or given by this Emperour and his father almost all the Lands which they possesse at this day though afterwards extorted from them by the following Emperours or under colour of their Title by many severall wayes and means brought again unto them as shall be shewen hereafter in convenient place The Venetians in that little they then had remained sui juris The rest of Italie containing all the other Provinces of the Kingdom of Naples together with Tuscanie Friuli Treviginna and whatsoever is at this day in the possession of the Dukes of Millaine Mantua Modena Parma Montferrat and the Duke of Savoy as Prince of Piemont together with Liguria or the State of Genoa was reserved by Charles unto himself and in his life-time given by him to Pepin his second sonne with the stile or title of King of Italie But long it did not rest in the house of France the Princes of the Lombards wresting it from the line of Charles and after weakning and dividing it by their severall factions till in the end instead of an united Kingdom there rose up many scattered Principalities as shall hereafter be declared But first we must proceed to the Kings of Italie of which we shall endeavour as exact a Catalogue as the confusions of that State can be capable of The Kings of Italie of the French Italian and German Lines 1 Pepyn sonne of Carolus Magnus died before his Father 2 Barnard sonne of Pepyn 3 Ludovicus Pius Emperor and King of France 4 Lotharius Emperor eldest sonne of Ludovicus 15. 5 Ludovicus II. Emperor eldest sonne to Lotharius 20. 6 Carolus Calvus Emperor the youngest sonne of Ludovicus Pius 2. 7 Caroloman nephew to Ludovicus Pius by Ludovicus his second sonne surnamed the Antient 8 Carolus Crassus or the Fat Emperor brother of Coroloman the last King of Italie of the house of Charles he died Ao. 888. 9 Guy Duke of Spoleto contends with Berengarius Duke of Friuly both of the Longobâ—rdian Race for the Kingdom of Italie and in fine carrieth it against him 10 Lambert the sonne of Guy crowned by Pope Formosus 11 Ludovick sonne of Boson of Ardennes King of Arles and Burgundy by some Writers called onely Earl of Provence upon the death of Lambert invadeth Italie and is made King 12 Berengarius Duke of Friuly vanquisheth Ludovicus is made King of Italie and at last overcome by the Hungarians who having wasted the Countrey returned back again 13 Rodolph Duke of Burgundy Trans-urane called into Italie against Berengarius resigned it in exchange for the Kingdom of Arles and Burgundy to his Cousen 14 Hugh D'Arles King of Arles and Burgundy who held the Kingdom of Italy upon this resignation but after many troubles was at last outed of it by Berengarius and returned into France 15 Berengarius II. sonne of the former Berengarius on the retreat of Hugh received by the Italians as Protector to Lotharius the son of Hugh besieging Adelhais the next heir of Italie on the death of Lotharius was taken prisoner by the Emperor Otho 16 Otho called into Italie by Adelhais daughter to Rodolph King of Burgundy and Italie marieth the Lady and in her right is King of Italie 17 Otho II. son of the former Otho marieth Theophania neece to Nicephorus Phocus Emperor of Constantinople and hath Calabria for her Dower 20. 18 Otho III. Emperor and King of Italie in whose minority the Kingdom was usurped by 19 Harduicus a man of great power in Italie who kept it all the time of Otho till being broken with long wars by Henry the succeeding Emperor he was forced to quit it 20 Henry the second Emperor of that name having thrice vanquished Harduicus got the Kingdom of Italie and left the same unto the Emperors his Successors the Title of Italie after this time being drowned in that of the Empire and the Countrey governed as a part and Member of the Empire by such Commanders and other Officers as the Emperors from time to time sent thither But long it staid not in that state For the Popes of Rome knowing how much it did concern them in point of Politie to weaken the Imperiall Power in Italie without which their own Grandour could not be maintained stirred up continuall factions and wars against them and by that means and by the Censures of the Church which they denounced according as they saw occasion did so astonish and distract them that in the end the Emperors began to lay aside the affairs of Italie by which they reaped more trouble than the profit came to Insomuch that Rodolfus Habspurgensis a valiant and a politike Prince finding the ill success which Henry the fourth and fifth and Frederick the first and second Emperors of more puissance than himself had found in their Italian actions and pretensions resolved to rid his hands of that troublesom and fruitless Province and to that end made as much money as he could of that commoditie which he saw he was not like to keep And yet he sold good penny-worths too to them that bought them the Florentines paying for their Liberties but six thousand Crowns the Citizens of Luca ten thousand others as they could make their Markets And being once required the reason why he went not into Italie to look to the affairs thereof as his Predecessors had done hefore him he is said to have returned for answer that conceit of the Fox for his not going to attend as the other beasts did at the Lyons Den. Quia me vestigia terrent Omnia me advorsum spectantia nulla retrorsum That is to say I dare not go because no tract I see Of any beast returning towards me Which faulty and improvident resolution being followed by too many of his Successors not onely gave the Popes the opportunity they looked for of making themselves the great disposers of the affairs of Italie but many petit Princes thereby took occasion of getting all they could lay hold on for themselves and others For by this means the Scaligers made themselves Masters of Veroâ—a the Passâ—â—iâ—es of Mantua the Carrarians of Padua the Baillons of Bononia and by the same the Florentines got Pistoia and Ferrara was possessed by the Venetians And although Heâ—ry the 7 th provoked by these indignities made a journey thither reduced many of the revolted Cities to their former obedience and was crowned King at Millaâ—â— with the Iron Crown as were also Ludovicus Bavarus and Charles the 4 th two of his Successors yet found they in conclusion such small benefit by the enterprize as did not quit the charge and trouble which it put them to So in the end Italie was left wholly in a manner to the Popes disposing who gave away to others what they could not manage or otherwise confirmed those men in their usurpations whom they found already possessed of the Emperors Countreys and bound them by that means the faster to the See of Rome of which they were
which they had before them both in sacred and in civill stories The high Priesthood in the Church of Jewry went from Father to Sonne and why should any man think it inconvenient to follow the example of Almighty God in making the high Priesthood in the Church of Christ to be also herediiary not elective The Saracens who were as great Masters for wit and policy as any those Ages did produce pursued that precedent governed by Hereditary Caliphs many yeers together untill the Sultans their Vicegerents ambitiously affecting the Supreme Command rooted out their races And if the same Obligation lie on the Masters of Religions or mixt Orders for preserving the Rules and Statutes of their foundations as is upon the Pope by the fundamentall Ordinances of the Conclave as it seems to do why might not the Popes as well dispence with those Constitutions and turn the Popedom into an Hereditary Estate as Albert of Brandenbourg and Gotardus of Denmark Masters of the Dutch Knights in Prussia and Livonia in their times have done Nor can I see but that such an alteration as I speak of might be altogether as contenting to the Princes of Christendom as the like change from an unsetled popular Government to an hereditary Monarchy was formerly unto the Provinces and People of the State of Rome Of which it is affirmed by that notable Historian and States-man Tacitus Neque Provinciae illum rerum statum abnuebant suspecto Senatus Populique imperio ob certamina potentium avaritiam Magistratuum invalido Legum auxilio quae vi ambitu postremo pecunia turbabantur The Provinces saith he disliked not the alteration to whom the Government of the Senate and People had been long distasted by reason of the factions of the great ones and covetousness of their Officers the Laws affording no security at all as being swayd up and down by force ambition and corruption The Popedom setled in one house would prove more constant in the preservation of all Leagues and Treaties more carefull to preserve the interest of their Estate more usefull to the Confederates and Allies thereof upon all occasions than it is at present where the Popes so often change their sides and shift their factions the Successor many times esteeming it his greatest glory to rescind all the acts of his Predecessor And possible enough it is that Caesar Borgia the sonne of Alexander the sixt might have some such ends when it was convenanted betwixt him and Lewis the twelfth of France that being declared Generall of the Churches Forces and giving his helping-hand to that King in the Conquest of Millain he should be aided by him in recovering all the Lands of the Church which the Dukes of Urbine and Camerine the Families of the Malatesti Baillons and Bentivogli with divers others of less note did possess in Italie Which having got into his hands had not his Fathers sudden death and his own dangerous sicness hapning at the same time cut off his design it had been a matter of no great difficulty if of any at all to have made himself absolute Master of Rome and of all the Lands of the Church and to have left the same established in the Borgian Familie 'T is true that such an alteration would be very distastfull to the ambition of the Cardinals who by the deaths naturall or violent it matters not of the present Pope aspire by all means both of love and money to that high dignity But for my part I cannot see how all the wit in the Conclave had been able to hinder it if Alexander on a purpose to poyson some of that number whom he had invited to a Supper by a meer mistake of his Cup-bearer had not poysoned himself even in the very heat of the business then almost effected and so made frustrate the device But passing by this imagination of an Hereditary Popedom let us behold it as Elective and look upon the form and order observed in it Now the Election of the Pope is made most commonly in this place and manner In the Popes Palace on the hill Vatican are among other buildings sive Halls two Chappell 's and a Gallery seventy foot long The Gallery is appointed for conference one Chappell for the Mass and for the Election the other with the Halls are for the Cardinals lodgings Every Hall hath two rows of Chambers which are purposely for the time made of green or violet cloth To each Cardinall is allowed four servants to lie in his chamber They that are once within are compelled unless they be sick still to continue there and such as are once out are no more permitted to go in lest by that means the Cardinals should maintain intelligence with any forrain Princes To this Conclave for by this name the place of the Election is called is but one door to which belongeth four locks and as many keys One key is in the keeping of the Cardinalls one of the City-Bishops one of the Roman Nobility and one of the Master of the Ceremonies There is in this door a Wicket or Hatch which is opened only at dinners and suppers whereof the Master of the Ceremonies keepeth a key At this hole the Cardinals servants receive their meat every dish being first diligently searched lest any Letters should be conveyed in them As for the lodgings they have neither holes nor windows to give light so that there they make day of wax-candles And lest the Pope should be made by force both the City and Conclave are strongly guarded When the Cardinals are going to Election the privileges of the Cardinals are recited which every one sweareth to observe in case he be chosen Pope Then the Master of the Ceremonies ringing a Bell calleth them all to Mass which ended there is brought to every Cardinal a Chair and theren a Scroll of all the Cardinals names Before the Alter is set a Table covered with a purple cloth whereupon is set a Chalice and a Silver Bell and about it six stools on which sit two Cardinal-Bishops two Cardinal-Priests and two Cardinal-Deacons Every Cardinal writeth his voyce in a piece of paper goeth to the Altar prayeth God to guide him in the Election putteth his voyce into the Chalice and departeth to his seat The first Bishop taketh out all the papers and delivereth them to the first Deacon who unfoldeth each of them readeth without mentioning the name of the Elector the name of the elelected and every Cardinal in his particular Scroll noteth how many voyces every one hath The accompt being made the First Priest having the like Scroll pronounceth who hath most voyces which done the Priest ringeth a Silver Bell at which call the Master of the Ceremonies bringeth in a pan of coles and burneth all the little papers wherein the names of the elected were written He that hath the most voyces so that his voyces exceed the proportion of two parts of three is acknowledged Pope and adored by the rest of the
built upon weak conjectures but such as shew the power of Spain not to be so formidable as it 's commonly supposed which I find marshalled to my hand in this manner following 1 The 〈…〉 his Realms and other Estates severed by infinite distances both of Sea and Land which makes one part unable to relieve or defend the other 2 The 〈…〉 Wars his Forces of necessity being long a gathering in places so remote from the â—oyall Seat and being gathered no less subject to the dangers both 〈…〉 and Land before unâ—ted into a body and made fit for action 3 The danger and uncertaintie which the most part of his 〈◊〉 Revenues are subject to many times intercepted 〈◊〉 Pirates and open Enemies sometimes so long delayed by cross Winds and Seas that they come too late to serve the turn 4 The different temâ—ers and affections of a great part oâ— his Subjects not easily concurring in the same ends or travelling the same way unâ—o them 5 The 〈…〉 Portugueze and Italian Provinces not well affected for their private and particular reasons unto the Castilians apt to be wrought on by the Ministers of neighbouring Princes whom 〈◊〉 of State keep watchfull upon all advantages for the depressing of his power 6 〈◊〉 last of all the want of people of his own naturall Subjects whom he may best relie on for the increase and grandour of his Estates exhausted and diminished by those waies and means which have been touched upon before without any politique or provident course to remedy that defect for the time to come And this I look on as the greatest and most sensible Error in the Spanish Government therein directly contrary to the antient Romans Who finding that nothing was more necessary for great and important enterprizes than multitudes of Men employed all their studies to increase their numbers by Mariages Colonies and such helps making their Conquered Enemies free Denizens of their Common-wealth by which means the number of the Roman Citizens became so great all being equally interressed in the preservation of it that Rome could not be ruined in Annibals judgement by any forces but her own But on the other side the Spaniards employ none in their Plantations but their own native Subjects and so many of them also in all their enterprizes both by Sea and Land that so many thousands going forth every year in the flower of their age not one of ten returning home and those few which return either lame or old the country is not only deprived of the Men themselves but also of the Children which might be born An evidence whereof may be that Iohn the first of Portugal who reigned before the severall Voyages and Plantations of that people was able to raise 40000 Men for the War of Africk whereas Emanuel who lived after those undertakings had much a do to raise 20000 foot and 3000 horse on the same occasion and Sebastian after that found as great a difficulty to raise an Army of 12000. As for the forces which the King of Spain is able to make out of all his Estates they may be best seen by his preparations for the Conquest of England France and Flanders In his design for England Anno 1588. he had a Fleet consisting of 150 sail of Ships whereof 66 were great Galleons 4 Galleasses of Naples 4 Gallies the rest smaller Vessels fraughted with 20000 Souldiers for land service 9000 Saylers 800 Gunners 400 Pioneers 2650 peeces of Ordinance not Reckoning into this accompt the Commanders and Voluntaries of which last there were very great numbers who went upon that service for Spoil Merit or Honour In the design of Charles the fift for the Conquest of Provence he had no lesse than 50000 in the field and in that of Philip the second for the reducing of Flanders the Duke of Alva had an Army at his first setting forward out of Italie consisting of 8800 Spanish foot and 1200 horse all of them old experienced Souldiers drawn out of Naples Sicil and the Dutchie of Millain 3600 German foot 300 Lances and 100 Harcubusiers on horseback of the County of Burgundy all old Souldiers also besides many Voluntiers of great ranck and quality very well attended and his old standing Army in the Belgick Provinces a strength sufficient to have Conquered a far greater Countrie Of standing forces in this Countrie he maintaineth in these Realms of Spain but three thousand horse and in his Forts and Garrisons no more than 8000 Foot his Garrisons being very few and those upon the Frontiers only and in Maritime Towns his Galies being served with Slaves out of Turkie and Barbarie And yet he is able on occasion to raise very great forces partly because the ordinary Subjects are so well affected to their Prince whom they never mention without reverence and partly in regard there is so great a number of Fendataries and Noble-men who are by Tenure to serve personally at their own charges for defence of the Realm And certainly it must be a considerable force which the Noblemen of Spain are able to raise considering the greatness of their Revenue and the number of Vassalls which live under them it being supposed that the Dukes of Spain of which there were 23 when my authour lived were able one with another to dispend yearly from 50000 Ducats to a 100000 some going very much above that proportion and that of 36 Marquesses and 50 Earls the poorest had 10000 Ducats of yearly Rent and so ascending unto 50 and 60000. The Archbishops Bishops and others of the greater Clergie being all endowed with fairer Temporall estates than in most places of Europe are also bound to serve though not personally on the like occasions And to these services the Noblemen are for two reasons more forwards than the other Fendataries 1 Because their honours descend not de jure from the Father to the Sonne unless confirmed to the Sonne by the Kings acknowledgment and compellation which makes them more observant of him than in France or England where it is challenged as a Birth-right 2 Because out of the gross body of these Noblemen the King doth use to honour some with the title of Grandees privileged to stand covered before the King and to treat with him as their Brother which being the highest honour which that State can yield keeps those great persons in a readiness to obey his pleasure in hope to come unto an honour of so high esteem For the Râ—vâ—nues of this King which ordinarily arise out of his Estates taking Portugal into the accompt they are computed at 11 millions of Crowns yearly that is to say 4 from his Dominions in Italie 2 from Portugal and the Appertinents thereof 3 from the West-Indies and the other 2 remaining from his Kingdoms in Spain Besides this he receiveth yearly the Revenues of the Masterships of all the great Orders in his Kingdom incorporated to the Crown by Ferdinand the Catholick not without good Policie and reason of State the
reason be assigned for Zutphen in regard it is a State more ancient then that of Guelderland it self and not depending anciently on the fortunes of it united to it by the marriage of Othe of Nassaw the first Earl of Guelderland with Sophia daughter and heir of Wickman the last Earl of Nutphen So as this Earldome ended when that first began After this it continued subject to the Earls and Dukes of Gueldres till the revolt of Holland and the other Provinces from the King of Spain at what time it was besieged for the States by the Earl of Leicester at the siege whereof fell that gallant Gentleman Sir Philip Sidney of whom our British Epigrammatist thus verfifieth Digna legi scribis facis dignissima scribi Scripta probant doctum te tua facta probum Thou writ'st things worthy reading and didst doe Things worthy writing too Thy Acts thy valour show And by thy works we do thy learning know And though upon the losse of that gallant man nephew and heir unto that Earl the siege was raised at the present yet was it re-enforced again anno 1190. and the Town then taken continuing ever since in the confederacy of the States united GROINING-LAND hath on the east East-Friseland on the west West-Friseland on the North the main Ocean on the South Over-yssell so wedged in as it were betwixt both Friselands that some hold it to be but a part of the West It containeth under it the Country called the Ommelâ—nds corruptly for the Emmelands as I conjecture because lying along the River Ems and therein 145 Burroughs and Villages the chief whereof are 1. Dam near the Ems bordering on East-Friseland 2 Keykirk 3. Old-Haven standing on the Sea As for the town of Groyning it self it is rich great and very well built situate-amongst divers small streames which run through it and having also divers Channels for conveyance of waters which addes much to the safety and strength thereof A town of great jurisdiction both within and without judging absolutely without appeals in causes both Civill and Criminall in Spirituall subject heretofore to the Bishop of Munster till made one of the new Bishopricks by King Philip the second anno 1559. And though the Prince in Civill causes had his officer or Lieutenant there yet in Criminall the town was Soveraign and granted pardons as Soveraign of the whole estate paying to the Prince for all duties yeerly but 6000 Crowns Both Town and Country anciently belonged to the Bishops of Vtrecht by whose negligence in defending them they submitted their estate to the Dukes of Guelderland But the Dukes of Saxonie laying some claim to it disturbed this agreement for a time during which Ezardus the Earl of East-Friseland possessed himself of it but not able to make good his unjust possession sold his estate therein to Gueldres anno 1514. to whom of right it did belong Afterwards in the yeer 1536. they put themselves under the command of Charles the fift but with the reservation of all their priviledges and ancient Liberties for preservation of the which in danger to be over-born by the power of the Spaniard they consederated with the rest of the united States anno 1594. and so still continue The antient inhabitants of these Countries were the Menapii and Sicambri very valiant people possessing Guelderland and the Majores Frisii which were planted in Groyning and the rest of Friseland Of these the Sicambri were accompted the most valiant people uniting with other nations in the name of French and by that name possessing with the rest of those Nations the mighty Empire of the West In the division whereof by the posterity of Charles the Great these Countries were first part of the Kingdome of Austrasia or East-France afterwards of the Germane Empire governed at the first by Guardians or Protectours created by the people in the reign of Charles the Bald the two first being Wickard and Lupold or Leopold two Brethren who fixing their chief Seat in the Castle of Gueldres occasioned the whole Country to be called Guelderland But they and their successours by what name or title soever called were in effect but Provinciall Officers accomptable to the Emperours for their administration the first free Prince hereof being Otho of Nassaw who having to his first wife the Lady Aleide daughter of Wickard the last Guardian was by the Emperour Henry the third made first Earl of Guelderland adding thereto the State of Zutphen by a second marriage as is said before In Reinold the ninth Earl it was made a Dukedome by the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria anno 1339. sold by Duke Arnold justly incensed at his ungracious son Adolp to Charles Duke of Burgundy for 92000 Florens of ready money and an Annuall pension anno 1472. But notwithstanding this Agreement Adolph upon the death of Charles possessed himself of it and left it unto Charles his son who finally surrendred it unto Charles the fift anno 1547. EARLS and DUKES of GVELDERLAND 1079 1 Otho of Nassaw the first Earl 2 Gerard the son of Oth by his first wife Aleide 1131 3 Henry the son of Gerard. 1162 4 Gerard II. son of Henry 1180 5 Otho II. brother of Gerard. 1202 6 Gerard III. son of Otho the second 1229 7 Otho III. son of Gerard who walled the towes of Ruermond Aruhem Bomel Goch Wageniâ—gen and Harderwick 1271 8 Reinold son of Otho the third taken and imprisoned till his death by 1326 9 Rainold II. his own son created the first Duke of Gueldres by the Emperour Lewis of Bavavaria at Francfort Anno 1339. liberall to the poof and a great Patron of the Muses 1343 10 Rainold III. son of Rainold the 2 d molested with continuall wars with his brother Edward by whom taken and imprisoned till his dying day 1371 11 Edward the son of Rainold the second by Eleanor the daughter of Edward the third of England his second wife dyed the same yeer with his brother the last of the male issue of Otho of Nassaw 1371 12 Mary by some called Joan Sister of Edward by the same venter and wife of William Earl of Gulick 13 William son of William Duke of Gulick and Mary of Gueldres admitted Knight of the Garter by King Richard the second 14 Rainold IV. the brother of William 15 Arnold of Egmond son of John Lord of Egmond and Mary his wife daughter of Joan the sister of Rainold and William the two last Dukes succeeded in the estate of Gueldres taken impriâ—oned and most barbarously handled by his own son Adolph and delivered by Charles the Warlike Duke of Bargâ—ndie he sold to him his estates of Gueldres and Zutphen to be injoyed by him after his decease anno 1472. 1473 16 Adolpâ— the wicked son of Arnold dispossessed of his estate by the said agreement which Duke Charles enjoyed for his life after the death of the said Charles was restored to liberty by the Gauntois anno 1467. and made the Generall of their
towns with-held from them in Flanders and Brabant This is by far the greater part of the Countrie and more fruitfull in regard of the Commodities there naturally growing but as much inferiour to the other in power and riches by reason of their strength in shipping by which they have the command at Sea and thereby draw the whole trade of Christendom driven before at Antwerp to Amsterdam and other towns of their confederacie For the government of these Provinces there is a Regent sent from the Court of Spain whose authoritie is generally as great as that of the Kings save that all matters of moment passe under the Kings name and that all Officers of any great trust and moment are appointed by him and that all laws decrees sentences and negotiations are dispatched in his name For the assistance of the Regens there is a Privy Councell a Councell of State and a Councell of Finances by whom all things are ordered which conern the publick the Regents authoritie cooperating and concurring with them without which though they may consult they can execute nothing And for the governance and well ordering of the severall Provinces there is in every one of them a Lieutenant or Provinciall Governour subordinate to the Regent and accomptable to him and in each Province a particular Councell held in the Kings name consisting of more or lesse Counsellors as the bignesse of the Province is for the most part Doctors or Licentiates of the Civill-Laws with a President as the head thereof which in some places they call the Parliament after the manner of the French and in some the Chancerie To these Courts all the Subjects do resort for justice in causes both Criminall and Civill to these are brought appeals from inferiour Judicatures such as the Courts of great Towns and particular Franchises and from these lieth an appeal to the great Councel at Machlyn supreme and superintendent unto all the rest When any thing is to be done which concerns the profit of the Prince or otherwise is of publick moment the Regent sendeth out letters in the Kings name to command the Estates that is to say the Clergy the Nobility and the principall Towns of every Province except those of Luxembourg Guelders West-Friseland and Over-yssel who by speciall priviledge cannot be called out of their own countries to come before him The place of their Assembly is for the most part at Bruxels the Court and residence of the Regent because the Brabanters are also priviledged not to be summoned out of the Precincts of their own Province Where being come the States assemble not all together but those of one Province at a time so one after another to whom the President or some one of the Councell of State proposeth in the Princes name that which he demandeth to which if any town oppose then all which the rest have done is of no effect nothing being granted by the Deputies or States of any Province but with this condition that all the rest of the Estates do agree unto it Without this punctuall content of all parties interessed the Prince can impose nothing by their Laws upon the Subject nor alter any thing at all in the publick government And as the people are thus priviledged in regard of the Prince so are the Princes and Prelates priviledged in regard of the Pope it being agreed upon between them 1. That the Prince is to give Clergie-Benefices and the Pope to confirm them 2. That neither Prelate nor Lay-person may be cited to Rome but the Pope to send his Delegates or Commissioners into the Countrie 3. The Pope not to give a Benefice nor grant a Pardon nor send a Bul into the Country without the leave of the Prince 4. That no Clergie man can buy lands or other immoveables without the Princes consent And 5. That the Prince hath power to visit the Clergie to see if they be well governed or not and if they be not to reform the abuses Great priviledges if considered rightly greater then which few Protestant Princes do pretend to in their own Dominions As for the Revenue raised by the Spaniard out of his part of this Estate it is not easie to be guessed at and of that which is there comes but little to his Coffers The expences of his Court there is as great as ever under any of the former Regents and his charge of entertaining Souldiers for his towns and garrisons greater then before Nor doth it now stand with reason of State to lay any arbitrarie taxes upon the people lest he exasperate them to a second Rebellion or startle them to some new Confederacies against his quiet Under the government of the Confederate Estates are the Dukedome of Guelderland excepting some few Towns in the hands of the Spaniard the entire Earldoms of Holland Zeland and Zutphen the Seigneuries of West-Friseland Vtrecht Over-Yssell Groining the town of Sluyes with the Isle of Cassandt in Flanders and many pieces of importance in the Dutchie of Brabant This is the lesser part by far and far inferiour to the other in regard of the soil but the more populous of the two and by the industry and great trading of the people the more rich and powerfull Governed after their own old Laws by the particular Estates of every Province not yet united into one entire body of a Comonwealth saving that for the better preservation of their confederacie the Commissioners of the severall Provinces doe consult together whom they have honoured with the name of the States Generall The Estates of the particular Provinces elected out of the principall towns and places of most importance doe order the affairs thereof according to their ancient priviledges rights and customs as well by themselves as by their Colleagues and Officers whom they doe appoint and that as well for matters of State as in point of Justice For administration of the which the Governour President and Counsellors of the Provinciall Courts have the cognizance of all cases both civill and criminal and in all causes of appeal from inferiour Courts in each of which they do proceed without appeal making their Acts and Commissions in the name of the said Governour President and Councell but pronouncing sentence and executing judgment in the right of the Soveraigntie of the said Province And these Provinciall States are chosen generally out of the Plebeians or common people and the Burgers at the best of the greater Townships the Nobilitie and Gentry being so worn out that in all Holland and Zeland there are not left above 3 families of Gentlemen and those compelled to live after the Plebeian fashion for fear of envie and to avoid the insolencie of the saucie Clowns who out of rudenesse and the desire of equality hate nothing more among them then the name of a Gentleman Out of these Provinciall States which hold not for any certain and determinate time but only during the pleasure of the communitie for which they serve are chosen one
descending towards the Banks of the Rhene which not far off divides it self into severall channels An antient town and of great note in former times as appeares by many old foundations and other monuments of Antiquity continually digged up in the fields adjoining but chiefly by an old foresquare Tower built on the highest of the three hils of great height and state founded by Julius Caesar as a bulwork against the Germans inhabiting the further side of the River For proof of which besides the old tradition constantly maintained there is an Inscription on the Gates of the Dukes Palace neer adjoining to it which saith anno ab Vrbe DCXCIIX C. Julius Dictator his partibus subactis hanc Arcem sundavit i. e. that in the yeare 698 from the building of Rome Julius Caesar the Dictator having subdued those parts of the Countrey caused this Tower to be built 2. Santen on the banks of the Rhene a town of great antiquity as the ruines of it doe declare supposed by Pighius to bee the Trajan a Colonia of the Antients 3. VVesel in Latine Vesalia a fair and rich town seated on the confluence of the Rhene with the river of Lippe which rising in VVestphalia doth here lose it selfe of great note for a Colledge of secular Canons built here by Eberard the ninth Earl anno 840 or thereabouts and an hospitall liberally endowed for old impotent persons founded by Henry de Baers the Dukes Chancellour A town not subject to these Dukes though within the Dukedome being reckoned an Imperiall City and one of the Hanse Towns now neither so Imperiall nor so Free as formerly possessed first by the Spaniard with a Garrison of 3000 men at the beginning of the war of Cleve by D. Lewis Velasco and from them taken by the States of the Vnited Provinces anno 1628. 4. Burich on the French side of the Rhene over against Wesel amongst goodly corn fields and pleasant pastures 5 Duisberg or Tuitchberg in Latine called Tento-burgum a town of the antient Germans as the name importeth situate on the Rhene betwixt the Angra and the Ruer two noted Rivers A town formerly of great trading and notably well built Imperiall and one of the Hanâ—e but ceased to be Imperiall when sold by Rodulph of Habspurg to Thecdorick the ninth of that name Earl of Cleve and together with 6 Cravenburg another town of this Dukedome but of lesser nose 7 Emmerick on the Rhone a well frequented town remarkable for a very fair School 8 Rees 9 Griet and 10 Griethusen all upon the Rhene 11 Calcar a town more within the land but not far from the River grown wealthy by the trade of cloathing and the best beere or ale in all these parts sold thence aboundantly into the Countrey round about Not far from whence at a place called Aufde Baern it is supposed that Caesar Germanicus built his bridge over the Rhene when he went from Vetera Castra against the Marsi a nation of Germany 12 Gennep upon the Niers or Nirsi not far from its influx into the Maes which together with Duiffele and Riexwald were bought of Sigismund the Emperour by Adolph the first Duke of Cleve for a great sum of money South of the land of Cleve betwixt it and Colen lyeth the County of MVERS extended all along on the bankes of the RHENE a distinct State the Earle of which is subject to no other Prince but the Emperor only so called from Muers the chief town of it situate on the French side of the Rhene over against Duysburgh Next Towns to which are 2. Orsey 3. Augur of which little memorable A small territory but in a very fruitfull soil The neighbourhood whereof to the land of Colen to which it serveth as an Outwork upon that side preserving it in former times from the Dukes of Cleve who otherwise no doubt either by Arms or marriage had been masters of it as they were of the adjoyning Provinces on both sides of the River 2. GVLICK-LAND or the Dukedome of Gulick hath on the East the County of Muens and the land of Colen on the West Guelderland and Limbourg on the North Cleve and on the South the rest of the land of Colen The Aire and Soil much of the same nature as in Cleve save that here is a greater plenty of Woad for dying and a better breed of Horses then in the other Places of most importance in it are 1 Gulick in Latine Juliacum whence the French call it Juliers known by that name in the Itinerary of Antoninuâ— sufficient proof for the Antiquity thereof but not otherwise famous Seated upon the River Roer the chief seat heretofore of the Dukes of Gulick before the uniting hereof with Cleve and since the dissolution of that Estate possessed sometimes by the States of the Vnited Provinces and sometimes by the Spaniards called in by the Compeâ—itors to asserâ— their Titles 2 Duerin on the same River the Marcodurum of the old writers and of late memorable for the long siege which it held against Charles the fift in his wars against William Duke of Cleve and Gulick for the Dukedom of Guâ—lders 3. Munster Eyphelâ— in Latine Monasterium Eyphalie so called to distinguish it from Munster of Westpbalen pleasantly seated in a valley begiâ—t with mountaines not far from the spring or fountaine of the river Erfat 4 Caster so called of a stately and magnificent Castle built for defence of this part of the Countrey 5 Berken on the river Erp. 6 Merodon beautified with a strong Castle which gives name to an honourable and antient family 7 Enskereh 8 Berklen c. There is also within the limits of this Dukedome the famous town of Aix as the French or Aken as the Germans call it famous of old times for the hot Bathes both within and without the town whence it had the name of Aix or Aquen in Latine Aquisgranum situate on the edge of Limbourg in a fruitfull foil but the buildings nothing answerable to the fame of the place inhabited for the most part by Smiths and Brasiers who drive the greatest trade herein working continually on iron and other metals with which they are supplyed aboundantly out of Lâ—â—ge and Limbourg The town Imperiall but under the protection of the Dukes of Gleve at the expiration of which family under colour of some quarrels about Religion it was seisâ—d on and garrisoned by Marquis Spinola for the King of Spain Of great fame formerly for the death and sepulture of Charles the great by whom made one of the three Seates of the Western Empire and designed by him to be the place in which the King of the Romans should receive his Crowne for the Kingdome of Germany at the hands of the Archbishop of Colen The town supposed to be formerly that wintring Campe of the Romans called in Tacitus Vetera which was taken by Civilis in the beginning of his rebellion against Vespasion during which warres it is often mentioned by the Writers of
long since in danger of performing more reall services the Emperour Ferdinand the 2. after the surprize of Hâ—lstein and some part of Danemark anno 1627. gaining so far upon this Countrie that had not the King of Sweden come in so seasonably he had made himself absolute master of it and by the opportunity of the situation of it on the back of the Netherlands forced the Vnited States to some great extremities As for the title of Duke of Westphalen and Engern it hath been long used as before was said by the Bishops of Colen as also but with better right by the house of Lawenburg descended from the antient Electorall Familie writing themselves in that regard Dukes of Saxonie Wesâ—phalen and Angravaria or Engern 2 The Bishoprick of BREME lyeth on the other side of the Weser extending as far as to the Elb and the German Ocean So called of 1 Breme the principall Citie â—eated on the Weser there broad and navigable the Citie by that means well traded populous and rich beautified with fair and even streets and very strongly fortified against all Invasions both by Art and Nature the town being so seated amongst Fenns occasioned by the overflowings of the River that it may be easily drowned on all sides to keep off an Enemie adorned with a spacious Market-place a fair Counsell-house and a large Cathedrall the See of the Arch-bishop who is the temporall Lord of the town and territorie Other Towns of especiall note are 2 Osenbridge not far from Breme from whence great quantitie of linnen is brought yearly to England and other places 3 Arusten on the Weser also 4 Oterenberg on the river Bolla not far from the fall thereof into the Ocean 5 Buxtertrude on the Elb not far from Hamburg but on the hither side of the water 6 Stode Stadt or Stadium seated on the River Zuinghe near the fall thereof into the Elb accompted the antientest town in all Saxonie and one of the first which was enrolled amongst the Hanse and by especiall priviledge had the pre-emption of all the Rhenish wine that passed by them and the right also of coining money But being over-topped by the power and trade of Hamburg 5 Dutch miles from it it grew at length so poor and in such decay that their yearly Revenues came but to 90 l. per annum so that they were fain to sell their priviledges to the Town of Hamburg and put themselves under the protection of the Bishops of Breme Revived again upon the comming thither of the English Merchants who finding some hard measure from the Hamburgers fixed their Staple here by means whereof the Citizens in short time grew exceeding wealthy the buildings fair and beautifull the town strongly fortified Situate in a place so easily overwhelmed with water that the people in ostentation of their strength and securitie used to have Ordinance of stone planted over their Gates But the late German wars have made them sensible of their folly when notwithstanding their new works and an English Garrison under Sir Charls Morgan they were compelled to submit themselves to the Earl of Tilly anno 1627. recovered after by the Swedes in the course of their victories As for the Bishoprick of Bremen it was first founded by Charls the Great in the person of Willibode an English Saxon one of the first Preachers of the Gospel in these parts of this Country The town before that time a poor Village only being made an Archiepiscopall See and the Metropolitan of all the Churches of the North quickly grew up into esteem as the Bishops did in power and Patrimonie till they became Lords of all this tract Governed since the Reformation of Religion by Lay-Bishops or Adminisirators of the Rents of the Bishoprick which under that title they inverted to their proper use And now of late by the Conclusions made at Munster setled as an inheritance on the Crown of Sweden to be enjoyed together with the Bishoprick of Verda by the Kings thereof with the title of Dukes of Breme and Verden the antient liberties of those Cities formerly granted by their Bishops being still preserved EAST-FRISELAND EAST-FRISELAND is bounded on the East with the River Weser by which parted from Westphalen on the West with the River Ems which parteth it from Groyningen and the rest of West-Friseland on the North with the German Ocean and on the South with the Earldom of Mark a part of Cleveland So called from the Frisu who casting out the old inhabitants possessed themselves of it and called it by their own name Friseland divided by the Ems or Amisus into the Western spoken of amongst the Netherlands and the Eastern or East-Friseland in which now we are The nature of the soil we shall see anon when we come to the subdivisions of it Chief Rivers besides those of Ems and 2 Weser spoken of elsewhere 3 Juda which falleth into a great Bay oâ— Arm of the Ocean called from hence Die Jadie 4 Dalliart on which standeth the Citie of Emdeu 5 Delm and 6 Honta neighboured by Delmenhorst and Oldenborch towns of this Countrie The whole divided into 1 the Countie of Emden or East-Friseland properly so called and 2 the Earldom of Oldenburg 1 EAST-FRISELAND specially so called hath on the West the River Ems on the North the Ocean on the East and South the Earldom of Oldenbourg called also the Countie of EMDEN from the fair Town of Emden the chief Citie of it The soil hereof is very fruitfull both in corn and â—asturage sending great store of Oxen Horses Wool Swine Butter Cheese and all sorts of Grain into other Countries all of them excellent in their kind not easily to be bettered if equalled in any place whatsoever Chief towns herein are 1 Emden so called from the Ems on which it is situate Dâ—llaert a smal River falling here into it a noted and wel traded town beautified with a Haven so deep large that the greatest ships with ful sail are admitted into it The people rich affirmed to have 60 ships of 100 tuns apeece and 600 lesser Barks of their own besides 700 Busses and Fisher boats maintained for the most part by their Herring-fishing on the Coast of England The buildings generally fair both private and publick especially the Church the Town-Hall and Earls Palace This last a strong and stately Castle situate at the mouth of the Haven and on all sides compassed by the Sea and yet not strong enough to preserve the Townsmen in their due obedience who about 50 years agoe taking advantage of the absence of their Earl kept him out of their Town because he seemed not to approve the Calvinian humor and have since governed in the nature of a Common-wealth confederate with the States of the Vnited Provinces for their better establishment and support So easily is Religion made a mask to disguise Rebellion 2 Auricts by some called Anseling seated in the Inlands rich and well walled of great resort by reason
