristocraticall that is by the States yet in most things a dependant upon the will of the King of Bohemia It was sometimes divided amongst fifteene Dukes but all their families being extinct nine of those Lordships are escheated to the King of Bohemia the other six still remaine amongst three of the heires of the ancient owners The two Dukedomes of Oppelen and Ratibor in this Country were by this present Emperour given to Bethlem Gabor in consideration of his relinquishment of the Crowne of Hungaria For which two Dukedomes and for the lands of the old Marquesse of Iegerensdorff in Lusatia who being prescribed by the Emperour and beaten out by the Duke of Saxony fled to Bethlem Gabor who had newly married his neece that is the sister to the present Elector of Brandenburgh whose fathers brother this Iegerensdorff was For these lands I say came part of the discontents still depending betweene Bethlem Gabor and the Emperour T is reported that if King Frederick would have laid downe his right to Bohemia the Emperour would have beene content to have made him King of Silesia
effusion of bloud than any the mercilesse Tyrants of the former Monarchies As for the College of Cardinals It stretcheth out the Westerne Churches on the Tenter-hookes of Vain-glory and Authority suffering no man no not so much as in thought if it were possible to depresse or question the privileges of religious persons who according to their meanes live in great State keepe Curtizans travell in Carosses though but for a quarter of a mile to the Consistory solemnize feasts and banquets make shew of ceremonies and are in truth of no Religion So that if a man were an Atheist and had no conscience to beleeve that God must one day call us to account for our transgressions I had rather live a religious man in Rome than be a Nobleman in Naples who of all men living wash their hands most in carelesnesse being never disturbed with worldly cares or incumbrances The great Duke of Tuscanie IT lieth betweene the Apenine and the Sea and containeth from Magra to Tenere above two hundred threescore and ten miles It hath larger Champians than Liguria because the Apenine stretcheth not so neere the Sea and so inlargeth the plaine In it are many large valleyes populous and rich in commodities But to speake of particulars when we are past Magra Sarazana offereth it selfe to our view a Citie holden by the Genoise with great jealousie by reason of the neighbour-hood of the great Duke and a little higher lieth Pentrimoli a Castle belonging to the King of Spaine of great account and situated not farre from the Sea then Massa and Carrara places famous for their quarries of white Marble Lucca standeth on the River Serichio Pisa on Arno and beyond the Citie of Florence To the State whereof belongeth Pistoia Volterra Montepulcino Arezzo Cortona Those of Lucca doe stand upon their guard for maintenance of their liberties The Citie is three miles in compasse strong in situation and wals and well stored with Artillery and Munition On the North it confineth Carfagnana a fruitfull Valley and well inhabited with serviceable people on the other parts it is incompassed with the Territories appertaining to the Great Duke Pisa was once of such wealth that at one instant the Citizens thereof held warre against the Venetians and the Genois They grew great by the overthrow which the Sarazens gave to the Genois in the yeare 1533. the remainder of which defeature was received into the protection of their Citie and declined by the slaughter of their people and also of their Navie given them by the Genois neere to the Isle Giglio For thereby they became so weake that not able to sustaine their wonted reputation they were forced to submit themselves under the protection of Florentines against whom when Charles the eighth invaded Italy they rebelled But being againe reduced to their former obedience the Citie notwithstanding was in a manner left desolate because the Citizens impatient of the Florentines government passed into Sardinia Sicil and other places to inhabit So that the place wanting Inhabitants and the Countrey people to manure it the situation thereof being low and moorish by reason of Fens and Marishes it became infectious Cosmo the great Duke undertooke to re-people it againe and to further his intention he builded there a stately house for the receit of the Knights of Saint Stephen gracing it with many privileges which yet to this day remaine unaltered As also by founding an Vniversitie by easing the people of many taxes and by dwelling himselfe amongst them two or three moneths in the yeare Florence is the fairest Citie in Italy it is in compasse six miles It is divided into foure and fortie Parishes and into one and twentie Companies It hath in it threescore and six Monasteries and seven and thirtie Hospitals The Citizens bought their freedome of the Emperour Rodolfe for six thousand Crownes as they of Lucca theirs for 10000. In whose time and ever since it hath flourished in great prosperity For upon occasion the City is able to arme 30000 men and the Country 60000. It is strongly walled the situation thereof being low especially on the North side but on the other parts is somewhat subject to the command of certaine hills which overlooke it the inconvenience whereof they have prevented by fortifications It hath a Citadell built by Duke Alexander and after inlarged by Cosmo. The streets thereof are straight large and very cleane kept There are to be seene the most artificiall buildings of all Europe both publike and private Charles Arch-Duke of Austrich was wont to say that it was a City not to be showne but on Holidaies No soile is tilled with more art diligence and curiosity for you shall see one little peece of ground to bring forth Wine Oyle Corne Pulse and Fruits Notwithstanding it will not afford sufficient victuals for a third part of the yeere to remedy which scarcity it was not without good reason that they spent two millions of Crownes for the recovery of Pisa. The last Duke became an earnest Petitioner to the Pope that he might be created King of Tuscanie but the Pope not brooking so lordly a Title in so neere a neighbour answered that hee was content that hee should bee King in Tuscanie but not King of Tuscanie which scholler-like distinctions great Princes cannot well digest The qualities of the Tuscans appeare by the excellency of the Florentines whom Nature above all the Provinces of Italy hath adorned with sharpnesse of wit frugality providence industry and speciall insight into the Negotiations of Peace and Warre yea their continuall dissentions and hazzards wherein they have almost lived from the first foundation of their city I doe to nothing so much attribute as to the sharpnesse of their wits So the civill discords of the Pistolians did not onely ruinate their owne estate but therein likewise ingaged Florence yea and as a man may say drew all Tuscanie after it by the factions of the Neri and Bianchi for thus it happened Two young men descended of Noble Families falling out the one of them chanced to be lightly hurt the Father of the other to extinguish all sparkes of malice and that no further inconveniencie should arise upon that quarrell sent his sonne to aske forgivenesse of him that was hurt but the effect insued contrary to his expectation for the Father of the wounded Gentleman caused his servants to lay hold on him and cut off his hands and so sending him backe againe willed him to tell his Father that wounds were not cured with Words but with Weapons Hereupon grew betweene those two Families a mortall and cruell warre which drew the rest of the Cities into the quarrell and was the cause of great effusion of bloud yea the Florentines in stead of executing due punishment upon the principall authors of the faction received the banished on both sides into their City where the Donati undertaking the protection of the Neri and the Chersi of the Bianchi
all the City became to bee divided into Neri and Bianchi this sedition was not of long time after pacified Arezzo being by long dissention amongst themselves almost brought to wracke as the other cities of Tuscane likewise were was sold to the Florentines by Lewis of Anjou for forty thousand Florens of gold and not many yeeres after Cortona by King Ladislaus With the State of Florence doth confine that of Sienna a City builded by the Senoni and of late time become subject to the house of Medici It is five miles in compasse strong by situation and whereunto Cosmo the great Duke adjoyned a Citadell From Florence it is not above thirty three miles distant but the people thereof are much differing in Manners as also disposition they sparing slow and unsociable towards Strangers these bountifull and of kinde entertainment they loth to part with money and provident these liberall and onely caring for the present they grave melancholie and alwaies expecting their profit these plaine and of cheerefull countenance the one inclined to traffique and gaine the other content with their Revenues and the fruits of their Farmes Sienna hath a large and fruitfull Territory wherein are contained in the Cities of Pienza Montalcino Chiusi Soana and in Maremma Massa and Crosseâ—o the ports of Orbetelio Portercole with twenty six other walled Townes The coast beginneth at Capiglia and extendeth to the little River of Fiore being all good soile for Corne but the aire is so infectious that none live long therein The ports doe all belong to the King of Spaine together with the Hill Argentino a place famous by the discourse which Claudius Ptolomeus made thereof for the excellency of the situation fit for the building of a royall Citie Next this Province beginneth the patrimony of Saint Peter bequeathed to the Church by the Countesse Matilda These may be partly ghessed at by the numbers of people which not to over-reach with the Italians are valued 800000. soules or perchance a million in all his dominions So then out of every 16000. people to allow three hundred souldiers which is the proportion of the Muster-books in Prato then will 800000. people allow 15000. souldiers and though the Duke as some writers affirme hath sometimes confessed that he hath thirty or 36000. souldiers yet I suppose you shall doe him no wrong not to allow him above 20000. in ordinary seeing a Captaine of their owne at once confessed but 15000. These are trained once a moneth except in Florence where they are not suffered to weare Armes the liberty to weare which causes divers to sue to be souldiers those in ordinary pay are bestowed in his Garrisons Thirty Castles and Forts he hath and in some of them fifty in others but fifteene souldiers Sixteene Cities with Garrison also he hath in some of which he keepes not much above the said number though in others two or three hundred He hath in ordinary for his Guard one hundred horse at six and thirty shillings nine pence apeece a moneth and foure hundred light horse more at fifteene shillings nine pence one other troope of horse he hath for what service and in what pay I know not The Garrison Souldier hath one and twenty shillings a moneth the traine Souldier nothing His Force at Sea he never recovered since the defeat given by the Turkes where hee lost two of his best Gallies and one Galleon His whole Fleet is about twelve Gallies and five Galleasses for honour and increase of his power by Sea hath hee instituted the Knights of the Order of Saint Stephen who are his Commanders His chiefe Port and Arsenall is Porto Ferraro in the I le of Elba Of great Ordnance were told in the Castle of Livorno threescore and foure and in that of Florence one hundred and fifty by which may be ghessed that hee hath no want of munition The charge of his Gallies for these six moneths in which they be commonly at Sea is about 18000. gold Crownes each Crowne worth six shillings sterling There is not so much as a root nor the dunging of an Asse for which something is not paid to the great Duke Victuals Lodging Weddings Bargaines Law-suits setting up of young Tradesmen all must be paid for So that his ordinary and knowne revenue is valued at 1100000. Ducats which comes to 279000. pound sterling a yeere besides his extraordinaries A wonderfull summe for a petty Prince especially in such a thrifty place where all expences defrayed he may in times of peace put up one halfe if not two thirds of his intire Revenue Ordinaries and Extraordinaries arising to one thousand pound a day His neighbour Princes are all jealous of him hee of them and all watchfull one over another But the greatest eye-sore his greatnesse is to the State of Lucca which lies in Tuscany and all the whole length being fifty miles surrounded by this Dukes dominions This makes them at great and continuall charge of Garrisons and to put themselves under the protection of the Spaniard the feare of whose power slaves off the Duke from attempting upon that State which might hee once obtaine hee might truly then write himselfe Great Duke of Tuscany Whereas now having but part of it he may be answered as the Pope did his Predecessor So he may write himselfe the Greatest Duke of all Tuscany rather than The Great Duke of all Tuscany The State of the Kingdome of Naples THe chiefe place hereof in ancient time was Capua the pleasant situation whereof was the overthrow of Hanâ—â—bal and his army Cicero writeth that the Romans were Lords of three imperiall Cities Carthage Corinth and Capua The two first being farre off they utterly ruinated of Capua they long consulted in the end they concluded that it were extreme tyrannie to spoile so noble a city of Italy But for their better security they confiscated the Territories thereof and deprived it of all forme and Majesty of Common-wealth They let the buildings stand to serve for receit of those which should till the ground Naples is now the chiefe seat not onely of Campagnia but of the whole Kingdome and is indeed a princely City it is in compasse seven miles but narrow of late times it is much augmented and would increase continually if the King of Spaine had not forbidden a further increase by building whereunto he was moved partly by the complaints of the Barons whose Tenants to injoy the liberties granted to the Neapolitans did forsake their owne dwelling to seat themselves there partly by the danger of rebellion which in so mighty a City cannot easily be repressed It is strongly walled and hath in it three Castles the chiefe whereof is Castle Novo builded by Charles of Angcow The haven is not large nor safe but that inconvenience is somewhat eased by an artificiall key It hath likewise an Arsenall wherein all Instruments of warre are forged Amongst other religious places of which sort there are many and those