Much given to Piracy and all Idolaters till of late Governed by many Kings or petit Princes the cause of much contention and many quarrels three of which are said to have been converted to Christianity and for that cause much hated by their heathenish Subjects who thereupon rebelled against them It is situate West of the Moluccos and hath therein a Town called Sion honoured with the abode of one of their Christian Kings but possibly not so called untill their conversion the proper name thereof being Cian 2. Nibon in the South and 3. Terolli in the North parts of it 2. GILOLO called also â—atachina is one of those Islands which our late Navigators include under the name of Del Mor. Of large extent conceived to be half as bigge as Italy By that accompt the truth whereof I do very much doubt greater than Zeâ—lan is in compass though of less reputation that being governed by its own Princes this subject for the most part to the king of Ternate Situate East of the Moluccos exceeding plentiful of Rice well stored with wild hens and on the shores provided of a kind of Shell-fish which in tast much resembleth mutton A tree they have which they call by the name of Sagâ—â— of the pith whereof they make their bread and of the sap or juice of it they compose a pleasing drink which serveth them instead of wine The air intemperately hot the people well proportioned but rude and savage some of them Gentiles some Malomeâ—ans of which last Religion is their king The chief Town of it is Batchame or Batachina whence the new name unto the Iland in which the Hollanders have a Fort to defend their Factory 3. AMBOINA South of the Aequator and the third of the Sinda hath many Ilands of less note which depend upon it and do communicate in the name In compass about five hundred miles said by Maginus to be extremely rough and barren which must be understood with reference to some kinds of grain For otherwise it is very fertile abundantly productive of Rice Citrons Limons Orenges Coquo-nuts Sugar-Canes and other fruits and very plentiful of Cloves Which last as it makes some to reckon it amongst the Moluccos so may it be the reason why the Iland is defective in such fruits as require much moisture the Clove being of so hot a temper as before was noted that it draweth to it all the moisture of the Earth which is neer unto it The people much given to Piracy wherewith they do infest all the neighboring Ilands Defamed for Cannibals or man-caters it being here a constant custome that when their parents are grown old or sick of any incurable disease they give them unto one another to be eaten by them They have one Town of more note than other which they call Amboyna by the name of the Iland First taken by the Portugals and by them secured with a strong fortress during whose power here the Jesuites who had in it their several Residences converted many to Christianity But in the year 1605. the Iland and the Fort both were conquered by Stephen of Hagan for the States of the united Provinces who having cleered the Countrey of the Portugal Forces possessed themselves of it Received by the natives at their first comming with joy and triumphs but they got little by the change as they found soon after their new Masters being more burden some and unsufferable than the old had been For claiming in the right of conquest they think they may oppress the Natives by the law of Arms and ingross all trade unto themselves as the true Proprietaries Infamous even amongst the rude and savage Indians for their barbarous inhumanity executed upon some of the English the greatest Patrons under God which they have in the world whom in the year 1618 they most cruelly tortured and most wickedly murdered under colour of some plot to betray their Fortress but in plain truth for no other reason but because they were more beloved by the Inhabitants and began to gain upon their trade 4. West of Amboina and South-west of Celebes lieth the 4th of these Ilands called MACASSAR said to contain from East to West 600 miles plentiful of Rice Flesh Fish Salt and Cotton-wool not destitute of Gold and Pearls and well stored with Sanders Sandalum it is called in Lâ—tin a medicinal wood growing like a Nut-tree of several colours white red yellow but the red the best the fruit in making like a Cherry but of no esteem In some parts overgrown with woods in which certain fierie Flies make nightly such shining light as if every twig or bough were a burning Candle In the midle covered with high Mountains out of which flow many navigable Rivers The people for the most part Gentiles intermixt on the Sea-coasts with some Mahometans Chief Towns hereof 1. Senderem the Kings Seat situate neer a large Lake very commodiously for trafick 2. Macassar an English Factorie so called according to the name of the Iland Neer to these Islands and somewhat North to Battachina are some other Isles plentiful of all things necessary for the life of man but inhabited by a theevish and Piratical people the principal of which 1. Terrao 2. Sanguin 3. Solor 4. Moratay in which last they eat Battata Roots instead of bread besides some others of less note Most of the People Gentiles except those of Sangum the King whereof being gained to the Christian Faith by some of the Jesuites hath brought many of his subjects to the same Religion 6. BORNEO WEst of these Celebes lieth BORNEO of more note and greatness than any hitherto described in these Indian Seas In compass after their accompt who speak most sparingly 2200 miles but as some say no less than three moneths sayl about Situate under the Aequator which parteth the dominions of the King of Borneo and the King of Laus opposite on the North to Camboia on the South to Java on the East to Celebes on the West unto the Isle of Sumatra The Countrey said to be provided naturally of all things necessary yet said withall to be unfurnished of Asses Oxen herds of Cattell except only horses and those but of small stature neither the greatest riches of it being Camphire Agâ—trick and some mines of Adamants Erroneously conceived by Mercator to be the Insula bonae Fortunae spoken of by Ptolomy that being seated opposite to the out-lets of Ganges in the Latitude of a hundred fourty five Degrees and fifteen minutes this Eastward some Degrees of the Golden Chersonese and consequently twenty degrees Distant at the least from that Iland in Ptolomy The people generally more white than the rest of the Indians of good wits and approved integrity though all Mahometans or Gentiles Divided betwixt two Kings and two Religions the King of Borneo and his Subjects being all Mahometans those of Laus still remaining in their antient Gentilisim These think the Sun and Moon to be man and wife
a more particular Enemy The English are enemies to the French the Scots to the English the Portugueze have the like inveterate hatred against the Spaniards The Princes of Italy enjoy great possessions without any good title but are continually opposed by the more potent Cities of Venice Florence Genoa and Luca. The Arragonian Kings of Naples have found perpetuall Enemies of the Dukes of Anjou as have the Dukes of Millain of the house of Orleans The Princes of Italy and the Florentines have a stich at Venice as the States of Genoa and Sienna have against the Florentines In Germany the Animosities have been great and of long continuance between the houses of Austria and Bavaria the hatred grown beyond all hopes of reconciliation which is between the Switzers and the Austrian Family The Dukes of Cleve and Gulick are alwaies upon ill terms with their neighbours of Gelderland And in the North the Cities on the Baltick Seas have their continuall quarrels with the Kings of Danemark Nor are the enmities any thing less if they be not greater which are discernable amongst the people of Asia and Africk than those that are above remembred So far and to this purpose saith that notable and judicious Writer The consideration of which points if there were no other were of it self sufficient to shew the necessary use of History and Geography as well for the understanding the affairs of the Ages past as for commerce and correspondency with the Nations present For had no Histories been written in the former times in what a dull ignorance had we lived of all those occurrences which do so much concern the whole state of Mankind and are our principall directors in life and action in which respect the Orator most truly calleth it Magistram vitae For upon the credit of this History the examples of our Ancestors the grounds of civill prudence and the fames of men do most especially depend And certainly to draw back the mind to the contemplation of matters long ago passed to search out with diligence and to deliver with faith freedom and the life of expression such things as are found out on a diligent search to repreâ—â—nt unto our eyes the changes of Times the characters of Persons the uncertainties of Counâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Pretentions and the secrets of States 〈…〉 of a publicâ—â— use 〈…〉 great both pains and judgement Besides 〈…〉 eternitie to all such men who by their Counsels or Atchievements have de 〈◊〉 〈…〉 those Kingdoms and Common-wealths wherein they lived And thereupon the Orator doth not only call it Magistram vitae but Lucem veritatis Testem temporâ—s Nunciam 〈◊〉 Vitae memoriam According to which character I find these Verses set before a Châ—oniâ—â—â— of some Kings of England more worth than all the Book besides For though in these daies Miracles be fled Yet this shall of good Histories be sed They call back time that 's past and give life to the dead Nor want there other motives to indear unto us the use of History besides the light it give unto all the remarkable Actions of preceding times and the eternitie if I may say so which it conferreth on the Actors themselves by the preservation of their names from the ruins of Time and the pit of Oblivion For First it stirreth men to Vertue and deters them from Vice by shewing forth the glorious memories of vertuous men and the ill savour which is left behind men of ungodly life and especially keeps persons of most eminent place from letting loose the reins unto all licentiousness by representing this to their consideration that all their actions shall be laid open one day to the view of the Vulgar Secondly it hath been a principall Conserver of most Arts and Sciences by keeping on Record the Dictates and Opinions of so many of the old Philosophers out of which a perfect Body of Philosophy and others of the Liberall Arts hath been collected and digested Thirdly it is the best School-master in the Art of War and teacher of Stratagems and in that can practically afford more punctuall directions than can be otherwise obtained and is withall the best Assistant to the Statesman or Politician who from hence draw their Observations and Conclusions and become thereby serviceable to their Prince and Country though never travelled more than amongst their Books So Archimedes in his study and Demosthenes in his Orators gown endangered more the enemies of their severall Countries than the Athenians or Syracusans did by dint of sword And last of all besides these civill benefits and considerations and the great help which it affords in the way of discourse there is no particular branch of knowledge more usefull for the true and perfect understanding of holy Scripture than that of Ecclesiasticall and Profane History or which gives clearer light to many dark passages thereof especially in the Propheticall writings of either Testament This as it shews the necessary use and benefit which redounds from History so doth it serve to usher in that commendation which belongs to the study of Geography also without some knowledge wherein the study of History is neither so pleasant nor so profitable as a judicious Reader would desire to have it 'T is true Geography without History hath life and motion but very unstable and at random but History without Geography like a dead carkass hath neither life nor motion at all or moves at least but slowly on the understanding For what delight or satisfaction can any man receive from the reading of Story without he know somewhat of the places and the conditions of the people which are therein mentioned In which regard Ammianus Marcellinus the Historian hath deserved very well of all his Readers premising to the Actions of every Country some brief description of the place and chief Towns therein For though the greatness of the Action doth ennoble and adorn the place yet it is the knowledge of the place which addes delight and satisfaction unto the reading of the story which conveighs it to us History therefore and Geography like the two Fires or Meteors which Philosophers do Castor and Pollux if joyned together crown our reading with delight and profit if parted threaten both with a certain shipwrack and are like two Sisters dearly loving not without pitie I had almost said impiety to be kept asunder So as that which Sr. Phil. Sidney said of Argalus and Parthenia Her being was in him alone And she not being he was none may be as justly said of History and Geography as of those two Lovers And yet this is not all the benefit which redounds from the study of Geography which is exceeding usefull to the reading of the holy Scriptures as in discovering the situation of Paradise the bounds and borderâ— of those Countries which are therein mentioued especially wâ—th relation to the travels of the Patriarchs Prophets Evangelists and Apostles yea of Christ himself not otherwise to be comprehended and understood but by the help
of Geographicall Tables and Descriptions Besides this it is usefull to most sorts of men as to Astronomers who are hereby informed of the different appearances of Stars in severall Countries their severall influences and aspects their rising and setting according to different Horizons Secondly to Physicians who are hereby acquainted with the different temper of mens bodies according to the Climes they live in the nature and growth of many Simples and Medicinall Drugs whereof every Country under Heaven hath some more naturall and proper to it self than to any others Thirdly to States-men who from hence draw their knowledge of the nature and disposition of those people with whom they are to negotiate the bounds and borders both of their own Kingdoms and the Neighbouring Countreys with the extent of their respective Dominions both by Sea and Land without the exact knowledge of which there would be a perpetuall Seminary of wars and discord Fourthly to Merchants Mariners and Souldiers the severall Professors of which kinds of life find nothing more necessary for them in their severall callings than a competent knowledge in Geography which presents to them many notable advantages both for their profit and contentâ—â—ent Finally by the study of Geography a man that hath not opportunity nor means of travelling may with as much benefit but far less danger and expence acquaint himself with the particular descriptions of Kingdoms Provinces Cities Towns and Castles with all things considerable in the same together with the customes manners and dispositions of all Forrain Nations and that too in as full a manner as if he had survey'd the one and observed the other by a personall visit of the places represented to him Such is the necessary use which men of ingenuuus Studies and Professions do and may make of History and Geographie in the course of their callings and imployments And there are some things also necessary to the knowledge of each that we may study them with the greater benefit and contentation To History it is onely requisite that it be defined distinguished from such writings as do seem to challenge the name of Histories and that somewhat be premised of those severall Epoches from which all people do begin their computations But to Geography it is needfull not onely that we do define it but that we explicate those Terms or second Notions which are not obvious to the understanding of every Reader First then for History if we consult the name or Quid noâ—â—â—is of it it is derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Videre and therefore properly doth signifie a Relation of such remarkable actions at which the Author was an Eye-witness if not an Agent Apud veteres onim saith Isidore nemo scribeâ—at Historiam nisi is qui iâ—â—orfuisset â—a quae scribenda essent vidisset But now the customary use of the Word hath taught it a more ample signification History being defined to be a Perfect Relation of all Occurrents observable hapning in the State whereof it is written described by the Motives Pretexts Consultations Speeches and Events a speciall care being had both of time and place As for the writings which do challenge the name of History but indeed are really distinguished from it they are Commentaries Annals Diaries or Journaels and Chronologies First Commentaries set down onely a naked continuance of Events and Actions without the Motives and designs the Counsells Speeches Occasions and Pretexts of businesses So that Caesar with more modesty than true propriety of speech applied the name of Commentaries to the best History in the World A History commended by King James to his Sonne Prinâ—e Henry above all other profane Authors both for the sweet flowing of the stile and the worthiness of the matter it selfe For I have ever saith he been of this opinion that of all Ethnick Emperors or great Captains he hath farthest exceeded both in his practice and in his precepts for martiall affairs Which makes me the more wonder at the strange and unjust Censure of Justus Lipsius who calls them Nudam simplicem narrationem for being entituâ—ed Commentaries they do saith he nil polliceri praeter nomen with pride and arrogance enough 2. For Annals next they are a bare recitall onely of the Actions happening every yeer without regard had to the causes and pretexts or any of the chief Ingredients required in History So that Tacitus had no other Reason to give the name of Annals to his excellent Work than that it is distinguished by the yeers of the Consuls Otherwise there is no great difference as unto the matter betwixt an History and an Annal the subject of them both being matter of State and not such triviall things as Triumphs Pageants and such like which stand not with the gravity and authority of Historicall Annals betwixt which and a Diary the same Tacitus speaking of some magnificent Structures which were built that yeer doth make this difference Res illustres Annalibus talia diurnis Urbis actis mandari that matters of the greater moment were committed to Annals and unto Diaries the Acts and Accidents of a meaner nature 3. But Diaries besides this difference in point of matter are distinguished from Annals also in point of time a Diary or Journal as the name imports containing the Actions of each day of which kind was the Chronicle called for by Ahasâ—erus in which the Actions of his Court were referred to Journals and in the which he found the relation of the treason intended against him by his Eunuchs And of this kinde was that of King Edward the fixt mentioned in the History of his life by Sir John Hayward 4. Last of all for Chronologies they are onely bare supputations of times with some brief touch upon the Actions therein hapning such as are those of Eusebius Functius Calvisius and Helvicus of which last I dare give that testimony which Paterculus affords to Ovid viz. that he is perfectissimus in forma operis sui though he and all the rest are debtors to Eusebius for the incredible pains taken by him in his excellent Chronicon Out of these four as out of the four Elements the Quintessence of History is extracted borrowing from Annals time from Diaries and Commentaries matter from Chronologies consent of time and co-etanity of Princes and thereto adding of her own all such other Ornaments in which these four are found defective That which remains is to prâ—mise somewhat of these severall Epoches from whence particular States Nations and People make their computations These have been very different in former times according to the severall occasions took in severall Countreys The Jews had severall Epoches peculiar to themselves alone and one in common with their Neighbours Those which they had amongst themselves were First from the Creation of the World or the beginning of time Secondly from the universall Deluge which hapned A. M. 1656. Thirdly from the Confusion of Tongues A. M. 1786. Fourthly from Abrahams journey out of
Naples it is there parted into two horns or branches whereof the one runs out to the Mount of Gargano in the land of Otranto the other spreadeth it self as far as Calabria those being the most Eastern Provinces of this noble Continent Called the Apenninc as some say à Penna by which word the Latins used to signifie the top or summit of an Hill by reason of the height and sharp points thereof as others say quasi Alpes Poeninae because first overcome by Annibal and his Carthaginians whom the Roman Writers call by the name of Poeni The Inhabitants hereof by Virgil named Apenninicolae otherwise reducible to some of the neighbouring Provinces Of this large Mountain most of the Hils of Italy from Savona Eastwards are but the excursions which being of less note shall be spoken of as they lye before us in the way To proceed now to so much of the History of Italy as concerns the generalls we are to know that the first Inhabitants of it not to say any thing of the siction of Frier Annius under the name of Berosus who will needs have Noah himself come hither shortly after the Flood were doubtless of the race of Cittim or Kittim the fourth sonne of Javan one of the sonnes of Japhet Who being planted by their Father in that part of Greece which was since called Macedon and after spreading themselves further as their numbers increased peopled Aetolia and the Countries adjoyning to it From whence desirous of a warmer and more fertile soyl they came in tract of time to the Coasts of Dalmatia and thence to this Country since called Italy That they did spring originally from the seed of Cittim or Kittim as the Greek pronounce it wants not very good Authors For thus Eusebius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say from the Kitians or children of Kittim descended the Latins and the Romans The same occurs also in the Chronicon of Alexandria So also saith Cedrenus in his Annals but with more punctuality Telephus saith he the sonne of Hercules reigned in Italy and after him his sonne Latinus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whom the Keteans were named Latins The same in other words saith Suidas Nor want there some remainders of this name in approved Writers besides these authorities there being a Town in Latium called Ketea mentioned in Dionysius Hallicarnasseus and a River named Ketus not far from Cumae whereof Aristotle speaketh in his book De Mirabilibus And that they came immediately from the Aetolians besides the other Arguments which Reineccius useth in this point the neerness or identitie rather of the names doth seem to intimate For Aetolia being written in the Greek Aitolia and the letter O being changed into A according to the Aeolick Dialect which was that used by the Aetolians the alteration of the name from Aiâ—olia and Aitolians to Italia and Italians will be thought very easie if not naturall the rather in regard there is an Iland neer Italie in the Tusoan Sea peopled originally by these very Aetolians which in antient times was called Aethalia And if by such an easie alteration of one Leâ—ter onely It alto may derive its first Plantation from the Aetolians as no doubt it may then may that Italus the Chieftain of whom Virgil speaks be no other than Aetolus some man of principall mark and eminencie amongst that people who had the conduct of this Colonie when they came for Italie And this I should believe much oâ—ther than that this Italus was the name of a King of Sicilie It being more probable that Sicilie should borrow its first planters out of Italie than Italâ—â— should borrow either name or people from so small a Kingdom especially considering that the name of Aitolus was famous in those parts of Greece ever since Aitolus the sonne of â— King of Eliâ— was founder of the Aetolian Kingdom The way thus shewen and the passages into Italie layd open it was not long before the Peâ—asgâ— another Greek Nation found the way into it after whom Saturn out of Crete and Evander out of Arcadia with their severall followers came and setled there Not to say any thing of those severall Colonies which comming out of Peloponnesus and the parts of Achaia planted themselves so thick in the East of Italie now called Calabria that of long time it had the name of Magna Grecia So that the Graciaâ—s made the main gross or body of the Italian people to which the comming of some Tuscans under the conduct of Tyrrhenus a Prince of Lydia in Asia minor served but as an Accsesary and altered nothing the Principall The last that setled here were some of the Relicts of Troy under the conduct of Aeneas who flying from their native Country and enraged Enemies were first cast upon the coasts of Africk where haning stayd a while to refresh his companies we shall hereafter take occasion to consider of the Fable of his loves with Dido he set sail for Italie being the place assigned him by the Gods for his feat and Empire whither he came with fifteen Ships which might contain according to the rate which Thucydides alloweth to the vessels then used to the number of 1200 men And there he landed as it proved in an happy hour For he was no sooner arrived but he was lovingly cherished and entertained by Latinus King of the Latins or of Latium whose chief Citie or Seat Royall was then called Laurentum who much esteeming of this Stranger as a man whose fame had been his Harbinger thought he could neither manifest his love sufficiently nor binde him fast enough unto him but by betrothing him unto Lavinia his only daughter Hence grew the Wars betwixt Aeneas and Turnus King of the Rutili a former Suter which being ended in the death of the Rutilian Rivall confirmed Aeneas and his Trojans in a sure possession For now growing with the Latins or Laurentini into a more constant bond of Friendship by many Inter-mariages and mutuall kindnesses they built the Town of Lavinium called so in honour of their Queen intending it for the Seat Royall of the Princes of the Trojan line But long it did not hold that state For Ascanius the sonne of Aeneas by his former Wife to avoyd all occasions of contention with his Mother-in-Law left her Aeneas being dead in possession of Lavinium and built Longa Alba which being surrendred by Iulus the sonne of Ascaniut to his half-brother Silvius became the constant habitation of the Silvian Kings till the building of Rome and finall ending of the race of the Latin Kings The names of whom for there occurs little of their actions we are next to shew taking along with us those few Kings which reigned in those parts of Italy before the comming of Aeneas The old Kings of Italy of the Aborigines 1 Janus the first King of the Aborigines who lived in the same time with Boax and Ruth He received Saturn flying out of Crete from Jupiter and left him
annoyance vvhen vve had leisure to seek after Wealth vvithout perill there arose hot contentions betvvixt the Nobilitie and the Commons Sometimes the factious Tribunes carried it avvay sometimes the Consuls had the better and in the City and common Forum some little skirmishes the beginning of our Civil Wars were sometimes seen Afterwards C. Marius one of the meanest of the Commonally and L. Syllâ— the most cruel of all the Nobility by force of Arms overthrowing the Free-State reduced all to an absolute Government To them succeeded â—n Pompeâ—us a little closer in his projects but nothing better minded to the Common-wealth Et nunquam postea nisi de Principatu quaesitum and never after that was any other point debated than who should get the Soveraignty unto himself So Tacitus and he stateth it rightly For after Pompey had revived the controversie and had found Caesar a better disputant than himself Augustus Antony and Lepidus on the death of Caesar made good the Argument attracting all power unto themselves by the name of Triumviri till Augustus having out-witted Lepidus and vanquished M. Antony at the battell of Actium became sole Soveraign of the State by the name of Prince Et cuncta bellis civilibus fessa nomine Principis sub imperium accepit as that Author hath it But touching those great alterations in the State of Rome the contentions for the chief command and the Reduction of it to a Monarchy by Augustus Caesar I published a Discourse in the year 1631 but written many years before under the title of AUGUSTUS or an Essay of those Means and Counsels whereby the Common-wealth of Rome was altered and reduced to a Monarchy Which being but short so pertinent to the present business and so well entertained when it came abroad I hope it will not be improper or unprofitable to sub-joyn it here The Reader may either peruse it or praetermit it as his fancy guides him And here it followeth in these words THey which have heretofore written of Common-wealths have divided them into three Species The Government of the King secondly of the Nobles and thirdly of the People Either of these is again subdivided into good and evill The evill form being only the good corrupted the bad nothing else but the good refined So is the Government of a King divided into a Monarchy and a Tyranny Of the Nobles into an Aristocracy and an Oligarchy Of the People into a Republick and a Democraâ—y All these as well in generall as in the severall couplets have a secret Inclination to change the one into the other and to make a Pythagorical transmigration as it were into each other being I need not stand on many instances The Common-wealth of Rome into whose stories whosoever looketh will judge them rather to contain the acts of the whole World than a particular Nation will serve for all Romulus at the foundation of his City reserved unto himself the chief Soveraignty leaving it entire to his Successors Numa Ancus Tullus Tarquin the Elder and Servius governed themselves so moderately and the people so justly that they affected not Tyranny nor the Commons Liberty They appeared more desirous to fill the Coffers of their Subjects than their own Treasuries And when necessity compelled them to a Tax they rather seemed to sheer their sheep than fleece them But Tarquin the second commonly called Superbus a man of insupportable Vices having by violence enthronized himself in that Chair of State which had not his ambitious spirit been impatient of delay would have been his rightfull Inheritance made his Government answerable to his enterance cruel and bloody How many men eminent as well by their own vertue as their Parents Nobilitie did he cut off How many did he for no cause promote to make their fall the more remarkable What part of the Senate was free from slaughter What corner of the City from lamentations Yet this was not all The miserable Romans were visited with three Plagues at once Pride in the Father Crueltie in the Mother and Lust exorbitant in their sonne Sextus a true Copy of the old Originals Either of these had been more than enough to exercise the peoples patience But meeting all at one time it seemed that nothing could now be added to the wretchedness of the one and the wickedness of the other Brutus a name fatall to Tyrants did easily perswade the Commons to shake off this yoak For they as well desirous of Novelties as sensible of Oppressions had long since murmured at the present State and wanted nothing but a head to break out into actuall Rebellion So the People got the Freedom and the Kings lost the Soveraignty of the City 2 Brutus although he wanted no fair title to the Crown yet either perceiving how odious the name of King was grown or perhaps willing to be rather the first Consul than the last Prince instituted a new form of Government Wherein the sway of all was referred to the Fathers of the City out of whom two were annually chosen as chief of the rest And here in certainly he dealt very advisedly For had he sought to confirm himself in the Kingdom what could men judge but that not love to his Country was the cause that stirred him to take Arms but desire of Rule Again besides that secure Privacie is to be preferred before hazardous Royalty what hope had he to keep the seat long having by his own example taught the people both the Theory and Practice of Rebellion Under this new Aristocraty the Roman affairs succeeded so prosperously their dominions were inlarged so immensly that it may well be questioned whether the Roman fortune caused their greatness or their valour commanded their fortune For the Governours not seeking wealth but honour or not their own wealth but the publick did so demean themselves both in Peace and War that there was between all a vertuous emulation who should most benefit his Countrey An happiness which was too great to continue long The people had as yet no written Laws Custom bearing most sway and the rest of the Law locked up in the breast of the Judges To avoyd such inconveniencies as might hence ensue there were some men conceived to be as sound in judgement as honest in their actions deputed by a generall Commission to take an abstract of the Grecian Laws according to the tenor whereof the people were to frame their lives the Judges their sentences Here followed the Oligarchy or Decemvirate State of Rome but long it lasted not For these new Lords joyning forces together made themselves rich with the spoil of the people not caring by what unlawfull means they could purchase either profit or pleasure Appius Claudius one of the Decemviri was the break-neck of this Government He unmindfull of Lucretia and the Tarquius lusted after Virginia a woman though of low condition yet such a woman in whom beauty and vertue strove for the preheminence The issue was that she to save
Augustus did the more easily establish his Monarchie and restore peace to the City Moreover the prosecution of this cruelty so incensed the people against Antony and Lepidus that Augustus whom most held excusable found them always his fast friends if not for love to him yet in spight to them 9. But to proceed Antony and AUGUSTUS leaving the guard of the City to Lepidus with joynt-forces march against Brutus and Cassius both overthrown by Antony whom AUGUSTUS did therefore put upon that service as well to diminish Antonies forces as to keep his own entire As for himself either he in policy suffered himself to be driven out of the field by Brutus to make Antony more work or else indeed durst not abide the battell Such end had Brutus and Cassius two men whom Fortune seemed to be in love with on the suddain and did as suddenly forsake them Brutus the more accomplished man Cassius the more expert souldier I pass over AUGUSTUS wars in Italie Antonies in Asia the discontents between them and their reconciliation by the means of Octavia sister to the one and wife to the other Emperor As also how joyning forces together to oppress Sextus then Lording it over the Sea and proud with the conquest of Sicilia they received him into the Confederacy and joyned the Iland of Sardinia to his other Conquests To recompence which kindness Sextus invited the two Generals aboord his Admiral Galley and after a bountifull entertainment return'd them safe to their Camps I scarce have ever heard of so great an over-sight among so many able Politicians And much I marvell with my self upon what confidence AUGUSTUS and Antony durst so far trust their persons to a reconciled Enemy or on what reason Sextus having both of them in his power would let slip so slightly that advantage greater than which was never offered to a discontented and ambitious person This I am sure of that he afterward repented it and could have wished that he had hearkened to the voice of Menâ—s his old servant who had perswaded him to make his best of that oportunity The Kings of France and Aragon of old enemies made new friends had the like enterview at Savona which that notable Historiographer and States-man Guicâ—iardinâ— describeth with much wonder and commendation Yet in the like case have many and as I think worthily condemned Lewis thâ— 11. of France and Charles of Burgudy the Arch-politicians of those days in that Lewis at Peronne put himself into the hands of Charles his Enemy who also after a short restraint dismissed him 10. These solemn expressions of amity between the three Generalls being thus ended and Antony gone for Egypt AUGUSTUS then began to contrive his establishment in the State though with the ruin of his Colleagues He beginneth first with Sextus having by gifts and promises drawn Menas unto his side who by reason of his inwardness with his Master knew most of his designs By the directions of this Menas and the assistance of Lepidus he quickly overthrew Sextus who flying death in Europe by the hand of AUGUSTUS found it in Asia by the command of Antony After this victory AUGUSTUS either having or pretending a quarrell against Lepidus entreth into his Camp seizeth his person and depriving him of all honors confineth him to Rome A man that half against his will stumbling upon the Government had beyond any desert of his enjoyed ten yeers continuance of Empire and prosperity An action of a very high nature and such as AUGUSTUS durst not have ventured on if Antony had been in Italy He therefore advisedly removed him out of his way before he would attempt the same It hath been ever a chief Maxim in Court-policy to remove that man out of the way under pretence of some honourable charge whom we intend either to cast from his present honors or else to make less potent with Prince and People For which cause also AUGUSTUS perswaded Antonies absence from the City to bring him at the last into discredit and contempt For well he knew that his dotage on Cleopatra could not but draw him into many inconveniencies neither could his neglecting the State to riot with his Lemman be other than distastfull to the Lords and People Next he commanded his Sister Octavia to leave her husband Antonies house yet privately he perswaded her to live there still and bring up his children that so the Romans seeing her noble demeanor and love to her husband might the more heartily detest him who so ignobly and unkindly had rejected her To adde more fuell to this flame of hatred he readeth Antonies will unto the people in which many of the Roman Provinces were bequeathed to Cleopatra's children and other things ordained to the common prejudice Antony likewise preferred many Bills against AUGUSTUS as that he had deposed Lepidus from the Triumvirate that he had divided Italy amongst his own Souldiers only that he had not restored the ships borrowed to make war against Sextus 11. These discontents seconded with an ambitious hope of prevailing made them both resolute to refer all to the decision of a Battell Antony had a Fleet consisting of 500. ships high-built and trimmed up rather for a Triumph than a fight His Land Forces consisted of 100000. Foot and 12000. Horse AUGUSTUS had the like number of Horsemen 80000. Foot and 250. good Men of War snug and close built more for use than ostentation The Rendezvouz is Actium a place seeming to be marked out for notable designs here being fsought also in our Fathers days that famous battell wherein the Venetians gave the world to understand that the Turks Forces by Sea were not invincible Antony was on the Offensive side therefore much doubted whether it were better to give the Onset by Sea or by Land Cleopatra whose words were Oracles perswaded him to the Sea-fight not that she thought it more safe but that if Antony lost the day she might with more facility escape To this resolution when most of the Captains had for fear agreed one of the old Souldiers thus bluntly gain-said it What a miserable security art thou possessed with most noble Emperor Where is that antient fore-sight wherewith thou hast formerly prevented all disasters and turned the Enemies devises on their own heads Consider with thy self most noble General what uncertain friends the Wind and Sea are To how fickle an Element thou dost trust thy fortunes Let the Egyptians and Phoenicians old Mermaids born and nurst up in the Sea follow this kind of warfare But let us thy true Roman spirits try our valour on the firm Land and there fight for thy Empire and our own lives Perhaps thou dost mistrust our faith look here Antony with that he opened his bosome and thou shalt see many an honourable scar got in thy service We are now too old to learn new Treasons Alter therefore thy resolution and to please a woman cast not away so many of thy faithfull Followers Certainly the
the change as he contrived it was not violent and at once but by degrees and by the silent approbation of both Estates as seeming to consist more in the alteration of the Magistrate than of the Laws 22. But to proceed more particularly the first care he took was to confirm Religion in the same state in which he found it I mean Religion as the Romans used the word for those particular though idolatrous Forms of Worship which to their severall Gods had been used among them This though he might have changed as the Pontifex Maximus or chief Bishop of the City yet very wisely he forbare it It is not safe for Princes that are setled in a long descent of Government to be too active in such changes But it is dangerous to attempt it in a Green State and in an Empire not well quieted and inured to bondage Men are more sensible of the smallest alterations in the Church than greater changes in the State and raise more frequent broils about it The Romans specially were exceeding tender in this point The antient Aediles formerly received it into their charge that they permitted no externall either Gods or Ceremonies to be introduced into the City And by Aemilius it was enacted for a Law That none should offer sacrifice in any publike place after a new and Forrain fashion Excellent therefore was the counsell which Maecenas gave him when he first undertook the Empire viz. That he should follow constantly the Religion which he found established and compell others also to do the like For Forrain and strange Rites saith he will offend the people work many inconvenient alterations in the Civil State yea and most likely wil occasion many both seditions and conspiracies Words which he spake not to the air but to a Prince exceeding apprehensive of the best advice Nor did AUGUSTUS ever shew himself more carefull in any one Art of Empire than he did in this That which Mecenas noted we find true in these later Ages in times more skilfull of obedienee than the most quiet hour of AUGUSTUS Government No one thing more hath caused so frequent and so generall Rebellions in the States of Christendom than alterations of this nature I cannot therefore but commend it as a pious resolntion in a late mighty Monarch Better some few corruptions should be suffered in a Church than still a change 23. Religion thus established in the next place the welfare of the whole Empire consisted chiefly in reforming of the City from which as from the heart life was conveyed to all the Provinces abroad And in the Citie the corruption was most apparent in the Senate it self With them therefore he beginneth well knowing that crimes in men of eminent place end not in themselves but by degrees become diffused among their Clients and Followers Now in the Senate were many and desertless men who had been taken into it during the Civill Wars as they could court the People and humour such as were most potent Of these he expelled none by his own power but making a speech to them in the Senate of the antient order and present confusion of the house he first exhorted them to look back on their former lives and to judge of their own abilities and merits for so honourable a room Then he desired some of them to pick out such among them as were in disposition factious and in life faulty but loath to conceive so ill of their own actions which they did accordingly Yet as it often happeneth that the great Thief leadeth the less to the Gallows and as Commines observeth that after the Battell of Monliherry Offices were taken from many for flying away and conferred on such as ran ten miles beyond them So remained many in the Senate neither less vicious nor less violent only more potent to maintain their doings than some others whom they had removed AUGUSTUS therefore joyning to him Agrippa proceedeth to a new review And certainly it much concerned him in the setling of his affairs that none should have a voyce in that famous Councell but such as were of able judgments honest repute and well-affected to his Service and the Common-wealth And enterprise which he esteemed so dangerous that he permitted entrance to no Senator till he were searched himself wearing a Brigandine under his Gown and being invironed with ten of the most couragious and best beloved of the whole company Such as he found in either kind inexcusable he discharged from their attendance electing such in their places which were either enobled for their wisdom of noted moderation or otherwise strong in their dependants Yet so that greatness of Revenue was esteemed neither a fit Patronage for any if they were offensive nor a just cause to challenge interest in the house Such of them as were rich rather in the gifts of the minde than those of fortune he relieved with honourable Pensions and finally he bestirred himself so resolutely that all confessed that they had need of such a wise Physician to cure that dull Consumption whereinto the Common-wealth was fallen 24 In other things he seldom did proceed against them as of himself But when that any of them had conspired his Ruin he referred them to the judgment of their fellows And this he did partly to reserve unto the Court the antient Prerogative partly not to be Judge and party in his own cause but principally following the example of his Father Julius who counterfeiting a wretchless contempt of his adversaries used when he was least suspected under-hand and by publike Officers to work their destruction Many also of them whom the Senate had condemned he would freely pardon Conceiving truly that the questioning of men of high calling would produce as much terrour though it argued not so much rigor as the punishment Yet if extremity of Law was used towards some few it was to settle quietness in the whole and as it were a particular bloud-letting for the generall health Those who had followed the factions of Brutus and Antony he forgave freely And not so only but by manifesting his words by his deeds and adding trust and honours to his pardons he made his Chair of State more setled and immoveable So Caesar by erecting the falâ— and broken Images of Pompey made his own statues stand more firmly But the chief Act by which he brideled the Nobles was an Edict by him promulgated forbidding any of the â— his leave not granted to travell out of Italie For well he knew that in an Empire unsetled and Provlaces not quieted the presence and authority of men of that rank might raise greater troubles than could be easily suppressed Examples he wanted not that especially of Cato who after the overthrow of Pompey stirred such a War against Caesar in Africk that he never bought Victory aâ— a dearer rate Yet not altogether to imprison them he licensed them at their pleasure to visit Sicilia and Gaul Narbonoyse Provinces close to the continent of
because then overburdened by his Barons Wars and the Pope having sucked no small store of Treasure from him it was in the year 1261 given unto Charles Earl of Provence and Anjou brother to Lowis the 10th Under him those Countries jointly continued subject till the year 1281 in which time his Competitor Peter of Aragon promising him to fight a single combat before our K. Edward the first at Burdeaux fail'd of his word and in the mean time so contrived it that at the found of a Bell tolling to prayers all the French-men in Sicilie were cruelly Massacred This exploit is known now under the name of Vesperi Siculi and was managed by John de Prochyta a Gentleman of the Reaim of Naples whom Charles had dispossessed of the I le of Prochyta whereof he had been formerly Lord and not content to do him such a piece of injustice added a further insolencie to it in the forcing of his Wife Provoked with these two injuries the abused Gentleman plots with King Pedro of Aragon to make him Master of the I le of Sicilie where he had very good intelligences and where the French by reason of their Lusts and Insolencies had so exasperated the Natives that they were capable enough of any such impressions as a man sharing with them in their sufferings could imprint upon them According to the compact made Don Pedro riggeth out his Navy under pretence of some exploit against the Moores and anchoreth in the port of Sardinia there to expect how well the Tragedy would be acted which fell out so agreeably to his expectation that in one instant as it were on the signall given the French were universally murdered in all parts of the Iland the people being so inraged that they would not spare women great with child if supposed to have been got by any of that hated nation And Pedro comming in with his Navy as the deed was done was by the generall consent of all sorts of people crowned King of Sicilie A bloody policy I confess which as the Actors learned of the English Saxons who had made like riddance of the Danes so did they teach it to the French who practised it on the Hugonots of France in that horrid Massacre of Paris An. 1572. An Act which so provoked the Pope that he solemnly accursed the King and caused many of the neighbouring Princes to arm against him But the Fox fared never the worse for that who did so order his affairs that he did both clear his own Country of those Enemies which on the Popes curse had come in against him and setled Sicilie more firmly in obedience to him Since which time this Iland hath belonged to the House of Aragon but not alwaies in possession of the Kings thereof being a while governed as a State apart by its own Kings whose succession followeth Kings of Sicilie of the House of Aragon 1 Pedro or Peter the 3d. King of Aragon by birth of Sicilie in the right of his Wife the choyce of the people and the Legacy of Corradinc the last of the Royal line of Suevia but principally by the power of the sword 2 James the second sonne of Pedro King of Sicilie after the death of his brother Alfonsus succeeded in Aragon to which Crown he added the I le of Sardinia 3 Frederick the brother of James on his Brothers taking the Crown of Aragon got possession of Sicilie 4 Peter or Pedro II. Sonne of Frederick 5 Frederick II. 6 Peter or Pedro III. 7 Lewis sonne to Peter III. 8 Frederick III. in the life of Lewis Duke of Athens after his death succeeded in the Kingdom of Sicilie 9 Martin sonne to Martin the first King of Aragon succeeded in the right of his wife Blanch daughter of Frederick the third and dying without issue gave the Kingdom unto Martin his Father 10 Martin II. of Sicilie and the first of Aragon of which last he was King by birth and of the former by the gift of his sonne After which time the I le of Sicilie being again united to the Crown of Aragon was never separated from it except it were when John King of Aragon gave it to Ferdinand his son the better to fit him for the bed of Isabel Princess of Casbile with whom the match was then in treaty and when the Emperour Charles the fift gave it with Naples unto Philip his eldest sonne on his Mariage with Mary Qu. of England who thereupon was stiled King of Naples Sicilie and Hierusalem But this held onely for a year his Father dying shortly after and resigning to him all his Kingdoms whereby it became joyned to Spain again The Revenues of this Kingdom are by some sayd to be but 800000 but as others say a Million of Ducats most of which is again disbursed on the entertainment of the Vice-Roy and the defence of the Iland The Arms are Aragon 2 Flanches Argent charged with as many Eagles Sable beaked Gules This Iland for the number of its Nobility compares with Naples as having in the time of Ortelius 80 years ago 7 Princes 4 Dukes 13 Marquesses 14 Earls 1 Vicount 48 Barons men of authority and power in their severall Territories and therefore not permitted to live much in the Iland the greatest part of their time being spent in the Court of Spain but more to satisfie that King upon reason of State than any affection of their own to so long an exile And for the Government of the Church Here are Arch-Bishops 3. Bishops 9. The Kingdom of SARDINIA THe Iland and Kingdom of SARDINIA lieth West from Sicilie from the neerest point whereof called Cape Boii or Cape Coro it is distant about 200 miles It is in length 180 miles 90 in bredth 560 in the circuit and is situate under the 4th Climate the longest day being 14 houres In the time of Aristotle it was called Ichnusa next Sandaliotis from the resemblance which it hath to a mans shooe or Sandals and finally Sardinia from Sardus the sonne of Hercules who comming out of Africk possessed the same For this there is sufficient authority amongst the Antients Of the first names saith Plinie in as plain terms as may be that Timaeus called Sardima Sandaliotis and Myrsilus Ichnusa from the similitude which it hath to the Shooe-sole or impression of a mans Foot on the ground Sardiniam Timaeus Sandaliotin appellavit ab effigie soleae Myrsilus Ichnusam à similitudine vestigâ—i And for the last nothing can be more plain than that of Pausanias who tels us that the first who came by shipping into Sardinia were certain Africans under the conduct of Sardus the sonne of Maceris whom the Egyptians called by the name of Hercules who comming into this Iland then called Ichnusa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 caused it after his own name to be called Sardinia For further evidence whereof the people in the Latin tongue are called Sardi the adjoyning Sea Mare Sardoum And to this name it was so constant that
from the Eastern parts as his occasions did require These Exarchs having divided Italie into many Governments appointed over each some supreme Commander dignified with the name of Dukes And even the City of Rome it self so far then was it from being subject to the Pope in Temporall matters had a chief Officer of this kinde accomptable to the Exaroâ— and subordinate to him whose Government was called the Roman Dukedom They which they kept unto themselves as their own peculiar contained the Cities of Ravenna Rbegium Mutina Bononia Classi Forli Fâ—â—limpoli Sarcino Parma and Placentia which ten Cities with the Territories belonging to them made up that District which properly was called the Exarchate of Ravenna much mentioned in the Histories of the middle times by reason of the continuall wars which they had with the Lombards but newly entred when this Magistracy had its first beginning The names of these Exarchs are as followeth The Exarchs of Ravenna A. C. 570. 1 Longinus 21. 591. 2 Smaragdus 4. 595. 3 Romanus Patricius 596. 4 Callinicus 13. 609. 5 Smaragdus 3. 612. 6 Joh. Lamigius 4. 616. 7 Elentherius 5. 621. 8 Isaacus Patricius 24. 645. 9 Theod. Calliopa 10. 655. 10 Olympius 2. 657. 11 Theod. Calliopa II. 30. 687. 12 Joh. Plotina 15. 702. 13 Theophilactus 25. 727. 14 Paulus 728. 15 Eutipenus 12. In the days of this Exarch Ravenna was taken from the Empire by Luitprandus King of the Lombards Ano. 740. but regained by Charles the Great and by him given to the Bishops of Ronne together with Anconitana and Spoleto as a requitall for the Kingdom of France confirmed unto King Pepin his Father by the consent and authority of the Popes The donation of this Exarchate to the Popes partly to blot out the memory of the Exarchs and partly to make the people obedient to those Prelates changed the name of the Countrey from Flaminia by which name it was formerly known to Romadâ—diola and now to Romagna Notwithstanding which Donation or Originall Grant the Popes injoyed not long the possession of it the Emperors of Germanie and their Vice-gerents in Italia wresting it by strong hand out of the possession of the Church and giving it to such as deserved well of them and were most likely or most able to uphold their Faction And so it stood till the last Popes conspiring with the French Kings Lewis the twelfth and Francis the first brought them into Italie and by their aids and by the censures of the Church so prevailed in fine that they extorted Ravenna and some other places out of the hands of the Venetians erected many petit Princes out of other Cities which they pretended to belong to S. Peters Patrimony and thereby got possession of all those Territories which lie betwixt the State of Venice and the Marches of Ancona 2. The Territory of FERRAARA lieth in the very skirts of Romandiola towards the Venetian extending one hundred and sixty miles in length and about fifty in breadth the soyl thereof exceeding rich but subject to the overflowings of the River Po which makes the air in many places to be somewhat unwholesome And though as well the former Dukes as the Popes who are now Lords hereof have been at great charge in raising high Banks and Ramparts to keep in the waters yet could not this resist the violence of the River falling from so high a Springs and seconded with so great Land-floods as sometimes it is but that it makes many breaches in them do they what they can The places of most note herein are 1. Graffignan in the borders of Tuscany neer the Apennine 2. Carpi a place of great importance seaâ—ed in the midst of this Dukedom belonging heretofore to the House of the Picâ— but partly by exchange made with Marcus Pieus partly for one hundred thousand Crowns in ready money given unto Lionel Pico once the Lords hereof it was by Charles the 5th incorporated into this estate 3. Commachia seated in the Marshes of the Adriatick from which the Princes of this Family of Este were at first called only Lords of Commachia a place which yeelded great profit to the former Dukes by the fishing of Eels 4. Saxole given by Duke Alphonso in exchange for Carpi Here is also the Territory and Lordship of the Polesine the cause of so many quarrells and contentions between the antient Dukes of Ferrara and the State of Vonice But the chief honor of this Dukedom it in the Capitall City that which denominates the whole Ferrara a City of five miles in compass so called from the Iron Mines which are about it commodiously seated on the River â—o which by reason of its breadth depth and violent swiftness of the current is a sufficient rampart to it on that side the other fides being fortified with a strong wall and a spacious mote In the middle of the City is a fair and spacious Market-place into which do open on all fides about twenty streets all of them half a mile in length and all so strait and evenly built that the furthest end of each of them may be easily seen Neer to this Market-place is a little Iland in which the former Dukes had a stately Palace called Belvedere from the fair prospect which it had or gave to the whole City and on the North side of the City a large Park for pleasure The other houses are for the most part built of fair Free-stone not joyning unto one another as in other Cities but at a pretty distance with neat Gardens between Ariosto the Author of that ingenious Poem called Orlando Furiosâ— and Hierome Savaniarolo the Propheticall Fâ—ier were both of them Natives of this place of which the first lieth here entombed the last for preaching against the Pope was burnt at Florence In the declining of the power and Empire of the Lombards this City together with Favenza was given by Desiderius their last King to the Church of Rome the better to oblige the Popes by so great a benefit But being taken from them by the Emperors of the House of Schwaben it was again recovered by the prowess of the Countess Mathildis Ano. 1107. who took it with many other Towns in Italie from the Emperor Henry the 4th and at her death conferred the same upon the Church The Popes once more possessed hereof and not able to hold it gave it in Fee for ever unto Azo of the House of Este a man of great sway in the affairs of Italie who valiantly had defended it against Ezelinus Vicegerent of Frederick the 2d. This was the first of this Family who had Ferrara in propriety His Ancestors being called before the Marquesses of Este and sometimes Marquesses of Ferrara but in title only as Governors hereof in behalf of the Popes of Rome Obizo the Grand-child of this first Azo obtained of Rodolfus the first who was willing to make what money he could of his lands in Italie the Cities of Regium and Modena
of King Henry the third of France by Jaques Clement are full proofs of this 3. Then followeth their allowance of Mariages prohibited both by God and Nature the issue of which cannot but uphold the Popes Authority without which their birth would be illegitimate and consequently themselves uncapable of the estates they are born unto And by this means they do more strengthen themselves by the unlawfull Mariages of others than ever Prince could do by the lawfull Mariage of his own Nothing more fastened Queen Mary of England to the See of Rome than the question that was raised about the Mariage of her Mother to King Henry the eight the lawfulness of which depended chiefly on the dispensation of Pope Julio the second 4. Then cometh in their dispensing with the Oaths of Princes when they conceive themselves induced upon reason of State to flie off from those Leagues and break off those Treaties which have been solemnly made and sworn betwix them and their Neighbours By means whereof such Princes think themselves not perjured because dispensed with by the Pope and commonly get something in advantage or point of profit for which they cannot be unthankfull unto the Papacy Examples of this kind are obvious in all times and stories 5. Next comes the chosing of the younger sonnes of great Princes into the rank of Cardinalls which obligeth the whole Stock on Familie to the Papall Throne that being a means whereby young Princes are preferred without charge to their Fathers or any diminution of the Regall Patrimony 6. And as by these courses he holds in with all Christian Princes generally which are of the Religion of the Church of Rome so hath he fastned more particularly on the King of Spain whereof we shall speak further when we come to that Countrey 2. Concerning the second So it is that their Estate hath the firmest foundation of any as being built on the consciences of men possessed with an opinion of their Infallibility and that undoubted power they pretend unto not only in Heaven and upon Earth but also over Hell and Purgatory 2. Then comes the innumerable Preferments at their disposing for men of all humours and affections as having in their power the disposing of almost all the Benefices and Bishopricks in Italie half of those in Spain divers in Germany and France which keepeth the Clergy and all such as are that way studied in a perpetuall dependance upon that See especially injoying by it many notable Privileges which those of the Temporalty are not capable of 3. Consider next the multitude of Monks and Friers whose very being depends wholly upon his Authority every Monastery and Convent being a Garrison as it were to defend the Papacy and train up a Militia of Spirituall Janisaries men most affectionately devoted to his See and Service Of these it is conceived that there are no fewer than a Million one half whereof at least may be fit for action and all maintained at other mens cost themselves not disbursing a penny towards it 4. Their Pardons and Indulgences are a great increase to their Revenue some of them as unlimited as that of Pope Boniface the eighth which was for 82000. yeers to all that could say such a Prayer of S. Augustines and that for every day Toties quoties 5. Their practising on Penitents whom they perswade in the very agony of their souls that there is no salvation for them but by giving part of their estates unto the Church 6. Nor have they found any small advantage to their Power and Patrimony by the invention of Spirituall Fraternities which are Appurtenances as it were to the Orders of Friers and may in number perhaps equall them Into these the Lay-people of all sorts men and women maried and single desire to be inrolled as hereby injoying the spirituall prerogatives of Indulgences and a more speedy dispatch out of Purgatory 3. Concerning the third 1. They deter the people from reading the Scripture alleging unto them the perills they may incur by mis-interpretation 2. They breed an Antipathy between the Papists and the Protestants insomuch that a Papist may not say Amen unto a Protestants Deo Gratias 3. They debar them from all sound of the Religion in prohibiting the Books of the Reformed Writers and hiding their own Treatises in which the Tenent of the Protestants is recited only to be confuted insomuch that in all Italie you shall seldom meet with Bellarmines works or any of the like nature to be sold 4. They have under pain of Excommunication prohibited the Italians from Travell and Traffick with Hereticall Countreys or such places where those contagious sounds and sights as they term them might make them return infected 5. The Severity or Tyranny rather of the Inquisition of which we shall speak more at large when we come to Spain crusheth not onely the beginnings but the smallest suspitions of being this way addicted And 6ly The people thus restrained from Travell are taught to believe that the Pritestants are Blasphemers of God and all his Saints that in Englard Churches are turned to Stables the people are grown barbarous and eat young children that Geneva is a professed Sanctuary of Roguery and the like We have yet two later examples of their dealing in this kind First the gross slander of the Apostacy or as they call it the Reconciliation unto their Church of the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. King not long since the Lord Bishop of London a Prelate of too known a faith and zeal to give occasion for such a calumny The second a book by them published and commonly sold in Italie and France containing a relation of Gods Judgements shown on a sort of Protestant Hereticks by the fall of an house in St. Andrews Parish in London in which they were assembled to hear a Geneva Lecture Octob. 26. A. D. 1623. By which dealing the simple people are made to believe that to be a judgment on us of the Protestant party which the Authors of that Pamphlet well know to be a calumnie in regard of us and a sad chance I will not say a judgment which befell their own by a fall of a Chamber in Black-Friers where they were met to hear the Sermon of one Druris a Popish Priest and that too on the fift of November in their own accompt being the 26. of October before mentioned The Popedom being thus cunningly and strongly founded it cannot be if the Popes had been chosen young or of the same Family so that the Successor had not often crossed the designs of his Predecessor but that this new Monarchie had been greater and better established than ever the old Roman Empire was in her greatest glory And to say truth I have oft wondred with my self that some of the more active Popes especially such as were chosen young and had the happiness to descend of noble Families did never seek the setling of this Estate in their own Posterity especially considering the good Precedents
in his Robes his gravity and outward parts and the respect given him by the people would think no Prince could be more absolute and supreme But look upon him in the exercise and powers of Government and he is nothing in the wold but an empty Title For notwithstanding that he injoyeth so great a dignity yet hath he a full power in nothing not being able to determine in any point without the presence of his Counsellors being six in number who always sit with him and dispatch affairs both publick and private as namely giving audience to Ambassadors from Forrain States receiving Letters from their own Ministers granting of Privileges and the like in which the Duke can do just nothing if four at least of these Counsellors be not present with him And yet these Counsellors without him may conclude of any thing Nay he is so restrained in all things to the power of the Senate and to three Officers called the Capi that he may not go out of the Town without their consent and by them is prescribed an Order in his own Apparell So that he is but little better than a Prisoner when within the City and a Traytor if he stir abroad at the best 〈◊〉 honourable Servant And his Revenue is as little as his Authority as being allowed out of the common Treasury no more than 40000. Ducats a yeer towards his expence and entertainment As for the Soveraignty of the State that resides wholly in the Senate but representatively in the Duke the six Counsellers and the three Heads or Presidents of the Forty which are those Officers as I take it whom they call the Capi. The Senate or Great Counsell consist of all the Gentlemen of Venice above five and twenty years of age which may amount unto the number of 2500. though seldom half that number do assemble at once by reason of their severall imployments in affairs of the Common-wealth in other places who usually do meet together every Sunday morning and on the mornings of other Festivalls where they choose Magistrates and distribute Governments and order matters of the State But because such great Bodies move but slowly and are not very capable of trust and secrecie they parcell thâ—â— greâ—â— Counsell into lesser Members whereof the principall are the Pregadi and the Counsell of â—en That of the Pregadi consisteth of 120. in which they treat of and determine matters of the greatest importance and therein conclude commonly of such principall points as formerly have been proposed and treated of in the great Assembly And in this Counsell besides the 120. before mentioned the Duke the six Counsellors and the Counsell of Ten and all such as have born any publick Office have their voyce or suffrage This is that Counsell which properly and more specially is called the Senate in which nothing is to be concluded or passed into Acts except four of the six Counsellors be present at them and that sixty at the least of the whole number give their suffrage to it Then for the Counsell of Ten their power is universall over all affairs such as the other Counsels may not meddle with as to conclude of war or peace to put in execution what they think most necessary for the benefit of the Common-wealth and other things of like weight and moment which if they were first treated of in the Generall Counsell or Assembly and after in that of the Pregadi as they ought to be in common course could not be possibly managed with such speed and secrecie as the exigencies of the State require And in this Counsell with the Prince and his six Assistants the Supreme Majesty of the State doth reside especially Some other Officers there are and those of great authority and reputation as the Procurators of S. Mark which have the charge of the publick Treasures and the Aâ—ogadori or Tribunes as one might call them of the people being three in all one of which must be always present in all consultations lest any thing should pass to the prejudice and infringement of the Privileges of the common-people For the whole body of the City consisteth either of the Gentlemen or of Artificers and Commons These last are the descendants and progeny of such as came to settle here when the State was sixed invited to dwell here and to follow their occupations by severall Privileges and Immunities which were offered to them and these they neither admit into any of their Counsells nor into any of the Offices of Trust and Power except it be two that namely of the Chancellor and the principall Secretaries which pertain only to the people The other are the issue or descendants of those who first laid the foundation of their City and Common-wealth and these they have in such respect and so high esteem that to make any Stranger how great and eminent soever a Gentleman of the City is the greatest honour they can bestow and not bestowed but upon the best deserver Henry the 3d. of France taking this City in his way out of Poland thought himself graced with this attribute which they are very dainty and sparing of it being the highest honour which they vouchsafe to impart to such Commanders of their own and Ambassadors of other Princes as have well deserved it And that this honour may be kept up to the very height and their Nobility not grow too cheap by being too numerous neither the younger sonnes of these Gentlemen within the City or of the Noblemen in the Countrey are permitted to marry But otherwise they suffer them to satisfie their lusts with too much impunity and for their sakes allow of Stews as an evill not to be voided on the former grounds Now as Otho in Tacitus said to the Pretorian Souldiers Princeps è Senatu oritur Senatus è vobis so out of these Gentlemen are chosen the Senators out of them the Duke His election by Contarenus is described in this manner In the vacancy of the place all the Gentry above thirty years of age are assembled So many as meet cast their names into a pot and in another are just so many balls of which thirty only are gilt Then a child draweth for each till the thirty gilt ones be drawn for which thirty the child draweth again the second time out of another pot that hath only nine gilt balls The nine so drawn nominate forty out of which forty are twelve again selected by the same kind of lot These twelve nominate five and twenty out of which five and twenty are nine again by lot set apart These nine nominate five and forty who are by lot again reduced unto eleven These eleven choose forty one of the best and chiefest of the Senators who after an oath taken severally to choose whom they judge worthiest write in a scroll every one whom he best liketh The scrolls are mingled together and then drawn the fitness of the persons then drawn is discussed and he that hath most voyces
above five and twenty is the man whom they pronounce to be elected and adjudg with due solemnities to be created their Duke By the like kind of Lottery do they choose Gentlemen into the Senate and make publick Officers insomuch that Contarenus who hath committed unto writing these publick Forms conceiveth I will not say how rightly that the Venetian Common-wealth was modelled by Plato's Platform But whether this be so or not certain it is that this Common-wealth thus constituted and modelled as before is said hath lasted longer under one form of Government than any Republick in the World either Greek or Roman Nor hath it onely preserved it self in the same condition but may most justly be accompted one of the strongest Bulwarks of Christendom against the incroachments of the Turks the wars whereof hath procured peace and the peace thereof procured plenty to the rest of Europe Insomuch that it may well be said that as Europe is the Head of the World and Italie the Face of Europe so Venice is the Eye of Italie the fairest strongest and most active part in that powerfull Body As if the Genius of old Rome by some Pythagoricall transmigration had passed into the body of this powerfull State and animated it with all the vertues of that City but knit with a more permanent and constant temper From so base and abject a beginning is this City grown to be one of the best Supporter of the Arms of Europe As for the Religion of this State they tolerate that of the Greek Church but they themselves profess no other than that of the Church of Rome yet with such caution and respect to their own authority that they suffer not the Clergie to injoy those privileges which they possess in other Countreys to the publick prejudice Hence grew the quarrell betwixt them and Pope Paul the fift in which the Signeury stood stiffly to their antient Rights and caused Mass to be duly said notwithstanding all their Churches were under the Interdict banished the Jesuits for ever out of their Dominions for stickling too busily in behalf of the Pope and in the end prevailed so far by their constant courage that the Pope was fain to give over the cause and reconcile them to the Church without any submission A notable example to all Christian Princes how to behave themselves towards those of Rome who are not to be gained upon but by such resistances So easie a thing it is for men of constancy and courage to shake off that yoak which Papall Tyranny and Superstition hath imposed upon them In managing their wars they antiently observed two Rules which much conduced to the inlargement and security of their Common-wealth The first was the exempting of their own Citizens from the wars not out of jealousie but care of their preservation unless compelled to the contrary by extreme necessity the body of their Armies being compounded out of the Provinciall Subject intermixt with Mercenaries By means whereof they did not only keep their City in the same condition able at any time and at all times to give Law to the rest of their Dominions but wasted the hot and boyling spirit of their Subjects in the Wars abroad which otherwise might have made too much work at home The other was the entertaining of some neighbouring Prince to be the Generall of their forces whom in the conclusion of the service they dismissed with honor and reward And by this course they avoided faction and prevented servitude Either or both of which might have hapned by imploying any of their own great ones in the chief command who after the example of Julius Caesar in the state of Rome having a strong party within the City and an Army without might perhaps have made himself their Prince But this was only in the Conduct of their wars in Italie and in such times when the State was not so well ballanced as it hath been since As for the Forces of the State we may behold them in relation to Sea or Land Their Land-forces which they have in continuall pay for defence of their Dominion consist of 28000. Foot with Captains and all other Officers inrolled and paid and besides those they have a choyce band of 4000. Musquetiers for exercising of which they keep yeerly Musters as well to improve them in experience as to proportion them some gratuities according to their well-deservings And as for Horse they maintain constantly 6000. men at Arms well appointed and paid the like whereof is not to be found in all Italie And yet besides this constant and ordinary establishment they are able to bring great Forces into the field as appeareth by their Army against Lewis the twelfth in which without disfurnishing any of their Forts and Garrisons they had 2000. men of Arms 3000. light Horse 30000. Foot most of their own naturall Subjects saving that they were interlined with some bands of Switzers to which people they give yeerly pensions to be assured of their aid upon all occasions Then for the Sea-forces besides that they keep fifty Galleys in continuall action for defence of the Adriatick and that they have no less then 200. more laid up in the Arsevall with all manner of tackling and ammunition appertaining to them they have 10000. men inrolled to serve at the Oar and may raise as many as they please for those kind of services out of those parts of Sclavonia which are subject to them But the great evidence of the power they can make at Sea was the great Fleet set out against the Grand Signeur for the War of Cyprus An. 1570. in which they manned out one great Gallioun eleven great Gallies five and twenty tall Ships and one hundred and fifty Gallies of lesser burden being in all one hundred and eighty seven sail fit for present service To give the totall sum in brief they held a war by Sea and Land for seven yeers together against all the Princes of Christendome excepting England in all which time they neither wanted men nor money and in the end were the least losers by the bargain By this we may conjecture also at the greatness of the publick Treasurie and of the yeerly income which supplies the same For though it be conceived that their ordinary standing Revenue be but four millions of Ducats yeerly which yet is more than any Christian Prince can boast of except France and Spain yet they have many other ways to advance their Treasury by laying new Imposts on Commodities as they see occasion Which needs must rise to vast and most considerable sums in a City of the greatest Traffick of any in Europe and perhaps in all the world besides And yet besides such Customs and Imposts as they lay on Merchandize there is nothing which the people do eat or drink for which they pay not something to the publick Treasury over and above which the poorest Labourer in the whole Signeury payeth his Poll-money also Insomuch that it is credibly
affirmed that the Christians generally do live in a better condition under the Turk than under the Venetians Without such helps though heavy and burdensom to the Subject they could not possibly have spent twelve millions in the war against Selimus the second and as many a little before that in the enterprize of Ferrara and the war raised against them by the League of Cambray which was that formerly remembred As for the Dukes of Venice though no Soveraign Princes nor such as do succeed each other in the right of inheritance yet being they are always men of most eminent note and that in their names all the business of State is acted and all writings dated I will subjoyn a Catalogue of them to this present time to the end that meeting with their names in the course of Historie we may the better know in what times they lived The Dukes of Venice 697 1 Paulus Anafestus 20 718 2 Marcel Tegalian 10 727 3 Hippateus Ursus 11 An Interregnum of six yeers 742 4 Theodatus Hippateus 755 5 Galla of Malamocco 756 6 Dominico Monegarta 760 7 Maurice Galbata 783 8 John Galbata 799 9 Obelerius 804 10 Angelus Partitiatius 822 11 Justinian Partitiatiâ—s 824 12 John Partitiarius 832 13 Petro Tradonico 859 14 Ursus Partitiarius 876 15 John Partitiarius 881 16 Petro Candiano 17 Dominico Tribuno 18 Petro Tribuno 905 19 Ursus Badoarius 925 20 Petro Candiano II. 932 21 Petro Badoario 935 22 Petro Candiano III. 950 23 Petro Candiano IV. 970 24 Petro Urscola 972 35 Vital Candiano 973 26 Tribuno Meme 985 27 Petro Urscola II. 1003 28 Otho Urscola 1020 29 Petro Barbolani 1021 30 Dominico Flabenico 1031 31 Dominico Contareni 1059 32 Dominico Silvie 1072 33 Vitalis Falerius 1084 34 Vitalis Michaeli 1090 35 Ordelasius Falerius 1105 36 Dominico Michaeli 1118 37 Petrus Polanus 1136 38 Dominico Morosini 1143 39 Vitalis Michaeli II. 1160 40 Sebastian Ziani 1165 41 Auria Maripiere 1179 42 Henrico Dondolo 1193 43 Petro Ziani 1216 44 Jacobo Tepuli 1236 45 Marino Morosini 1240 46 Renieri Zeno 1256 47 Lorenzo Tepuli 1263 48 Jacobo Contareni 1267 49 Dondolo 1276 50 Petro Gradenico 1298 51 Marino Georgio 1299 52 John Sourance 1315 53 Francisco Dandolo 1326 54 Barthol Gradonico 1330 55 Andrea Dandolo 1342 56 Marinus Falerius 57 John Gradonico 1343 58 John Dauphin 1348 59 Lorenzo Celso 1352 60 Marco Cornaro 1355 61 Andrea Contarene 1371 62 Michael Morosini 63 Antonio Venieri 1389 64 Michael Steno 1402 65 Thomazo Mocenico 1412 66 Francisco Foscari 1447 67 Paschal Malipiere 1452 68 Christophoro Moro 1461 69 Nicolao Troni 1463 70 Nicolao Marcelli 1464 71 Petro Mocenico 1465 72 Andrea Vendramine 1467 73 John Moconico 1474 74 Marco Barbadico 75 Augustino Barbadico 1489 76 Leonardo Loredani 1509 77 Antonio Grimani 1511 78 Andrea Gritti 1527 79 Petro Lande 1533 80 Francisco Donati 1540 81 Antonio Trevisani 1541 82 Francisco Vivieri 1543 83 Lorenzo Prioli 1547 84 Hierome Prioli 1555 85 Petro Lorâ—dani 1560 86 Lewis Mocenico 1567 87 Sebastian Venieri 1578 88 Nicola di Pont 1586 89 Paschal Cicogne 1596 90 Marino Grimani 1606 91 Leonardo Donati 1612 92 Antonio Memmo 1615 93 Giovanni Bembo 1618 94 Nicolas Donate 1618 95 Antonio Priulâ— 1623 96 Francisco Contarem 97 Giovanni Correlio 98 Francisco Erizzo now living An. 1648. The principall Orders of Knighthood in this Republick are 1. Of S. Mark who is the Patron of this City instituted in the year 1330. and renewed again being grown somewhat out of use An. 1562. The honor is commonly bestowed on the person present sometimes by Letters Patents on a party absent as lately upon Daniel Heinsius one of great eminence for learning in the Netherlands The person chosen is to be of noble blood at the least a Gentleman the Wrod or Motto of the Order is Pax tibi Marce. 2. Of the glorious Virgin first instituted by Bartholmew of Vincentia Ano. 1222. Their charge is to defend Widows and Orphans and to procure as much as in them is the peace of Italie It was allowed of by Pope Urban the fourth Ano. 1262. The Arms of this Order are a purple Cross between ceratain Stars The habite a white Surcote over a Russet Cloke and seems to be as well a Religious as a Military Institution like to the Spanish Orders and that of Malta The Armes of the Republick are Gules two Keys in Saltire Or stringed Azure which seem to have been given them for some notable service done unto the Church There are in the Provinces of this Common-wealth before described Patriarchs 2. Bishops 16. The Dukedom of FLORENCE OR OF TUSCANIE HAving thus run along the Coast of the Adriatick or upper Sea from the Lands of the Church unto the Alpes which divide Italie from Germany let us next keep along the tract of the Tuscan or Lower Sea from the said Lands of the Church to that part of the Alpes which divide Italie from France And in the first place we meet with the Dukedom of Florence or the Estate of the great Duke of Tuscany divided on the East from S. Peters Patrimony by the River Pisco on the West from the Common-wealth of Genoa by the River Macra and the strong Fort of Sarezana on the North from Romandiola and Marca Anconitana by the Apennine hills and on the South side it is bounded with the Tuscan or Tyrrhenian Seas It taketh up the greatest and goodliest part of all that which antiently was called Tuscany from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to sacrifise of which act of Religious Worship or rather of some superstitious Ceremonies appertaining to it they are conceived to be the Authors And to say truth they were much given to Sooth-sayings and Divinations and such like vanities of Gentilism Tages that Merlin of the old World first appearing here from whom they learned the greatest part of their Superstitions So that this name was adventitious and accidentall For properly and originally it was called Tyrrheniâ— from Tyrrhenus the sonne of Atys King of Lydia who came and planted in those parts about the time that Gedeon judged the Tribes of Israel But these names signified the same both Country and people though in divers Langues and with respect to different Originations the name of Tyrrheni and Tyrrhenia being most used by the Greeks as that of Tusci and Tuscia by their neighbours of Rome who also called the people Hetrusci and the Country Hetruria from a particular Province of it which was so entituled Antiently it extended as far Eastward as the banks of Tiber the other bounds being then as they are at the present and in that tract gave dwelling to a potent Nation who not content to be restrained within the 〈◊〉 and the Tiber wasted three hundred Towns of the Umbri the next bordering Nation and buiâ—â— twelve Cities on the other side of the Mountains that is to say Adria Verona Viâ—centia Treâ— Bergaâ—â— Mantâ—a Como Vercellae Novara Parma Bonoma