for shipping but Savona had a better if the jealous Genoise had not choaked it The people are wittie active high minded tall of stature and of comely personage They build stately At home they live sparingly abroad magnificently Genoa is now the Metropolitan Citie of the Province and by reason of situation was holden to be one of the Keyes of Italy The people thereof were once very famous for their manifold victories and great command by sea insomuch that wrastling with the Venetians they had almost bereaved them of their estate and taken their Citie But Fortune favouring the Venetians and crossing the Genoise even to their utter undoing ever since this Citie hath declined and that not only in regard of their former defeature and their continuall and civill discords but also for that they have given over their trafficke and care of their publike good and have betaken themselves to live by usury retaile and mechanicall Trades altogether regarding their private benefit whereupon not being of puissance as in former ages to make good their actions they were forced to put themselves under the protection sometimes of the Kings of France and sometimes of the Duke of Millaine and now under the Spanish This hath sometimes beene much more potent and Mistres not only of divers lands in Tuscany as also of the Ilands of Corsica and Sardinia upon the Coast of Italy but of Lesvos Chios and other Ilets in the Greekish Seas of Pera likewise hard by Constantinople of Capha and other places in the Taurica Chersonesus These last places they have lost to the Turkes Sardinia to the Arragonians their possessions in Tuscanie to the great Duke nothing is now left them but Liguria and Corsica Liguria is on the East divided from Tuscanie by the River Macra touching the Apenine hils on the North and on the South open to its owne Sea The length is about fourescore miles the breadth threescore and five It hath some halfe dozen of eight good Townes besides Genoa which Citie being six miles in compasse is for the wealth and buildings called Genoa the proud The people are many whereof eight and twenty Families of Gentlemen out of whom the Councell of foure hundred is chosen The men noted for hastie chopping in of their meat are therefore of bad complexions the women better and in this freer than the rest of Italy that they may be made Court unto whence the proverbe Genoa hath a Sea without fish Mountaines without grasse and Women without honestie They are governed by a Duke but hee is no other but a Maior chosen every yeare and directed by a Councel of 16. Their several factions have brought them to this passe They are great Bankers and mony Masters and seldome is their Protector the King of Spaine out of their debt Their Merchants hold up one another by Families Their Revenues are about 430000. crownes Their force is nothing so great as when they conquered Sardinia Corsica and the Baleares or as when they were able to maintaine seven Armies in the warres of the Holy Land or set forth an hundred threescore and five Gallies in one Fleet. They must by law have alwayes five and twenty Gallies in their Arsenall foure of which are still to scoure the Coasts In Genoa they have a Garrison of the Ilanders of Corsica and there of Genoise Some troopes of horse they keepe to guard their shore But their best strength was five yeares since seene to be the King of Spaine The State of Venice IN the very bottome of the Adriaticke called at this day the Gulfe of Venice is a ridge of Land reaching from the Lime-kils called by them Fornaci to the mouth of the River Piane in forme of a Bow and containeth in length thirty five miles and in bredth two where it is broadest and in some places no more than what an Harquebuze can shoot over This ridge is parted and cut what by the falling of Rivers the working of the Sea into seven principall Ilands the Ports of Brondolo of Chiozzo of Malamoco of the three castles of Saint Erasmus the Lito Maggiore or great shore and the Treports Betweene that part of this ridge which is called Lito and the Continent standeth the Lake of Venice in compasse ninety miles In this Lake is seated the City of Venice upon threescore and twelve Ilands distant from the shore two miles and from the firme land five divided with many Channels some greater some lesser It was begunne to be built in the yeere 421. the five and twentieth of March about noone It increased in people with the report of the Hunnes comming into Italy and more afterwards by the desolation of Aquily and the bordering Cities as Padoa and Monselice destroyed by Agilulfus King of Lombardy Some are of opinion that anciently the Lake reached up as high as Oriago which standeth upon the Brent which being true then was Venice ten miles distant from the Continent The City amongst many other Channels which doe incircle it is divided by one maine Channell for his largenesse called the Grand Canale into two parts whereof the one part looketh South-west the other North-east This Channell in his winding maketh the forme of the letter S. backward And it is the more famous for the admirable prospect of so many most curious and goodly Palaces as are built all the length of it on either side to the astonishment of the beholders Some report that the Channell was the bed of the old River Brenta which it made before the course thereof was turned by making the banke of Leccia fusina and so broke out and emptied it selfe by the mouth which is called the three Castles On the middle of this Channell standeth the bridge of Rialto built first of wood but in our time re-edified and built of stone and that with such excellency of workmanship that it may justly bee numbred amongst the best contrived Edifices of Europe This Bridge joyneth together the two most and best frequented parts of the City the Rialto and Saint Markes Many lesse Channels fall into this which are passed over either by Bridges or Boats appointed for that purpose The City hath in circuit seven miles and yeeldeth an inestimable Revenue About the City especially North-ward lie scattered here and there in the Lake seventy five other Ilands the chiefe whereof are Murano and Burano both for circuit building and number of Inhabitants Especially Murano abounding all over with goodly Houses Gardens and a thousand other objects of delight and pleasure Here are these so famous Glasse-houses where so many admirable inventions in that kinde are made in Gallies Tents Organs and such like whereof the quantity yeerely vented amounteth to 60000. Crownes Now the City of Venice which from her Infancy hath maintained her selfe free and as a Virgin for one thousand and three hundred yeeres and that hitherto hath beene untouched with any injury of War or Rapine amongst
Overland trade of Cloves Nutmegs Ginger Cinamon Pepper Wax Sugars Tapestries Cloths Silkes and Leather with all the commodities of the East doe passe this way and are uttered from hence into the greatest part of Italy and a good part of Germanie The greatnesse of this Trade may the better be perceived by the greatnesse and multitude of private shipping belonging to Citizens and other Strangers Merchants of Venice and other Haven Townes belonging to the State As also by the multitude and wealth of the said Merchants and of the great stirring and bartering that is there every day In which kinde the Merchants only of the Dutch Nation in Venice doe dispatch as much as were thought sufficient to furnish a whole world To which purpose I may not omit to note that Cities of Trafficke have three degrees of difference For either the Trade lieth by the Ware-house that dispatcheth by grosse or by open shops that doe retaile or by both Of this first sort are Lisbon Civil Antwerpe Amsterdam Hamburgh Danske Noremberg and in Italy Naples Florence and Genoa Of the second sort are all the other Cities of France and Germanie And amongst the Cities of Italy Millan is herein the chiefest where there are to be seene shops of all wares so rich and well furnished that they may well serve for Magazins to many Cities In both sorts Venice goeth beyond all the Cities of Italy For there are open shops of infinite number and the Ware-houses there doe farre passe all other in Italy So that this Citie doth Trafficke by way of shop as much as any other Citie and by Ware-houses more And to conclude putting both together it is the Citie of greatest Trafficke in Europe and perhaps of the World And over this whereas wealth doth arise to every Citie by three wayes first by profits of Dominion secondly by recourse from places to Iustice and thirdly by Merchandize Venice is by all these wayes continually inriched First the Revenue of the whole is brought to Venice both of the firme Land and of the Sea Secondly all Appeales and suits of importance through the whole State doe come thither and thirdly Venice is as it were the center of the East and West the Store-house of all that is produced by Sea or Land and in summe the receit of the whole wealth of Asia and Europe To set downe precisely the Revenue of the State is no easie matter but a man may be bold to say that it is held to bee the greatest of any Prince Christian except those of Spaine and France But whatsoever it be certaine it is they doe lay up every yeare a great Masse over and above their expences notwithstanding their incredible charge they are at in the Arsenall in the building of Gallies in Fortifications in Garrisons and Stipends To this the Venetian hath beene for these many yeares in continuall peace with all Princesâ— during which intermission they have set all their study to the augmenting of their Revenues whereby it is now credible that having some yeeres since discharged their debts and disburthened themselves of the interests of the said monies they have saved together great quantity of treasure Besides which treasure in ready coine they have another treasure of no small consideration and that is the wealth of the City and the private substance of particulars with the Revenues of the greater Schooles or as they terme them Halls which the Common-wealth in her need may use as her owne For that in occasions some doe give voluntarily others doe lend frankly or upon light use And in the warre of Cambray they gathered five hundred thousand Crownes upon the sale onely of certaine offices amongst them Now the Venetian Territorie for the extent of it hath in length somewhat above one thousand miles and the breadth thereof answereth not to the length But whensoever they are drawne unto service they wage forren forces And hereupon they have alwaies amongst them ten bands of Albanesses and Croatians They keepe moreover in entertainment certaine Colonels of the Swisses and Grisons with divers Captaines besides out of the State of the Church In former times they have beene able to draw unto their service such a Potentate as a Duke of Vrbine unto whom they committed the Lieutenancie and leading of their Armies making as secure an use of his forces as of their owne But above all things they have alwaies made right excellent use of their leagues and confederacies with other States In the league which they made with Amadis de â—aâ—nte called commonly the Greene Count and with Theobald Earle of Champaine with Lewis Earle of Blois Baldwine Earle of Flanders and Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat they first recovered Zara and then entred upon the protection of Constantinople wherein they got for themselves three eights of the whole Conquest and in particular the Cities of Gallipoli Modoni Conone and Durazzo with all the Ilands in those Seas saving a few which lie before Morea Amongst which Ilands Candy and Corâ—â— fell to their shares the greatest part whereof they inseffed to their private Gentlemen The Citie of Constantinople it selfe remained to the Emperour but not without a proportionable consideration made to the Seigniorie In the league made with Azzo Visconti and the Florentines against Martin Scala they possessed themselves of Trevegi Bassane and Castilbaldo Being confederated with Mathias Corvinus King of Hungary and G. Scanderbeg Prince of Albania they made head against the Ottoman power In another league contracted with the Florentines against the Visconti they inlarged their Dominions within Lombardy Lastly in the confederation which they had with Francis the first King of France they re-entred upon Brescia and Verona With their Money they have also not a little advanced their affaires Of Emanuel Paleologus they bought Lepanto Napoli and Malvalia Of George Belsichius they had the Towne of Scùtary in pawne of money lent him Neither have they beene wanting to helpe themselves with honourable pretences In the warres which Charles the eighth King of France made upon Italy the Venetians undertooke to stand Head and Protectors of the common liberty and in that pretence made all Italy arme against him And because indeed this State may and is rightly held for one maine Fort of Italy and Christendome beside against the Turkish invasions therefore have they had also in their assistance from time to time the forces of the Church and of the King of Spaine of whom the danger hath alwaies beene accounted common and as neere unto themselves Now on the firme land they have a continuall Ordinance of twenty and eight thousand Foot with Captaines Ensignes and all other Officers inrolled and paid They have besides to the number of foure thousand Musketeers men well trained to that kind of Weapon For which occasions they have also their times of Musters yeerely partly to approve their experience and partly to render such rewards as are due to the best deservers Of this multitude