found the passages so closed up that he was forced to break his way as Plutarch telleth us with fire and vinegar whence that so memorable saying Viam Annibal aut invenâ—ct aut faciet and from the passage of those Worthies this tract and that adjoyning were called Alpes Craiae and Poeninae Or if as others think Annibal took the former way and came directly upon Turin which Town it is most certain that he took in his march then these Poeninae must take name from the passage of Asdrubal or of some part of Annibals Army which probably was too great to go all one way or els from the Mountain-God Poeninus as before was said The first way out of Germany into Italie is thorough the Countrey of the Grisons by the Valtolin which the Spaniard seized into his hands So that by the keeping of the Veltlyn or Valtolin and manning of the Fort Fuentes which he also erected he was in a manner the Lord of this passage not onely to the discontent of the Natives but to the distast of his neighbours the Savoyards and Venetians The other way out of Germany into Italie is thorough the Countrey of Torolis by the Towns of Inspruch and Trent This passage is commanded by the Castle and Fort of Eresberg seated on the confines of this Countrey towards Suevia and from Instruch is two days journey distant Which Fort in the War which the Protestant Princes made against Charles the fifth was surprized by Captain Scherteline so to hinder the comming of the Popes Forces into Germany for which the Emperor so hated him that when all the rest of that faction were pardoned he only continued a Proscript his head being valued at 4000. Crowns The taking also fo this Fort and the Castle adjoyning by D. Maurice of Saxony made the said Charles then being in Inspruch to fly out of Germany and shortly after to resign his Empire to his brother Ferdinand Out of these Mountains rise the springs of many of the most renowned Rivers in these West parts of the world as 1. The Rhene which springeth from two severall Fountains the one which they call the Neerer Rhyne out of the Lepontiae and the other which they term the Vorder or further Rhyne out of the Rheticae which meet together about a Dutch mile from Chur the chief Town of the Grisons and so go on by Constance to Germany 2. Rhosue which riseth in that part of the Lepontiae which is called Die Furchen about two Dutch miles from the head of the Neerer or Hinder Rhyne and so thorough Wallistand into France 3. Padus or Po which hath his head in a branch of the Coltian or Coctian Alpes heretofore called Mons Vesulus and so thorough Piemont into Italie Out of them also spring the Rivers of Russe Durance and Athesis the first a Dutch the second a French and the third an Italian River also not to say any thing of others of inferiour note The great Lakes which are found in this monntainous tract we shall hereafter meet with in their proper places Let us next look upon the Countreys and Estates here situate vvhich bordering upon Italie France and Germanie and partaking somevvhat of them all do belong to neither but reckon themselves to be free and absolute Estates Supreme and independent upon any others as indeed they are Such other of these Alpine Countreys which are under the command of the German Princes as some parts of Schwaben and Bavaria together vvith Tirol Carniola and the rest vvhich belong to Austria shall be considered in the History of those States and Princes to vvhich of right they do belong But for the rest vvhich as they lie intire together vvithout intermixture so they are absolute in themselves and ovv nor sute nor service unto any other vve vvill consider them in this place under the name of the Alpes or the Alpine Provinces The ALPES then or the Alpine Provinces call them vvhich you vvill are bounded on the East vvith Tirol in Germany and the Dukedoms of Millain and Montferrat in Italie on the West vvith Provence Daulphine and La Bresse parts of the Continent of France on the North vvith the County of Burgundy in France and Suevid or Schwaben in High Germany and on the South vvith Lombardy and a branch of the Mediterranean Sea Called in the middle times by the name of Burgundia Transâ—urana because it contained that part of the Kingdom of Burgundy which â—ay beyond the Mountain Jour A Mountain vvhich beginning near the City of Basil and not far from the Rhene passeth South-Westvvard by the Lakes of Bieler-Zee Nuwenburger-Zee and that called Lemane till it come almost unto the Rhosue dividing by that means the Provinces of Switzerland and Savoy from the County of Burgundy It lyeth under the sixt Climate and some part of the seventh so that the longest day in Summer is fifteen hours and three quarters Of different nature in regard both of Soyl and People vvhich vvill best shevv it self in the Survey of the severall Provinces into vvhich divided that is to say 1. the Dukedom of Savoy 2. the Signeury of Geneva 3. the Resorts of Wallisland 4 the Cantons of the Switzers and 5 the Leagues or the Grisons Which severall States though they be reckoned to belong to the German Empire and that the Bishops of Chuâ— Sâ—on and Basil are generally accounted for Princes of it yet they neither come unto the Diets nor are subject to the publick Taxes nor comprehended within any of those ten Circles into which the Empire is divided The Language herein spoken partakes somewhat of all three as before was sayd the French being wholly spoke in Savoy the lower Wallisland and generally by the Switzers bordering on the Lake Lemane the Dutch being common to the greatest part of the Switzers the Grisons about Chur and the upper Wallisland and finally the Italian used by the generality of the Grisons the Praefectures appertaining unto them and the Switzers both in Piemont and those parts of Savoy which lie next unto it The principall Souldiers of these mountainous Provinces 1 Rodolph Earl of Habspurg the Founder of the present Austrian Family 2 Thomas and 3 Peter Earles of Savoy this last surnamed Charlemain the second 4 Emanuel Philibert one of the later Dukes hereof Commander of the Armies of the King of Spain 5 John Tzerclas commonly called Count Tilly Generall of the Imperiall Armies in the War of Germany For Scholars of more speciall note for which we are beholding to these Countryes we have 1 Philip Theophrastus Bombastus à Boenham commonly called Paracelsus the Author or Instanrator of Chymicall Physick born in the Mountains of Helvetia as he saith himself a man of most prodigious parts and of no mean vices 2 Zuinglius one of the chief Agents in the Reformation 3 Musculus and 4 Oecolampadius two Divines his seconds 5 Henry Bullinger one of the same profession also 6 Sebastian Castalio of as much Learning as the best of
who after joyned with them in the same confederacy It hath no City nor Town of note The principall of those that be are 1 â—â—anter the place sometimes of the Generall Diets for these Leagues 2 Diserntis where is a very rich Monastery 3 Saint Bernardino situate at the foot of the Mountain Vogel 4 Masox sometimes an Earldom giving name to the Valley of Masoxer-tal 5 Galanckter whence the vale so named inhabited by none but Basket-makers 6 Ruffla situate on the River Muesa near Belinzano on the skirts of Italie 2 The second League is Liga Cadi Dio or the League of the house of God so called because it was the proper Patrimony of the Bishop and Church of Chur and may be called the middle League as being situate between the Upper League on the West and the Lower League upon the East It is the greatest of the three containing twenty one Resorts or Commonalties of which nine lie on this side the tops of the Mountains towards Germany the rest tovvards Italie and yet two onely speak the Dutch the others a corrupt Italian The places of most note are 1 Tintzen the Tinnetio of Antoninus seated amongst high and inaccessible Mountains betvvixt Chur and the Valley of Bergel 2 Mur called Murus by the same Antoninus in the valley of Bergel a Valley extending from the head of the River Maira tovvards Chiavenna one of the. Italian Praefectures 3 Stalla called Bevio by the Italians because the vvay doth in that place divide it self 4 S. Jacomo in the valley of Compoltschin called Travasede by Antoninuâ— 5 Sinnada in the valley of Engadin And 6 Chur by some Coira but more truly Curia so called from the long stay that Constantine the great made here vvith his Court and Army in a War intended against the Germans built aftervvards by some part of his forces vvhich continued here An. 357 about half a Dutch mile from the meeting of the two streams of the Rhene in form triangular the buildings indifferent in themselves but not uniform with one another High on a Hill in one corner of it standeth the Close and therein the Cathedrall Church a stately Edifice but more in accompt of the Natives who have seen no fairer than it is with strangers and near the Church the Bishops Palace and the houses of the Canons all well built and handsomly adorned The Bishop of this City and of all the Country of these Leagues for they received their Bishop and the Faith together An. 489. acknowledgeth the Arch-bishop of Mentz for their Metropolitan is reckoned for a Prince of the Empire and the rightfull Lord both of this City and the whole League but on the introduction of the Reformed Religion which they had from the Switzers and Genevians the Citizens withdrew themselves from their obedience to the Bishop and govern the City in the manner of a free-Free-state So far conformable to him for their own preservation that as the Bishop and his Canons vvith the rest of this League upon occasion of the wrongs done them by the house of Austria Lords of the neighbouring Tirol joyned in confederacy with the seven first Cantons of the Switzers which was in the year 1498 So did the Citizens of Chur after they had withdrawn themselves from the command of their Bishops concur with them at last in that mutuall League 3 The third League of these Grisons is the Lower League called also Liga Ditture or the League of the ten Jurisdictions situate close upon Tirol in the North-East part of the whole Country Of all the ten two only vvhich are those of Malans and Meienfeld obey the joynt commands of the three Leagues of the Grisons the other eight being subject to the Arch-Duke of Austria under whom they are suffered to enjoy their antient privileges for fear of uniting with the Switzers which hitherto they have not done Only they did unite together in one common League An. 1436 conditioning their mutuall defence against all Enemies preservation of their peace and maintainance of their privileges reserving notwithstanding their obedience to their naturall Lords In which respect and by reason of the interess and society which they have with the rest of the Grisons they are in friendship with the Swisse but in no confederacy City or Walled-town they have none The chief of those they have are 1 Castels the seat of the Governour for the Arch-Duke of Austria 2 Malans and 3 Meienseld both bordering upon the Rhene 4 Tanaas giving name to the first and greatest of the ten Jurisdictions the chief Town of this League in which are held the Generall Diets for the same and vvhere are kept the Miniments and Records which concern their Privileges In this League is the Mountain called Rhaetico-mons by Pomponius Mela but now Prettigower-berg because it is at the end of the valley vvhich the Dutch call Prettigow 4 As for the Italian Praefectures they are eight in number and were given unto the Grisons by Maximilian Sforze Duke of Millain An. 1513. at such time as he gave the like present to the Cantons of Switzerland Of these the first is called Plurs so called from the chief Tovvn of the same name in Latin Plura once seated in a plain at the foot of the Alpes near the River Maira the chief of sundry villages lying in the same bottom now nothing but a deep and bottomless Gulf. For on the 26 of August 1617 an huge Rock falling from the top of the Mountains overwhelmed the Town killed in the twinckling of an eye 1500 people and left no sign or ruin of a Town there standing but in the place thereof a great Lake of some two miles length 2 Chiarama situate in a pleasant vallie so called neer the River Maira and ten Italian miles from the Lake of Come Antoninus calleth it Clavenna and the Dutch Clevener-tal or the valley of Cleven more near unto the antient name 3 The Valtoline Vallis Telina in the Latine a pleasant Valley extending threescore miles in length from the head of the River Aada unto the fall thereof in the Lake of Come the Wines whereof are much commended and frequently transported on this side the Alpes It is divided into six Praefectures according to the names of the principall Towns The chief whereof are 1 Bormio seated near the head of the River Aada 2 Teio the chief Fortress of the whole Valley 3 Sondrio the chief Town and the seat of the Governour or Leiuetenant Generall of the whole Country This Valley lying opportunely for the passage of the King of Spains Forces out of Millain into Germany by the practices and treasons of Rodolfus Planta one of the natives of it and of the Romish Religion was delivered to the Duke of Feria being then Governour of Millain An. 1622 the whole Country brought under the obedience of that King Chur it self forced and taken by them and the Religion of Rome setled in all parts thereof But two years after by the joynt Forces
And so it proved in the Event 18 Charles VI. a weak and distracted Prince in whose reign Henry the fifth of England called in by the faction of Burgundy against that of Orleans maried the Lady Catharine Daughter of this King and was thereupon made Regent of France during the Kings life and Heir apparent of the Kingdom But he had first won the great battel of Agincourt in which the English having an Army but of 15000 vanquished an Army of the French consisting of 52000 men of which were slain 5 Dukes 8 Earls 25 Lords 8000 Knights and Gentlemen of note and 25000 of the Commons the English losing but one Duke one Earl and 600 Souldiers This unfortunate Prince lost what his predecessor Philip the ad had taken from King Iohn of England and had not been restored by King Lewis the ninth 1423. 19 Charles VII Sonne of Charles the sixt after a long and bloodie War recovered from the English then divided by domestick dissentions all their Lands and Signiories in France except Calice only 1461. 20 Lewis XI Sonne of Charls the seventh added unto his Crown the Dukedom of Burgundie the Earldom of Provence and therewithall a Title unto Naples and Sicil and a great part of Picardy A Prince of so great wants or such sordid parsimony that there is found a Reckoning in the Chamber of Accompts in Paris of two shillings for new sleeves to his old doublet and three half pence for liquor to grease his Boots 21 Charles VIII Sonne of Lewis the 11th who quickly won and as soon lost the Kingdom of Naples which he laid claim to in the right of the house of Anjou By the mariage of Anne the Heir of Bretagne he added that Dukedom to his Crown 1498. 22 Lewis XII Sonne of Charles and Grand-sonne of Lewis Dukes of Oriâ—â—ans which Lewis was a younger Sonne of Charles the fifth succeeded as the neâ—t Heir-male of the house of Valois He dispossessed Ludowick Sforzâ— of the Dutchie of Millaine and divided the Realm of Naples with Ferdinand the Catholick but held neither long By his mariage with Anne of Bretagne the Widow of his Predecessour he confirmed that Dukedom to his House and united it unto the Realm by an Act of State After his death the English to prevent the growing greatness of Spaine began to close in with the French and grew into great correspondencies with them insomuch that all the following Kings untill Lewis the 13th except Francis the 2d a King of one yeer and no more were all Knights of the Garter 1515. 23 Francis Duke of Angolesme Grand-sonne of Iohn of Angolesme one of the younger Sonnes of the said Lewis Duke of Orleans succeeded on the death of Lewis the 12th without iâ—â—ue male Took Prisoner at the battel of Pavie by Charles the fifth with whom he held perpetual wars he being as unwilling to indure a superiour as the Emperour was to admit an equall 32. 1547. 24 Henry II. Sonne of Francis recovered Caliâ—e from the English and drove Charles out of Germanie and took from him Mets â—oui and Verdun three Imperial Cities ever since Members of this Kingdom 12. 1559. 25 Francis II. Sonne of Henry the 2d King of the Scots also in the right of Mary his Wife 1560. 26 Charles IX Brother of Francis the 2d the Author of the Massacre at Paris 14. 1574. 27 Henry III. elected King of Poland in the life of his Brother whom he succeeded at his death The last King of the House of Valois stripped of his Life and Kingdom by the Guisian Faction called the Holy League 15. 1589. 28 Henry IV. King of Navarre and Duke of Vendosme succeeded as the next Heir-male to Henry the 3d in the right of the House of Bourbon descended from Robert Earl of Clermont a youunger Sonne of Lewis the 9th He ruined the Holy League cleered France of the Spaniards into which they had been called by that potenâ— and rebellious Faction and laid La Bresse unto the Crown together with the Estates of Bearn and Base Navarre and after a ten years time of peace was villainously murdered by Ravillac in the streets of Paris 21. 1610. 29 Lewis XIII Sonne of Henry the 4th the most absolute King of France since the death of Charles the Great For the reduction of the scattered and dismembred Provinces the work of his many Predecessors he added the reduction of all the Ports and Garrisons held by the Hugonots in that Kingdom seized on the Dukedom of Bar and surprized that of Lorreine both which he held untill his death 32. 1642. 30 Lewis XIV Sonne of Lewis the 13th and of the Lady Anne eldest Daughter of Philip the third of Spaine succeeded at the age of four years under the Government of his Mother the 30th King of the Line of Capet the 43 from Charles the Great and the 64 King of France or rather of the French now living As for the Government of these Kings it is meerly Regal or to give it the true name Despoticall such as that of a Master over his Servants the Kings will going for a Law and his Edicts as valid as a Sentence of the Court of Parliament Quod Principi placuerit Legis habet vigorem was a Prerogative belonging to the Roman Emperours as Justinian tells us in his Institutes and the French Kings descending from Charles the Great claim it as their own The Kings Edicts alwayes ending with these binding words Car tel est nostre Plaisir for such is our pleasure And though he sometimes send his Edicts to be verified or approved in the Parliament of Paris and his Grants and Patents to be ratified in the Chamber of Accompts there holden yet this is nothing but a meer formalitie and point of circumstance those Courts not daring to refuse what the King proposeth It is Car tel est nostre plaisir which there goeth for Law And by this intimation of his Royall pleasure doth he require such Taxes as the necessity of his Affairs the greediness of his Officers or the importunity of Suters doe suggest unto him The Patrimonie of the Crown being so exhausted by the riot and improvidence of former Princes that the King hath no other way to maintain his State defray his Garrisons reward such as deserve well of him and support those that depend upon him but only by laying what he pleaseth on the backs of his Subjects against which there is no dispute by the common People though many times the Great Princes have demurred upon it And therefore to make them also instrumentall to the publick 〈◊〉 the Kings are willing to admit them to some part of the spoyl to give them some exâ—mptions from those common burdens and to connive at their oppressing of their Teâ—ants against all good conscience that being so privileged themselves they may not interrupt the King in his Regal â—ourses The power of the French King over his Subjects being so transcendent it cannot be but that
affected to his House whose Government he took upon him discharged of all subjection and subordination to the Caliphs or Mahometum Emperours and making it an absolute Kingdom of it self In his Race it continued without any fractions or subdivisions till the time of Hâ—â—â—n the 2d the tenth King of these Spanish Moores after whose death distracted amongst many petit Tyrants till they were all brought under by the Moores of Africk of which more anon In the mean time take here the Catalogue of the Kings of these Moores of Spain called commonly from Corduba their Royal Seat The Kings of Corduba A. C. 757. 1 Abderamen 30. 787. 2 Hizen 7. 794. 3 Halt Hatan 25. 819. 4 Abderamen II. 20. 839. 5 Mahomet 35. 874. 6 Almudix 2. 876. 7 Abdalla 13. 889. 8 Abderamen III. 50. 939. 9 Hali-Hatan 17. 956. 10 Hizen II. 33. 989. 11 Zulcimen 4. 993. 12 Mahomet II. 8. 1001. 13 Hali. 2. 1003. 14 Cacin 4. 1007. 15 Hiaâ—a 1007. 16 Abderamen IV. 1. 1008. 17 Mahomet III. 1. 1010. 18 Hizen III. 1. 1011. 19 Ioar 3. 1014. 20 Mahomet IV. the last King of the Moores in Corduba before the second Conquest of these parts of Spain by the Moores of Africa Concerning which we are to know that after the great Victory obtained at â—lâ—vâ—gio against Abderamen the 2d by Râ—ymir King of Leon Anno 826. the power and reputatiâ—n of the Spaâ—iâ—h Moores began to decline brought utterly to nothing by the sloath and negligence of Hâ—zâ—n the 2d after a long and unprofitable Reign deposed by Zulcimen who succeeded But the Moores not easily brooking the command of a new Vsurper fell into many Fractions and Divisions amongst themselves every great man seizing on some part of the Kingdom which he retained unto himself with the name of King from whence we have a King of Sevill another of Toledo a third of Cordova the names of which last only doe occurre in the former Catalogue And 't was a sign the Kingdom was in the expiring when so many Kings succeeded in so few yeers after one another there passing from the deposing of Hizen the 2d to the beginning of Mahomet the 4th not above 34 yeers in all during which time we find no fewer than ten Kiugs The often change of Princes and short lives of Kings are the apparent signs of a ruâ—â—ous â—tate approaching very neer to its expiration as may be seen by the short lives and Reigns of the last Western Emperours nine of them hardly Reigning 20 yeers as also of the Kings of the Gothes in Italy of which the six last held the Throne no longer than the nine Western Emperours had done before them But to proceed Mahomet the last King of this first Rank having left the stage we find no good Constat of his Successors in the kingdom of Corduba made inconsiderable by the withdrawing so many Provinces from the body of it the pride and insolencie of whch Roytelets and petit Tyrants forced them at last to call unto their aid the Kings or Miramomolines of Morocco by whom themselves and all the rest of their Corrivals were in fine subdued Vnder seven Princes of Morocco the Spanish Moores continued subject about 120 yeers that is to say from the first coming in of Ioseph Telephin the Miramamoline Anno 1091 unto the going out of Mahomet surnamed the Green Anno 12â—4 during which time the affairs of the Moores in Spain were so well conducted that they lost nothing to the Christians but Extremadura taken from them by Alfonso the 2d in the accompt of Castile the 7th in the accompt of Leon Anno 1147 and the Citie of Lisbon taken from them in the same yeer also by Alfonso the first King of Portugal But Nahomet the Green being vanquished in the great fight at Sierra Morena by the joynt Forces of the confederated Christians left off all further care of the Moores in Spain after his going thence distracted once again into many Kingdoms all of them swallowed up in a little time by the Kings of Castile Aragon and Portugal And amongst them the kingdom of Corduba not able to stand long on this new Foundation was ruinated and brought under the command of the Castilians by their King Ferdinand the 2d Anno 1236. Since that time there is no more mention of the kingdom of Corduba The Arms whereof were Or a Lyon Gules armed and crowned of the first a Border Azure charged with 8 Towers Argent 7 GRANADA GRANADA is bounded on the West with Andalusia on the East with Murcia and the Mediterranean on the North with New Castile on the South with the Mediterranean only So called from Granada the chief Citie and Seat Royal of it It is in length 200 miles 100 miles in breadth and about 700 miles in compass The North part of the Countrey plain the South parts over-spread with the Alpuxarras and other spurres and branches of the Orospeda In the time of the Moores wonderfully well inhabited and full of all sorts of commodities the Hils planted with Vines and Fruits the Plains and Vallies swelling with Corn and Gardens since their expulsion neither much peopled nor very fruitfull for want of men to dress and manure the Land The principal Cities of it are 1 Granada situate on two Hils divided by a Valley thorow which runneth the River Darien consisting of four severall parts called Alhambâ—e Sierre de sol Granada and Antequerula the two first standing on the Hils the two last in the Valley the whole containing in the time of the Moorish kingdom about 200000 of fouls Fenced with strong wals fortified with 130 Turrets and replenished with abundance of wholsome and pleasant Springs the whole Circuit being about seven miles The Merchants and Gentry of the best sort doe dwell in that part which is called Granada the houses of which are for the most part built of free stone with delicate and artificiall Masonrie shewing great magnificence Herein standeth the Cathedral Church a work of admirable structure of Figure round as having sometimes been a Mahomâ—tane Mosquit Here is also the place which they call Alcazar representing a little Town the which are ten Gates In the Aâ—hambre is the Palace of the Moorish Kings covered with Gold indented with Moisaical work and which by reason of the structure and multitude of Fountains which are about it may be put amongst the Wonders of the World having withall a goodly prospect over all the Town lying under it upon the East a spacious Champian towards the North and the snowie tops of Sierra Nevade towards the South This Citie is the ordinarie Parliament and Court of Iustice for all the Southern parts of Spain as Valladolit is for the Northern Madrid which is the highest Court having jurisdiction over and receiving Appeals from both A Town first raiâ—ed out of the ruines of Illiberis situate not far off on the Hill Elvire much mentioned in the stories of Rome and Carthage In
over against the Southern part of Cumberland and from which it is distant 25 miles and was judged to belong to Britain rather than to Ireland because it fostered venemous Serpents brought hither out of Britain By Ptolomie it is called Monoeda or the further Mona to difference it from that which we now call Anglesey by Plinie Monabia Menavia by Orosius and Beda Eubonia by Gildas an old British Writer The Welch at this day call it Menaw the Inhabitants Maning and the English Man It is in length 30 miles in bredth 15 and 8 in some places The people hate theft and begging and use a Language mixt of the Norwegian and Irish tongues The soyl is abundant in Flax Hemp Oates Barley and Wheat with which they use to supply the defects of Scotland if not the Continent it self yet questionless the Western Iles which are a Member of it For thus writeth the Reverend Father in God Iohn Moricke late Bishop of this Iland in a letter to Mr. Camden at such time as he was composing his most excellent Britannia Our Iland saith he for cattell for fish and for corn hath not only sufficient for it self but sendeth also good store into other Countries now what Countries should need this supply England and Ireland being aforehand with such provision except Scotland or some members thereof I see not Venerable Bede numbred in it 300 Families and now it is furnished with 17 Parish Churches The chief Towns are 1 Balâ—curi and 2 Russin or Castle-Town the seat of a Bishop who though he be under the Archbishop of York yet never had any voice in the English Parliament In this Iland is the hill Sceafull where on a clear day one may see England Scotland and Ireland here also are bred the Soland Geese of rotten wood falling into the water This Iland was taken from the Britans by the Scots and from them regained by Edwin King of Northumberland Afterwards the Norwegians seized on it and made it a Kingdom the Kings hereof ruling over the Hebrides and some part of Ireland From them taken by Alexander the 3d of Scotland by a mixt title of Arms and purchase after which time it was sometimes English sometimes Scotish as their fortunes varied till in the end and about the year 1340. William Montacute Earl of Salisbury descended from the Norwegian Kings of Man won it from the Scots and sold it to the Lord Scrope who being condemned of Treason Henry the fourth gave it to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland but he also proving false to his Soveraign it was given to the Stanleys now Earls of Darby The Kings of Man of the Danish or Norwegian Race 1065. 1 Godred the Sonne of Syrric 1066. 2 Fingall Sonne of Godred 1066. 3 Godred II. Sonne of Harald 1082. 4 Lagnan Eldest Sonne of Godred the 2d 1089. 5 Donnald Sonne of Tado 1098. 6 Magnus King of Norwey 1102. 7 Olave the 3d Sonne of Godred 1144. 8 Godred III. Sonne of Olave 1187. 9 Reginald base Sonne of Godred the 3d. 1226. 10 Olâ—ve the lawfull Sonne of Godred the 3d. 1237. 11 Harald Sonne of Olave 1243. 12 Reginald II. Brother of Harald 1252. 13 Magnus II. Brother of Reginald 1266. 14 Magnus III. King of Norway the last King of Man of the Danish or Norwegian Race The Kings and Lords of Man of the English Blood 1340. 1 William Montacute Earl of Salisbury King of Man 1395. 2 William Lord Scrope King of Man 1399. 3 Henry Earl of Northumberland King of Man 1403. 4 William Lord Stanley Lord of the Isle of Man 5 Iohn Lord Stanley 6 Thomas Lord Stanley 7 Thomas Lord Stanley Earl of Darby 1503. 8 Thomas Lord Stanley Early of Darby 1521. 9 Edward Lord Stanley Earl of Darby 1572. 10 Henry Lord Stanley Earl of Darby 1593. 11 Ferdmando Lord Stanley Earl of Darby 12 William Lord Stanley Early of Darby 13 Iames Lord Stanley Earl of Darby Lord of the Isle of Man now living Anno 1648. King in effect though but Lord in title as having here all kind of Civill power and jurisdiction over the Inhabitants under the Feife and Sovereignty of the Crown of England together with the nomination of the Bâ—shop whom he presents unto the King for his Royall assent then to the Arch-Bishop of York for his consecration And this I take to be the reason why the Bishop of Man was no Lord of Parliament none being admitted to that honour but such as held immediately of the King himself nor was it reason that they should V. ANGLESEY is an Iland situate in the Irish Sea over against Carnarvonshire in North-Wales from which it is divided by a narrow streight which they call the Menai By the Britans themselves as by the Welch at this day it was called Mon from whence the Romans had their Mona but being Conquered by the English it obtained the name of Anglesey as one would say the Iland of the English Men eye in the Saxon language signifying an Iland A place of such a fair Revenue to the Princes of it that LLewellen the last Prince of Wales being stripped of almost all the rest of his Estates by King Edward the first paid to that King a tribute of 1000 per An. for this Iland only And to say truth the Iland is exceeding fruitfull both in Corn and Cattle from whence the Welch are liberally stored with both and therefore it is said proverbially Mon Mam Cymri that Anglâ—sey is the Mother of Wales In length from East to West about 20 miles and 17 in bredth Containing in that Compasse 74 Parishes divided into six hundreds and hath in it only two Market Towns that is to say 1 Beanmaris seated on a flat or marish ground neer the Menai built by King Edward the first to secure his Conquest by whom well walled and fortified as the times then were 2 Newburg a Town of no great antiquity as the name doth intimate by the Welch called Rossur in former times it had an Haven of some good receipt but now choaked with sand The other places of most note are 3 Aberfraw a small village now but heretofore the Royall seat of the Kings of Wales and 4ly Holy-head seated on an head-land or Promontory thrusting into the Sea made holy or thought so at least by the religious retirement of Saint Kuby or Kibius one of the Disciples of St. Hilarie of Poictiers from whence by the Welchmen called Caer-Cuby of most note for the ordinary passage betwixt Wules and Ireland Antiently this Iland was the seat of the Druides and brought with no small difficulty under the power of the Romans by Suctonius Paulinus the People fighting in other parts of Britain for their liberty only but here pro Arts focis too for their Religion Liberty and their Gods to boot Being deserted by the Romans with the rest of Britain it remained in the possession of its own natural Princes till the fatal period of that State when added
in those times so great and of such renown that Attila the Hun destroyed in it 100. Churches now but a very small Town and not worth the mentioning but for these Antiquities Eight leagues from hence amongst the shady thickets of the Forrest of Ardenne is that so celebrated 10. Villages and those famous hot Baths frequented from all the places of Europe called the Spa not so pleasant as wholesome not so wholsome as famous Yet are they good for sundry diseases as the Tertian Ague and Dropsie the Stone the exulceration of the Lungs the Sciatique c. They are of most virtue in July because they are then hottest and to such as taste them they relish much of iron from some iron mines it seemeth through which the waters run which feed them These Baths of great fame in the time of Plinie who doth thus describe them Tungri Civitas fontem habet insignem plurimis bullis stillantem ferruginei saporis quod ipsum non nisi in fine potus intelligitur Purgat hic corpora febres tertianas discutit calculorumque vitia So he lib. 31. cap. 2. agreeably to the nature of them at this present time As for the Bishoprick of Leige it was first founded at Tungres as before was said after the sackage of which City by Attila removed anno 498. by S. Servatius unto Maestricht But the people of Maestricht having Martyred S. Lambert then Bishop anno 710. by Hubert his designed Successour with the leave of Pope Constantine it was translated to this place and a Cathedrall Church here founded by the name of S. Lambert His Successours did so well husband their advantages that they did not only buy the Dukedome of Bovillon but the City and territory of Leige sold unto Speutus and Obertus successively Bishops of it by Godfrey of Bovillon Duke of Lorrain of which Dukedome it was formerly a part or member at his departure hence to the Holy-land not much increased since that in lands though he be in titles the Bishop being stiled a Prince of the Empire Duke of Bovillon Marquesse of Franchimont Earl of Lootz and Hasbain Yet are not his ordinary Revenues above 30000. duckets yearly his subjects living very well under him at easie rents and growing for the most part unto good estates An argument whereof may be that when the Leigeois had rebelled against Philip the Good Duke of Burgundie under whose Cleintele they were as Duke of Brabant they bought their peace of him at the price of 600000 Florens of the Rhene to be paid in six years After which time again rebelling against Charles the warlike as they have been observed to be the most rebellious City in Europe excepting Gaunt they were able to wage 30000 men but not being able to withstand the forces of their Lord Protectour they fell into that miserable destruction spoken of before Since that time they have lived with more moderation under the protection of the Princes of the house of Austria but counted neutrall in the quarrells betwixt the King of Spain and the States confederate as formerly between the Spaniard and the French though many times they suffer in the contestations 9. BRABANT 10. The MARQUISATE And 11. MACHLIN THese I have joyned together though distinct estates because they have a long time followed the same fortune and that the two last doe no otherwise differ from the first then the parts from the whole the Marquisate and Machlin being reckoned as parts of Brabant and included in it 9. BRABANT is bounded on the East with Luickland or the Bishoprick of Leige on the West with the River Scheld and a part of Flanders on the North with the Maes which severeth it from Holland and Guelderland and on the South with Hainalt Namur and part of Luickland The Air hereof is generally very wholesome and good and the Soil naturally fruitfull excepting Kempenland being the parts hereof lying towards the North which being barren of it self is made indifferently fertile by keeping Cattell Soiling the ground and other arts of good Husbandry The people live in most freedome and are the best priviledged of any in Belgium A thing for which they are more beholding to the Princes goodnesse then their own great wits being noted to be none of the wisest especially as they grow in age when most men learn wisdome Brabanti quo magis seneseunt eo magis stultescunt as Erasmus telleth us The length hereof from S. Gertrudenberg to Genblaurs North and South is 22 Dutch or German miles from Helmont to Berghen ap Some East and West 20 of the same miles the whole compasse 80. Within which circuit are conteined 26 walled Townes and Villages with Parish Churches 718. of which the odde 18 called Franks or Market-townes enjoy the priviledges of walled Townes or Cities though unwalled themselves Places of most importance in it are 1. Shertogen Bosch or the Bosch as the Dutch Bois le Duc or Bolduc as the French and Silva Ducis or Boscum Ducis as the Latines call it each name derived according to the severall languages from a pleasant wood belonging to the Dukes of Brabant where the Town now stands situate on a litle River called Deese some two leagues from the Maes neer the borders of Guelderland a large and well built Town very strongly fortified and of great trade for Clothing here being made yeerly in the time of Lewis Guicciardine 20000 Clothes worth 200000 Crownes to the Clother or Draper made an Episcopall See anno 1559. the Cathedrall which is fixed in the Church of S. John being fair and large and beautified with one of the goodliest Dials in the Christian world This is the principall town of Brabant properly and distinctly so called comprehending under it the four Countries of Kempenland Maesland Peeland and Osterwick and was taken by the Confederate Estates from the King of Spain after a long and chargeable siege Anno 1628. 2. Tilmont on the little River Geet once the chief of Brabant but long since decayed Arschot on the litle River Dennere which gives the title of a Duke to them of the Noble house of Croy the Dukes hereof advanced unto that honour by Charles the Fift being men of greatest Revenue and Authority of any in Belgium 4. Bergen ap Zome so called from the River Zome upon which it is situate about half a league from the influx of it into the Scheld and not far from the Sea which gives it a reasonable good Haven A town of great strength by nature but more strongly fortified Famous for being made a Marquisate by Charles the Fift anno 1553. more for the notable resistance which it made to the Marquis Spinola anno 1622. 5. Breda upon the river Merck a Town pleasantly seated well fortified and of great Revenue having under it the Town and Territorie of Steenberg the franchise of Rosindale and the Seigneury of Osterhout the residence Baronie and chief town of the Princes of Orange from whom being taken
by the Spaniard in the beginning of those wars it was again recovered by some venturous Gentlemen who hiding themselves in a Boat covered over with Turf were conveyed into the Castle which they easily mastered and made the Prince Lord of it again After re-taken by the Spaniard anno 1625. but now in the possession of its naturall owners 6. Diest on the River Dennere a good town and of a large territory and jurisdiction belonging to the Prince of Orange who had it in exchange for some other lands of the Duke of Cleve and in right hereof is Burgrave of the City of Antwerp 7. Grinbergen an ancient Baronie with a large jurisdiction descendible on the youngest sonne onely after the manner of Burgh English as our Lawyers call it 8. Gertrudenberg standing on the Douge not far from the influx of it into the Maes the furthest town in the North of Brabant where it joyns to Holland which makes it a matter of dispute betwixt those Provinces to which of them it doth belong A town of great trade for fishing plenty of Salmons and Sturgeons being taken here but of Shads especially whereof 18000 are sometimes caught in a day salted and sent abroad into forain parts It acknowledgeth the Prince of Orange for the Lord thereof as doth also 9. Grave a good town upon the Maes bought by these Princes of the King of Spain with consent of the States without whose approbation no part of the Domain is to be dismembred 10. Maestreicht in Latine Trajectum ad Mosam so called of a ferry over the Maes in former times supplyed now with a goodly Stone bridge in the place thereof A fair and goodly town beautified with two Collegiate Churches in one of which the Dukes of Brabant were alwayes Canons subject in part to the Bishop of Leige and partly to the Duke of Brabant The children are subject to that Prince to whom the Mother was subject at the tim◠〈◊〉 the Birth without relation to the Father according to that Maxime of the Civill Law 〈◊〉 sequitur ventrem And if a stranger come to live there he must declare to which of the two he will be subject yet is the Duke of Brabant the chief Soveraign of it he only having the power of Coynage and of granting pardon to Offenders and as a town of this Dukedome besieged and taken by the confederate States Anno 1632. Here is also within the limits of this Dukedome the town and Signeurie of Ravesiem situate on the banks of the Maes held by the Dukes of Cleve of the Duke of Brabant but no otherwise subject and on the same River the Town and County of Horn a Fief Imperiall beautified with a strong Castle and a goodly Territory in which is Wiert the residence of the Earls of Horne descended of the ancient house of Montmorencie in France 2. THE MARQVISATE OF THE EMPIRE so called because the farthest bounds and Marches of the German Empire frontizing on Flanders which appertained unto the Soveraignty of the Crown of France comprehendeth four of the best Towns in Brabant with very large and spacious Territories adjoyning to them viz. 1. Lovain on the River Dyle about four English miles in compasse but in that compasse much of the ground is taken up with Vineyards Gardens Meadowes and pleasant Fields which make the situation far more delightfull then if all built and peopled It was the Mother town of Brabant and sometimes gave the title of an Earl to the Dukes hereof afterwards made an University by Duke John the 4. anno 1426 wherein are contained about 20 Colledges such as they be much priviledged and inriched with pensions for publick Readers by King Philip the 2. 2. Brussels Bruxella the seat of the ancient Dukes of Brabant and of the Dukes of Burgundie also after they came to be Lords of these Countries seated upon the Sinne and other sweet springs and Riverets which make it one of the sweetest situations in all Europe having withall a goodly channell made by Art from Brussels to the River Dele and from thence to the Scheld the charge whereof amounted to â—00000 Crowns It is of the same compasse with Lovain the buildings sumptuous and the town very rich not only in regard that it is the ordinary seat of the Prince or his Regent and of the Chancery for all Brabant and the Dutchy of Limbourg but in regard of the rich Manufactures of Armour and Cloth of Arras of Silk Gold and Silver which are there industriously pursued 3. Nivello on the borders of Hainalt in a very rich and fruitfull soil remarkable for the abundance of fine Linnen which is therein made but most of all for a very rich Nunnery or rather Nurserie of noble Ladies of the same nature with those of Mentz and others before described 4. Antwerp situate in a goodly plain on the River Scheld above 17 leagues from the Sea but furnished with eight Channels cut out of the River for the transport of Commodities one of the which is capable of 100 great Ships the private buildings very handsome but the publick sumptuous the chief whereof were weckoned the Church of Nostre Dame the Bourse the Town-house and the house of the Easterlings or Eastern Merchants well peopled and of so great Trade in the former times that it was held to be the richest Empory of the Christian world the commodities here bought and sold amounting to more in time moneth then that of Venice in two years The causes of which sudden growth and increase of Trading are said to be these 1. The two Marts holden here every year either of them during six weeks in which time no mans person could be arrested or his goods distrained 2. The King of Portugall having in the yeer 1503. diverted the course of Merchandise from Alexandria and Venice to the City of Lisbon kept here his Factories and sent hither his Spices and other Indian Commodities for which cause the Merchants in the yeer 1516. forsook Bruges in Flanders and setled here And 3. many of the Nobility and Gentry during the long and bloudy wars betwixt France and Spain forsook their Country houses and repaired hither by means whereof Antwerp in a very little time grew bigger by 3000 houses then it had been formerly But as the growth hereof was sudden so the fall was sensibler occasioned through the yoking of it with a Citadell by the Duke of Alva which made Merchants afraid to resort any longer thither as a place of little freedome and lesse security but chiefly by blocking up the Haven and intercepting the trade at Sea by the more powerfull Hollanders which hath removed this great traffick to Amsterdam and other towns of their Country So that now the chief support of it is the reputation which it hath of being an Imperiall City the place of receipt for the Kings Revenues and a Bishops See founded here in the yeer 1559. which draweth hither some resort of Lawyers and Church-men 3.
bounded on the East with Cleveland and the Earldome of Zutphen on the West with Holland and Vtrecht on the North with Over-yssell and the Zuider-Zee and on the South with Brabant and the land of Gulick The countrie flat having few hils in it but many pleasant and commodious woods especially that called Echterwalt of corne and cattell very fruitfull The whole Countrey is generally divided into two parts 1. The Veluwe contained within the Zuider-Zee the Rhene and the Yssell the barrener of the two and the worse inhabited the people hereof preferring wealth before health as in other places but affording a more pure aire and a pleasanter dwelling then the other the woods and forrests well replenished with most kinds of game 2. The Betuwe so called of the Batavi who possessed these parts intercepted betwixt the middle Rhene and the Wael exceedingly fruitfull in corn and of so excellent a pasturage for the feeding of Cattell that in the year 1570. there was a Guelderland Bull sold in Antwerp which weighed 3200. pounds In both divisions not reckoning in the county of Zutphen are contained 300. villages and 16. walled Towns besides some fortified of late since the wars began The chief whereof are 1. Nimmegent in Latine Noviomagus an Imperial City ordained by Charles the great to be one of the three Seiges of the Empire for these outer parts the other two being Theonville in Luxembourg Aix or Aken in the land of Gulick And as a Town Imperiall it had anciently the priviledge of coyning money for which and other freedomes of immunities indulged unto it the people did no other service to the Emperours then once a year to send a man to Aix or Aquisgrane with a Glove full of Pepper But the town being sold to the Gueldrois by William Earl of Holland and King of the Romans for 21000. marks of silver anno 1248. the power of coynage fell to those Princes and yet the Town was brought to do better service then formerly it had done at Aken The Town high mounted on the top of an hill the Wael which is there large and deep running at the foot of it rich great and populous having besides the modern fortifications an ancient Castle with so goodly a prospect that from thence one may behold the best part of the countrey built as some say by Julius Caesar to command those parts Under the jurisdiction of it are 2. Tiel and 3. Bomel two walled Towns both situated on the Wael both strong and having many rich villages under their command and 4. Gheut on the Wael also an unwalled Town but having all the priviledges which the walled Towns have Not for off at 〈…〉 meeting of the Wael and the Maes stands the strong Fort of S. Andrews raised by the Archduke 〈◊〉 to command the passage of those Rivers but in the year 1600. taken in by 〈◊〉 Count of 〈◊〉 after Prince of Orange and ever since garrisoned by the States to secure that passage 5. Riuermond seated on the mouth of the Ruer where it falleth into the Maes a beautifull and well peopled City strong by Art and Nature and seated in a fruitfull countrey heretofore of the Diocese of Leige as Nimmegen anciently of Colen but made a See Episcopall by King Philip the 〈…〉 1559. This is the second Capitall City of Guelderland and hath under the jurisdiction of it 6. Venlo a strong Town on the Maes on which the Duke of Cleve yeelded himself to Charles the fift anno 1543. 7. Gueldres heretofore of such reputation that it gave name to all the countrey and well it doth deserve to do so still being the only Town in all this Dukedome which neither first nor last hath been won by the Hollanders but still preserved themselves in their obedience to their natural Princes 8. Stâ—ael or Straelen a well fortified piece but which according to the chances of War hath oft changed its masters 9. Arnhem the Arenacum of Taeitus and in those times the mansion of the 10 Legion situate on the Rhene not above a mile from the great Channell which Drusut to keepâ— his souldiers from idlenesse caused them to dig to let the waters of the Rhene into those of the Yssell called therefore by the Ancients Fossa Drusiana by the moderns Yssell-Dort The Town large and well-built the ordinary residence heretofore of the Dukes of Guelderland who had here their Chancery and other supreme Couurts of justice This is the third Capitall City of Gueldres anciently of the Diocese of Vtrecht and hath under the jurisdiction of it besides divers Villages 10. Wagbeninghen on the Rhene the same which Tacitus cals Vada 11. Harderwick on the Zuider-See burnt to the ground anno 1503. but since reedified and now more strong and beautfull then ever formerly 12. Hattem upon the Yssell a good town of war but not else observable Within the limits of this Dukedome stands the Town and County of Culemberg erected into a County by King Philip the second by reason of the fair territory which belonged unto it formerly held in Fee of the Dukes of Guelderland but otherwise not reckoned as a Member of â—it 2. The Town and Earldome of Buren situate on the River Liughe having a strong Castle anciently and a goodly territory holden immediately of the Empire as a Fief Imperiall The patrimony of the valiant Maximilian of Egmond Earl of Buren who died anno 1549. after whose death it fell to Philip of Nâ—ssaw eldest sonne of William Prince of Orange and Anne the daughter of the said Maximilian ZVTPHEN accompted formerly for the 4. Capitall City of Guelderland now a distinct Province of it self is bounded on the East with Westphalen on the West with that part of Guelderland which is called the Velluwe on the North with Over-yssell on the South with Cleveland It containeth 8. walled Towns besides many Villages that is to say 1. Doetecum standing on the old Yssell rising out of Westphalen 2. Doesburg where the old Yssell falleth into the new Yssell or the trench called Fossa Drusiana communicating thereunto its name 3. Brookhurst a County of it self which anciently had its particular Governour 4. Lochen upon the River Berkell 5. Tsheerenbergue a Town and County 6. Groll taken by the Prince of Orange for the States Confederate anno 1627. 7. Bredervord a town of war and subject to the change of Masters as such places are 8. Zutphen or Zuidfen so called of the Southern situation of it amongst the Fennes on the right shore of the Yssell whereit receiveth in it the River Berkel which runs through the Town A Town indifferently well built as well for private as publick edifices a distinct state in Civill matters but in spirituall subject in former times to the Bishop-of Munster a thing observable and not to be paralleld elsewhere that the four chief Towns and quarters of one Province only should appertain as here in Guelderland to four severall Dioceses Of which there may some
by Land may best be seen in the expedition of Charles then Earl of Charolois against Lewis the eleventh whom Duke Philip the Good his father furnished to that enterprise with 9000 Archers and 1400 men of Armes every one of which had five or six great horses attending on him and at his setting forward was told by his Father never accompted for a Braggart that if he fell into any danger he should not be abandoned for the want of 100000 fighting men The said Duke having thus sent away his son and being provoked by the indignities of those of Leige and Dinand who revolted from him suddenly raised an Army to 28000 horse and aproportionable number of foot for the chastisement of that proud and rebellious people And Charles himself succeeding on the death of his Father in his unprosperous attempt upon the Switzers had no lesse then 8000 men at the siege of Morat As for their power at Sea I find not that they kept any standing Navy nor needed they so to doe as the case stood with them considering that when they had occasion of any such service they used to take up all the Ships which they found in their harbours of which there never wanted good store employing as many as they pleased and dismissing the rest The principall order of Knighthood ordained by these Princes was that of the Golden Fleece first instituted by Duke Philip the Good in imitation of the Order of S. George in England anno 1430. The name and fancy borrowed as some conceive from Gedeons Fleece from Jasons Fleece as others think but more probably from the Golden Fleeces of England which brought him in so much gold and treasure in the way of custome Their Habit is a Collar of Gold interlaced with irons seeming to strike fire out of a Flint ex ferro flammam being the word at the end whereof hung the Toâ—sond ' Or or Fleece of Gold Their number at the first was but 25. which is the number of Knights of the English Garter increased afterwards by the same Duke Philip unto thirty one Charles the first raised them to fifty one And now the King of Spain hath assumed a liberty of making as many as he pleaseth this being the onely Military or Civill Order of which those Kings have the bestowing the orders of Alcantata Calatrava and the rest of Spanish institution being rather Religious and Monasticall at the best but mixt Saint Andrewes day the day of the Installation In this great Pomp and Glory did these Princes live as long as they continued in good termes with the subject Provinces being masters of more goodly Jewels magnificent furniture for their houses costly moveables then any 3 of the greatest Princes in all Europe And on the other side the subjects whilst they lived in duty under so great Princes attained unto the height of all worldly happinesse in their Apparell excessively gorgeous in their Feasts and Banquets over-sumptuous in their Manners dissolute vices which usually accompany that kind of felicity An happinesse too great to continue long By the ambition and violence of Charles the Warlike they were first plunged into a war against Lewis the eleventh of which they did not only feel the present miseries but lost all the Towns and Holds which they had in Picardy with the whole Dutchy of Burgundy And by a like but better grounded Ambition of Charles the fift they were exercised in continuall wars against the French who miserably harrowed and ransacked the Countries of Luxemburg Hainâ—lt and Artois bordering next unto them Charles at his death commended them to the especiall care of Philip his son advising him to use them kindly as those that were the chief supporters of his State and Glory adding that if he should deal otherwise with them it would prove the ruine of his Fortunes And on the other side the People to obtain his favour presented him at his first entrance on the Government with a grant of 40 millions of Florens as before was said But he transported with ambition and a Catholick zeal not onely forgot their love but his fathers counsell and had no sooner concluded on a peace with France effected by the treaty of Cambray anno 1559. but presently he cast his thoughts on the subjection of this people to his will and pleasure For they were so fortified with Priviledges which their former Princes had granted and the latter had been sworn to observe that he wanted much of that absolute and uncontrollable command which he strongly aimed at Some of which Priviledges were that the Prince could place no stranger amongst them with jurisdiction over their Estates and persons in Offices of war or justice 2. The Prince could give nothing to the Clergy nor 3 leavy any subsidies without the States of the Country But the main Prerogative was that if the Prince by violence or wrong did infringe any of the said Charters and Franchises the people after the declaration thereof made might goe to election of a new Prince This not a little grieved the Spaniards that such base and unworthy people for so they esteemed them should in such liberty possesse so brave and rich a Country their King bearing no title of Majesty or absolute command over them Besides the Reformation of Religion which then began to grow to some strength moved the King to reduce them back to the Church of Rome by the power and terrour of the Inquisition and by the erecting of some new Episcopall Sees amongst them for before there were but three in all to settle some more constant course of Ecclesiastical Discipline Against both which when the people violently opposed he then resolved of bringing them by Spanish Rhetorick that is by the Sword and the Cannon to their old obedience To these ends he sent the Duke of Alva an old and expert Captain as having 60 years been a Souldier with a puissant Army to be his Vice-Roy among them He also gave him a Commission of that large extent that he might place and displace whom he would and execute all such as he could finde opposite to his designes At that time the two chief men among them were the Prince of Orenge and Count Egmont the first more potent with the people the latter with the Souldiers Had these two joyned together they might easily have prevented D. Alva's entrance but Egmont was so soothed up with Letters from Spain that he believed not the Intelligence which the Prince had concerning the Dukes Commission The Earl exhorted the Prince to submit himself to the pleasure of the King and so to prevent the ruine of his house The Prince desired the Earl to maintain the Liberty of the Country as for himself He had rather be a Prince without an House then a Count without an Head Being thus resolved the Prince retires to his friends of Nassaw in high Germany the Earl stayeth to congratulate the entrance of the new Governour who had no sooner setled
or more for each severall Province according to the condition and capacitie of those which are chosen to reside at the Hague there to consult of the affairs which concern the publick but so that be they more or lesse out of every Province they make amongst them but one suffrage when any thing is to be put unto the Vote And these they call the States Generall first because a collected body out of all the Provinces and secondly because they are not properly to deal in any matters of particular concernment which are determinable absolutely by the States Provinciall but only in such things as concern the generall good of the whole Estate as treating with Ambassadours making war and peace c. For their assistance in the which there is a Councel of State made up of the Governours and some eminent men of every Province in which the Ambassadour of England as long as we held Flushing and the other Cautionarie Towns had his voice or suffrage by whose advice they dispose of all things which concern the publick But so that if any difficultie do appear in the businesse they conclude nothing till they have the approbation and consent of the particular Cities and Provinces for which they are chosen to whom they are accomptable for their administration and by whom revocable whensoever they please The Revenue of this Estate doubtlesse is exceeding great the Armie which they keep in continuall entertainment consisting of no lesse then 30000 men which they can draw into the field leaving the Forts and Towns very well provided yet so well paid that we never read of any mutinie amongst them for want thereof The whole charge with the entertainment of Captains and superiour Officers is said to amount to 500000 l. per annum raised on the people by Excise laid upon all commodities and many taxes of like nature so insupportable in themselves and amongst men which would be thought to live in a free State that should the Spaniard or any Prince in Christendome lay but half so much upon their Subjects it would occasion a Revolt So that whereas one of the first causes of their falling off from the King of Spain was to free themselves from taxes and impositions illegally as they said inforced upon them they have drawn upon themselves more arbitrarie and illegall payments then any Nation in the World So little have they got by the change of government Touching their power at Sea we have spoke alreadie All I shall now adde to it is by way of instance which is that in the year 1587. the King of Denmark on pretence of some displeasure arrested 608 ships of theirs of all sorts at one time in the Sound and that the next year after they set out upon very short warning an hundred good men of war to join with England against the invincible Armada which then threatned both To conclude there is nothing wanting to these Countries wherewith the God of all blessings doth enrich a Nation but a gracious Prince unitie of Religion and a quiet Government which if it pleased the Almighty to confer upon them they would surpasse all neighbouring States in treasure potencie content and all worldly happinesse There are in these Countries Archbishops 3. Bishops 15. Universities 7. Viz. Lovain Doway Leige Leyden Harderwick Franeker Groyning And thus much of Belgium OF GERMANIE GERMANIE is bounded on the East with Prussia Poland and Hungarie on the West with France Switzerland and Belgium on the North with the Baltick Seas and some part of Denmark on the South with the Alps which part it from Italy By which accompt the modern Germanie much differeth from that described by Tacitus and others of the Roman writers that comprehending the three Kingdoms of Denmark Norway and Sweden with so much of the Kingdom of Poland as lieth on this side of the River Vistula but bounded on the East with the Rhene and on the South with the Danow the modern Germanie containing on the further banks of those Rivers 5 whole Roman Provinces that is to say Noricum Ripense and Mediterraneum Rhoetia secunda Belgica and Germania prima with some parts of Rhoetia prima and Germania secunda but terminated with the Danes and the Baltick Sea It was first called thus by the Romans as some conceive who seeing the people both in customs speech and course of life so like those of Gallia called them the Germanes to the Gaules the word Germanus in the Latine signifying a Brother of the whole bloud as our Lawyers phrase it that is to say a brother both by father and mother those which have the same mother but divers fathers being called Fratres uterini And of this minde is Strabo who speaking of the great resemblance which was betwixt these Nations in manners speech customs and way of life concludes it thus that the Romans did with very good reason call them Germans cum fratres eos Gallorum hoc nomine vellent ostendere intending to signifie by that name that they were the brethren of the Gaules But this is to be understood of those people only which dwelt next to Gaule and not of all the Nations which inhabited in this vaste Continent according to the ancient extent thereof it being very well observed by Tacitus that Germanie was at first Nationis non Gentis nomen the name of some of the Nations only not of all the Country the name in processe of time spreading over all that large tract of ground and those scattered Nations which were either conquered by them or incorporate with them Others will have the name to be meerly Dutch deriving it from Ger which signifieth all and the word man signifying in that language as in ours whence also they derive the name of Almans by which they would imply that the Almans or Germans are a very warlike Nation a people that have in them nihil nisi virile nothing not worthie of a man Bocartus somewhat near to this telling us that Ger in the antient Gallick did signifie as much as Guerre in the modern French would have them at their first coming over the Rhene to be called Germans by the Gaules that is to say men of war or Gens d' Armes in the present French by reason of the great and many victories obtained by them The like diversity I find for the name of Almans For though some gave them the name of Almans from the same originall from whence they fetch the name of Germans as was said before yet others as probably conjecture that they had that name because they consisted of so many severall Nations coming out of the North and North-east hither that they seemed to be an Hotch-poth of all sorts of men kneaded into one name and Nation which is the conceit of Asinius Quadratus But for my part I doe conceive supposing the name of Almans to be Dutch originally that the whole Country was not called Almain till such time as the Princes of the
though the women by their lawes have a property in the goods which they bring with them at their marriage or are given them after so as the husband hath but the use of them onely and may dispose of them by their last will at the time of their death yet is their condition thereby little better the husband being no lesse churlish and imperious then hee would be otherwise Which made Caracalla to say often that only that Nation knew how to rule their Wives which added the feminine article to the Sun and the masculine to the Moon as the Germans doe Most of them as well VVives as Virgins except persons of honour use to goe bare sooted within doors and seldome put on shoes or stockins but when they are to goe abroad upon their occasions A thing that seems the more strange in regard of the extreme coldnesse of the Countrey which is so fierce that generally they lodge between two Feather beds both in summer and winter and in most houses have their stoves of which the doores and windowes are kept very close as well to retain the heat as to keep out the cold Which though they may be usefull and inoffensive in Gentlemens houses yet in the common Innes where all sorts of people are necessitated to throng together the ill smels never purged by admitting any fresh air are ready to stifle and choak up the spirits of raw Travellers not accustomed to them The diet of Germany France and Italy is by a Traveller thus censured the Germans have much meat but fluttishly dressed the French little but neatly cooked the Italians neither the one nor the other And to say truth the Germans have meat enough the people being generally of good stomachs and either by nature or ill custome excessive both in eating and drinking seldome rising from the table till they have consumed all which was set before them Insomuch as in some places it is provided by Law that in their feasts they shall not sit above five houres at the table During which time if by intemperance either in eating or drinking a man disgorge his foul stomach in his fellows lap or pisse under the table it is no disgrace to him nor at any time taken notice of to his reproach Which humour of gormandizing and excessive drinking is not onely cherished among the Vulgar but even amongst their greatest Princes who besides what they doe in this kinde themselves have their drinking champions as well to answer all challenges as to challenge all comers contending with each other as a point of State whose cellar shall afford the greatest and most capable Vessels The title of the Fathers descend to all the children every son of a Duke being a Duke and every daughter a Dutchesse a thing which the Italians hold so ridiculous that they put it in the forefront of this facetious Satyre The Dukes and Earles of Germany the Dons of Spain the Monsieurs of France the Bishops of Italy the Nobility of Hungary the Lairds of Scotland the Knights of Naples and the younger brethren of England make a poore company For by this common assuming of the Fathers honour and parting his lands among all the brethren the Nobility is beyond reason multiplyed and no losse impoverished there being not long since 17 Princes of Anhalt and 27 Counts of Mansfields to most of which their Armes have been the best part of their riches nihil nisi arma manus in his â—mnia as Tacitus once said of the ancient Britains And yet there is not one of this poore Nobility that will vouchsafe to marry with the daughter of the wealthiest Merchant or suffer any of their sisters to be married to any under the degree of a Nobleman nor any juster cause of disheriting their children then ignoble marriages never permitting the issue of such a Bed to succeed in any of their â—ees Estates or titles by means whereof though they debar themselves of such accessions of wealth as matches of that kinde might bring them yet to the great honour of their generosity in this particular they preserve the pure â—â—ream of their bloud from running into muddie channels and keep the spirits of brave men though they want the fortunes The Languages here spoken are the French in Lorrain and some towns of the Bishop of Triers the Italian in the highest parts of Turol which lie next to the Commonwealth of Veâ—ice the Sclavonian spoken in Bohemia Moravia and some parts of Lusatia and the high Dutch the generall Language of the Country A language very antient doubtless though I am not so much a Goropian as to think it spâ—ke in Paraâ—ise or before the Floud and such as by reason of the little or no impression which the Roman Armies made upon this contrary hath lesse commixture with the Latine then any which is used in these Western parts the VVelch excepted and is very harsh by reason of its many Consonants This Country was esteemed by Tacitus to be rude and barren containing nothing but unpeopled Forrests unprofitable Heaths and unhealthy Pools Germaniam informem terris asperam coelo tristem cultu a pectuque as he further addeth And such no doubt it was in those times wherein Tacitus lived the people not being civilized nor the Countrey cultivated nor any means found out to rectifie the sharpnesse of that Northern air But he who doth observe it now cannot but confesse that there is no Countrey in the World either better planted or replenished with more goodly and gallant Clâ—ies being also in most parts both pleasant healthy and profitable abounding with mines of silver and interiour metals plentifull in corn and wines with which they supply the defect of other Nations as also with Flesh Fish Linnen Quicksilver Allom Saffron Armour and other iron-workes The AraSble lands so spacious in the Eastern parts that the husband man going forward with his Plough in the morning turned not back again till noon so making but two furrows for his whole days work For this Verstegan is my Authour and if it be not credible let him bear the blame Souldiers of most eminencie in the Elder times were 1. Arminius the Prince of the Cherusci who overthrew Quintilius Varus and the Roman Legions 2. VVitikind the last King of the Saxons for the middle ages 3. Otho the first 4. Frederick Barbarossa 5. Rodulph of Habsburg Emperours and Kings of Germany 6. Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxony 5. And in the last Centurie of years 6. Frederick the second Electoâ—r Palatine who made good Vienna against the Turks 7. Albert of Brandenburg of whom more hereafter 8. Earnest Earl of Mansfeild 9. John George of Jagerndorf 10. Albert VVallenstein Duke of Fridland and divers other of late dayes Scholars of note the elder times afforded none nor the middle many learning being here so rare in the middle of the eighth Centurie that Vigilius Bishop of Saltzburg was condemned of heresie for holding that there were some
all Germany within the Rhene together with the Belgick Provinces before described the Counties of Flanders and Artois excepted only the Kingdome of Germany taking up the rest For by Ludovicus Pius the son of Charles the great Empire of his Father was parcelled out into many members as Italie France Burgundie Lorrain and Germany distributed amongst his sons and nephews with the title of Kings By means whereof the Kingdomes of Germany and Lorrain united in the person of Lewis the Ancient in little time were alien'd from the house of Charles and left off to be French possessed by the great Princes of Lorrain Saxonie Schwaben and Bavaria by whom dismembred into many principalities and inferiour states all passing under the accompt and name of the Dutch or Germans The Kings and Emperours of which here follow The KINGS and EMPEROURS of GERMANIE Anno Chr. 801 1 Charles the Great Emp. K. of France and Germanie 815 2 Ludovicus Pius King of France Germanie and Emperour of the Romans 841 3 Lewis surnamed the Ancient second son of Ludovious Pius King of Germanie to which anno 876. he united that of Lorrain also 4 Charles the Grosse son of Lewis the Ancient reigned joyntly with Caroloman and Lewis his elder Brethren after their deaths sole King of Germany Anno 880. he succeeded Ludovicus vitus Baâ—bus in the title of Emperour continued unto his Successours and during the minoritie of Charls the Simple by a faction of the French Nobility was chosen King of France the whole estate of Charls the Great becoming once again united in the person of one Soveraign Prince 891 5 Arnulph the naturall son of Caroloman the brother of Charls King of Germanie and Emp. 903 6 Lewis or Ludovicus IV. Lewis the brother of Charls and Caroloman being reckoned for one King of Germanie and Emperour 913 7 Conrade the son of Conrade the brother of Lewis the 4. the last Prince of the issue of Charls the Great After whose death the Francones and Saxons seeing Charls the Simple King of France overlaid by the Normans took that advantage to transferre the Empire to themselves and they made choice of Henry Duke of Saxony to be their Emperour A worthy Prince by whom some Nations of the Sclaves the Hungarians and part of Lorrain were subdued or added to the Empire 920 6 Henricus surnamed Auceps or the Fowler Duke of Saxonie 12. 938 9 Otho surnamed the Great the son of Henry Emperour and King of Italie 36. 974 10 Otho II. son of Otho the first Emperour and King of Italie 10. 984 11 Otho III. son of Otho the 2. Duke of Saxonie and the last of that house which had the title of Emperour and King of Italie After whose death all right of succession being disclaimed the Emperours became Elective but for the most part wholly ingrossed or Monopolized since the Failer of the house of Saxonie by the Dukes of Franconia Suevia Bavaria and Austria notwithstanding the libertie or freedom of Election pretended to by the Electors The businesse first projected in the Court of Rome to make the Emperours lesse powerfull and distract the Germans whom they feared into sides and factions confirmed by a decree of Pope Gregory the fifth being a Native of that Country The Electors only six in number that is to say 1. The Archbishop of Mentz Chancellour of the Empire 2. The Archbishop of Colen Chancellour of Italie 3. The Archbishop of Triers Chancellour of France 4. The Count Palatine of the Rhene Arch-Sewer 5. The Duke of Saxonie Lord Marshall And 6. The Marquesse of Brandâ—nburg Lord Chamberlain Upon equalitie of voices the Duke but now King of Bohemia was to come in for the 7. who by Office was to be Cup-bearer at the Coronation For upon Coronation dayes or dayes of like solemnitie these Offices are performed only and then performed in this manner Before the Palace gate standeth an heap of Oats so high that it reacheth to the brest of the horse on which the Duke of Saxonie rideth bearing in his hand a silver wand and a silver measure both which together weigh 200 marks then sitting still upon his horse he filleth up the measure with oates sticketh his wand in the Remainder delivereth the measure of Oats to some of his servants which stand next him and so attendeth the Emperour into the Court. The Emperour being entred and sate down at the Table the three spirituall Electors standing orderly together say Grace before him Then cometh the Marquesse of Brandenburg on horse-back also with a silver basin in his hand full of water the basin of the weight of 12 marks of silver and a fine clean towell on his arm which alighting down he holdeth forth unto the Emperour Then comes the Count Palatine of the Rhene mounted on his horse with four silver Platters full of meat every one of the weight of three marks which alighting also he carrieth and setteth down upon the table And finally the Duke or King of Bohemia on horse-back as the others were with a Napkin on his Arm and a covered cup of the weight of 12 marks entreth the Great-hall alighteth from his horse and giveth the cup unto the Emperour to drink But we must know that these services are seldome or never especially of late times performed by the Electours in person It is enough if they send their Embassadours to do it or substitute some one or other of the Emperours Court to perform it for them The election is usually holden at Francfort on Maenus whither the Electours or their deputies come upon the day appointed by the Bishop of Ments whose office it is to assemble the Princes In their passage into Francfort they are guarded by every Prince through whose territories they passe Their attendants must not exceed the number of 200 horse-men whereof 50 only must be armed When they are all met they goe to 8. Bartholomews Church where after Masse said the spiritual Electors laying their hands on their breast and the temporall on the book shal swear to choose a fit temporall head for the people of Christendom If in the space of 30 days they have not agreed then must they eat nothing but bread and water nor by any means go out of the citie til the greater part have agreed on a man who shall forthwith be acknowledged King of the Romans The Election being finished the partie chosen the inauguration was anciently holden 1. at Aken in Gulick where the new elected Emperor received the silver crown for Germany 2. at Millain where he received his iron crown for Lombardie 3. at Rome where he received the golden crown for the Empire But those journeys unto Rome and Millain have been long laid by the Emperours holding their Election to be strong enough to make good their Title to that honour being meerly titular The form of which Election the priviledges of the Princes Electours and other fundamentall constitutions of the German Empire we find summed up in the
the Dukedomâ— of Gueldres but being too weak for so great an Adversary made his submission to him at Venlo and so saved his estates 1584 35 John William son of the former William during the life of Charles Frederick his elder brother was Bishop of Munster on whose death anno 1575. he resigned that dignity and in the end succeeded his Father in his whole estates which he managed with great piety and prudence till the year 1610. and then died issuelesse The last of that ancient and noble family of the Dukes of Cleve After whose death much quarrell and contention grew about the succession betwixt the severall competitors and pretenders to it of which the principall were 1. Leopold Archduke of Austria pretending an investiture from the Emperour Rodolphus to whom for want of heirs males the estate was said to be escheated 2. John George Duke of Saxonie descended from Sibyll daughter of Duke John the third at whose marriage with John Frederick the Electour of Saxonie an 1535 it was said to have been solemnly agreed upon that on the failing of the heirs males of Cleve the issue of that marriage should succeed therein 3. John Sigismund the Electour of Brandenburg in behalf of his son George William Duke of Prussia by the Lady Anne his wife eldest daughter of Albert of Brandenburg Duke of Prussia and of Maria Leonora the eldest sister and next heir of the Duke deceased 4. Wolfgangus Gulielmus Palatine of Newburg son of Magdalen the younger sister of that Mary who claimed the estate as nearest kinsman one degree to the said last Duke And though the right seemed most apparently on the side of Brandenbourg the Estate in tayle pretended by the Duke of Saxonie being formerly cut off by Imperiall authority and that pretended to by the Duke of Newburg not of force in Germanie yet being that Leopold was in Armes and had already forced a possession of most part of the Countrey the two Princes of Brandenbourg and Newburg soon agreed the controversie and by the help of the Protestant Princes their Confederates recovered the greatest part of it from the hands of Leopold But the Palatine of Newburg not content with his partage first married with a daughter of the Duke of Bavaria then reconciled himself to the Church of Rome called in the Spanish Armes under the command of Marquisse Spinola to abet his quarrell which made George William son of the Elector of Brandenbourg and the Lady Anne to call in the Forces of the States under the command of Maurice Earl of Nassaw after Prince of Orange The issue of which war was this that Spinola possessed himself of Wesel Aken Mullheim Pusseldorp and most other places of importance in Berg and Gulick and the States got into their power the Towns of Gulick with Rees and Emmerick in the Dukedome of Cleve and almost the whole County of Mark. And though they both pretend to keep them for the use of those Princes in whose cause they stand yet when such strong parties keep the Stakes it is most easie to determine who will win the game such alterations as have hapned in the chance of war by the reciprocall winning and losing of some Towns on both sides not much conducing to the benefit of the rightfull Princes EARLES of ALTENA and MARCH A. Ch. 834 1 Robert son of Baldwin to whom the County of Teisterbant was given by Eberard 2 Theodorick son of Robert the first Lord of Altena 3 Adolphus I. Earl of Altena 4 Adolphus II. Earl of Altena and Berg. 5 Conrade Earl of Altena and Berg. 4 Adolph III. Earl of Altena and Berg. 5 Eberhard Earl of Altena his younger brother Engelbert succeeding in Berg. 6 Frederick Earl of Altena 7 Adolphus IV. created the first Earl of March 1249 7 Engelbert Earl of March and Altena 8 Adolphus V. son of Engelbert 9 Engelbert II. from whom by a second wife the daughter and heir of Aremberg descended that branch of the house of March which till of late were Soveraigns of Sedan and Dukes of Bovillon 10 Adolph VI. husband of Mary or Margaret daughter and heir of Theodorick the 9. Earl of Cleve 2. The Estates of the three ELECTOR-BISHOPS Adjoyning to the Estates of Cleve are those of the Spirituall Electors of the Empire of Germanie Colen Ments and Triers not so contiguous and conterminous as those of Cleveland and therefore to be laid out severally by their metes and boundaries And first for 1. COLEN-LAND or the Estate of the Archbishop and Elector of Colen is bounded on the East with the Dukedome of Berg from which divided by the Rhene on the West with Gulick on the North with Cleve it self and the County of Muers and on the South extending to the land of Triers The ancient Inhabitants hereof were the Vbii in former times possessed of the Countreys of Berg and March but being warred on by the Germans bordering next upon them they were by the Clemency of Agrippa then Lievtenant of Gaul received into protection and by him placed along the French side of the Rhene as well for defence of the borders of the Roman Empire as for their own security against that Enemy Won from the Romans by the French in the reign and under the conduct of Childerick anno 412. or thereabouts and from the French by the Emperour Otho the first anno 949. Since that time the City of Colen hath remained Imperiall and of late times incorporated amongst the Hanse-towns but the territory near unto it and a great part of Westphalen subject immediately to the Bishop much of the lands which formerly belonged to the Kingdome of Lorrain being conferred upon this See by the Emperour Otho the second at such time as the Dukedome of Lorrain was erected by him The Bishops See first founded here by S. Maternus one of the Disciples of S. Peter as hath been constantly affirmed by old tradition but howsoever an Episcopall See without all question in the time of Constantine Maternus Bishop hereof subscribing amongst others to the Councell of Arles anno 326. And being Colen was in those times the Metropolis of the Province of Germania Secunda the Bishop had the power of a Metropolitan according to the rule and observation so often mentioned Afterwards when the Empire was made Elective these Bishops with their brethren of Mentz and Triers were made three of the seven which were to nominate and elect the succeeding Emperour after which time it is no wonder that they grew both in power and Patrimony Places of most importance within this Electorate are 1. Bonn situate on the banks of the Rhene in the most pleasant and fruitfull place of all the Countrey the ordinary refidence of the Archbishop whose house or Palace here is said to be one of the fairest in all Germanie By Tacitus called Benna and sometimes Castra Bonnensia the wintering Camp in his times of the sixt Legion 2. Nuys by the same writer called Novesium Nivesia by Antoninus