and their valour the battell fought at Lepanto to the utter rowting of the Turkish Navie is a sufficient Testimony Besides these they maintaine six thousand men at Armes well mannaged and appointed the like whereof is not to be found in all Italy besides Touching their sea-forces they have on the firme Land ten thousand men inrolled to serve at the Ore And of these kind of Men all Dalmatia and Sclavonia doth yeeld them what numbers they will besides and that at a reasonable hand The City of Venice alone armeth upon occasion fifty Gallies and Candy forty What their whole power and forces every way may amount unto they shewed in the Warre of Ferrara wherein they had on foot two severall Armies one about Ferrara the other on the Confines of Millan They had at the same time besides two severall Navies the one upon the Po the other upon the sea to observe the proceedings of Naples and all this without associats In the warre against Lewis the twelfth King of France their Armie was composed of two thousand men at armes three thousand light-horse and thirty thousand foot In the yeare 1570. they armed forth one hundred and fiftie lesser Gallies eleven great Gallies one Gallion and twenty five tall ships alâ—eit that number by occasion of Pestilence happening in the Navie was reduced to one hundred and twenty and seven lesser Gallies and fourteene ships the other Vessels remaining untoucht like as had befalne them before in the yeere 36. when as they had the name onely to make one part of three but indeed they made a full halfe of all the Christian forces besides But because there is nothing that can give more certaine conjecture of the power of any State than to have sustained and gone through with great and perillous warres it will not be unpleasant to set downe some of their most important actions which in that kind they have supported Anciently they had warre with the Kings of France and in that warre they discomfited Pepin sonne to Charlemagne They warred afterward with the King of Hungarie and tooke from them the Townes which they now hold in Dalmatia and Sclavonie They fell at debate with the Emperours of Constantinople and gat from them the Cities of Salonich and of Moria One the most dangerous warre that they ever had was that which they managed with the Genois and yet at length such was the issue thereof that howsoever having lost to the Enemy Chiozza and were neere driven to their utter desolation yet was the Enemy so far off from gaining an intire victory upon them that in the pursuit thereof he most of all destroied himselfe insomuch that having for maintenance of that warre engaged the Revenues of the State of Saint Georgo so by little and little through feeblenesse growing upon them they were compelled to throw the City within the armes and protection sometimes of France and sometimes of Millan so that to this day they could never recover their pristinat fortunes Then had they to doe with the Visconti Princes of Millan who were at that time dreadfull thorow Italie yet by that warre the Venetian not only gained profit but honour also They opposed themselves against all the Princes of Italie in the prosecution of Ferrara and that with such successe that in fine they annexed to their owne Dominion all the Polesine of Raviso And after they had irritated the Princes of Italie these letted not to draw upon themselves a warre undertaken by all the Potentates of Christendome combined against them in the confederation concluded at Cambray which warre as it was the most haplesse and despairefull that ever they managed through the miscarriages of their Armies at Carravaggio at Brescia and at Vicenza yet in the end they remained Lords still of their owne and of being conquered at last remained with Conquest They have for many ages together waged warre with the Turke especially with Amurath the second Mahomet the second with Bajazeth and with Selim the second They maintained a sixteene yeares warres with Mahomet the second even him which had the fortune to have subdued two Empires Constantinople and Trapisond to have destroyed twelve Kingdomes and to have sacked two hundred Cities Which warre they finished although not altogether to their profit They held warres for seven yeares without intermission with all the Princes of Christendome and went away winners neither in all these occasions were they destitute either of men or money In our memorie they warred with Selim the second and in that warre they disbursed above twelve millions of money The like excessive summes they spent in their warres with Michael Emperour of Constantinople in the enterprize of Ferrara and in the warre undertaken of the confederacie at Cambray All which so inestimable summes notwithstanding at this day whether they were parcels of their owne treasure or lones of money from others they have re-imbursed or extinguished The Princes that border and confine upon the Venetian are these the Turke the King of Spaine the Pope and the house of Austria As touching the Turke whose State and power hath been so regarded in the worlds opinion hee seemeth at this time rather to be impaired than otherwise Whereof one great signe is his protraction of the warre in Hungarie these many yeeres with Armies of much better qualitie than any his Predecessors were wont to lead or send thither Whereupon it hath happened that not onely his forces have oftentimes beene broken and discomfited but also the Prince himselfe hath hardly escaped from being taken or slaughtered if on our parts there had beene either better Chiefes to temporize with him or more agreement in those Heads to assaile him Notwithstanding hee hath there lost the Townes of â—ilâ—ch Lippa Rab and Strigonium places of great consideration He hath also the second time lost Invarine These losses doe more than countervaile the winning of Agria from us being a fortresse of many knowne imperfections for site and building besides the withdrawing of â—ranâ—lvania and Valachia from his subjection with the alienation of many rich Provinces in Asia The State of these presents considered the Venetian for that part of dominion that confineth upon the Turke had never more cause to thinke himselfe better secured from violence especially having all Maritime Townes both by Sea and Land gallantly fortified which strength is also the greater by the facility the Sea affordeth to succour his owne and to distresse his enemie Touching the King of Spaine upon whom they doe border as well in the Adriatique as in Lombardie it is now more than threescore yeares that there hath beene any variance at all befallen them Neither in truth can it turne the Venetian to any great gaine to have warre with so powerfull a King nor the King of Spaine to make warre in Italy where by putting things in uprore and tumult hee might perhaps hazzard some part of his owne For that Warre as Emanuel Duke of Savoy was
and all the Townes disfurnished both of defendants and Munition there wanted nothing in mans judgement to the gaining of that Kingdome but the speedy prosecution of that absolute victory But whether with the learned wee may beleeve that great Kingdomes have their periods or that Greatnesse in it selfe produceth carelesnesse whose true symptoms are pride effeminacy and corruption in Militarie Discipline most certaine it is that those Empires which formerly have fallen from their prime felicity have generally declined through the Alteration of their ancient Orders and pristinate vertues Nor can it otherwise bee but that as those Ordinances and Lawes which reason at first introduced and experience afterward approved doe settle and fortifie States so the manifest neglect of the same should make them weake againe and crazie Which being duly considered a Prince ought not in any thing to be more watchfull and vigorous than to keepe in life those Lawes by which his State at first became to bee exalted to that height wherein he found it at the decease of his Predecessor for let him be assured that the same are still and shall be the foundations and Basis of future prosperity Herein the Ottomans have by two meanes especially advanced their power have raised it to the height wherein we see it at this day The one was their personall presence and travelling to the wars the other theirmaking of great warres and fierce to effect but short Their perpetuall expeditions produced many profitable effects as first that it kept in awe and attendance the great Servitors of the State Secondly that the Ianizars were thereby the better inured to obedience patience and practice of their Armes with the discipline of the field Thirdly it caused their whole forces intirely to attend them For better understanding whereof it behoveth to know how that the Port or Court of the Great Turke was anciently wont to make twelve thousand Ianizars monthly paid and that without faile Now that number by occasion of the warres of Hungarie is much increased and their pay raised to five Aspers a day to some more in regard of desert Out of the number of these Ianizars are chosen two hundred whose Office is to runne by the stirrup of the Prince and three hundred Porters that receive twenty Aspers a day above their ordinary stipend The Cavalry ariseth to a farre greater number The Spahi are six thousand marshalled in two troopes whereof the one guardeth the right hand of the Prince the other the left in all marches Every one of these Spahi is bound to maintaine three or foure servants on Horsebacke for the warre and these servants either in valour or costlinesse of furniture doe in little or nothing give place to their Lords Their place of march is in reare of their Masters but in distinct troopes Besides these troops doe march two other squadrons consisting of a thousand horse apeece The one is made of certaine select stalled persons knowne for some one or other famous exploit Into which troope doe also entersome Ianizars and many servants as well belonging to the Prince himselfe as to other of his principall Ministers that have approved themselves by some notable endevour to be worthy and capable of that degree The other squadron is all of naturall Turks recommended to that honour for some superordinary skill at their weapon for horsemanship or some such like quality The souldiers of these two troopes are not tied to keepe above two servants mounted at the most So that these foure squadrons whereof we have spoken doe make in all as good as forty thousand horse all excellently furnished Besides these there are also neere 20 thousand men that are servants and attendants upon the supreme Officers of the State as Judges Treasurers Counsellors and Commanders Amongst which some there are that bring into the field two or three thousand apeece all well armed and in like livery being indeed tied for every five Aspers that they have of provision to finde one horse-man So that what for pompe and what for their owne safety in this occasion they doe set all their slaves being Renegadoes on horse-backe What shall I say of the infinite number of cariages of Mules and Camels accompanying this Equipage Of which sort Bajazet led into the field forty thousand and Selim in the enterprise of Aegypt one hundred and thirty thousand This was the ancient proportion Now all these forces whereof I have spoken from the Court doe accompany the Prince setting forward to the warres But if his Person move not then doe these also stay idle at home where the Ianizars for their too much ease doe often fall into mutinies and the great Bashaes busie themselves about nothing but to disgrace or overthrow one another through envie and ambition Which is well witnessed on the one side by the extreme rancors and partialities that boyle amongst them and sometime breaketh forth and on the other by their immoderate affection and swelling into titular dignities which of necessity cannot be avoided for that as trees which are lesse fruitfull doe thrust forth most leaves branches to cover therewith the defects of nature So doe men in whose minds desert and vertue is wanting seeke nothing so much as with outward vanity of apparell and shew of great descent to shadow their inward imperfections Through which abuse it is not possible to imagine unto what number the titularie Officers of that State are augmented The Bashawes which in the flourishing dayes of this Empire were only two one in Asia the other in Europe are now seven in Asia alone viz. of Natolia Caramania Amasia Anadule Damascus and Cairo who doe sucke from the Prinâ—es Coffers no lesse than an hundred and thirty thousand ducats yearely And this is sprung from nothing else but that upon opportunity of the Princes keeping at home the Ministers of the State especially such as lie farthest off have by little and little presumed to usurpe and arrogate to themselves more power and authority than was anciently belonging unto them Besides which the Prince by his personall intervention in all expeditions became by his experience better acquainted with the condition of his Armies made himselfe cunning in the causes that did envigour or corrupt his souldiers so that by cherishing of the one and redressing of the other the discipline of the field was made more firme every day than other And in truth it can seeme to no man lesse than a very miracle that in this house of the Ottomans should follow a continuall succession of twelve Princes together that have been all men of great action and extreme Warriers But since the successours of Soliman have disused themselves from the field and to be personally absent from the Warres it is wonderfull againe to see how much the power of that Empire is impaired The first that gave passage to this disorder was Soliman himselfe who howbeit he were a Prince of excellent courage and great sufficiencie
party-coloured Ensignes These and such like furnitures doe cause them to bee discerned of their fellowes make them seeme terrible to their Enemies and doe encourage their minds to fiercenesse and prowesse Their Horse are but small yet very nimble and farre more couragious than the Dutch It is thought that upon necessity Poland is able to raise an hundred thousand horse and Lituania seventy thousand but far inferiour in goodnesse to the Polish They have so great trust in the great number of their horse that nothing fearing the power of any Enemies they regard not the building of Fortresses but resolve that they are able to defend their Country their Wives and Children their liberty and goods in the open field against any Prince whatsoever boasting that in either chance of warre they never turned their backes Sigismund Augustus laboured that in the Diets of the Kingdome order might be taken for the fortifying of Cracovia because of neighbour-hood of the Emperour but he could never effect it partly because it should not give their Kings opportunity of absolute authority and tyrannicall Emperie partly because they thinke themselves by noble courage sufficiently able to defend the Kingdome They have no infanterie for all the people of the Kingdome are divided either into Merchants and Artificers which inhabit the Cities or labourers which live in the country in such subjection as we spake of before and this is the reason that the Gentlemen onely goe to the war and will not in any case serve on foot but alwaies when occasion serveth they doe give wages unto the German and Hungarish footmen and of these King Stephen in his journey into Livonia entertained under his colours little lesse than 16000. to convey his great Ordnance 1609. Sigismund being called into Moscovie by the treason of Sulskey who had slaine Demetrius his Lord and Master in Mosco departed from Cracovia with 30000. horse and 10000. foot exceedingly well furnished and resolute Wherein in truth consisteth the sole commendation of the Polish Gentlemen As for manners for the most part they are discourteous and uncivill a very murderous and wicked people especially in their drunkennesse and that towards strangers For Pioners they use the Tartars and their owne unplandish people The Kingdome is sufficiently furnished stored with great Ordnance and all furniture belonging thereto of which it can suffer no manner of scarcitie first because the Gentlemen and Noblemen keepe many in their castles next for the neighbour-hood of Germany which is exceeding rich in Metall to that use and plentifull of Antificers to forge anything belonging thereunto And though it is not usuall to see many castles in Polonia yet the Fortresses of Leopolis and Camentzie in Russia the Castle of Cracovia in the lesse Poland Polocensis on the Frontiers of Moscovia Mariembourge and some other Townes in Livonia are peeces in truth of great strength These forces of Polonia which wee have spoken of are such in quantity and quality that few Nations in Europe can equall them none surpasse them one thing they want and that is Celeritie For to the sure strengthening of every Kingdome foure things are required that is to say That their forces be of their owne subjects That it be Populous Valiant and Quicke their owne because it is dangerous trusting to a stranger Populous because of re-enforcements after checkes or