with the famous Rivers of the Rhene and the Neccar Chief Towns hereof 1. Mâ—spach a pretty neat town on the banks of the Neccar and a Prefecture not far from the borders of Wirtenberg 2. Ladenberg neer the influx of the same River into the Rhene the moiety whereof was bought by Rupertus Emperour and Palatine of the Earls of Hohenloe anno 1371. the other moiety belonging to the Bishop of Wormes 3. Winhâ—ime a small town not far from Ladeberg belonging once to the Arch-bishop of Mentz but on some controversie arising about the title adjudged unto the said Rupertus and his heires for ever 4. Scriessen in the same tract well seated but not very large sold with the Castle of Straluberg to the said Rupertus by Sifride or Sigifride of Straluberg the right heir thereof anno 1347. 5. Heidelberg on the right shore of the Neccar going down the water compassed on three sides with Mountains and lying open onely towards the West which makes the air hereof to be very unhealthy The chief beauty of it lyeth in one long street extended in length from East to West on the South-east side whereof is a fair and pleasant Market-place and not far off a very high mountain called Koningstall that is to say the Kingly Seat upon the middle ascent whereof is the Castle where the Princes Electours use to keep their Courts and on the very summit or top thereof the ruines of an old Tower blown up with gun-powder A town of no great bignesse nor very populous there being but one Church in it which was used in the time of my Author for Prayer and Preaching the rest being either ruined or imployed unto other uses if not repaired again since the Spaniards became masters of it for more frequent Masses Howsoever it hath the reputation of being the chief City of this Palatinate not long since furnished with a great and gallant Library which for choice and number of Books especially Manuscripts was thought not to be fellowed in all Europe till matched if not over-matched by the famous Bodleian Library of Oxford most of them to the great prejudice of the Protestant cause being carryed to Rome and other places of that party when the town was taken by the Spaniards anno 1620. Finally for the town it self it was once part of the possessions of the Bishop of Wormes from whom it was taken by the Palatines it is now famous for being the seat of the Palsgraves the sepulchre of Rodolphus Agricola and for an University founded by the Emperour and Palatine Rupertus anno 1346. 6. Baccharach on the banks of Rhene so called quasi Bacchi ara for the excellent wines 7. Coub on the other side of the water near unto which is the old and fair Castle called Psalts from whence the name Psalts-grave or Palsgrave seemeth to some to have been derived 8. Openheim a strong town which together with Keisers Lauterne and Ingelheim were given to the Palatines by Wenceslaus and after setled on them by Rupertus the Emperour and Palatine for 100000 Florens anno 1402. 9. Cruintznacke called antiently Stauronesus 10. Frankendale lately a Monastery onely but being peopled by such of the Netherlands which to avoid the fury of Duke Alva fled hither is now a town of principall strength 11. Germersheim and 12. Manheim a well fortified town seated on the confluence of Rhene and Neccar On the Eastern part of the Country standeth 13 Laden situate on the little River Tiberus the furthest bound of the Palatinate towards the North-east there adâ—oyning to the rest of Frankenland And on the west side the Townes of 14 Newstat 15 Keisars Lautern in Latine called Caesarea Lutra once a town Imperiall from which and from its situation on the River Luter it received this name 16. Sweibrueken the title of a younger house of the â—saltsgraves whom the Latine writers call Prinâ—lpes Bipontani the French the Princes of Deuxponâ—s 17. Sinâ—neren on the north-west point of it where it meets with the District of Triers the title of another Branch of the Palatine Family called the Dukes of Sinâ—neren In all there are contained within this Palatinate 24 walled Towns and 12 fair Palaces of the Prince most of which they have added to their estate within little more then 400 yeers Such excellent managers have they been of their own estates so potent in ordering the affaires of the Empire both in war and peace and so ingrafled themselves into the most noble Families of Germany that I may well say with Irenicus Non est alia Germaniae familia cui plus debeat nobilitas Within the limits of this Country and intermingled with the lands of the Princes Palatine are the Bishopricks of Spires and Wormes both ancient and of great Revenue but feudataries for a great part of their estates to these Electors Of these more towards the head of the Rhene stands the City of Spires by Ptolomy called Neâ—magus from the newnesse of the building when that name was given by Antoninus Civitas Nemetum from the Nemetes who possessed this tract and sometimes Spira by which name it doth still continue A town Imperiall and antiently a Bishops See Tessis the Bishop hereof subscribing to the Acts of the Councell of Colen anno 347. A neat Town and very delectably seated Of great resort by reason of the Imperiall Chamber the soveraign Court of Judicature of all the Empire capable of Appeals from the Tribunals of all the Princes and free States thereof A Court which first followed the Emperour in all his Removes as antiently the Kings Bench in England by Maximilian the Emperour first made Sedentary and fixt at Frankfort removed after to Wormes and finally to this City by Charles the fift Sufficiently famous in that the name of Protestants was here taken up given to the Princes and free Cities following the Reformed Religion upon their legall Protestation here exhibited More down the water in the same shore thereof stands the City of Wormes one of those built upon the Rhene for defence of Gaul against the Germans by Ptolomy called Borbegomagus by Antonine Civitas Wormensis whence the modern name but generally Civitas Vangionum from the Vangiones the old inhabitants of those parts whose chief City it was A town Imperiall as the former and a See Episcopall as that is and as ancient too Victor the Bishop hereof subscribing to the Acts of the Councel of Colen before mentioned A town to be observed for the first appearance which Luther made before Charles the fift the Imperiall Chamber then being holden in this City who being disswaded from that journey by some of his friends returned this resolute answer to them That goe he would though there were as many devills in the town as there were tiles on the houses Chief towns belonging to these Bishops are 1 Vdenheim a town belonging to the Bishop of Spires whose residence it sometimes is conveniently seated for the command of the Country and therefore upon some
designe which was then in hand fortified strongly by the Bishop But this new Fortification being begun in a time of peace gave great occasion of distrust to the neighbouring Princes who interposed with Frederick the fift then Prince Elector of whom held in chief to cause the Bishop to desist from the finishing of it Which when he refused to doe pleading a Placard from the Emperour Matthias to compleat the work the Prince Electour with the rest of the Confederates beat it down by force for this contempt cited to Spires the Imperiall Chamber in which it was also resolved to proceed suddenly and severely to their condemnation One of the chief motives which occasioned that unfortunate Prince to entertain the offer of the Crown of Bohemia and consequently a chief cause of the German wars In managing whereof this town was thought so commodious that Marquis Spinola caused the works to be raised again made it the strongest hold in all those Countries and caused it to be called by the name of Philipsberg 3. Rotenberg originally belonging to the Bishops of Spires but of late times possessed by the Princes Palatine Others of lesser slote I forbear to mention The first Inhabitants of this Country on the French side of the Rhene were the Nemetes and Vangiones spoken of before on the other side the Intuergi First conquered by the Romans and from them conquered by the French of whose Empire it remained a part till dismembred from it at the erection of the Kingdome of Lorrain in the fall whereof it was annexed to the Empire of Germany By little and little got into the hands of the Princes Palatine who being originally Officers of the Emperours houshold such as the Maires of the Palace to the French Kings at the first institution had first the honour of Counts Palatine bestowed upon them and afterwards the place of an Electour in the choice of the Emperour But where their Estate then lay where they fixed their dwelling and what provinces or people they had subject to them a nullo inveni scriptum I could never find any good Record to build on saith the learned Munster their habitation and possession in and of these parts acquired for the most part by Armes and Money not being above 450 years standing at the utmost Likely it is they had their residence for the most part in the Emperours Palace living upon their rents as other great officers of Court in these later times the dignity and authority of so great a place seeming sufficient to content them but called Count Palatines of the Rhene because their Jurisdiction and Authority lay most especially in those parts of the Empire which were towards that River Afterwards on the marriage of Otho the second of that name Duke of Bavaria with Gertrude the daughter of Henry the Elector Palatine this office with the Electorall dignity fell into that house possessed at that time of those parts of 〈◊〉 which not long after on the dividing of that estate betwixt Rodolphus and Ludoâ—â—ous the son of â—udovick the 2. Electour Palatine and Duke of Bavaria made up this Palatinate A State which suddenly received a great augmentation partly by the care and good husbandry of Rupertus Emperour and Electour Palatine partly by the weaknesse and ambition of Wenceslaus Emperour and King of Bohemia and partly by the valour of Frederick the Prince Electour Of these the first bought in the townes of Winheim Ladeberg and Scriessen with the Castle of Stralnberg with their lands and territories The second gave unto the Palatines for their voices in his election three strong towns of the Empire viz. Keisars Lauterne Ingelheim and Openkeim and the last took in battle anno 1452. the Earl of Wirtenberg the Marquesse of Baden the Bishop of Spires and the Archbishop of Mentz and ransomed them on what condition he pleased More particularly the Earl of Wirtenberg for it was not yet erected into a Dukedome payed for his ransome 100000 Florens the Bishop of Mentz redeemed himself for 450000 Florens The Bishop of Spires gave for his liberty the towns of Rottenberg and Wersaw and the Marquesse of Baden yeelded up in lieu of his freedome the Country of Spanheim of which Cruitznack is a part the towns of Besiken and Binheim the right which he pretended to Eppingen a town over against Gemersheim and his royalties between this Gemersheim and Selts a town of Alsatia in fishing and hunting So having brought these Princes unto their Estate let us next take a view of those who have successively enjoyed both the State and Title as far as we can goe by the light of Story ELECTORS Palatine of the RHENE A. Ch. 1. Henry Count of Palatine in the time of Otho the third by whom ordained to be one of the six Electors 2 Sigefride the sonne of Adelheild wife of this Henry the Electour by a former husband 3 Ezeline and Conrade sonnes of Sigefride 4 Ludoifus son to Ezeline 5 Conrade Elector Palatine in the time of Henry the fift 6 Frederick sonne to Frederick Duke of Schawben Nephew to the Emperour Conrade the third 7 Henry II. surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria 1195 8 Henry III. sonne of Henry the Lyon and husband of Clementia daughter of Conrade Duke of Schawben and Elector Palatine 9 Henry IV. sonne of Henry the third in the life of his Father the last Elector Palatine of the nomination and appointment of the Emperour the dignity from hence forwards becoming hereditary 10 Otho Duke of Bavaria of that name the second Electour Palatine of the Rhene in right of Gertrude his wife sister and next heir of Henry the fourth whom he succeeded in the Electorall dignity confirmed therein by the Emperour Frederick the second 1269 11 Ludovicus Electour Palatine and Duke of Bavaria the son of Otho 1294 12 Rodolphus the eldest son of Lewis or Ludovicus succeeded his Father in the Palatinate and Electorall dignity Northgoia or the Palatinate of Bavaria being added to his part to make even the scale his younger brother Ludovicus succeeding in Bavaria 1315 13 Adolphus surnamed the Simple resigned the Electorall dignity to his brother Rodolphus as the fitter man to undertake it 1327 14 Rodolphus II. on the resignation of Adolphus 1337 15 Rupertus the brother of Rodolphus the second founder of the University of Heidelberg anno 1346. 1385 16 Rupertus II. sonne of Adolfus the Simple 1398 17 Rupertus III. elected Emperour in the place of Wenceslaus King of Bohemia anno 1406 made Knight of the Garter by King Henry the fourth 1410 18 Ludovious II. surnamed Caecus and Barbatus married Blanch daughter to King Henry the fourth of England 1439 19 Ludâ—vicus III. son of Lewis the second 1451 20 Frederick brother of Ludovicus during the minority of Philip his said brothers sonne succeeded in the Electorall dignity and added much to that Estate by his personall vertue 1478 21 Philip the sonne of Lewis the third pretended to the Dukedome of Bavaria in
last being an estate in Lorrain accrewing to them by the marriage of a fourth Philip the fift in name and order of the house of Lichteberg with Margaret sole daughter and heir of Ludovick the last Earl thereof Betwixt the Counties of Nassaw and Hanaw on both sides of the River Lou lies the Earldome of SOLMS the first Earl whereof of whom there is any good Constat was Henry honoured with this title anno 1220. But being I finde them in the Catalogue of the Counts Imperiall made before that time I must conclude them to be ancienter then the date aforesaid though that sufficient to ennoble a far greater Family By the marriage of Conrade the ninth from Henry first with Elizabeth one of the daughters of William of Nassaw Prince of Orange and after with the widow of the Earl of Egmond they came to be of such Authority amongst the Netherlands as to be priviledged with a place and suffrage in the Councell of the States Generall there settled at the present in their greatest honour especially since the marriage of Henry of Nassaw Prince of Orange with a daughter of Earl Conrade by his second wife the mother of William of Nassaw now Prince of Orange and husband to the Princesse Mary the eldest daughter of Great Britain But besides their Estates there they are possessed in this tract of 1 Branufels which gives title to the first branch of the house of Solms 2 Croneberg the possession of the second branch of this Family and 3 Solms on the north side of the Lou the root of both Of the Imperiall Cities in this Confederation the first is Friberg called for distinction sake Friberg in Wederaw to difference it from another Town of that name in Brisgow situate in the midle of delicious and most fruitfull elds and memorable for the stout resistance which it made to Adolphus of Nassaw at that time Emperour who when he could not get it by force or famine obtained it by fraud and put to death no lesse then 40 of chief Nobility whom he found in the Castle So hated for that bloody fact that he was shortly after deprived of the Empire and slain in fight by Albert of Austria his Competitor The second of the two is Wetzelaer seated on the Lou where it meets with the Dille which rising neer Dillengberg a town of the Earl of Nassawes doth here lose its name into the greater A town Imperiall confederate with Frideberg and the Princes before mentioned for maintaining their common liberties and the Religion publickly professed amongst them being that of the Reformed Churches of Calvins Platform 10. FRANCONIA FRANCONIA or FRANKENLAND is bounded on the East with the Vpper Palatinate and part of Voitland on the West with the Confederates of Wederaw and part of the Rhene on the north with Hassia and Thuringia and on the south with the Palatinate of the Rhene and some part of Schwaben so called from the French Franci or Francones in whose possession it was when they were first known unto the Romans the Residence of their Dukes or Princes in this noble Province appropriating the name unto it Called also Francia Orientalis to difference it from the Realm of France which lay more towards the West The Country on the out-parts overgrown wholly in a manner with woods and forrests and environed almost with Mountains parts of the old Hercinian Wolds is within pleasant plain and fruitfull sufficiently plentifull both of corn and wines but abundantly well stored with Rape and Licoras and yeilding good pasture for Cattell so that we may compare it to a fine piece of Cloth wrought about with a course list or an excellent fine piece of Lawn with a canvasse Selvage Chief Rivers of it are 1 The Main or Moenus which running thorow the midst of it is received into the Rhene below Frankfort 2 The Sala whence the adjoyning French had the name of Salii and Conrade Emperour of the Germans the surname of Salicus 3 Radiantis 4 Sinna 5 Tubero 6 Aestus c. The People of it are ingenious patient of labour strong of body and very industrious not suffering any to be idle that can earn his living of what sort soever The off-spring of the ancient French who having over-mastered Gaul and the parts adjoyning left here the seminary of their strength and a stock of their antient Princes Marcomir brother of Pharamond the first King of the French governing in these parts as Duke and leaving the estate and title unto his posterity The catalogue of which Princes take in order thus The PRINCES of the FRANKES and DUKES of FRANCONIA of the old FRENCH Race A. Ch. 326 1 Genebaldus the son of Dagobert descended from the old Regal stock of the Sicambri united with other Dutch nations about 60 or 70 yeers before in the name of Frankes having subdued those parts which lay towards the River Moenus became the first Prince of the Eastern Frankes or Lord of Francia Orientalis 356 2 Dagobert the sonne of Genebaldus who added the District of Triers unto his Estates 377 3 Clodovaeus or Ludovicus the sonne of Dagobert 398 4 Marcomir the sonne of Clodovaeus who extended his Dominion Eastwards towards Bavaria and Bohemia 402 5 Pharamund or Waramund the sonne of Marcomir the first of this line which took unto himself the title of King of the French on the assuming whereof aiming at matters of more importance he left Franconia or East-France with the Title of Duke to his brother Marcomir 419 6 Marcomir the brother of Pharamund 423 7 Prunmesser by some called Priamus the son of Marcomir 435 8 Genebaldus II. the son of Prunmesser 455 9 Sunno the son of Genebald the second 478 10 Clodomirus or Luitomarus the son of Sunno 515 11 Hygobaldus the son of Clodomir who became a Christian and added Wormes and Mentz unto his Estates 541 12 Helenus by some called Hermericus a Christian also who passing over the Rhene subdued that tract bordering betwixt Triers and Lorrain which the Dutch call Westerich 571 13 Gotofridus the son of Helenus a Christian also but not able to perswade his people to the same belief 595 14 Genebaldus III. the son of Gotofrede 615 15 Clodomir II. the son of Genebald the third 638 16 Heribert the Nephew of Clodomir the second 668 17 Clodovaeus or Clovis II. the Cousin-german of Heribert 680 18 Gosbertus the son of Clovis the second 706 19 Gosbertus II. the son of Gosbert the first 720 20 Hetavus the son of Gosbert the second the last Duke of Franconia of this line Who dying without issue male anno 740. bequeathed it at his death to Pepin who afterwards was King of France Father of Charles the great according to a former contract made between those Princes and Charles no sooner had it in his possession but he bestowed the greatest part of it on Burchard the first Bishop of Wurtzburg anno 752. made Bishop of that City by Boniface Arch-bishop of Mentz
in their own language doe call themselves Zechians After his death the State relapsed again into a confused Anarchie till the yeer 670. at what time not respecting the Progeny of Zechius the founder of their Common-wealth and first estate they fastned upon Crocus a man of good esteem amongst them and elected him to be their Duke Crocus vir justus magnae apud Bohemos opinionis Princeps electus est as Bertholdus telleth us Crocus being dead the Bohemians elected Libussa his youngest daughter and of her government soon wearied they made choice of Primislaus for their Prince and made him husband to Libussa A man taken from the Plough as their stories tell us to espouse the Princesse it being ordered and agreâ—â— on by her many Suiters that he whosoever he was before whom an horse purposely let loose did first make a stand should be the Husband of the Lady and have the government of the State The Horse first makes a stand before Primislaus being then at plough having perhaps some Mare in his Teeme and he accordingly is received and admitted their Prince These with the other Dukes from the time of Crocus the first Legislator of the Bohemians take in order thus The DUKES of BOHEMIA 1 Crocus the Law-giver or Lycurgus of Bohemia 2 Libussa youngest daughter to Crocus with Primislaus her husband a second Quinctius Founder of Prague 3 Neramislaus sonne of Primislaus and Libussa 4 Mnoatha one of the sonnes of Neramislaus Cotemporary with Charls the Great 5 Voricius sonne of Mnatha 6 Wenceslaus 7 Bela. 8 Nastricius sonne of Bela. 9 Bozzivoius the first Christian Prince of the Bohemians Contemporarie with the Emperour Arnulph 10 Sbitignaeus sonne to Bozzivoius 11 Vladislaus brother to Sbitignaeus 12 Wenceslaus II. surnamed the Saint slaine by his brother Boleslaus 13 Boleslaus a wicked and ungodly Prince 14 Boleslaus II. sonne of the former a great advancer of Christianty amongst hiâ— people 15 Boleslaus III. one of the sonnes of Boleslaus the second 16 Jaromir sonne to Boleslaus the third 17 Vdalricus brother of Boleslaus the third and Uncle of Jaromir 18 Predislaus sonne to Vdalricus 19 Sbitignaeus II. sonne to Predislaus 1061 20 Vratislaus brother of Sbitignaeus whom for his manifold deferts the Emperour Henry the 4. created the first King of Bohemia anno 1608. whose Successors take thus out of Bertholdus and Dubravius The KINGS and DUKES of BOHEMIA A. Ch. 1086 1 Vratislaus the brother of Spitignaeus Duke of Bohemia was by Henry the 4. at Metz created King 2 Conrade brother to Vratislaus notwithstanding that his brother had 3 sons was elected Duke of Bohemia 3 Brecislaus son to Vratislaus the two sons of Conrade being rejected is by the Bohemians chosen Duke 1100 4 Borivorius the 4. son of Brecislaus is chosen by the Bohemians his eldest brothers then all living 1109 5 Sutopulcus Cousin german to Borivorius by the consent and favour of the people deposed Borivorius and caused himself to be elected in his place 6 Vladislaus II. brother to Borivorius preferred by the people to the throne before Otho the brother and Henry the son of Sutopulcus the last Prince 7 Sobeslaus brother to Vladislaus promoted to the State before the sonne of Vladislaus 1159 8 Vladislaus III. son of Vladislaus the 2. the four sons of Sobeslaus omitted is chosen and crowned the second King of Bohemia by Frederick the Emperour but deposed by the States because he was not by them formerly elected according to their priviledges and customs 9 Vldericus the third son of Sobeslaus his elder brethren yet living was by the people elected in the room of Vladislaus and his son Frederick whom the Emperour Frederick had by force established in the throne 10 Sobeslaus II. second son to Sobeslaus was by Frederick above named expelled and he also by the Bohemians 11 Conrade Grandchild to Otho the brother of Sutopulcus elected by the Bohemiam in place of Frederick between which two Princes there was continuall war 12 Wenceslaus Uncle unto Conrade and son of Otho aforesaid was preferred before many nearer the succession Him Primislaus expelled but fearing his return quitted Prague 13 Henry Bishop of Prague a stranger to the bloud was by a generall consent elected Duke 14 Vladislaus IV. brother to Primislaus the son of Wenceslaus being put by succeeded Henry and soon after resigned 1199 15 Primislaus elected by the Bohemians and by the Emperour Philip crowned the 3. King of Bohemia at Mentz was brother to Vladiâ—laus the 4. 1248 16 Ottocarus notwithstanding that Winceslaus his elder brother had been crowned in his Fathers life time was acknowledged King He was slain in battle by Rodolphus the Emperour 1278 17 Wencesâ—aus II. son to Ottocarus 1284 18 Wenceslaus III. sonne to Wenceslaus the last of the Bohemian Princes of the masculine race 1304 19 Rodolphus son to the Emperour Albertus is by the potencie of his Father and the election of the States seated on the Throne being otherwise a stranger to the bloud-royall of Bohemia 1305 20 Henry Duke of Carinthia husband to Anne the second daughter of Wenceslaus the 2. is chosen by the Bohemians but being weary of his Government they elect John Earl of Luxenbourg Finally Henry was murdered by one of his Nephews 1311 21 John Earl of Luxenbourg sonne to Henry the 7. Emperour and husband to Elizabeth youngest daughter to Wenceslaus the 2. is elected the Lady Anne yet living 1346 22 Charls sonne to John and Emperour of that name the 4. the Author of the Golden Bull. 1362 23 Wenceslaus IV. Emperour also in whose time the troubles of the Hussites and the valour of Zisca was famous 1418 24 Sigismund brother to Wenceslaus maketh himself King by force and at his death commendeth Albertus Duke of Austria the huband of his daughter Elizabeth unto the States of the Kingdom 1437 25 Albertus Duke of Austria elected upon the commendation of Sigismund by the Bohemian Lords 1440 26 Ladislaus son to Albert who being the brother of two sisters commended yet one George Pogibrachius unto the States as fittest to succeed him 1458 27 George Pogibrachius neither by affinity or consanguinity of the bloud succeeded And he though he had three sons yet for the benefit of his Country he advised the Nobles after his death to elect their King from Poland 1471 28 Ladislaus II. son to Casimire King of Polvnd and to Elizabeth the younger daughter of Albert Duke of Austria the issue of Anne the elder sister still living elected King of Bohemia 1516 29 Ludovicus son to Ladislaus elected and crowned by the means of his Father then living King of Hungary also 1526 30 Ferdinand Archduke of Austria brother to Charls the 5. and husband to Anne sister to Ludovicus by his letters reversall acknowledged that he was chosen King of Bohemia not of any right but of meer free-will according to the liberties of that Kingdome 1565 31 Maximilian eldest son of Ferdinand was in his Fathers life time and at his
course of this work 3 Wieper or Wypra so called of the River on which it standeth 4 Quernfurt 5 Rotenburg 6 Alstad 7 Helderung bought of the Earls of Houstein Some who delineate the Pedegree of these Earls of Mansfield fetch it as high as from one of King Arthurs Knights of the Round Table born at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire who setling himself in Germany gave that name to his house a Military Originall and very suitable to such an active and warlike Family But those which doe not soar so high fetch them no further then from Burchard the fift Earl of Quernfort and Burgrave of Magdeburg who following Frederick Barbarossa into the Holy Land deceased at Antioch anno 1189. His Nephew Burchard by a sonne of the same name was the first of this Family that had the title of Earl of Mansfield about the yeer 1250. continued ever since unto his Posterity but under some acknowledgments to the Electors of Saxony Of these the most eminent were Voldradus one of the Councell of Estate to the Emperour Sigismund anno 1411. a great improver of the Patrimony of the Earls hereof 2 John-George Lord Deputy or Lieutenant of Saxony under Duke Augustus 3 Peter-Ernest Governour of Luxembourg under Charles the fift and Philip the second by whom much exercised and employed in their wars with France 4 Albert a constant friend of Luthers and a faithfull follower of John-Frederick the deprived Electour in whose quarrell being outed of his estate he retired to Magdeberg which he most gallantly defended against the Emperour And 5 Ernestus Nephew of that Albert by his son John so famous for the war which he maintained in most parts of Germany against Ferdinand the second in behalf of Frederick Prince Elector Palatine and the States of Bohemia with so great constancy and courage East of the Earldome of Mansfield lyeth the Principate of ANHALT much shaded if not too much overgrown with woods parts of the old Hercinian forrest whence it had the name Hol in Dutch signifying a wood or forrest and the Princes of this house created to this dignity by the stile of Principes Harciniae in Anhalt Chief townes of it are 1 Bernberg the Dynastie and usuall title of this house before they were created Princes of Anhalt 2 Ballenstede part of the antient Patrimony of the first Princes hereof 3 Dessaw the birth-place of some and the buriall-place of others of this Family beautified with a strong Castle built by Prince Albert the second anno 1341. 4 Servest the usuall place of the Princes residence 5 Coeten a well fortified place in vain besieged by the joynt forces of the Arch-bishop of Magdeburg and the Earl of Schwartzenwold We went as high as the Round Table for the Earls of Mansfield but we must goe as high as the Ark for the Princes of Anhalt some fetching them from Askenaz the son of Gomer and nephew of Japhet from whom and no other this Aseanian Family for by that name it is called are to fetch their Pedegree But to content our selves with more sober thoughts certain it is that this Family is of the old Saxon race setled in these parts by Theodorik King of Mets or Austrasia who gave the Towns of Ascandt and Ballenstede with the lands adjoyning to one Bernwald or Bernthobald a noble Saxon anno 524. From which town and Castle of Ascandt afterwards rased to the ground by Pepin King of the French anno 747. most probable it is that they took their name From this Bernwald or Bernthobald by a long line of Princes descended Albert the seventh of Anhalt surnamed Vrsus created Marquesse of Brandenburg by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa anno 1152. the Father of that Barnard who by the Munificence and bounty of the same Emperour was created Duke of Saxony in the roome of Duke Henry surnamed the Lion anno 1180. becoming so the Stemme of the two greatest Princes in all the Empire Henry the second son of this Barnard was by the same Emperour not long after made Prince of Anhalt the first of all this ancient and illustrious Family which had been honoured with that title continuing in his race to this very day the two Electorates of Saxony and Brandenbourg being mean while translated unto other Families The most considerable of which Princes though all men of Eminence were 1 Rodolph Generall of the forces of the Emperour Maximilian the first against the Venetians whom he twice overcame in battell 2 George the Divine a great Reformer of the Church by his diligent preaching whose Sermons and other Tractates learned for the times he lived in are still extant 3 Christian born in the yeer 1568. Commander of the Forces of Frederick Prince Elector Palatine in the wars of Bohemia North of the Principality of Anhalt lyeth the Bishoprick of MAGDEBVRG so called of Magdeburg the chief City by some called Meydburg and Meydenburg whence by a Greek name Parthenopolis and Virginopolis by a mungrell word made of Greek and Latine A City seated on the Elb divided into three parts but all strongly fortified begirt with high walls deep ditches and almost unconquerable Bulwarks yet very beautifull withall before the last desolation of it of elegant buildings fair streets and magnificent Temples Built in the form of a Crescent by the Emperour Otho the first the founder of it who having translated hither the Archiepiscopall See for the greater honour of the place built the Cathedrall of Saint Maurice where his wife lies buried anno 948. testified by the inscription to be daughter of Edmund King of England A town which hath long flourished in a great deal of glory and tasted of as much affliction as any other in Germany For refusing to receive the Interim it was out-lawed by the Emperour Charles the fifth and given to him that could first take it It was first hereupon attempted by the Duke of Meglenberg but he was in a Camisado taken Prisoner his Army routed his Nobles made captive and 260 horse brought into the City Next it was besieged by Duke Maurice of Saxonie who on honourable termes was after a long siege received into it anno 1550. when it had stood on his own guard the space of three yeers Which long opposition of one town taught the German Princes what constancy could doe it held up the coals of Rebellion in Germany and indeed proved to be the fire which burned the Emperours Trophies For here Duke Maurice coming acquainted with Baron Hedeck hatched that confederacy by which not long after this great Emperour was driven out of Germany At last it yeilded to Duke Maurice under the protection of whose successours it hath since enjoyed a long course of felicity till the yeer 1631 in which most miserably burnt and sacked by the Earl of Tilly of whom it is observed that after that fact he never prospered being shortly after totally routed at the battell of Leipsick and wounded to the death not long after that neer the River
other reason but because it was the chief seat of the Duke Electors But to proceed a stout and valiant Nation questionless they were the Conquerors of the Isle of Britain the last people of the Germans which yeilded up their Country unto Charles the great by whose means gained unto the Gospell anno 785. Their last King was called Wittichindus from whom descend the Kings of France since the time of Hugh Capet the regent Kings of Denmark of the house of Oldâ—nberg the Dukes of Burgundy and Savoy the Marquesses of Montferrat besides many other noble and illustrious Families though of lesser note The male issue of Wittikinde whom Charles the great created taking the first Duke of Saxony determining in the person of Otho the third Emperour of Germany it was by him conferred on Barnard Lord of Lunenburg but the precise time thereof I finde not and on the forfeiture incurred by his posterity in the person of Duke Henry the Proud bestowed by Frederick Barbarossa upon Barnard of Anhalt anno 1180. whose issue in the right line failing it was finally estated by the Emperour Sigismund on Frederick Landgrave of Turingia and Maâ—quesse of Misnia anno 1423. In his Family it hath since continued but not without a manifest breach in the course of the succession which hapned when John-Frederick being deprived of the Electorall dignity and estate his cousin Duke Maurice was invested in them by Charles the fift And because these translations of States be not ordinary I will briefly relate the Ceremonies thereat used as I have collected them out of Sleiden There were at Wittenberg scaffolds erected on which sate the Emperour and the Princes Electors in their Robes On the back side of the State were placed the Trumpeters right against it sâ—andeth Duke Maurice with two bands of horsmen The first in a full careere run their horses up to the pavilion out of the second issued Henry Duke of Brunswick Wolfang Prince of Bipont and Albert Duke of Bavier These when they had in like manner coursed their horses about alighted ascended to the Throne and humbly requested the Emperour that for the common good he would advance Duke Maurice to the Electorship He consulted with the Electors made answer by the Bishop of Mentz that he was content so Duke Maurice would in person come and desire it Then came forth Duke Maurice with the whole troup before him were born ten ensignes bearing the Armes of as many Regions wherein he desired to be invested When he came before the throne he kneeled down on his knees and humbly desired the Emperor to bestow on him the Electorship of Saxony and all the lands of John-Frederick late Elector His Petition was granted Then the Bishop of Mentz read unto him the Oath by which the Electors are bound unto the Empire which Oath when Duke Maurice had taken the Emperour delivered unto him a Sword which was a signe of his perfect investiture Duke Maurice now the Elector of Saxony arose gave the Emperour thanks promised his fidelity made obeysance and took his place amongst the Electors This solemnity was on the 24 day of Feb. anno 1548. This said it is high time that we should proceed unto the Catalogue of The DVKES of SAXONIE 785 1 Witikind the last King of the Saxons vanquished and created the first Duke by Charles the Great 825 2 Bruno the brother of Witikind 843 3 Luitulphus sonne of Bruno 855 4 Bruno II. sonne of Luitulphus 8â—6 5 Otho brother of Bruno the second 916 6 Henry surnamed the Fowler sonne of Otho Emperour of the Romans and King of Germany 938 7 Otho II. Duke of Saxonie and Emperour called Otho I. 974 8 Otho III. Duke of Saxonie and Emperour called Otho II. 984 9 Otho IV. Duke of Saxonie and Emperour called Otho III. 10 Barnard Lord of Lunenburg created Duke of Saxonie and the first Electour by Otho the third who was the last Duke of the race of Witikind 1021 11 Barnard II sonne of Barnard the first 1063 12 Ordulphus sonne of Barnard the second 1073 13 Magnus sonne of Ordulphus who taking part with Rodulphus of Schwaben against Henry the fourth was taken prisoner and deprived 14 Lotharius Earl of Querdfort created Duke of Saxonie by Henry the fourth He was also Emperour of the Romans 1125 15 Henry Guelph surnamed the Proud Duke of Bavaria the husband of Gertrude daughter of Lotharius by whom created Duke Electour 1139 16 Henry II. surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria son of Henry the Proud by his first wife Walfildis the daughter of Magnus proscribed and outed of his Estates by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa After which this great Estate being parcelled and divided into many parts the title of the Duke Electour of Saxonie was given by the said Emperour to 1180 17 Barnard of Anhalt sonne of Albert Marquesse of Brandenbourg and grandchilde of Elica the daughter of Duke Magnus to whom for his seat and habitation the Emperour Courade the third gave the City of Wittenberg the head since that time of this Electorate 1212 18 Albert sonne of Barnard from whom the Dukes of Lawenburg doe derive their Pedegree 1273 19 Albert II. sonne of Albert the first 1327 20 Rodolph sonne of Albert the second 1356 21 Rodolph II. sonne of Rodolph the first 1373 22 Wenceslaus sonne of Rodolph the second 1389 23 Rodolph III. sonne of Wenceslaus 1419 24 Albert III. brother of Rodolph the third the last Electour of Saxonie of the house of Anhalt 1423 25 Frederick Lantgrave of Duringen and Marquesse of Misnia on the failing of the house of Anhalt anno 1422 created Duke of Saxonie by the Emperour Sigismund the house of Lawenburg pretermitted for want of putting in their claim 1428 26 Frederick II. sonne of Frederick the first 1464 27 Ernest sonne of Frederick the second 1486 28 Frederick III. sonne of Ernest 1525 29 John brother to Frederick the third 1532 30 John-Frederick sonne of John the first a great advancer of the Reformation of Religion imprisoned and deprived of his Electorship by Charles the fift 1547 31 Maurice descended from Albert the brother of Ernest created Duke Elector by Charles the fift whom after wards he drave out of Germany and was slain in the battell of Siffridhuse against Marquesse Albert of Brandenbourg 1553 32 Augustus brother of Maurice 1586 33 Christian sonne of Augustus 34 Christian II. sonne of Christian the first 35 John-George brother of Christian the second who first sided with the Emperour Ferdinand the second against the Elector Palatine and after with the King of Sweden against the Emperour The Revenues of this Duke are thought to be the greatest of any one Prince of Germanie the Imperial familie excepted amounting at the least to 400000 l. per annum though in multitude of Vassals and greatnesse of territorie he come short of some of them And to make up this sum or perhaps a greater it is conceived that the profit which ariseth to
unto Sniskius set up by a stronger faction gave occasion to the Polander to work upon this distemper by whom Sniskius was taken prisoner Demetrius slain Smolensko and other great Towns subdued and Vladislaus Prince of Poland recommended to the Russians to be chosen Emperour But the Russes loth to fall under the power of the Polander and wearie of their own Confusions made choice at last of 1615 10 Michael Fedrovitz son of Theodore the Patriarch of Mosco who at last setled this vast Empire and managed it in a more constant way of peace with the Turk Tartar Polonian and Swethlander then any of his Predecessours had done before him 1646 11 Alexius Michoilywitz or the son of Michael succeeded his Father in the Empire troubled at first with some distempers in the State as in all other Countries about that time but now quietly setled anno 1648. The Formalities with which these great Emperours are invested or setled in the Throne are not many nor stately such as they be There afford you out of the history of the life of Johannes Basiliades written in Latine by Paulus Oderbornius On the 2. of June anno 1583. Theodorus Johannides went towards the Temple of S. Michael being the principall Church in all Mosco the streets all covered with flowers the doores of the Citizens crowned with Garlands the air echroing with the noise of Flutes and Trumpets and the people so crowding to behold their Prince that had not the Guard with naked swords forced a passage through them it had been impossible for him to have gone on Being now come to the Church door the Lords of the Countrie Cneses they there call them went out to meet him and the Archbishop of Mosco clad in his pontificalibus when he was come into the Church imbraced him The pavement of the Church was hidden with Tapestry and the stals adorned with costly hangings The Great Duke sate down in his Throne being attired in a garment of silk buttoned down with golden buttons on his head he wore a purple cap spangled with rich jewels and on his fingers abundance of rings Being thus seated the Patriarch made a prayer to God to bless him his people and his government which was seconded by the joyfull shouts and acclamations of his Subjects amongst whom no small store of silver mony was â—lung by the Treasurer and so they returned to the Palace The Government of this Countrie is meerly Tyrannicall the Emperour being absolute Lord of the lives lands and goods of all his Subjects all of them the noble as well as the base subscribing themselves in their Petitions to him by the name of Keloptery that is Slaves Whereupon Mahomet a Turkish Bashaw was used to say that his Master and the Moscovite were the two most absolute Princes in all the world First for their goods when any Embassadour returns home the Great Duke takes from him all the presents which he hath received giving him perhaps some small reward perhaps none at all and as for lands they passe not from father to son but as lâ—e confirms it But more particularly besides the case of Permia spoken of before John Vasiliwich sent a command to Mosco to provide a Coal-pack of live Fleas for a medicine and when the Citizens returned answer that it was impossible he fined them at 700 Rubbles for their disobedience Another time he laid a mulct of 300000 Rubbles upon his Nobilitie because he had no good sport in his hunting which they again extorted from the common people and under colour of want commanded from some Bishops and Monasteries the sum of 100000 Rubbles from some 50000 more or lesse from others according unto their rerenues And it is usuall with the best of them to cause the Boiares or Gentlemen which serve on horse-back to pretend themselves robbed that he may send unto the Citie to find out the Felon and on a non est inventus fine them at discretion sometimes 8000 sometimes 10000 and sometimes 20000 Rubbles Then for their lives there is a storie that Vasiliwich having found that one of his Secretaries had received a Goose stuffed full of silver for a Bribe caused him to be brought into the Market-place of Mosco where without any legall triall he commanded the Executioner first to cut off his legs about the shins and then his arms about the elbows still asking the miserable man how he liked Goose-flesh and in the end to cut off his head in similitude of a Goose ready for the spit And that they may the better preserve this power the Great Dukes seldome shew themselves unto the people but in apparell of inestimable value joining the ornaments of a Bishop unto the majestie of a King by wearing a Mitre on their heads shining with Diamonds and rich stones and when they wear it not on their heads they place it before the chair of state over which are the images of Christ and the blessed Virgin holding in his hands a most rich Crozier staffe and all their fingers full of rings And upon solemn festivals and entertainments the Great Chamber is beset with Cubboards of plate of infinite value filled with men cloathed with cloth of gold to the very foot all of them seeming to be men of the chief Nobility but many times being no other then the gravest and portliest Citizens of Mosco richly apparelled for the time out of the Emperours Wardrobe which to such as do not understand the fraud look like so many Princes and causeth no small wonder at his magnificence So that the people seeing him in such royall state and knowing no more then what they are taught at home reverence him as slaves not subjects and look upon him rather as a God then a King Having so absolute a command on their lives and goods it will be easily supposed that he may raise what forces and amasse what treasures he hath a minde to First for his Forces it is said that he is able to raise 300000 Horse if occasion be and that he may come near that number it is more then probable in that John Vasiliwich in his war against those of Astrachan had actually 120000 Horse and that a great part of the Country is in the hands of the Boiares bound by their Tenure to serve with horse whensoever he pleaseth And that there are 110 men chosen by the Emperour and by him enfeoffed with lands during pleasure only which for these lands they are to find 65000 horse with all things necessary for the wars and those in a continuall readinesse fit for present action Then for such horse as he himself doth keep in continuall pay there is not fewer then 25000 which attend him as a Guard to his person all of them well experienced men and fit for service which added to the 65000 spoken of before makes up a standing bodie of 90000. Had he foot answerable unto this proportion of horse there were no dealing with him but therein his Militia is
to Warsaw 6 Viadislaw on the Wixel or Vistulae a Bishops See 7 Bedost a walled Town on the Bard a navigable River conveying the Merchandise of these parts into the Vistula 8 Kruswick in Bresty built of wood standing on a great Lake named Gopla in the Castle whereof Popielus the second Duke of Poland was after a strange manner devoured with Rats swarming out of the Lake 9 Ploczko upon the Vistula a walled Town and a Bishops See with a Castle to it and 10 Mlawa bordering on the Dukedome of Prussia The LESSER Poland lying on the South of the Greater and divided by the River Wixel comprehendeth onely three divisions under the Government of the Palatines of Cracoâ— 2 Sendomir and Lublin Principall Cities of the which are 1 Cracoâ— upon the Wixel called in Latine Cracovia a Bishops See the chief of all the kingdome and the seat of the Prince and the Sepulture of the former Kings By Ptolemie called Carodunum fortified with a double wall of the old fashion a deep ditch the Castle of Vanel situate on the top of an high rock and beautified with an Universityâ— or generall study of good Arts and Sciences The buildings 〈◊〉 more faire then elsewhere in Poland of free stone and foure stories high but for the most part covered with Shingles or tiles of wood in the midst a large market-place of form quadrangular and in the middle of that the Common-councell house about which are many shops of Merchants On one side of it standeth the Cathedrall Church and on the East-side of the City the Palace Royall high seated on an hill over looking both the Town and Countrey fair and well built of form somewhat neere a Quadrangle but lying open to the South without any buildings above the wall affording thereby to the Gallery being on the North side of the Castle the more excellent prospect 2 Lelow a walled towne with a Castle on the River Bialo 3 Sendomir a walled town with a Castle also seated on a hill under which the Vistula or Wixel 4 Wislicza a walled town amongst Marishes encompassed with the River Nid 5 Lublin a walled town but more strongly fortified by the marishes and wates with which environed remarkable for three yearly Marts drawing hither Merchants from most parts adjoining as also Moscovites Armenians Turkes and Grecians the Jews inhabiting the greatest part of the suburbs have here their Synagogue making the Town especially at time of those Marts a medley of all Nations and Religions 6 Casimir on the Wixel so named from the founder of it a King of Poland The old Inhabitants of this countrey were the Arii Helverone Elysii and the Naharvali parts of the Suevi Lygii spoken of by Tacitus all of them lying on the Dutch side of the Wixel by consequence within the bounds of the antient Germanie the people of all the rest of the Provinces before described being of the Sarmatian race next neighbours to the Germans and not much unlike them in persons customes or conditions But these dispersed and scattered Nations of Sarmatia Europaea being united in the common name of Sclaves part of them setled in that part which we now call Poland at that time reckoned and accompted of as a part of Germanie The time of their first comming hither and the manner of their government when first setled here is not very well known But for the first it is most certain that it was some time and that not long after the death of Mauritius the Eastern Emperour and for the next it is as certain that on the coming of Lechus a Croatian who fled his countrey for a murder with his brother Zechius they setled into a more constant form of Government then before they did For Lechus seeing his brothers good successe in Bohemia where the Sclaves received him for their Prince passed into Poland the next Province and was as cheerfully received by the Sclaves thereof who looked upon him as a Prince of their own extraction and without quarrell or competition submitted themselves to his commands anno 650. or thereabouts Of this there is good constat amongst our Authours But neither the names or number of his successours doe occur in story till the time of Crocus the founder of Cracovia the chief City of Poland and the Legislator of this people After this the succession of their Princes and the successe of their affairs becomes more certain the Estate hereof being much improved by the conquest of many Sarmatian countreys all which together constitute and make up the kingdome of Poland so called from this predominating and prevailing Province The summe of their affaires is this The posterity of Croâ—us failing in Popielus the second Piastus is elected Duke the Princes from that time forwards becoming Elective but alwayes with respect to the next of bloud In the time of Miâ—cislaus son of Nemomystus they received the Gospell anno 963. Boleslaus the son of Miecislaus was the first who had the title of King conferred upon him by the Emperour Otho the third about the yeare 1001. relinquished by Vladislaus the first and not resumed againe till the time of Primislaus Duke of Posna anno 1300. after which perpetuall In the person of this Primislaus Pemerella is united to the state of Poland anno 1295. in that of Jagello or Vladislaus the fifth the great Dukedome of Lituania incorporated into this body as a Member of it in the time of Sigismund Augustus By Vladislaus the sixt son of Jagello Podolia and Russia Nigra are also added by Sigismund the first Prussia and Massovia Podlassia by Sigismund Augustus who also tooke Volhinia out of Lituania by Stephen the actuall possession of the greatest part of Livonia by Sigismund the third a title to the Crown of Sweden The Princes follow in this Order DUKES and KINGS of POLAND A. Ch. 649 1 Lechus of Croatia the first Duke whose posterity failing twelve Palatines were chosen to direct affairs and the state became Aristocraticall 2 Crocus the Legislator of Poland 3 Lechus II. son of Crocus 4 Venda the daughter of Crocus and sister of Lectius the second 5 Lescus the first 6 Lescus II. 7 Lescus III. Contemporarie with Charles the great 8 Popielus son of Lescus the third 9 Popielus II. devoured in most horrid manner by rats and mice together with his wife and children the last of the posterity or house of Crocus 800 10 Piastus the first Duke elected 11 Zemovitus son of Piastus 12 Lescus IV. son of Zemovitus 13 Nemomyslus son of Lescus the fourth 14 Miecislaus son of Nemomyslus the first Christian Prince of the Polonians founded the Bishopricks of Cracow and Guesna 1000 15 Boleslaus son of Miecislaus the first who had the title of King conferred on him by Otho the third 1025 16 Miecislaus II. sonne of Boleslaus 1041 17 Casimir son of Miecislaus 1059 18 Boleslaus II. son of Casmir deposed and died an Exile in Hungary 1082 19 Vladislaus brother of Boleslaus the second
truth it was a most famous University from whose great Cistern the Conduit-pipes of learning were dispersed over all the World Yet did not learning so effeminate or soften the hearts of the People but that 3 this one City yeelded more famous Captaines then any in the World besides not excepting Rome Miltiades Aristides Themistocles Cimon Pericles Alcibiades Phocion and divers others of great name Who though they were the men that both defended and enlarged this Common-wealth yet were the people so ungratefull to them or they so unfortunate in the end that they either dyed abroad in banishment or by some violent death at home Themistocles the Champion of Greece died an exile in Persia Phocion was slaine by the people Demosthenes made himself away by poison Pericles many times indangered Theseus their Founder first deposed and then despitefully imprisoned Aristides Alcihiades Nicius c. banished for ten years by Ostracism A form of punishment so called because the name of the partie banished was writ on an Oyster-shell and onely used toward such who either began to grow too popular or potent among the men of service Which device allowable in a Democratie where the overmuch powerablenesse of one might hazard the liberty of all was exercised in spight oftner then desert A Countrey-fellow meeting by chance with Aristides desired him to write Aristides in his shell and being asked whether the man whose banishment he desired had ever wronged him replyed No he was onely sorry to heare folke call him a good man We finde the like unfortunate end to most of the Romans so redoubted in warre Coriolanus was exiled Camillus confined to Ardea Scipio murdered with divers others onely because their virtue had lifted them above the pitch of ordinary men Ventidius was disgraced by Antony Agricola poysoned with the privity of Domitian Corbulo murdered by the command of Nero all able men yet living in an age wherein it was not lawfull to be valiant In later times it so hapned to Gonsalvo the Great Captain who having conquered the kingdome of Naples driven the French beyond the mountains and brought all the Italian Potentates to stand at the Spaniards devotion was by his Master called home where hee lived obscurely though honoured after his decease with a solemne Funerall Worse fared the Guise and Biron in France worse Essex and Dudley of Northumberland with us in England Neither will I omit William Duke of Suffolk who having served 34 yeares in our warres with France and for 17 yeares together never coming home at his return was quarrelled and basely murdered It were almost an impiety to be silent of Joab the bravest souldier and most fortunate Leader that ever fought the Lords battells and yet he died at the hornes of the Altar Whether it be that such men be born under an unhappy Planet or that Courtiers and such as have best opportunity to indeere men of warre unto their Soveraignes know not the way of commending their great deserts or that Envy the common Foe to vertue be an hinderance to it I am not able to determine And yet it may be that Princes naturally are distrustfull of men of Action and are not willing to make them greater whose name is great enough already And it may be the fault is in the souldiers themselves by an unseasonable overvaluing of their own performances as if the Prince or State were not able to reward or prize them which was the cause of the death of Silius in the time of Tiberiue concerning which Tacitus giveth us this good note that over-merit in great Subjects is exceeding dangerous and begets hate in stead of favours Eeneficia eo usque loet a sunt dum videntur exolvi posse Vbi multum anteverterunt pro gratia edium redditur saith that wise Historian But to look back againe on Athens it was first built by Cecrops the first King thereof governed by him and his posterity with no lower title for 400 yeares as is apparent by this following Catalogue of The KINGS of ATHENS A. M. 2394 1 Cecrops who first made Jupiter a God and ordained sacrifices to be offered to him as Pausanias writeth 2444 2 Cranaus outed of his Kingdome by 2453 3 Amphictyon the son of Deucalion and Uncle to that Amphictyon who first instituted the supreme Court of the Amphictyones or Common-Councell of all Greece 2463 4 Fricthonius the son of Vulcan 2513 5 Pandion the Father of Progne and Philomela so famous in the old Poets of whom more hereafter 2553 6 Eriâ—hthous whose daughter Orithya was ravished by Boreas King of Thrace 2603 7 Cecrops Il. brother of Erichtheus 2643 8 Pandion Il. son of Erichtheus 2668 9 Aegeus son of Pandion the second of whom the Aegean sea took name 2706 10 Theseus the son of Aegeus and Companion of Hercules vanquished the Minotaure in Crete collected the people of Attica into a body and incorporated them into the City of Athens which he had beautified and enlarged 2746 11 Mnestheus the son of Peteus Grandchild of Erichtheus served with the other Greeke Princes at the war of Troy 2769 12 Demophoon the son of Theseus restored unto his Fathers throne on the death of Maestheus 2802 13 Oxyntes son or brother of Demophoon 2814 14 Aphydas son of Oxyntes slaine by his brother 2815 15 Thymades the last of the line of Erichtheus 2823 16 Melanthius of Messene driven out of his own Kingdome by the Heraclide obtained that of Athens 2860 17 Codrus the son of Melanthius the last King of Athens who in the warres against the Pelopennesians having Intelligence by an Oracle that his Enemies should have the victory if they did not kill the Athenian King attired himselfe like a common Begger entred the Pelopennâ—sian Camp and there played such prancks that at the last they were fain to kill him Which when the Enemy understood they thought themselves by this meanes deprived of all hopes of successe and so broke up their Army and departed homewards For this the people of Athens did so honour his memory that they thought no man worthy to succeed as King and therefore committed the managing of the Estate to Governours for term of life whom they called Archontes the first Archon being Medon the son of Codrus not differing from the former Kings in point of power but only in the manner of their admission the former kings claiming the government by succession in right of bloud and these Archontes holding by election onely whose names here follow in this list of The perpetuall ARCHONTES in the STATE of ATHENS A. M. 2882 1 Medon the son of Codrus 2902 2 Acastus the son of Medon 2938 3 Archippus the son of Acasius 2957 4 Thersippus the son of Archippus 2998 5 Pherbas the son of Thersippus 3029 6 Megacles the son of Phorbas 3059 7 Diogenetus the son of Megacles 3087 8 Phereclus the son of Diogenetus 3106 9 Aritthon the son of Phereclus 3126 10 Thespieus in whose time began the Kingdom of
Romans losing but 14. 7 Orchomenâ—n no lesse memorable for another victorie obtained by the same L. Sylla against Dorilaus another of that Kings Commanders having an armie of 80000 men of which 20000 lost their lives that day After which victories when Sylla might easily have destroyed that King he suddenly patched a peace up with him that he might hasten unto Rome where Marius and Cinna had trodden his faction under foot preferring by that act the pursuit of his own private quarrels before that of his Countrie endangered more by Mithridates after his return then it had been formerly 8 Aulis a Port town on the shores of the Aegean Sea where the Grecians took shipping when they went to the war of Troy here making Oath never to give over the enterprize untill they had destroyed that Citie Concerning which thus she in Virgil Non ego cum Danais Trojanam excindere Gentem Aulide juravi That is to say I took no oath at Aulis to destroy As did the Greeks the Town and State of Troy But the chief Citie of this Country and such as had a speciall influence over all the rest was the Citie of Thebes situate on the banks of the River Cephisus where built by Cadmus the Phoenician after all his wandrings Famous in old times for the wars between Eteocles and Polynices the sons of the unfortunate Prince Oedipus and of his Mother and wife Jocasta The historie of which war is the most ancient piece of storie that we finde of all Greece the former times and writings containing nothing but fables little favouring of humanity and lesse of truth as of men changed into Monsters the adulteries of the Gods and the like In this town lived Pelopidas and Epaminondus who so crushed the Lacedemonians at the battell of Leuctra and Mantinea that they could never after re-obtain their former puissance This Common-wealth long flourished and at last being overburthened in the Phocian war was glad to submit it self to the protection of the Macedonians under the leading of King Philip who by this means first got footing in Greece into which afterwards he thrust his whole body Upon the death of Philip Thebes revolted from the Macedons but Alexander his successour quickly recovered it and to dishearten the Greeks in the like attempts he razed the Citie selling all the inhabitants of age and strength only Pindarus house he commanded to be left standing in honour of that learned Poet. At this sack of the town one of the Macedon souldiers entred the house of a principall woman named Timoclea ravished her and rifled her coffers but still demanding more treasure she shewed him a deep Well saying that there all her money was hidden The credulous villain stooping down to behold his prey she tumbled into the Well and over-whelmed with stones for which noble act the generous Prince not only dismissed her unhurt but most highly commended her It was after re-edified by Cassander and followed for the most part as the rest of the Boetians did the fortunes of Macedon Reduced at this time to the State of an ordinarie Burrough and called Scibes by the Turks 4 PHOCIS is bounded on the East with Baeotia on the West with Doris and Looris on the North with the River Cephisus and on the South with the Bay of Corinth A Country somewhat swelled with Mountains but those of eminent note in the elder times The chief whereof 1 Helicon 2 Citheron both consecrated to the Muses and both contending with Parnassus for height and bignesse 3 Parnassus of so great an height that in that great deluge in which most of these parts of Greece were over-whelmed with the waters Deucalion and Pyrrha saved themselves and many others on the top hereof for which and for its two summits reaching to the clouds of great renown amongst the Poets as in Ovid thus Mons ibi verticibus petit arduus astra duobus Nomine Parnassus superatque cacumine nubes Parnassus there with his two tops extends To the toucht stars and all the clouds transcends Places of most observation in it 1 Anticyra situate near the Sea and famous for the Helleborum there growing an herb very medicinall for the Phrenzie whence the Proverb Naviget Anticyras applyed to mad men 2 Pytho or Pythia said to be seated not only in the midle of Greece but of all the world Strabo relating how Jupiter desirous to know the exact middle of the earth let loose two Eagles one from the East and the other from the West which flying with an equall wing so we must conceive and meeting at this very place shewed it apparently to be the Navell of the World By reason of which convenient situation in the heart of Greece it was made a Sessions town for all the Grecians and honoured with the Court and generall Assemblie of the Amphictiones men chosen out of the prime Cities of Greece who had power to decide all Controversies and to make Lawes for the common good A Court first instituted by Acrisius as Strabo telleth us or as Halicarnasseus more probably by Amphictyon the son of Helles from whom they seeme to have their name The Commissioners from the severall Cities with reference to the places for which they served had the name of Pylagorae when assembled they were called the Amphictyones their meetings at the beginning of the Spring and Antumn Some instances concerning their authoritie will not be amisse In the time of Cimon the Cyrrhenians having by Piracie wronged the Thessalians were fined by this Councell And after that the Lacedemonians for surprizing Cadmea and the Phocians for ploughing up the Land of Cyrra which belonged to the Temple of Delphos were by them amerced and because they continued obstinate and paid not their amercements their Dominions were adjudged to be confiscate unto that Temple But they disobeying this Decree also spoiled the Temple it self for which war being proclaimed against them by the rest of the Grecians who by the assistance of Philip King of Macedon brought them to obedience the Councell was again assembled In which it was decreed that the Phocians should raze the wall of their Cities that they should pay the yearly tribute of 60 Talents that they should no more keep Horse and Arms till they had satisfied the Treasurie of the Temple nor any longer have a voice in those Conventions It was also then enacted that the lost suffrages of the Phocians should be vested in King Philip and his successours Kings of Macedon on whom they also did confer the perpetuall Presidentship and made them Princes of that Senate A Court to which the Sanhedrin of the 70 Elders among the Jewes and in our times the Diets of the Empire and the Assemblies of the Switzers carry most resemblance 3 Cyrrha on the Sea side the Port town to Delphos 4 Crissa so called from Crissaeus the son of Phoeus and grandchild of Aeacus situate on the edge of the Bay of Corinth called sometimes from hence Crissaeus
famous Poetesse At that time joined unto the sand but since by the violence of the Sea or the hand of man made into an Island according unto that of Ovid Leucada continuam veteres habuere Coloni Nunc Freta circumcunt That is to say Leucas in former times join'd to the land Environ'd round with waters now doth stand It was called Leucas from the whitenesse of the Rock or Promontorie having before the separation or disjunction of it been called Neritos the chief Town of it varying with the name of the Isle and Promontory both town and Island at this time called S. Maure taken by Bajazet the second from the State of Venice and by him given unto the Jews who doe still inhabit it at their expulsion out of Spaine 5 Nicopolis a Colonie of the Romans of great both wealth and beautie in the time of S. Paul who from hence dated his Epistle to Titus called in that Postscript Nicopolis of Macedonia because Epirus at that time was part of the Province of Macedon though afterwards a distinct Province of it selfe It was first built by Augustus Casar on a Promontory opposite unte Actium on the other side of the Bay that being the place where his Land souldiers were incamped before the Navall battell betwixt him and Mark Anthony and was thus called either in memory of his victory or from a poor man and his Asse whom he met there the day before For asking the mans name he told him that his name was Eutyches i. e. Fortunate and that the name of his Asse was Nicon i. e. Conquerour which happy Omen made his souldiers courageous and hopefull of victory and he in memory thereof erected here two brazen Images the one of the Asse the other of his Master It is now a small village called Prevesa 6. Actium on the Sea-shore nigh unto which Augustus and Antony fought for the Empire of the world The Navy of the later consisted of 500 Gallies the former had 250 onely but those crowned with victory Antonius shamefully deserting his souldiers to follow after Cleopatra who on the very first charge fled away for Egypt The town now ruined the Promontory upon which it stood called Cabbo di Figulo The Countrey was first peopled by Dodonim the son of Javan or at least by some of his posterity coming hither from the Isle of Rhodes whose memory was preserved a long time in the Towne of Dodona him or from him so denominated Afterwards being parted into severall Nations and those Nations united in the common name of Epirots it became a great and powerfull Kingdome governed by a race of Kings descending from Pyrrhus the sonne of Achilles and continuing till the time of Pyrrhus the sonne of Aeacides A man of such courage and magnanimity that he did not onely recover his owne Kingdome of which Cassander had deprived his Father but got the Kingdome of Macedon from Cassanders children outed of which he tried his fortunes with the Romans Anno Mundi 3683. V. C. 471. After his death this Kingdome was shrewdly shaken by the Macedonians and shortly after subdued by Paulus Aemilius who as we now said destroyed 70 Cities hereof in one day For desirous to satisfie his souldiers after his victory in Macedon he sent unto the Epirots for ten of the principall men of every City These he commanded to deliver up all the gold and silver which they had and to that end as he gave out he sent certaine companies of souldiers along with them unto whom he gave secret instructions that on a day by him appointed they should fall to fack every one the town whereunto they were sent A barbarous and bloudy decree 70 Cities confederate with the Romans ruined in one day and no fewer then 150000 Epirots made and sold for slaves But the chief motive which induced him to so great a cruelty was by dispeopling this countrey lying with a long and faire Sea-coast over against Italy to give the Romans opportunity to land their Armies without any resistance for the further progresse of their Forces into Macedon Thrace Moesia or where else they pleased Which ungodly policie was afterwards imitated by William the Conquerour who laid wast all that part of Hampshire since called New Forrest and therein 36 Parish Churches that he might have a safe landing place for his Norman Forces if the English should at any time endeavour to make head against him Being made subject to the Romans it was a while part of the Province of Macedonia but afterwards when Macedonia was made a Diocese it became a distinct Province of it selfe called by the name of Old Epirus to difference it from the Province of New Fpirus which lay Eastward of it At the division of the Empire it belonged to the Constantinopolitans and so continued till the taking of Constantinople by the Western Christians at what time Throdorus Angelus a Prince of the Imperiall family seised on Aetolia and Epirus as before is said and sped so well in his designs that he took the strong City of Durazzo from the State of Venice to whom it fell in the division of that spoil and cunningly if not treacherously intercepted Peter the third Emperor of the Latines whom as some say he caused to be murdered at a banquet After his death his whole Estate being divided into two parts Aetolia with that part hereof which is called Chaonia continued in his house till the time of Charles Prince of Aetolia and Epirus spoken of before after whose death it was subdued by Amurath the second as before was said The residue hereof together with that part of Macedon which is called Albania fell to the family of the Caâ—triots the last of which named John the Father of Scanderbeg seeing himself unable to resist that Tyrant who had already swallowed up all his neighbour Princes submitted his estate unto him and gave unto him all his sonnes for hostages No sooner was the old Prince dead but Amurath seised on his estate murdered his three eldest sonnes and caused George the youngest to be trained up in the Law of Mahâ—met who afterwards escaping out of his power and recovering all his Fathers countries assumed also the style or title of Prince of Epirus After whose death his children not being able to make good their game lost it to Mahomet the Great as shall be shewn more fully in the storie and description of Albania which is next to follow 4 ALBANIA ALBANIA is bounded on the East with Macedonia on the West with the Adriatick on the North with Sâ—lavonia on the South with Epirus The countrey mountainous and barren watred with few Rivers and those of no great note amongst the Antients as 1 Laus 2 Apsus 3 Paniasus 4 Celidnus all of them falling into the Adriatick It took this name from the Albani once the Inhabitants of this tract from whom the chiefe City hereof was called Albanopolis Other townes of most consideration are 1 Stetigrade or Vestigard called