overthrowes Valiant because number without courage little availeth yea it bringeth forth confusion And Quicke that they may lightly move and speedily be drawne whither necessitie enforceth The last of these foure are Polacks especially want that is Celerity occasioned two waies First for defect of absolute authority in the Prince which is much checked by prolonging and adjourning of Parliaments procured many times by the frowardnesse of the Nobilitie And secondly for want of ready money and quicke levies thereof For the King hath no power to determine any thing to denounce warre to impose taxes or to gather treasure without the consent of these Parliaments and these Parliaments where it is necessary that many be present are like an Engine made of many peeces which without losse of time can neither easily be joyned nor readily moved For in warlike affaires those Princes make best speed which are best able to command and have most money in readinesse otherwise in appointing and ordering the Diets and devising that the Actions may answer the Counsels than in executing and in providing of money there hapneth such losse of time that little is left for the beginning of the journey much lesse to accomplish Besides the Barons and Nobles are at such charges and tarry so long when they are there that at their departure they have little left to maintaine after-charges It may be that for the defence of the State quicker and readier resolution would bee taken because of the imminent danger fatall in generall But for the conquest of any forren place I beleeve they will alwaies proceed with like flownesse and irresolution for the hope of good doth not so much move vs as the feare of evill Yet hath our age seene in the reigne of Sigismund Augustus the Moscovite to have conquered the Provinces of Moloch and Smolock and that without resistance or revenge a cowardize ill beseeming so great a King and so mighty a State as likewise hee invaded Livonia without impeachment which had shadowed it selfe under the protection of the said Sigismund In the daies of Henry of Anjow Iohn Prince of Moldavia even he that with an undaunted spirit and famous victory held warre against the Turke was shamefully forsaken of them contrary to the covenants of confederacy betweene him and this Sigismund concluded So that we must needs confesse that such as is the courage valour and reputation of the Prince such is the resolution alacrity and forces of the Polackes of themselves populous valiant and couragious Stephen Bathori had good testimony hereof in whose time Polonia not onely maintained the honour of a King sufficient to defend it selfe from forren Armes but also to make conquests of great matters from most potent Enemies And seeing we have spoken of Celerity a vertue most necessary for every State it shall not bee amisse to speake of the causes thereof which as is aforesaid are two viz. The reputation of the Prince which giveth it life and store of Coine which preserves it in action for wee have seene in mightiest Armies the body by the slownesse of the head to have spent the time most idly and very famous victories for want of money to give continuall motion to action to have brought forth small or no effects Besides the disposition of a Souldier is a great helpe hereunto for no man can truly praise the German and Bohemian Foot-men for Celerity but this commendation without doubt is proper to the Italian Spaniard and Frenchmen not onely for that they are of better constitution of body but for that which in warre is all in all they are better contented
from them all Media the greater Armenia and their chiefe City Tauris Their battalions of footmen and the use of great ordnance which the Persians wanted and knew not how to manage were the chieft decasions of these their good fortunes And although the Persians have sometime prevailed in horse-fights yet hath it beene alwayes with losse of ground not to themselves onely but to their Confederates also For Selim the first tooke from the Momeluks Syria and Aegypt and Amurath the third almost extinguished the Nation of the Georgians their surest allies To the Portugals hee is farre inferiour for in Sea-fights and Sea-forces there is as great inequality betweene them as betweene the Ocean and the Persian Gulfe The Portugals have in India Havens and Castles Territories and Dominions plentifull in timber provision and all sorts of warlike furniture for the Sea nor without many great Princes their Allies Confederates whereas the Turke hath no one place of strength in the Persian Gulfe except Balsara That tract of the Sea-coast of Arabia which standeth him in stead hath but foure Townes and those weake and of small esteeme which is sufficient to indure So that in this Gulfe as likewise in the Red-Sea he hath small meanes to rigge out any strong Armada Besides the soile is utterly barren of timber fit for building of Gallies for which scarcity whensoever he had occasion to set forth a Navie hee was constrained to send downe his stuffe from the Havens of Bithynia and Cilicia by Nilus to Cair and from thence to convey it over land upon Camels backes to his Arsenall at Suez What successe his fleets have had in those parts may bee read in the discourse of Portugal for the Portugals take great care to prevent him of setting foot in those Seas yea when they but heare that hee provideth Sea-forces they presently make out and spoile whatsoever they light upon For Captains Souldiers Armes and Munition he is better provided than Prester Iohn for this Prince hath a large territory without munition infinite Souldiers without weapons Baruangasso his Lieutenant lost all the aforesaid Sea-coast of the Red-Sea and brought the Abessine into such extremity that to obtaine peace he promised payment of a yearely tribute In Africke he hath a greater jurisdiction than the Xeriffe For he is Lord of all those Provinces which lie betweene the Red-sea and Velez de Gomera but the Xeriffe hath the richer the stronger and the better united Neither of them for the neighbourhood of the King of Spaine dare molest one another The residue of his neighbours are the Christians and first the King of Poland what either of these Princes can effect the one against the other hath beene manifest by their forepassed actions In some sort it seemeth that the Turke feareth the Polaques For upon sundry occasions being provoked as in the reigne of Henry the third in that war which Ivonia Vaivod of Walachia made with the said Turks wherin great numbers of Polaques served and in the reigne of Sigismund the third notwithstanding the incursions of the Kosacks and the inrodes of Iohn Zamoschus Generall of Polonia he stirred not neither with wont-like disdaine once offered to revenge so great an indignity Againe They since the unfortunate journey of Ladislaus never enterprized journey against the Turks no nor at any time aided the Walachians their neighbours their friends and Confederates but suffered whatsoever they held upon the Euxine Sea to bee taken from them But the smothering of this wrong I rather attribute to the base minde of their King than to want of good will or courage either in the Gentry or Nobility Sigismund the first being by Leo the tenth moved to warre upon the Turke answered Few words shall serve first make firme peace betweene the Christian Princes then will I be nothing behinde the forwardest Sigismund the second bare a minde so farre abhorring from war that he also never made attempt against this enemie but being injured by the Moscovite he let him likewise doe that what he would unrevenged King Stephen a great politician thought the warre of Turki full of danger notwithstanding discoursing with his familiars he would often say that if he had but thirty thousand good footmen joyned to his Polonian Horsemen hee could willingly have found in his heart to have tried his fortune with this enemie The Princes of Austrich are borderers by a farre larger circuit of land than any other Potentate and being constrained to spend the greatest part of their revenues in the continuall maintenance of twenty thousand footmen and horsemen in garrisons they seeme rather to stand content to defend their owne than any way minded to recover their losses or to inlarge their bounds Ferdinands journey to Buda and Possovia was rather to be counted couragious than prosperous the reason was not because his souldiers wanted strength and courage but skill and discipline For numbers he was equall to the enemie and reasonably well furnished with necessaries but his troopes consisted of Germans and Bohemians Nations by influence heavie slow and nothing fit to match the Turkes skilfull and ready in all warlike exercises The Venetians likewise are borderers for many hundred miles space by Sea and land but they maintaine their estate by treaties of peace by traffike and presents rather than by open hostilitie providing very strongly for their places exposed to danger and avoiding all charges and hazard of warre yea refusing no conditions if not dishonourable rather than willing to trie their fortune in battell And the reason is not because they want money and sufficiencie of warlike furniture but souldiers and proportionable provisions for one sole State to provide against so extraordinarie an enemie For if time hath proved that neither the Emperours of Trapizond and Constantinople nor the Sultans of Aegypt nor the puissant Kings of Persia and Hungarie have beene able to maintaine themselves against this enemie who can but commend this honourable State for their warinesse and moderate carriage For howsoever of custome for affectation or admiration we carry to Antiquity we use to extenuate things present and like old men we fashion our selves to extoll the ages past and complaine of times yet if we will speake without partiality we must needs confesse that never since the worlds first creation in any age was there found a body of warre so politickly devised so strongly cemented and so severely disciplined as is this for greatnesse and powerfulnesse Which the effects thereof may well witnesse with the fortunate successe of continuall victory I may not stand hereto recount the extreme diligence and circumspection of Ottoman the first raiser and founder of this Empire nor the wily wit and cunning of his sonne and successor Orchanes who first passed his Turkish forces into Europe after he had taken Prusia from the Greeks and subdued Carmania nor yet the wisdome and dexterity of Amurath in espying of advantages and prosecuting
a Cemiter They use the Launce the Bow indifferently There is scarce a better Musketteer in the whole world than the Persian generally is at this day nor a sorer fellow at the Spade or at a Mine Of both these the Portugals had sensible experience at the siege of Ormuz lately taken from them by the Persian Touching their riches the common opinion is that in the dayes of King Tamas the yearely Revenues amounted to foure or five millions of Gold who by a sudden doubling of the value of his coine raised it to eight and accordingly made payment to his Soldans and souldiers But in these dayes by the conquest of the great Turke they are much diminished and it is thought that they amount to little more than two But indeed the feodary Lands Townes and Villages Tenths Shops c. which are very many supply a great part of the pay due to the companies of those his horsemen above mentioned Towards the East bordereth the Mogor upon the North the Zagatai Towards the West the Turke possesseth a large frontier With the Mogors he is little troubled for as Spaine and France by reason of the narrow streight and difficult passages over the mountaines cannot easily convey necessaries the life of an Armie to infest one another So towards the frontiers of India and Cambaia Provinces belonging to the Mogors high Mountaines and vast Desarts keepe good peace betweene these two Princes yet infest they one another on the borders of Cahull Sablestan of which certaine Lords of the Mogors have gotten the dominion He commeth not neere the borders of the great Cham betweene whom certaine petty Princes and impassable Desarts doe oppose themselves It seemeth that toward the Zagatai he standeth content with those bounds which the River Oxus hath laid out for he never durst passe it and when Zaba King of the Zagatai had passed it hee was overthrowne with much slaughter by Ismael So was Cyrus by Tomyris who slew him and all his host The Turk is a borderer all alongst the western coast of this whole Empire even from the Caspian Sea to the gulfe Saura a tract almost of fifteene degrees He hath no enemy so dangerous nor more to be feared nor at whose hands in all conflicts for the most part he hath received greater losse Mahumet the second overthrew Vssanchan and tooke from David his Vassall and Confederate the Empire of Trapezond Selim the first did overthrow Ismael in Campania and tooke from him Caramit Orfa Merdis and all the territory which they call Alech Soliman put Tamas to flight and tooke from him Babylon and all Mesopotamia In our dayes Amurath wonne whatsoever lieth betweene Derbent and Tauris wherein is comprehended Georgia and Sirvan and by building of fortresses in Teflis Samachia and Ere 's assured the passages of Chars Tomanis and Lori He is Lord of all that lieth betweene Erzirum Orontes a River three daies journey beyond Tauris In this City he caused a Citadell to be built not minding to leave it as did Selim and Soliman but thereby as with a curbe to bridle and keepe it In this warre which lasted from the yeare 1591. to 1597. the Turks altered their forme of warfare for whereas they were wont to lay their whole hopes upon their numbers the valour of their horsemen and footmen their store of artillery and warlike furniture scorning to be cooped up in Castles and Fortresses for the most part spoyling and burning whatsoever they overcame or became Lords of and taking as little care to keepe what they had conquered supposing it no good policie to fortifie Castles or strengthen Townes by weakning of their companies in these warres to avoid the inconveniences where into Selim and Soliman were plunged they were glad to build strong places upon commodious passages and Citadels in the chiefest Townes furnishing them with good Garrisons and great store of Artillery This warre cost them very deare for by surprises by famine and extremities of weather infinite thousands perished yet alwayes to the losse of the Persian or his Confederates In the field the Persian is farre inferiour to the Turke in numbers and goodnesse of footmen in Ordnance in all sorts of warlike furniture and the chiefe stay of a State in obedience of subjects Notwithstanding if Selim Soliman or Amurath had not beene allured thither either by rebellion or intestine discords they durst not have medled with this warre Selim was called into the aid of Mara-beg the son of Ossaen a mighty Prince in Persia. Soliman came in aid of Elcaso the brother of Taemas hatefull to his Soveraigne for his ambition and aspiring humour and in the end abused the credit and good will of the people toward Elcaso to the furtherance of his owne designments Amurath never tooke weapon in hand against this people before he understood by the letters of Mustapha Bassa of Van that all Persia was in uprore about the election of a new Prince thereby certifying him that some had chosen Ismael some Ainer both sonnes of Tamas and that Periacocona slaying her owne brother Ismael and betraying Ainer had procured the Kingdome to Mahumet Codobanda After this mischiefe fell those fatall jarres betwixt Codobanda and his sonne and betwixt the Turcoman Nation a mighty family in Persia and the King A faction no lesse disasterous to the State of Persia than the warre of Turkie Against the Portugal for want of Sea-forces hee stirreth not and againe for want of Land-forces the Portugals are not able to molest his upland Countries Tamaes being counselled to make a voyage against Ormus asked what commodities the Island brought forth whether Corne Cattell Fruit or what other good thing When it was answered that the soile was utterly barren and destitute of provision but excellently well seated for traffike and navigation scoffing at the motion he replied That of this kinde of Revenue he had released unto his people above 90000. Tomana Truth is that he wanteth shipping to put the Portugals out of those Seas where these stead not he is content to reigne from India to Arabia East and West and from the Caspian to the South side of the Persian gulfe And as for these ninety thousand Tomana being in our account eighty thousand French crownes of annuall Revenue said to bee decreed in the dayes of this Tamas upon the generall customes of importation and exportation thorowout the whole Realme I can give my Reader no other satisfaction why to thinke the stomacks of great Princes can at any time be cloyed with such surfets unlesse hee be pleased to imagine that after this Prince or his Predecessor had received one or two dismall overthrowes by the Turkish forces and that not so much by their valours as by his owne deficiencie in shot ordnance and discipline he set on foot this Proclamation First to induce his owne people to manuall thrift and mutuall commerce And secondly to allure Gentlemen and forren Merchants to
yeares he died in the height of his prosperity leaving his sonne Mamudza behinde him whom the King graced with his fathers regencie upon condition to pay him a yearely tribute which payment the young man neither regarded nor she wed himselfe loyall to his Soveraigne in many things It happened that Sanosaradin dying in the warre which he made against Persia left behinde him a sonne of so abject and base a spirit that Mamudza hereupon tooke courage to entitle himselfe King of Canora calling the Countrey Decan and the people Decainai that is illegitimate After this hee erected eighteene Captaineships and divided his dominion among them assigning to everyone his limits onely with this penalty to finde alwayes in a readinesse a certaine number of footmen and horsemen To prevent future rebellion hee chose these Captaines not out of the orders of his Nobility but from the number of his slaves Nay more than this to be assured of their loyalty he coÌ„manded that every one of them should build him a house in his royall City Bider in which their children should remaine and that once every yeare at the least they should make their appearance in his Court. But because all authority which is not as well underpropped with its proper vertues as grounded upon the affections of the people is of small continuance so happened it to this Prince for his slaves and vassals having soveraigne authority put into their hands made no more account of him than of a Cipher stripping him poore Prince without respect of reverence of all his dominions saving his chiefs Citie Bidor with the territory adjoyning For every one of a Lieutenant became an Usurper of those States which were committed to his trust the mightier alwayes oppressing the weaker so that all in the end became a prey to a feâ— Two of them are famous at this day the one stretching his dominion to the borders of Cambaia the other to the skirâ—s of Narsynga the first called by the Portugals Nissamalucco the other Idalcan either of them being so puissant that in the yeare 1571. Idalcan beleagâ—ed God with an Army of five and thirty thousand Horse threescore thousand Elephants and two hundred and fifty peeces of Ordnance Nissamalucco besieged Chaul with lesse forces but better fortune For though he did not force it yet he brought into a hard-pinch with the slaughter of twelve thousand Mooreâ—s In those Countries in which Sâ—â—adorasin began hos Empire not above threescore and ten yeares agone a great Prince whom the East people call the great Mogor in the same sense as we call the great Turke laid the foundation of a mighty Empire for as the King of Bierma in our timeâ— greatly hazarded the States of Pegu and Siam and the bordering Nations even so the Mogor turned topsie turvy the Kingdomes lying on the River Ganges The received opinion is that they tooke their originall from Tartaria and that they came from the coast where the ancient Massagecae a people accounted invincible at armes did once inhabit and liuing as it were lawlesse and under no manner of government by invading of their neighbours procured unto themselves the soveraignty of spacious Kingdomes By the River Oxus they border upon the Persians and are at continuall enmity with them sometime for Religion and sometimes for enlargement of the bounds of their Empire The chiefe City is Shamarchand from whence came Tamerlan and of whose bloud these Mogor Princes doe boast that they are descended The predecessor of him who is now Prince of the Mogors was very famous in the East for in the yeare 1436. being solicited by King Mandao of the North from whom Badurius King of Cambaia had taken his Kingdome to aid him against the Cambaian he is reported to have brought with him an infinite number of souldiers which wee may conjecture out of that which Masseus writeth of the army of the said King Badurius to wit that this King had under his Standard one hundred and fifty thousand horse whereof five and thirty thousand were barbed The number of footmen was five hundred thousand Amongst these were fifteene thousand forren souldiers and fourescore Christians French and Portugals At which by what meanes or by what way they should come thither I doe not a little wonder Their Galleon which they called Dobriga suffered Ship-wracke in the Chanell of Cambaia I know that if these preparations and provisions for war be compared with our forces of Christendome they will hardly be taken for true but we have already declared the causes why the Princes of the East and South may gather greater Armies than wee can and consequently that those things which are spoken of their incredible store and wonderfull provision of furniture may be answerable to their levies and proportions And as they are able to levie millions of men for arming and for feeding them they take no great care so likewise doe the Provinces afford great plenty of provision and an inestimable multitude of their usuall warlike Engines for they carry nothing with them save that which is necessary and needfull for service Wines Cates and such like which cannot but with great expence labour and trouble be carried along with Armies are by these men wholly omitted and utterly rejected All their thoughts tend to warlike provision as to get Brasse Iron Steele and Tinne to forge Pieces and cast great Ordnance Iron and Lead to make Bullets Iron and Steele to temper Cemiters Oxen and Elephants to draw their Artillery Graine to nourish their bodies Metals to arme them and Treasure to conserve them They are all tyrants and to preserve their estate and induce submissive awednesse they hold hard hands over the commonalty committing all government into the hands of slaves and souldiers And to make these men faithfull and loyall they ordaine them Lords of all things committing unto their trust Townes Castles and expeditions of great weight but the expectation of the Prince is often deceived by the rebellion of these vassals for sometimes they usurpe whole Provinces and impose upon the people all kinde of injuries But let good Princes thinke it as necessary to build their safety on the love of their subjects as upon the force of their souldiers Feare admitteth no securitie much lesse perpetuity and therefore these tyrants expecting no surety at the hands of their subjects trust wholly upon their men of warre flattering them with promise of liberty and bestowing upon them the goods of their subjects as rewards of their service So with vs the Turke strengtheneth his State with Ianizars and as he coveteth to be beloved and favoured of them to that end bestowing upon them the riches and honours of the Empire so they acknowledge no other Lord and master I may very well say father and protector And so many of the Malabor Princes using accounting the Commons but as beasts lay all their hopes and fortunes on the Naiors the Kings of Ormus Cambaia Decan and Achan lay all upon the
people comparable to Italie but they forget that as it is long so it is narrow and nothing wide or spacious neither that two third parts have not one navigable River a want of great consequence neither that the Apenine a Mountaine rockie and barren doth spread it selfe over a fourth part thereof Let them nor deceive themselves nor condemne anothers plenty by their owne wants nor measure others excesse by their handfuls For fertility doth France in plenty of Graine or Cattell give place to Italy or England for Cattell for Wooll Fish or Metall Or Belgia for number or goodlinesse of Cities excellency of Artificers wealth or merchandise Or Greece for delectable situation commodious Havens of the Sea or pleasant Provinces Or Hungarie for Cattell Wine Corne Fish Mines and all things else But I will not stand upon these discourses only let me tell you that Lombardy containeth the third part of Italy a Province delightsome for battle-plaines and pleasant Rivers without barren mountaines or sandy fields and to be as full of people as the whole halfe of Italy besides Yea what may bee said of Italy for profit or pleasure that may not bee spoken particularly of France England Netherland and both the Panonies Wherefore since the Country is not onely large and spacious but united populous plentifull and rich at least let it bee beleeved and accounted for one of the greatest Empires that ever was The Government is tyrannicall for thorowout the Kingdome there is no other Lord but the King they know not what an Earle a Marquesse or a Duke meaneth No fealty no tribute or toll is paied to any man but the King He giveth all magistracies honors He alloweth them stipends wherewith to maintaine their estates and they dispatch no matter of weight without his privity His vassals obey him not as a King but rather as a God In every Province standeth his portraicture in gold which is never to be seene but in the new Moones then is it shewed and visited of the Magistrates and reverenced as the Kings owne person In like manner the Governours and Judges are honoured no man may speake to them but upon their knees Strangers are not admitted to enter into the Kingdome left their customes and conversation should breed alteration in manners or innovation in the State They are onely permitted to trafficke upon the Sea-coasts to buy and sell victuall and to vent their wares They that doe trafficke upon the Land assemble many together and elect a Governour amongst them whom they terme Consull In this good manner strangers enter the Kingdome but alwaies waited on by the Customers and Kings Officers The Inhabitants cannot travell but with a licence and with that neither but for a prefixed season and to bee sure of their returne they grant no leave but for traffickes sake and that in Ships of an hundred fifty tun and not above for they are jealous that if they should goe to sea in bigger vessels they would make longer journies To conclude it is a religious Law of the Kingdome that every mans endevours tend wholly to the good and quiet of the Common-wealth By which proceedings Justice the mother of quietnesse Policy the mistresse of good Lawes and Industry the daughter of peace doe flourish in this Kingdome There is no Country moderne or ancient governed by a better forme of policy than this Empire by vertue whereof they have ruled their Empire 2000. yeares And so hath the State of Venice flourished 1100. yeares the Kingdome of France 1200. It is a thousand two hundred yeares since they cast off the yoke of the Tartars after their ninety yeares government For their Arts Learning and Policy they conceive so well of themselves that they are accustomed to say that they have two eyes the people of Europe but one and the residue of the Nations none They give this report of the Europeans because of their acquaintance with the Portugals with whom they trafficke in Macoa and other places and the renowne of the Castidians who are their neighbours in the Philippinae Printing Painting and Gun-powder with the materials thereunto belonging have beene used in China many yeares past and very common so that it is with them out of memory when they first began Their Chronicles say that their first King being a great Necromancer who reigned many thousand yeares past did first invent great Ordnance and for the antiquity of Printing there hath beene Bookes seene in China which were printed at least five or six hundred yeares before Printing was in use with us in Europe and to say when it first began it is beyond remembrance But not to make our Readers beleeve reports beyond probability or credit we must needs informe the truth That the Arts and Manufactures of China are not comparable to ours of Europe Their buildings are base and low but one story high for feare of earth-quakes which makes them take up more roome on the ground than in the ayre no marvell then if their Cities be great Their Painting is meere steyning or trowelling in respect of ours Their Printing is but stamping like our great Letters or Gaies cut in wood for they cut many words in one peece and then stampe it off in paper This makes their Printing very difficult and chargeable and therefore so little used Of liberall Arts they know none but a little naturall Rhetoricke which he that there excels in is more beholding to a good wit and a fine tongue than to the precepts of his Tutor Their great Ordnance be but short and naught Finally they are a people rather crafty than wise their common policy is made up of warinesse and wilinesse By the multitudes of people before spoken of you may imagine the state of his forces for herein all other provisions take their perfection But to speake somewhat in particular The power of this Prince remembring his countenance and nature detesting all invasions is more ready and fit to defend than offend to preserve rather than to increase His Cities for the most part are builded upon the bankes of navigable Rivers environed with deepe and broad ditches the walls built of stone and bricke strong above beleefe and fortified with ramparts and artificiall bulwarks Upon the borders toward Tartarie to make sure worke against such an enemy they have built a wall beginning at Chioi a City situate betweene two most high mountaines and stretching it selfe toward the East six hundred miles between mountaine and mountaine untill it touch the cliffes of the Ocean Upon the other frontiers you may behold many but small holds so built to stay the course of the enemie untill the Country forces bee able to make head and the Royall Army have time to come leasurely forward for in 400. great Townes hee keepeth in continuall pay forces sufficient upon the least warning to march to that quarter whither occasion calleth Every City hath a Garrison and Guard at the gates which at nights
is not onely fast locked but sealed and may not be opened before the seale at morning bee throughly viewed To speake truth their souldiers horsemen and footmen by land or sea are more famous for their numbers their gallant furniture and plenty of provision than for strength and courage For the Inhabitants partly by their effeminate and wanton kinde of life partly by their forme of government whereby they are made vile and base have little valour or manhood left them They use no forren souldiers except those whom they take in war these they send into the in-land Countries where being marked to distinguish them from other they serve more like slaves than souldiers yet have they pay with rewards for their good service and punishment for their cowardize true motives to make men valorous The rest which are not inrolled are not suffered to keepe weapons in their houses Their Sea-forces are nothing inferiour to their Land-forces for besides their ordinary Fleets lying upon the Coasts for the safety of the Sea-townes by reason of the abundance of navigable Rivers and so huge a Sea-tract full of Havens Creeks and Islands it is thought that with case they are able to assemble from five hundred to a thousand such great Ships which they call Giunchi we Iunks To thinke that treasure cannot bee wanting to levie so great a number of Ships Souldiers and Marriners many men affirme that the Kings revenues amount to an hundred and twenty millions of gold which value although it may seeme impossible to him that shall make an estimate of the States of Europe with the Kingdome of China yet may it finde place of beleefe if he doe but call to minde First the nature and circuit of the Empire being little lesse than all Europe Next the populousnesse of the Inhabitants accompanied with inestimable riches Then the diversity of Mines of Gold Silver Iron and other sorts of Metall the unspeakable quantity of Merchandize passing from hand to hand by so many navigable Rivers so many armes and in-lets of the Sea their upland Cities and maritime Townes their Tolls Customes Subsidies and lastly their rich wares brought into Europe Hee taketh the tenth of all things which the earth yeeldeth as Barley Rice Olives Wine Cotton Wooll Flax Silke all kinds of Metall Fruits Cattel Sugar Hony Rubarbe Camphire Ginger Wood Muske and all sorts of Perfumes The custome only of Salt in the City Canto which is not of the greatest nor of the best trafficke yeeldeth 180000. Crownes yearely the tenth of Rice of one small Towne and the adjacent Territory yeeldeth more than 100000. Crownes By these you may conjecture of the rest He leaveth his subjects nothing save food clothing He hath under him no Earles Lords or Nobles of any degree no nor private persons indowed with great wealth Wherefore since this Empire is so huge and all the profits thereof are in his hands how can the former assertion of so great and yearely a revenue to men of reason seeme any thing admirable at all There are two things moreover which adde great credit to this reckoning one is that all his impositions are not paid in Coine but some in hay some in Rice Corne Provender Silke Cotton Wooll and such like necessaries the other is that the King of 120. millions which he receiveth disburseth againe three parts thereof And so since it goeth round from the King to the people it ought to seeme no wonder if the people be able to spare it againe for the Princes use at the yeares end For as waters doe ebbe as deepe as they flow so impositions easily levied suffice for the expences of the State and the people receive againe by those expences as much as they layed out in the beginning of the yeare This King feareth no neighbour but the great Cham of Tartaria all the rest acknowledge vassalage Against this enemy the ancient Kings built that admirable wall so much renowned amongst the wonders of the Ortem Towards the Sea hee bordereth upon the Iaponians and Castilians The distance betweene Iapan and China is divers From Goto one of the Islands of Iapan to the City Liampo is threescore leagues from Canian 297. The Islanders of Iapan doe often spoile the Sea-coasts of China by their incursions descending on land and harrying the Countrey more like Pyrates than men of Warre For in regard that Iapan is divided into many Islands and into divers Seigniories ill agreeing amongst themselves though they excell the Chinois in armes and courage yet are they not of sufficient power to performe any action of moment against them Upon another Frontier lye the Spaniards of whom the Chinois not without good cause are very jealous because of the situation of the Philippinae commodiously seated for the invasion of China and the fame of the riches well knowne to the Spanish But the King of Spaine wisheth rather to plant Christianitie peaceably amongst them wherof there was once good hope that God had opened a passage For though the Chinois will suffer no stranger to enter within their Dominions yet certaine Jesuites zealous in the increasing of Christian Religion in a Territory so spacious as that is entred with great secrecie and danger and procuring the favour of certaine Governours obtained a privilege of naturalization specially Frier Michael Rogerius who in the yeare 1590. returned into Europe to advise what course were best to take in this businesse After whose departure intelligence was brought from two Friers which remained behinde that after divers persecutions they were then constrained to forsake the Citie wherein they sojourned and to make haste to sea-ward Nor plainly would the Chinois suffer the said Frier Rogerius to come into their Countrey as himselfe confessed to an English Gentleman of very good worth and curious understanding Mr. W.F. who purposely asked that question of him If any man of Europe hath beene in China it is Matthew Riccius the Jesuite The Portugals are likewise eye-sores unto them but by the report of their justice and the moderation which Ferdinand Andrada shewed in the government of the Island of Tamo and by the Traffick which they exercise in those seas they can better digest their neighbour-hood than that of the Spanish This was the first Portugal that arrived in the Citie of Cantan and set on land Thomas Perez Legier for Emanuel King of Portugal But other Captaines being there afterwards dis-embarked behaved themselves so lewdly that they occasioned the said Ambassadour to be taken for a Spie and cast into prison where hee died most miserably the residue were intreated as enemies At last it was permitted the Portugals for traffick sake to set a Factory in Macao where againe before they had strongly fortified their Colonie they were constrained to submit to the limitations of the Chinois to whom in short time for their strength wisdome friendship and alliance with the Castilians they became suspitious and therefore they doe daily more and more bridle
GElderland 202 Geneva 304 Gâ—noa 337 Groningen 203 Guatimala 631 Guiana 641 H HEbrides 121 Hispaniola 634 Holland 201 Hungarie 378 I IAmaica 633 Iapan 621 Ilands of England 129 India Asiatica or East-India 574 Ireland 68 Italy 317 Iudea 551 K KAthaia 498 L LOrrayne 428 Lybia 376 M MAlta 373 Man the I le 120 Manly Arts breed martiall valour 29 Mantua 362 Marishes their description and use 44 Mexico 630 Millaine 336 The Great Mogor 578 Moldavia 539 Mona 120 Monomotapaâ— 453 Moravia 278 Moscovia 463 Mountaines their description and use 42 N NAplâ—s Kingdome 330 Narsinga 613 Natolla 540 Navarre 194 Negroes Land 429 Netherlands 195 New Spaine 630 Nicaragua 632 Norwey 212 Nova Francia 636 Numidia 427 O OF Observation 1 Over-Isel 203 P PAlatinate 285 People of the North their constitutions complexions and natures 8. Of the South 12. Of the middle Region 15 Persia. 563 Peru. 637 Polâ—nd 409 Popes Estate 320 Prester Iohn 444 R REligion a great advancer of Monarchie 30 Rewards military the benefit of them 30 Rivers their use in preserving of Empire 41 Roman Empire 262 Russia 463 SAvoy 364 Sarmatia 463 Saxonie 287 Situation the aptnesse of it for Empire 35 Of the Situation of Nations 4 Scotland 114 Sea the commodities in inlarging Empire 29 Seigniories divers pettie ones easily overcome one by one by a common enemie 37 Siam 602 Sicily 369 Spaine 222 States of the Low-Countries 200 Swethland 213 Switzerland 309 T TArtaria 494 Tartars their manners and armes 485 Temperature the division of it 2 Terra australis 643 Transylvania 394 Travell instructions for it 46 Treasure the use in Warre 33 Turkes their originall and story 554 Turkie 505 Turcomania 545 Tuscanie 324 V VAlour the commendations of it 23. Military Valour how increased 27 Venice 339 Virginia 635 Vrbine 361 Vsage to the Wars the effects 27. Free Vsage of people a meanes to make Princes potent 28 Vtrecht 203 W WAlachia 539 Wales 117 Weapons their qualities and advantages 32 West-India 625 Wildernesses their descriptions 45 Wisdome the use of it in Warres 25 World and the greatest Princes in it and the means to inlarge Dominion 19 X Great Xeriff 433 FINIS * The States of the world * Petrus Bertius Numbers Valour Wisdome Rashnesse I Vse 2 〈◊〉 3 Manly arts 4 Military rewards 3 Religion 4 Weapons Treasure Situation Pettie Seigniories 1 The commodities of the Sea for the defending or inlarging of Empire 2 Rivers 3 Mountaines 4 Marishes 5 Wildernesses 6 Desarts 〈◊〉 Of Minde Of Religion Of Persons and Places Of Language Of Reading Of Conference Of the body Of Exercises Of outward necessaâ—ies Of Money Of Bookes Of Apparell Manners of Nations Nature of Soiles Of people Of the Spaniard Of the Italian The Frenchman The German Of the Pole laque Of the Netherlander and Dane The Muscovite The Grecian The Turke The Persian The Armenian The Tartar The Moore The Savoyen The Switzer Government The Situation of England Bishopricks Wealth Qualities of the English England compared with Russia and Aethiopia With Germanie With Italie With Spaine With France M Paris fol. 68â— The King The Court. The Nobility Courts of Iustice. The Gentry The Citizens The Husbandman or Yeoman compared Compared with the Turk With the Hungarian With the Italian With the Spaniard With the Frenchmen With the German With the Irishman Concerning traffike The disposition of Male-contents abroad What other Nations conceive of us Spaine The Emperor The Pole and Moscovite The Turke Italy Millan Mantua Venice The Florentine The Pope Nâ—ples Sicil. The situation of England Forces At land Neighbourhood France The Spanish The Netherlands The Archduke Scotland Pit coale or Sea-coale Wales Ilands belonging to the Crowne of Great Brittaine Camden and Gyraldus Provinces Commodities Rivers Havens and Ports Paris Vniversitie London compared with Paris For populousnesse For neat and cleane streets For Aire For River For Bridges For a Castle For places of Retreit For seats of Iustice and concourse of Merchants For Colleges for students of the Lawes For Churches For decent riding For unconfused intermixtures For a Maior For the Court. Castles Charges Governments Lawes Officers of Court Great Master Gentlemen of 〈…〉 Mastâ—r or Stewâ—â—d of the Kings House Great Provost of France Great Faulciner and Common Hunt Gentlemen of the Kings Guard His Forces His Infantery Officers of waâ—â—e Constable The Marshall Admirall Discipline His Expence His Revenue The Domaine Conquest Pension Trafficke Sale of Offices Riches A good note Officers of his Finances The Treasurer Generalities Elections Receivers Controlleâ—s His Coine The Clergie The Temporal livings of the Church The grosse errors of the Cabinet of France 〈…〉 â—ecâ—es of â—â—ance Their Apparel Their Exercises Shooting Tennis-play Dancing Musicke Their Language 1. In deliberation 2. In matter of Warre 3. Entertaining of friendship 4. In managing 〈◊〉 〈…〉 his wife 6. In aptnesse to scoffe Townes Nature of the soile Forces Holland Gâ—ldeâ—lanâ— Over-Isel Vtrecâ—â— Groningen The Richeâ— Their forces By Land â—y Sea Belgian Riches Forces at Land At Sea Gotâ—â—â—â— Finland Riches Coâ—per Forces at land Sea-forces Fortifications Borders His dominions in Europe In Africa Within the Streights Without the Streights Vnder the Aequinoctiall In Asia In the New-World Islands Continent The riches of these places Peru. 〈◊〉 Philipinae His greatnesse in Europe Division of his dominions Spaine The Estates of Italy The dominion of India The Low-Countries Italian Provinces under the Spaniard Revenues ordinary Extraordinary Orders of Knighthood Malecontents The Iewes The Portugals The Arragonou The Nobles Revenues from Italie The Italian humouâ—â— The Indies 〈◊〉 yeare 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 made of another Oâ— Flanders Councell Government Correspondencie With the Pope With the College of Cardinals With the Emperour With the Archduchesse With France With Savoy Polonia With 〈◊〉 Tuâ—ks Forces at land Humours of the Spaniards Their Cavalrie Borderers The Venetians The French The Persian In Barbarie In Tuscanie Parma Vrbine Genoa Malta Lucca Venice From him Forces These Galleons I suppose were but poore â—â—gats Borderers Situation Plentie Climate Soyle Commodities Rivers Cities 〈…〉 Temporall Princes Revenue Forces Forces by Sea Austrich Bohemia Moravia 〈◊〉 Swevia Saxonie Situation Borderers Anhault Mansfield Force Erdford Dresden Vniversities Wittenberg 〈…〉 Fertilitie Riches Commodities People Manners of the people Artizans Merchants Nobles Valour Conceit of the English Councell Revenues The Duke of Brunswicke Bavaria Wirtemberg Michelburg Hesse Baden Ansbach Situation Circuit Strength The Territories Fertilitie Handicrafts Revenue Government Behaviour Situation The Causes of their first Revolts Levying of souldiers Government Their Soveraigne Magistrate Situation Length and Breadth Natures and manners of the people Merchants Artificers Husbandmen Sharers The King of Spaine The Pope The Venetians Genoa Florence Sienna Lucca Ferrara Mantua Vrbine Parma The Bishop of Rome Marchia Romagna Riches The State of Rome The College of Cardinals Tuscan Pisa. Florence Manners of the Florentines Arezzo Sienna His forces at land At Sea His Revenues Naples House of Piety Calabria Compasse and conteinue Calabria superior Situation Caesaria Gallipolis Apulia The extent Capitanato Mansredonia Puglia and Abruzze Malsi Benevento Forces at Land At Sea Revenue Nobilitie Riches Calabria Genoa Mâ—ineâ—s of the 〈◊〉 Venice The increase thereof The description Murano The Glasse-houses Venice The site thereof and hardnesse to approach Division of the State of Venice Of the Continent Of the Island s of the Gulfe Of the Islands out of the Gulfe Riches Of the Sea The strength of the State Forces at land At Sea Of Neighbours The Turke The Spaniard The Emperor The Pope Lombardie Milan Brescia Bologna Verona Modena Mantua Number of Inhabitants Moderne Forces Nature of the people Sicil. Garrisons 〈◊〉 Revenues Forces by land By Sea Bounded Fertility Manners Riches Forces Neighbours 〈◊〉 of Hungarie Bounded Government Forces at land forces by water Fortification Plentie Mines Reasons why the Turke standeth at a stay in Hungarie Causes of greatnesse of Empires Causes of declination Riches Revenues Neighbours Forces Government Riches Revenues Government Forces Riches Forces Infantery Pioners The description of Africke Creatures proper to Africke Numidia Gualata Tombut Gago Borneo Gaoga Kings Court. Its privileges Plentie His manner of government Revenues Forces Fertilitie State Revenue Borderers King of Borno Turke King of Adel. The Slaves Greatnesse Elephants teeth Mines Salomons Oâ—hir Government Fertility Riches Cair Anciently called Gâ—â—es Riches Bounded Shires Situation Mosco The soyle and climate Of Waters Forme of government 〈…〉 Riches and commodities Of his Entrada or Revenue Their crueltie in punishing offenders Of his strength Borderers The Circassi The Nagayans The Chrim Tartars Tartaria The Pole The large extent of all Tartaria Their features Their fashions Their Riches The ancient division Their moderne division Tartaria minor The Precopenses Tartaria deserta Astrachan The Zagataâ—e Bounded Fertilitie Forces His Coronation Government His Countries Cities Their Government The Iemoglans or tribute-children Their preferments A Beglerbeg A Sanziake A Chause The Spachi and then distinctions The Ianizars and their distinguishments Their birth-place Their training Their allowance Their licentious liberty Some say forty thousand The Azapi properly belonging to the Gallies The Tartars Forces at Sea Administration of Iustice. Revenues ordinary besides Timariots Extraordinary The Timariots Report saith that this is againe reconquered by the Persian Administration of Justice Borderers The Persian The Portugals Prester John The Xeriffe The Polander The Austrian The Venetians The Spaniard Patriarches of Constantinople Of Alexandria Of Ierusalem Of Antioch Thrace Gallipolis Macedon Epyrus Achaia Peloponnesus Dalmatia Maesia superior Servia Bulgaria Valachia The reason of the desolation of these Countries Moldavia Pontus Bithynia Bursia Asia minor Caramania Cappadocia or Amasia Cilicia Armenia minor Arabia Deserta Arabia Potrea Arabia Felix Situation Nature of the people The Curdines Gurgistâ—n or Georgia in times past Iberia Situation * Now Caesaria Pâ—ilippi * Now Gibelin Iordan Asphaltites Forces Galilie Nazareth Samaria Iudea Ierusalem Mount Calvarie Valley of Ichosaphat Bethlem Gaza Jdumea Phoenicia Sydon Acon Beritus Cities Government Desarts Forces Riches Borderers The Mogor The Zagatai The Turke One Tomana maketh twenty French Crownes Government Arts. Forces at land Force at sea Treasure Borderers Riches Forces Government Borderers Aracan Macin
Genoese have had for interest Seven millions were spent in the French warres and the conquest of Portugal Eight were bestowed on that glorious and stately building of the Escuriall And the rest which is more than an hundred millions hath beene all spent in the fruitlesse warres of Christendome and Flanders So that it may be truly said that all the enterprizes which this State hath undertaken since the dayes of Charles the Emperour have beene performed with Indian gold being certainly to be affirmed without contradiction that Philip the second during his raigne alone spent more than all his predecessors being in number sixty two that have reigned since these Kingdomes shooke off the Roman yoke considering that he alone spent more than an hundred millions and notwithstanding all this here spoken of Spaine is very poore and smally stored with wealth For although his Navigation to the Indies was upheld yet the Trafficke which he had with England and Flanders which brought him exceeding and most secure gaines was all cut off Whence it seemes true that the Spaniards say in discourse of this Gold brought from India into Spaine that is worketh the same effects upon them that a showre of raine doth upon the tops and coverings of houses which falling thereon doth all at last descend below to the ground leaving no benefit behind to those that first received it Flanders once the true correlative of the Indies but being now divided and alienated yeeldeth no profit to this Prince yet Charles the fifth by his good government drew from thence by extraordinary grievances and Imposts occasioned by his manifold warres more than twenty foure millions of gold This Country though by Nature it be not very fruitfull yet by Art it proveth to the Inhabitants very profitable and commodious exercising with all travell and industry the Trade of Merchandize by which in former times infinite riches arose to their Princes who alwayes held it deare and sought by all meanes to conserve the Dominion thereof And so Philip the second would faine have done supposing that those warres would the rather have drawne to an end when hee gave his daughter Isabella for wife to the Arch-Duke with the assignment thereof for her Dower and that the people would the sooner have quieted themselves under the obedience of that Prince if they might be suffered to enjoy the libertie of their consciences but time hath revealed what effects those projects have produced It now remaineth to speake of the Councell and quality of his Councell and the conditions of his Counsellors a matter both of great importance and worthy of understanding being the very Seat of the soule of his government The government is absolute and royall matters of severall qualities are handled in severall Councels and they are seven in number besides the Privie Councell That the King may bee the better informed of all affaires they keepe alwayes neere about his person in severall Chambers under one roofe Their names are these The Councell of Spaine of the Indies of Italy of the Low-Countries of Warre of the Order of Saint Iohn and of the Inquisition In these the slow and considerate advisoes of Fabius rather than the rash and heady resolutions of Marcellus are received As much as may be innovations and change of ancient customers are avoided In regard whereof Innocent the eighth was wont to affirme the Spanish Nation to be so wary in their actions that they seldome committed any over-sight therein By this course the King rangeth under his obedience Castilians Arragons Biscaâ—nes Portugals Italians the New-world Christians and Gentiles people utterly different in Lawes Customes and Natures as if they were all of one Nation and his naturall subjects And whereas some object that this Empire cannot long endure in so flourishing an estate because the members thereof are so farre disjoyned to such objections let this Maxime be opposed That spacious Dominions are best preserved against forren attempts as those of meane capacitie have the like advantage against intestine divisions But in this Empire thus divided spaciousnesse and mediocrity are well united The spaciousnesse is apparent in the whole body compounded of severall members the mediocrity in the greatest part of the severall members For seeing that the portions thereof as Spaine Peru Mexico are so great and goodly States of themselves they cannot but bee stored with all those good things which are requisite either for greatnesse or mediocritie that is to say with a puissant union to resist forren attempts and sufficient inward force to provide against domesticall discontents For who knoweth not that by meanes of Sea-forces all these members may strengthen one another and stand as it were united even as Caesar Augustus by maintaining one Fleet at Ravenna and another at Messina awed the whole Roman Empire and kept it in assured tranquility As also wee have seene the Porâ—â—gals by reason of their Sea-forces which they maintained in Persia Cambera Decan and other places of the Indies in those parts to have given the Law to many famous Princes This State layeth claime also to the Duchie of Burgundie a part of that Countrey whereof the House of Austria reâ—ainâ—th Heire He doth the like to the Citie of Tunis in Aâ—â—â—â—a to the Island of Corsica possessed by the Genoese to the base and higher Britaine as also to the Kingdome of Hierusalem whose Title he taketh upon him and finally as it is above mentioned pretendeth himselfe the Monarch of the World But this mightinesse of his hath many disturbances in it selfe which hinder motion and cruelly curbe designements by reason wherof he sets forward with such dulnesse of speed that for the most part the provision which is prepared for effecting of future enterprises commeth alwayes too late For if he be to provide Souldiers in Italie after they be pressed inrolled and set on wards they lie waiting three or foure moneths at the River of Spaine before they be embarked for their voyage their pay still running on to the great dammage and prejudice of that Crowne so that wee may very well avouch that what another Prince performeth with two hundred thousand Crownes expence his Catholike Majestie can scarce execute so much with the cost of five hundred thousand Of no lesse danger is the dammage which that Crowne may very easily receive by a sudden and unexpected losse of their Fleet because on it are grounded all the hopes and designes of the said State that are of any importance But more pernicious and fuller of trouble would be the losse of the Indies which with ease either by Forren Fleets may be taken from them or much molested and hindered Or if neither of these yet that the Spaniards themselves sent thither in Colonies combining themselves in one bond of unitie having all the Fortresses in their owne hands together with the Ports and Ships that are there may one day resolve to be governed by themselves denying all obedience to their Kings
commandements Another contrarietie also doth this great State incurre That the Prince thereof hath farre better meanes to get Money than Men. For howbeit upon every occasion and when need serveth he is served by the Swizzers the Wallons and Italians yet these of themselves are little or nothing worth being upon every sleight occasion of slack pay ready to make commotions and in their furie to forsake his service Of other Nations besides that his Majestie dareth lesse trust them he cannot although he would have such a sufficient number as should supply his need and occasion So howbeit that this Prince be sole Lord and Master of so many mighty States and of so great and potent an Empire yet liveth he full of continuall travels and discontents Now having taken a full view and mature consideration both of the States as also of the ends and intents of this mighty Monarch together with those contrarieties which these States doe suffer it resteth that in this last place wee should intreat of the correspondencie which hee holdeth with other Princes which as it is of all other knowledges the most necessary so is it the hardest to be discovered bringing with it for the most part greater difficultie to be able fully and judiciously to pierce into the purposes and inward thoughts of Princes but especially into the secret Councels of the State of Spaine being full of cunning dissimulation To begin therefore with this point I say that generally to instance first of all the Pope his Catholike Majestie will have him to be such a one as may wholly depend upon him and be confident of his fastnesse And therefore in their Elections his endevour is that not any ascend to that dignitie that doth any way savour of the French faction and therefore alienated from his devotion nor any that are of singular Nobilitie left their spirits might be too generous to be basely abused by him nor any of the Kingdome of Naples for feare taught by former examples of some new disturbance in that State But his principall desire is to create one of base linage and of meane respect and such a one as shall if it be possible acknowledge his Cardinalship and all other dignities to proceed from him and such a one whose parents and kinsfolkes are poore that by the bountie which he shall bestow upon them and the pensions which he shall conferre on their friends he may binde them unto him and confidently assure himselfe of their favour and partaking when occasion serveth And for this cause in all that he can he seeketh to weaken the Popes and to detract from their dignities to make them inclinable to his will and wholly to depend upon him procuring them to continue in this office of their love by furnishing their State with Corne out of Puglia and Sicilie and by upholding the authoritie of the holy See in defending their Coasts from the incursions of the Turkish Fleets and from the depredations and inrodes of Pyrats and lastly by giving them to understand that it is in his power to call a Councell and in it to take an account of their actions and to call their prerogatives into question And howbeit the absolution and re-benediction of the late King of Navarre did much move nay beyond measure trouble the minde of Philip the second who in those times did hope for great things at the Popes hands yet did he dissemble this offence As on the contrary did his Holinesse the prejudice that was and is done him in Spaine in regard of holy Church whereby not only his orders and decrees are broken and moderated by the Councell but also sometimes rejected and contemned whereof his Holinesse hath made often complaint to the Spanish Ambassadour but to small purpose In the College of Cardinals the King at this present hath not much authoritie by reason of his imperious proceeding and lesse will have hereafter the French Nation being now rise to some greatnesse which will now every day more and more be able strongly to oppose themselves against the Spanish by whose jealousies greatnesse and dissimulation one with another that See hath gained such greatnesse and reputation in the world In requitall whereof his Holinesse in favour of Philip the second wasted forsooth in warre against the Lutheráns cut off by his authoritie I know not how many millions of debt due to the Genoese He hath given him also all Pardon 's sent to the Indies worth by yeare halfe a million with the collations of Benefices and Bishopricks and the enjoyment of the two rich Orders of Saint Iames and Calatrava With the Emperour howbeit all be of his blouâ— his Catholike Majestie hath not had till of late any great intelligence because in many occurrences that have beene offered he hath given him but slender satisfaction neither would ever seeke any counsell of his Majestie which principally is by him desired to the intent that he might seeme to relie upon him But true it is that these gusts are now over-blowne and the distastes are at length somewhat lessened in consideration of entermariages But since these late warres about Bohemia and the Palatinate he hath made great use of the Emperour The Spaniard knowes well that to attaine his designed Monarchie he must first conquer Germanie and make himselfe Master of those Ports and Hanâ—e-Townes from thence to annoy England and Holland To prepare the way to this necessary it was that some quarrell should be pickt with some of the Protestant Princes for matter of State and with all of them for matter of Religion The plot hath taken and by this meanes hath the Spaniard brought forren forces into the Empire though this was objected by the Princes in their Dyâ—ts to be against the Constitutions of the Empire By these forces of his having first gotten himselfe to be made Executioner of the Imperiall Ban against the proscribed Palatine Baden Hessen Iegerensdorff and others hath he in the Emperours name gotten possession of divâ—â— Townes which he holds as his owne Knowne it is that there was a Mint set up at Vienna the Coine whereof though it bare the Emperours stampe yet the Bullion came from Spaine To make himselfe neerer unto the Emperour he hath made himselfe Master of the Valtoline that by that passage hee might unite his owne forces of Millane with those of the Emperours hereditary States next to the Alps in Germanie By the Emperours meanes hath he also made himselfe a partie in the present quarrell of the Dukedome of Mantua in Italie and it shall goe hard but he will get all or some good part of it to joyne to Millane and Naples And this is the use that the Spaniard since the yeare 1620. hath made of the Emperour The Emperour growes great by the Armes of Spaine but this is but personall and to die with Ferdinand of Gratz in the meane time all the world knows that the Spaniard hath the reputation and will at last
Lusatia is on the South bounded with Silesia t is neere upon two hundred miles long and fifty broad it lies betweene the Rivers Elve and Viadrus and is divided into the Vpper and Lower both given to Vratislaus as Silesia also was King of Bohemia by the Emperour Henry the fourth Anno 1087. It still retaines the honour of a Marquisate Gorlitz is the chiefe Citie and a faire one Bandzen Sutaw Spremberg and Tribel bee neat and well peopled Townes The people as in Northerly situation they are neerer to the Germans so are they like them more rough mannerd than the Silesians and Bohemians Their Countrey is fruitfull enough and there may upon necessity be levied twenty thousand foot as good as any in that Kingdome All these incorporate Provinces use the Sclavonian tongue Sâ—ria is rich in Mines of Silver and Iron threescore miles broad and an hundred and ten long Carinthia a hilly and woody Countrey is seventy five miles long and fifty five broad Carniola with the bordering Countries up to Tergisâ—e is an hundred fiftie miles long and forty five broad They are plentifull of Corne Wine Flesh and Wood. The Country of Tirol is full of Mines of Silver and Salt-pits and is eighteene German miles long and broad The territories Swevia Alsatia and Rhetia doe pay little lesse than two millions and a halfe of ordinary revenue and so much extraordinary besides the eighteene Cantons of Rhetia are under the same jurisdiction They are so well peopled that upon occasion they are able to levie an hundred thousand footmen and thirty thousand Horse I know no other Province in Europe able to say the like And therefore the Emperour is not so weake a Prince as those ignorant of the State of Kingdomes doe suppose him to be reporting his Territories to be small unprovided of necessaries poore in money and barren of people But this is certaine that as he is Lord of a large dominion fertill rich and infinite of people so let every man thinke that by the neighbourhood of the Turke bordering upon him from the Carpathian Mountaines to the Adriatike Sea the forces of a mightier Prince may seeme small be overlaid For what Prince is there bordering upon so puissant an enemie but either by building of fortresses or by entertaining of Garrisons is not almost beggered I will not say in time of warre but even during the securest peace especially considering that the forces of the Turke are alwayes ready strong and chearefull yea better furnished in the time of peace than any other Nation in the hottest fury of warre Wherefore it stands him upon who is a borderer upon so powerfull an enemie either for feare or jealousie to be ever watchfull to spare no charges as doth the Emperour retaining in wages continually twenty thousand souldiers keeping Watch and Ward upon the borders of Hungarie These aske great expences and yet lesse than these are not to be defraied for the strengthning of other places besides other expences not meet here to bee spoken of To conclude with the State of the Empire though it cannot be said to be hereditary nor to have which is strange any chiefe City appropriate to the residence or standing Court of the Emperour as Rome sometimes was yet for neighbourhood and conveniences sake the Emperours have in this last age beene chosen out of the house of Austria yea when there have beene severall brothers of them they have all lookt for the Empire one after another and have had it too And for the same reasons have the Bohemians made choice of the same person yea and sometimes the Hungarians also the Austrian being the ablest Prince to defend them against the Turks So that Bohemia though in possession of the Emperour yet is no more part of the Empire than Hungaria is but a Kingdome absolute of it selfe free to chuse a King where it pleases So that the Emperour in Germany is to be considered two wayes first as a German Prince secondly as the German Emperour First as a Prince he hath by inheritance the lands and honours of his family such bee Austria Alsatia Tirol Styria Carinthia Carniola with some parts of Rhetia and Swevia and these dominions are like other principalities subjects of the Empire and for them the Emperour is his owne subject Secondly as a German Prince though not by inheritance but by election may the Emperour be considered when he is King of Bohemia Which though it be an independant kingdome yet being included within Germany and the King of Bohemia by office chiefe Taster to the Emperour and one of the seven Electors of the German Empire as having the casting voice if the other six be equally divided nay and with power to name himselfe if he be one of the two in election in consideration hereof may he thus also be brought within the Empire But yet neither of these wayes can the Emperour or Empire so properly be considered Thirdly therefore to speake of him as the German Emperour is to consider of him as Lord of those portions and States of the Empire properly so called And those be either the States or Imperiall Cities of Germanie The States and Princes of Germanie are naturally subjects to the Emperour yea and officers to his person too which is a part of their honour so the Palsgrave is chiefe Shewer and Brandenburgh Sword-bearer c. They are also as subjects to be summoned to the Imperiall Diets their lands are to be charged towards the Emperours warres made in defence of the Empire But yet on the other side the German Princes bee not such subjects as the Lords of England and France but much freer Lorraine is a member of the Empire and yet will not that Duke suffer the Emperour to have any thing to doe in his dominions and if any other Prince should take up Armes against the Emperour as Saxonie did in the case of Luther yet cannot the Emperour escheat their lands as other Princes may serve their Rebels by his owne private power without the consent of the other Electors Princes in a Diet. So that the German Princes be subjects and no subjects The Emperour is as it were the Grand Land-lord who hath made away his right by lease or grant but hath little to doe till the expiration or forfeiture The second member of the Empire be the Imperiall and Hanse-townes in which because they have lesse power the Emperour hath more than in the Princes Estates Theâ—e acknowledge the Emperour for their Lord but yet with divers acceptions For first they will stand upon their owne privileges and for them will deny any request of the Emperour Secondly they depend and trust unto their owne private confederacies amongst themselves as much as to the Emperour as the Switzers and Grisons leaguers amongst themselves and the Princes of the lower Creitz or circle of Saxony amongst themselves in defence of which the King of Denmarke as Duke of Holstein being one
of them tooke up just Armes of late even against the Emperour Subjects these Cities and States are but yet were they no freer than the subjects of other Princes they durst not make leagues amongst themselves to the prejudice of their Emperour Thirdly even these Imperiall Cities have some other Lords besides the Emperour or the Maior or Officers of their owne Townes Thus the Marquesse of Onspach being of the House of Brandenburgh stil challengeth the ancient Office and Title of his Family which is to be Burgrave of Nurembergh which is a principall Imperiall Citie We see also what power and favour the King of Poland had in these warres with Sweden in the Imperiall Citie of Dantzik which put it selfe under his protection Wormbs also in the Palatinate under protection of the Palsgrave received an Armie of the Princes of the Vnion in favour of him even against the present Emperour Finally the House of Austria holds the Empire in that fashion that Adonias laid claime to the Kingdome wherein another sate confirmed and perished for want of supportation For besides that it is not hereditary neither can he after Coronation command like an absolute Soveraigne nor expect or inforce the reciprocall duties betweene Prince and Subject nor is hee powerfull enough to countermand the Privileges of the Empire no nor to call the Diet without the consent of the major part of the Electors For some Provinces are as it were members of the Empire yet disunited for neither doe they nor will they acknowledge that they belong at all to the Empire as the Kings of Denmarke and Sweden the Duke of Prussia the Elector of Brandenburg that now is who requires Investiture of the Polander not of the Emperour the Switzers and the Netherlands Others confesse the Emperour for their Soveraigne Prince but they come not to the Diets of the Empire nor will beare the Tax and Tallages of the Empire as the Dukes of Savoy Lorraine and the Princes of Italy Others come to the Diets and pay all impositions and these are properly the Princes ' and Cities of Germanie But the King of Bohemia by the grant of Charles the fourth is exempted from all contributions As for the other Princes they be so many and by leaguing together so mighty that they attend in Court at pleasure contest with the Emperour at pleasure raise forces at pleasure and supply his wants of Exchequer at pleasure Some of them have to doe both in the Diets and at the Election of a new Emperour those be the Electors three Bishops and three Princes But as at first Wenceslaus the Emperor was faine to bribe them with many Privileges and Lordships for their voices in his Election so still they must be courted if the Emperour desires to have his sonne or brother chosen after him or any great favour done unto him If they be displeased they are strong enough to ruffle with him The other Princes live of themselves and the Emperour is oftner beholding to them than they to him so that these be but Lordly Subjects of the Empire To speake now in a word These are truly termed the States the Princes and Cities of the Empire who have to doe in the Diets or Parliaments and as members of one bâ—die participate of good and evill of advantage or disadvantage thorowout the whole Empire These living after the manner of a Commonwealth well united make use in manner aforesaid of the Emperour for their head and common safetie And such be divers of the lesser Princes together with the Hanse-townes and Imperiall Cities Free or Imperiall Cities are they which are not directly within the Inheritance of any Prince though they stand within his Territory For example Heidleberg Wormbs and Spiers are all in the Palatinate whereof the first is the Princes owne and not Imperiall the other be Imperiall and not the Princes Such Cities have obtained their freedome either for money or for service done to the Emperour whereupon some of them are so strong so privileged and so populous that out of obstinate repining at Taxes and Impositions they have many times opposed against their naturall Lords yea and in hostile manner excluded them from the superioritie of commanding witnesse the contentions heretofore betweene the Citie of Brunswicke and their owne Duke the exclamations of the Cities and Princes when the Landigrave of Hessen was imprisoned and the generall cause of the Protestants protesting in every place against the Ecclesiasticall proceedings and Imperiall threatnings These Cities governe themselves by their owne Lawes being bound no further than to pay two fifth parts of whatsoever generall contribution is assessed in the Imperiall Diets They pay tribute to the Emperour some say fifteene thousand Florens but they have for the most part sufficient revenue of their owne to defray the charges The nature of other Cities you have before read of The Diets now be the things by which the Emperour rules all if he be able to make a partie The ordinances of these Diets cannot be frustrated but by another Diet but of putting the Decrees in execution the Emperour hath the full power and the sole authority And therfore as touching preheminence and dignity hee is to be accounted the first and chiefe of the Christian Princes as the person upon whom the Majestie of the Roman Empire resteth and who ought to defend the Nation of the Germans the Church of God the Catholike Faith and to procure the peace and wel-fare of the whole Christian world And this is something towards the understanding of the State of the Empire in Germany Go we now to relate of the other chiefe Princes there And first of those which worthily challenge the next place the Electors of which the Palsgrave is chiefe The State of the Prince Elector Palatine HIs Dominion containes the Vpper and the Lower Palatinate The Lower is the chiefe of the two as being both the richest the largest and the Seat of the Elector A goodly and a delicate Country it is almost two hundred miles in length and about halfe so much in breadth lying on both sides of the famous Rhine and watered besides with the Neccar whose bankes are inriched with the most generous Wines It touches upon Lorraine at the Southwest and hath the Duchie of Wirtenberg upon the East Of this Countrey because of the armie of the Destroyer may we speake in the Scripture phrase The Land is as Eden before them and as a desolate wildernesse behind them her goodly and strong Cities her pleasant fields and delicate vineyards are fallen into the possession of those that reaped where they did not sow To this Principalitie was the Title of the first Elector incorporate It and Bavaria were made a Kingdome Anno 456. which Charles the Great conquered in whose Line it continued from the yeare 789. till Otho's time Anno 955. whose heires continued in them but not as a Kingdom till the yeare 1043. at which time Henry the third deprived Prince Conrade of