by the Macedonians together with Chalcis in the Isle of Euboea and the City of Corinth kept all Greece in awe and were therefore commonly called the Fetters of Greece the Grecians never thinking themselves at liberty till those townes were dismantled by the Romans 5 Pharsalis nigh to which was fought the great battell betwixt Caesar and Pompey for the Soveraignty of the Roman Empire a battell more famous then bloudy 6000 only of 300000 which were in the field on both sides being therein slain A battell before which the Pompeians were in such a miserable security that some of them contended for the Priesthood which was Caesars Office others disposed of the Consulship and preferments in the City of Rome Pompey himself being so rechlesse that he neither considered into what place it were best to flie if he lost the day or by what means he might provide for his own safety and end the war As if the war had been made against some ignoble Enemie and not against that Caesar who had taken 1000 Towns conquered 300 Nations tooke prisoners one million of men and slain as many 6 Philippi so named from Philip the Macedonian the first founder of it situate in the further part of the same plains of Pharsalia and famous for as memorable a Battell as that before and of no lesse consequence that namely betwixt Augusius and M. Antonius on the one side against Brutus and Cassius on the other these later being rather overcome by chance then valour For either of them thinking the other vanquished slew himself in the field being the two last that ever openly stood out for the common Liberty and therefore called by Cremutius Cordus Vltimi Romanorum or the last of the true Roman Spirits 7 Gomphi an ancient Citie bordering on Epirus 8 Pheroe in which Citie Alexander the Tyrant reigned against whom that noble Captain Pelopidas the Theban fighting was slain in battell the Tyrant being not long after murdered by his wifes brother and by that means all Thessalie recovering liberty 9 Pagasa situate on the Bay called Sinus Pelasgicus which from hence is sometimes named Pegasicus in which the ship called Argo was said to be built so famous for the renowned voyage of the Argonautes The hill Pelion spoken of before is not far from hence 10 Pythion or Pythoeum of great note for the Pythian games there celebrated in the honour of Apollo who hereabouts killed the Serpent Python the Conquerour in which games were crowned at the first only with an Oaken Garland but afterwards with one of Lawrell Of which thus the Poet Neve operis famam posset abolere vetustas Instituit sacros celebri certam ne ludos Pythia de domiti Serpentis nomine dictos c. Thus made to speak English by G. Sandys Then lest the well-deserved memorie Of such an act in future times should die He instituted the so famous Games Of free contention which he Pythia names Who ran who wrestled best or rak'd the ground With swiftest wheels the Oaken Garland crown'd These games together with the Olympick Isthmian and Nemaean spoken of before made the four annuall meetings amongst the Grecians renowned for the universall concourse of the noblest spirits 11 Doliche which together with Pythium and 12 Azorium another Citie of this tract standing near together are called in Livius the Historian by the name of Tripolis 13 Hypata the Metropolis of Thessalie so called by Heliodorus in his Aethiopick Historie before mentioned who placeth it near the Bay called Sinus Maliacus now Golfo di Ziton and not far from Mount Oeta bordering on the Province of Doris upon which Mountain Hercules being tortured with a poisoned shirt sent by his innocent wife Deianira said to have burned himself thence called Hercules Oeteus Of all which Towns Lamia Pagasa and Demetrias are in the Region called Phthiotis Larissa Doliche Phthium and Azorium in that called Pelasgia Gomphi and Trieca in Estiotis the rest in Thessalie properly and specially so named This Country at first called Aemonia afterwards Pelasgia then Pyrrhoea from Pyrrha the wife of Deucalion and finally Thessalia from Thessalus one of the companions of Hercules by Plinie is called Driopis Estiotis by Strabo Pelasgia by Diodorus and by Homer Argos the name of some chief Citie or particular Province being figuratively used for the whole Divided commonly into four parts 1 Thessaliotis 2 Estiotis 3 Pelasgiotis and 4 Phthiotis the name of Thessalie or Thessaliotis in the end prevailing accordingly distributed into severall governments united finally in the person of Philip the father of Alexander who partly by force but specially by art and practise made himself Master of the whole Continuing in a mixt condition betwixt free and subject under the Macedonian Kings of the second Race it became subject with that Kingdome to the State of Rome first reckoned as a part of the Province of Macedon after a Province of it self when Macedon was made a Diocese part of which it was But from a Province of that Diocese and a member of the Eastern Empire it was made a kingdome given with that title to Boniface Marquesse of Mont-ferrat in exchange for Candie together with the Citie of Thessalonica and some part of Peloponnesus at the division of that Empire amongst the Latines Which title he affected in regard that Reiner the brother of Boniface his Grandfather had formerly been created Prince of Thessalie by the Emperour Emanuel whose daughter Cyri Maria or the Lady Mary he had took to wife In him as it began so this title ended Thessalonica falling to the State of Venice Thessalie reverting to the Empire when the Greeks recovered it from whom subdued and added to the Turkish Empire in the reign of Amurath the 2. anno 1432. 2 MACEDON specially so called is bounded on the East with Mygdonia on the West with Albania on the North with Mount Haemus on the South with Thessalie The Country for the most part fruitfull as before was said but not so surfeiting with delights as to make the people wanton or esteminate in their course of life as being naturally good souldiers exact observers of military discipline and inured to hardnesse which their many signall victories doe most clearly evidence both in Greece and Asia The Greeks in the pride of their own wits reckoned them amongst the barbarous Nations and yet by a strange kinde of contradiction ascribe unto their Country the seats of the Muses For in this Country was Mount Pimple with a fountain of the same name at the foot thereof both consecrated to the Muses from hence called Pimpleides Here also was the hill Libethris and the Province of Pieria from whence the Muses had the names of Libethrides and Pierides by this last called more frequently then by any other name what ever especially by the Greeks themselves But the birth of Aristotle in this Country doth more convince the Grecians of this foolish arrogance then all the Muses in the world A man
his Sister to Pharnaces a noble Persian who had saved him from the fury of a ravenous Lion running upon him with full mouth as he was a hunting A noble loyalty and no lesse royally rewarded From him descended Ariarathes King hereof in the time of Alexander the Great continuing stedfast in his duty to the Crown of Persia when almost all the rest of the Kings of Asia yielded to the Enemy Nor did Alexander call him to account in his march for Persia But after his decease Perdiccas having the command of the Army set upon him vanquished him and most cruelly crucified him together with as many of his kindred as could be found One of his Sonnes who fortunately had escaped this slaughter spying his time when the Maccdonians were at warres amongst themselves recovered his estate again and passed it over to his off-spring continuing in his line without any subjection till the time of that Ariobarzanes who by Mithridates was deprived of his dominion as was told before Restored again unto his Kingdome by the power of the Romans he became their Homager holding as did his Successours by their courtesie onely Continuing yet in state of Kings till the death of Archelaus the last King hereof Who having angred Tiberius for not attending on him when he lived at Rhodes during the life-time of Augustus as did others of the tributary States and Princes was by him then possessed of the Empire cited unto Rome under colour of projecting somewhat against the State Where the old Prince even spent with Age the Cout and some other diseases had without question been condemned by the servile Senate but that one of the Witnesses deposed that he had said that if ever he went back into Cappadocia Tiberius should find quales sibi nervi essent what a man he was Which moved such a laughter in the Senate the old King being neither able to sit nor stand that he was dismissed Tiberius thinking that he could not punish him more effectually than to let him live A favour which the old King construed to the best and in the way of gratitude bequeathed his Kingdome at his death to the Empire of Rome Being added to the Roman Empire it was exceedingly enlarged by the addition of the greatest part of the Kingdome of Pontus and so it stood in the time of Ptolomy who reckoneth Pontus Galaticus Cappadocius and Polemoniacus as parts and members of this Province Divided besides those into these eight Praefectures that is to say Clamaniensis Sarguransene Gardaocreta Cilicia Tyanidis Lycaonia Antiochiana and Cataonia But Pontus Lycaonia and Antiochiana he meanes Pisidia as I take it being made Provinces of themselves by the Emperour Constantine it returned unto its naturall bounds and made one Province of the Empire of which Caesarea as is said before was the Metropolitan and so remained till the Emperour Valens ae great Patron of the Arian faction of purpose to despight St. Basil who opposed that heresie created another Province out of it called Cappadocia secunda whereof the Metropolis was Tyana After this it continued part of the Eastern Empire till the erecting of the new Empire of Trabezond together with which it fell unto the hands of the Turkes by whom the whole Province with the addition of Pontus is now called Amasia after the name of that City which the Beglerbeg of Anatolia honoureth with his residence and is said to yield yearly to the Grand Seigneur 60000. Ducats 6. ARMENIA MINOR ARMENIA MINOR is bounded on the East with Euphrates which parteth is from Armenia Maâ—or on the South with Mount Taurus which separates it from Cilicia on the West and North with a long chain of hills called Mons Scordiscus by some called Mons Amanus by others Anti-â—aurus according to the change of places by which divided from Cappadocia Of the reason of the name hereafter The Countrey of the same nature with Cappadocia before described in some parts over-grown with Mountains by which and by the River Euphrâ—â—es so inclosed and fenced that it is difficult of entrance in others pleasant and delightfull well watered with sweet streams and some fair Rivers issuing out of the Mountains the principall whereof is Melas so called from the blacknesse of the water thereof which â—alleth into the Euphrâ—â—es Divided in the time of the Romans into these four Regions that is to say Laviana Aravena Meâ—â—ene lying on the Euphrates Marâ—â—â—â— more within the land towards Cappadocia each of which had their severall Câ—â—ies whose names are to be found in Ptolomie The principall 1. Melitenâ— the chief City of the Region so called and the Metropolis of the lesser Armenia Called afterwards Malaxia and now Suur the territory thereof abounding in Oyle and Wine not inferiour to the best of Greece The City said by Onuphrius to be a Colonie of the Romans much spoken of by Eusebius and other writers of Ecâ— estiasticall story for the piety of the Christians there inhabiting in the fiery times of Per 〈◊〉 2. Nicopolis and 3. Oroâ—â—andus in the Mountain Countries the former built by Pompey in memory of his victory there obtained against the forces of Tigranes King of Syria and both Armonia's 4. Garnace a well â—ortified town mentioned by Tacâ—tus in the twelfth book of his Annals and by him called Gorneas 5. Cuousâ—n and 6. Arabyssus memorable for the exile of Saint Crrsostome Patriarch of Constantinple confined unto these places by the power and malice of the Empresse Eudoxia by whom hated for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in points of faith who dying afterwards at Comana of Cappadocia was there interred This Countrey was once part of Cappadocia till the Armenians by their incursions and Colonies pessessed themselves of it and gave unto it the name of Armenia Minor continuing part of their estate till the warre of 〈◊〉 against the Romans Who being discomfited by Lucullus fled with two thousand hâ—rse to the Court of Tigranes the Armenian who had married his daughter By whom at first neglected and not suffered to come into his presence but afterwards on the apprehension of the common danger more esteemed and set by insomuch that his royall entertainment there and the refusall of Tigranes to yield him up when required by the Romanâ— occasioned Lucullus to bring his forces into these parts subduing all before him to the bankes of Euphrate His victories being seconded by Pomper and confirmed by Augustus this Countrey was made a Province of the Roman Empire the greater Armâ—nia lying on the other side of that River though conquered also in that warre not being taken into the accompt of the Roman Provinces till the time of Traian Augustus thinking it an high point of wisdome as no doubt it was not to extend the Empire beyond those bankes After this it continued Roman till the declining times of the Eastern Empire when wasted by the Persians and subdued by the Turkes by whom called Genech or as some say Pegia And so much of the Provinces of the
as Jacobites distinct from all other Christians is 1. The acknowledgement but of one nature one will and one operation as there is but one person in Christ our Saviour 2. In signing their Children before Baptism in the Face or Arm with the sign of the Cross imprinted with a burning iron 3. Retaining Circumcision and using it in both Sexes 4. Affirming the Angels to consist of two substances Fire and Light and 5. Honouring the memory of Dioseurias of Alexandria and Jacobus Syrus condemned by the antient Councils The points wherein they differ from the Church of Rome 1. Not enjoining on the People the necessity of Confession to a Priest before they admit them to communicate 2. Not admitting Purgatory nor Prayers for the Dead 3. Administring the Sacrament of the Eucharist in both kinds 4. Allowing the marriage of Priests And 5. Teaching that the souls of men deceased are not admitted presently to the Vision of God but remain somewhere in the Earth to expect Christs coming In which last letting aside the determination of the place as they have many of the Fathers concurring with them so to the first touching the unity of nature in our Saviour Christ they have of late added such qualifications as possibly may make it capable of an Orthodox sense Chief Rivers of this Countrey besides Tigris and Euphrates of which more hereafter 1. Chabiras which rising in Mount Masius passing directly South falleth into Euphrates as also doth 2. Syngarus by Pliny called Masca arising out of the Mountain Syngarus which is but the more Western part of the said Mount Masius Which names of Masea Masius and the Masicni being the name of a People dwelling thereabouts shew plainly that they go upon very good grounds who place Mesch or Mesich one of the sonnes of Aram in these parts of the Countrey It was divided antiently into 1. Anthemasia 2. Chalcitis 3. Gaulinitis 4. Accabene 5. Ancorabitis and 6. Ingine each part containing several Cities or Towns of name These six when conquered by the Romans reduced unto two Provinces onely viz. 1. Mesopotamia lying on the South of Mount Masius or the head of Chaboras and 2. Osrloene on the North this last so named from one Osrhoes the Prince or Governout of these parts in the time of the Persians as Procopius telleth us Chief places of the whole 1. Edessa the Metropolis of Osrhoene situate on the River Scirtas which runneth thorow the middest of it not far from the fall thereof into Euphrates Memorable for the Story of Agbarus before related amongst Church-Historians and in the Roman Histories for the death of the Emperor Caracalla slain here by the appointment of Macrinus Captain of his guard The occasion this The Emperour conscious to himself of his own unworthiness employed one Maternianus to enquire amongst the Magicians in the Empire who was most likely to succeed him by whom accordingly advertised that Macrinus was to be the man The letters being brought unto Caracalla as he was in his Chariot were by him delivered with the rest of the Packets to the hands of Macrinus who by his Office was to be attendant on the Emperiours person that he might open them and signifie unto him the contents thereof at his better leisure Finding by this the danger in which he stood he resolved to strike the first blow and to that end entrusted Martialis one of his Centurions with the execution by whom the Emperour was here killed as he withdrew himself Levandae vesicae gratia as my Author hath it So impossible a thing it is to avoid ones Destiny so vain a thing for any Prince to think of destroying his Successor and therefore very well said to Nero in the times of his tyranny Omnes licet occider is Successorem tunm occidere non potes that though he caused all the men of eminence to be forthwith murdered yet his Successor would survive him and escape the blow But to return unto Edessa in following times it was made one of the four Tetrarchies of the Western Christians when they first conquered Syria and the Holy Land the two first Governors or Tetrarchs successively succeding Godfrey of Bouillon in the Kingdome of Hierusalem But in the year 1142. it was again recovered by Sanguin the Turk Father of Noradin Sultan of Damascus and by the loss thereof no fewer than three Arch-Bishopricks withdrawn from the obedience of the See of Antioch 2. Cologenbar another strong peece adjoining besieged on the taking of Edessa by the same Sanguin who was here stabbed in a drunken quarrell by one of his familiar friends and the Fort saved for that time 3. Nisibis situate somewhat to the East of Mount Masius called also Antiochia Mygdonia from the River Mygdonius which runneth thorow it and afterwards Constantia from Constantius the Sonne of Constantine A City of great note in those elder times a Roman Colony and the Metropolis of the Province of Mesopotamia properly and specially so called which being besieged by Supores the King of Persia Constantius ruling in the East and in no small danger to be lost was gallantly defended by James the then Bishop of it whom Theodoret calls not onely Episcopum Civitatis sed Principem Ducem not the Bishop only of the City but the Prince and Captain of it libr. 2 cap 31. So little inconsistencie was there found in those early daies betwixt the Episcop all function and civill businesses that the Bishops were not interdicted from the Acts of war when the necessities of the State did invite them to it The City not long after most unworthily delivered to the said Sapores by the Emperour Jovinian which drew along with it in short time the loss of the Province 4. Vr seated on the East of Nisibis betwixt it and Tigris and so placed by Ammianus who had travelled this Countrey Conceived to be the Birth-place of Abraham and called Vr of the Chaldees Gen. 11. 28. either because the Chaldees were in those daies possessed of the place or because the name of Chaldaea did comprehend also those parts of this Countrey which lay towards Tigris as was shewn before For that the place from which Terah the Father of Abraham did return to Haran in Mesopot amia was rather situate in this coast where Vr is placed by Ammianus than betwixt the Lakes of Chaldaea and the Persiau Golf where most Writers place it may appear probable for these reasons 1. Because it is said by Josuah chap. 24. ver 12. That Terah the Father of Abraham and the Father of Nachor dwelt on the other side of the Flood that is to say on the further side of the River Emphrates and that too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Septuagim ab initio as the Vulgar Latine in the first beginning Which cannot be understood of any Vr placed on or neer the Lakes of Chaldaea those being on this side of that River 2. Because all the rest of Abrahams Ancestors from Phaleg downwards were
horse into the green together with a mare which the horse then covered In the morning the Princes met and Darius his horse knowing the place and longing for his mare neighed lustily on which the Princes presently acknowledge Darius for their King The restoring of the Kingdome 3443. 3. Darius Hystaspis one of the seven Persian Princes descended from Cyrus the fourth King of the Persians thus elected King took Babylon which had revolted by the ingenious fetches of Zopirus and over-ran all Asia and some part of Greece 36. 3479. 4. Xerxes to revenge the overthrow at Marathron attempted to subdue the Greeks by whom he was overthrown in the navall battle of Salamâ—s and that famous and honourable exploit of the Graecians at Thermopylae 21. 3500. 5. Artaxerxes Longâ—manus was he who sent Esdras to re-build the Temple of the Lord and received Themistocles being banished from Athens This also was he as some would have it whom the Scriptures call Ahasuerus the Husband of Hester though others choose rather to place that story in the time of Xerxes 44. 3544. 6. Darius II. surnamed Nothus in whose time the Aegyptians revolted and chose a King of their own 19 3563. 7. Artaxerxes II. from the greatness of his memory surnamed Mnemon under whom hapned that famous retreat of Xenophon with an handfull of Graecians thorow most of the Provinces of this Empire by which they shewed the way to the Macedenians 3599. 8. Ochus a great Tyrant but a valiant Prince recovered Aegypt subdued Syria Cyprus and some part of India and was at last slain by Bagoas one of the Eunuchs of his Chamber 3625. 9. Arses the sonne of Ochus most villanously murdered by the same Eunuch for fear he should revenge the death of his Father 3629. 10. Darius III. Governour of Armenia and Cousin German of Ochus before his comming to the Crown named Codomannus by the means of the said Bagoas made sole Monarch of Persia But being vanquished by Alexander the Great in the three battels of Granicus Cilicia and Arbela the Empire of the Persians was transferred to the Graecians A. M. 3635. The certain Revenues of this great Monarchy seem to have been 14560 Talents for so much the last Darius received yearly But what the casuall and extraordinary Intrado was is not easie to say though manifest it is and demonstrable by many strong and evident reasons that they farre exceeded the certain For first the Persian Monarchs were Kings of 127 Provinces Secondly Darius offered to Alexander for the ransome of his mother and two daughters 30000 Talents of Gold Thirdly Alexander found in the Treasury of Damascus 2600 Talents in that of Susa 50000 Talents of Gold uncoyned in that of ' Pasagardis 60000 Talents in that of Ecbatana 26000 Talents in that of Persepolis 120000 Talents in all 204600 Talents besides the infinite riches of the Treasury of Babylon yielded into his hands by Bagophâ—â—nes and other places of note noâ— particularly specified an huge and most unspeakable summe Fourthly in that the gold and riches which Alexander now a Conqueror sent from Persia to Macedon and Greece besides that which every Captain and common Souldier had provided and laid up for his own maintenance loaded ten thousand Mules and five thousand Camels After this overthrow of the Persian Monarchy this Nation lay obscure 535 years viz. from the 3635 year of the world to the 228 year of CHRIST of which time they were 83 years under the Syrian Successors of Alexander and 452 years under the Arsacidan Kings of Parthia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. as Herodiâ—in For after Darius had lost his Kingdome to Alexander the Macedonian and after the Victor himself was dead also the more potent Captains divided Asia among them But discords often arising and the Macedonions puissance by these often broiles not smally broken Arsaces one of the Parthian Nobility perswaded the barbarous people of the East and among them the Persians to cast off the Greek yoak and stand for their liberty he himself taking upon him the title of King and inversting himself with a Diadem A. M. 3718. The Persians by this revolt got little or nothing having indeed not changed the Tyranny but the Tyrant onely these Parthian Princes lording it with as high an insolencie as ever the old Persian Monarchs or the Kings of Syria did before From this Arsaces all the rest of his Successors and those too of the family of Artabanus or the second race of arthian Kings took that name upon them as the Roman Emperors that of Caesar or the old Aegyptian Kings the name of Pharaoh Their usual stile was Rex Regum or King of Kings and by that stile with arogance and insolence inough Vologeses thus inscribed his letters to Vespasian the Roman Emperor Arsaces Rex Regum Flavio Vespasiano giving himself the title of Kings of Kings but the other nothing but his bare names onely To which Vespasian without taking notice of the Parthians pride returned his answer to him with this superscription Fl. Vespasianus Regi Regum Arsacidi whether with more scorn or modesty it is hard to say They also called themselves the Brethren of the Sun and Moon which were the chiefest Gods they worshipped Great Princes questionless they were and kept the Romans harder to it than all the Kings and States in the world besides whose names and acts occurre in these following Catalogues of 2. The Arsacidan or Parthian race of the Kings of Persia A. M. 3718. 1. Arsaces the founder of the Parthian family 3741. 2. Mithridates or Arsaces the 2d assaulted by Antiochus Magnus with an Army of 120000 men but without success 3761. 3. Pampatius 3773. 4. Phraartes the sonne of Pampatius 3783. 5. Mithridates II. brother of Phraartes subdued the Medes and extended his Empire to Euphrates 6. Phraartes II. slain in a warre against the Scythians 3857. 7. Artabanus Uncle to Phraartes the 2d 8. Pacorus the sonne of Artabanus 9. Mithridates III. brother of Pacorus 3903. 10. Horodes brother of Mithridates whom he overcame and caused to be slain in his own sight He also vanquished M. Crassus and flew 20000 Romans and because Crassus was reported to be wondrous covetous he caused molten gold to be powred down his throat A miserable death but in respect of the divine Providence a most just revenge upon him for his sacrilege in robbing the Temple of Hierusalem as he marched towards the Parthians The overthrow and the disgrace which thereby hapned to the Romans was not long afterwards recompensed by Ventidius one of the Lieutenants of Mark Antony the Triumvir who flew great numbers of them in a pitched field and amongst others Pacorus the Kings sonne the day of the battell being the same in which Crassus had before been vanquished After this victory for which Ventidius had the honour of a Triumph and the first Triumph that ever the Romans had beheld for a Parthian victory he was in a fair way to have ruined this Kingdom to have
Mahomet having treacherously practised the death of Mirza his elder brother suceeeded his Father recovered almost all which the Turks had gained and added the Kingdomes of Ormus Heri Candahor and Hyrcania to the Crown of Persia 7. Soffie the Nephew of Abas by his sonne Mirza whose eyes he caused to be put out on a false suspition at the age of fifteen years succeeded committed by his Grand-father during his minority to the protection of Emangoly Chawn or Duke of Shyras A Prince who since he came to age hath had a good hand against the Turks attempting the recovery of Bagdel and other places which had been taken from them in the time of Abas The Government of these Persian Kings though it be despoticall and severe hath a great deal less of the Tyrant in it than any other of the Mahometan Kings or Princes these cherishing their Brethren maintaining Nobility amongst them and incouraging industry which makes them to be better served than the Turk or Tartar to both whom they are farre inferiour both in power and treasure Their Officers of of State and men of principall inployment for the most part Eunuchs as generally in all the Empires of the East such Persons being thought most trusty because abstracted from the obligations of wife and children they study more the Princes service than their own advantages Their forces consist most of Horse to which they are inclined more generally than to serve on root and yet the greatest body of horse which they have brought at any time into the field came not to above 30000 but those well furnished and appointed maintained on Lordships and Estates after the manner of the Turkish Timariots The Foot-Souldiers of his own Countries but poor and raw and very seldome stand their ground That defect being for the most part supplied by Mercinaries The inconvenience of which being found by Sultan Abas he served himself of children bought of Christian Parents neer the Euxine Sea from whence the Egyptian Sultans had their Mamalucks whom they call by the name of Cozel-Bassas or Red-capâ— so named from the colour of their Turbans trained up by them in their Religion and warlike Discipline as the Turks their Janizaries yet farre inferiour to the Turk against whom if they have prevailed since the time of Abas they may ascribe the greatest part of their good fortune to those divisions and Rebellions which in these late times have been frequent in the Turkish Empire And as for their Sea-forces they are inconsiderable For though they have a large Sea-coast both on the Persian Bay the Caspian Sea and the Southern Ocean yet are they very poor in shipping suffering the Moscovite to ingross the trade of the Caspian Sea the Portug â—â— to manage that of the Southern Ocean as formerly that also of the Persian Bay till the taking of Ormuz The Revenues of this Kingdome in the time of Hysmael the first Sophy were exceeding great insomuch that Tamas his Successor to ingratiate himself with all sorts of people released them of all kinds of Customes imposed on Merchandise either imported or exported And this they say amounted to the summe of 90000 Tomans yearly which reckoning every Toman at 20 Crowns made up a million and 800000 Crowns of annuall income Which notwithstanding his Revenue was computed at four or five millions of Crowns yearly raised out of Domain lands the tenth of fruits the profit of mines and the 〈◊〉 payed by every subject when he sets up shop But Tamas finding this not to be sufficient to maintain his Royalty doubled the value of his money and thereby for the present his Revenues also Since that they have been much empaired by the Conquests made upon them by the Turks who had got from them so much land as maintained 40000 Timariots and yielded to the grand Signeur one million of yearly income whether improved again or not to their former height I am not able to determine And so much for Persia OF TARTARIA ARTARIA is bounded on the East with China the Orient all Ocean and the streights of Anian by which parted from America on the West with Russia and Podotra a Province of the Realm of Poland on the North with the main Scythick or frozen Ocean and on the South with part of China from which separated by a mighty wall the the River Oxus parting it from Bactria and Margiana two Persian Provinces the Caspian Sea which separates it from Media and Hyrcania the Caucasian Mountains interposing betwixt it and Turcomania and the Euxine which divideth it from Anatolia and Thrace So called from the Tartars a puisant and mighty people now possessed hereof the reason of whose name we shall shew hereafter It containeth all those great and spacious Provinces which the antients called Seres Scythia extra Imaum Scythia intra Imaum Sacae Sogdiana the greatest part of Sarmatia Asiatica and part of Sarmatia Europaea extending it self the whole length of Asia from the River Tanais to the Eastern Ocean taking in Taurica Chersonesus and some other parts of Europe also So that if we measure it by miles it is said to contain 5400 from East to West and 3600 from North to South a greater quantity of ground than the Turkish Empire but of less fertility and accompt In measuring by the way of degrees it reacheth from the 50. degree of Longitude to the 195. which is 145. degrees from West to East and from the 40th degree of Northern Latitude unto the 80th which is within ten degrees of the Pole it self By which accompt it lieth from the beginning of the sixt Clime where the longest day in summer is 15 hours till they cease measuring by Climates the longest day in the most Northern parts hereof being full six moneths and in the winter-half of the year the night as long The Countrey lying under such different Meridians and such distant Climes must needs be such as no generall Character can be given of it and therefore we shall deferre that with the names of the Rivers and chief Mountains to the description of the several and particular Provinces But for the people being much of the same nature in every part we may take the measure of them here Affirmed to be of square Stature broad faces hollow eyes thin beards thick lips flat noses ugly Countenances swart of complexion not so much by the heat of the Sunne which keeps farre enough off as their naturall sluttishness Barbarous every where in behaviour especially in those parts which they call Asiatica and Antiqua but withall very strong of body swift of footmanship vigilant in time of service and patient of all extremities both of cold and hunger The women suitable to the men scorning or wanting ornaments to set themselves out or when they do they seldome go beyond copper feathers or such precious gew-gawes In behaviour they are rude and barbarous as before was said eacing their Enemies when they take them as in way of revenge first letting
Fire and the very Earth to which they offered in the morning fasting the first of their meats and drinks Their Idols made of Felt and placed on both sides of the doors of their tents or booths as the preservers of their Cattel and the Authors of milk Divided into five Clans or Tribes denominating so many Towns and territories in which they dwelâ— that is to say 1. Mongul 2. Yekâ—-Mongul or the Great Mongul 3. Sommongul or the water-Mongul 4. Mercat 5. Metrit each of them Governed by its Chief as commonly it is amongst barbarous Nations though all those Chiefs subordinate to some higher power Oppressed by Uncham or Unt-cham the King of Tenduc who invaded their pastures and compelled them to pay unto him the tenth of their Cattel with joint consent they removed somewhat further off and denied their Tribute This opportunity was taken by Cingis one of the Tribe of the Yekâ—-Monguls and so well husbanded that they admitted him for their King For publishing abroad amongst the Credulous people that an armed man appeared to him in his sleep with a white horse and said â— Cangius or Cingis it is the will of immortall God that thou be Governour of the Tartars and free them from bondage and paying tribute he found a generall belief especially amongst those of his own Clan who joyning themselves to him followed him as their Ring-leader in all his actions Thus backed and strengthned he made warre against the Sommonguls â—lew their Commander and subdued them and by their help successively assaulted the Mercats and Metrits whom he also vanquished And having thus subdued all the Clans of the Tartars and added the estates of Thebâ—t and Tanguth unto his Dominions he was by the consent of the seven Princes or Chiefs of their Clans Thebetâ— and Tanguth being added to the former number placed on a seat on a peece of Felt the best throne they had or could afford and saluted King with as great reverence and solemnity as their state could yield And first to make triall of his power and their obedience he commanded the seven Chiefs or Princes to surrender their places and each of them to cut off the head of his eldest sonne which was done accordingly Had John of Leiden been a Scholar as he was but a Botcher I should think he had studied the Acts of Cingis and proceeded by them Assured by this of their fidelity and obedience he set upon the Naymans a people of the Kingdom of Tenduc whom he overcame And now conceiving himself fit for some great alliance he sent to Uncham and demanded one of his daughters for his wife Which Uncham with some threats but more scorn denying he marched against him slew him in the field and possessed his daughter and with her also his estate Proud with this good success and encouraged by so great an increase of power he invaded the Kingdome of Cathay pretending for that also the authority of an heavenly vision in the name of the immortall God in which attempt discomfited at first with a very great overthrow but at last victorious conquering the several nations of it by one and one till in the end he brought the warre to the chief City of that Kingdome which at last he took and therewithall the title of Cham or Emperor Continuing in this dignity for the space of six years and every year adding somewhat to his dominions he was at last wounded in the knee at the Castle of Thaygin of which wound he died and was honourably buried in Mount Altay This is the best accompt I am able to give of the beginning of this great Empire the originall of this spreading Nation and the description of the Country of their first habitation They that have christned some of the most Northern parts of it by the names of the Tribes of Dan and Napthalim and accordingly placed them in their Maps might with more credit have supplied those vacant places which they knew not otherwise how to fill with the pictures of wild beasts or monstrous fishes which might well enough have pleased the eye without betraying the judgement of the looker on Of his Successors I am able to make no certain Catalogue their names being doubtfully delivered and the succession much confounded amongst our writers the names of the Provincial Sultans being many times imposed upon us instead of those of the Chams themselves But we will wade through those difficulties as well as we can and exhibit as perfect a Catalogue of them as the light of story will direct me first adding what should have been before remembered that it is recorded that Cingis before he joyned battel with Uncham consulted with his Diviners and Astrologers of the success They taking a green reed cleft it asunder writ on the one the name of Cingis and Uncham on the other and placed them not farre asunder Then fell they to reading their Charms and conjurations and the reeds fell a fighting in the sight of the whole Army Cingâ—s Reed overcomming the other whereby they foretold the joyfull news of victory to the Tartars which accordingly hapned And this was the first step by which this base and beggerly Nation began to mount unto the chair of Empire and Soveraignty whereas before they lived like beasts having neither letters nor faith nor dwelling nor reputation nor valor nor indeed any thing befitting a man as before was said The great Chams of Tartars A. C. 1162. 1. Cingis Cinchius Zingis or Changius was made King or Cham of the Tartars he subdued Tenduch and Cathaia changing the name of Scythians and Scythia to Tartartans and Tartariâ— 6. 1168. 2. Jocuchan Cham or Hoccata succeeded In his time the name of Tartar was first known in Europe Anno 1212. in which year they drove the Polesockie from the banks of the Euxine Sea By his Captain Bathu or Roâ—do he subdued Moscovia planted his Tartars in Taurica Chersonesus wasted Hungary Bosnia Servia Bulgaria and by his other Captains took Pâ—rsia from the Turks 3. Zaincham Bathu or Barcham ruined the Turks Kingdom of Damascus and Asia the lesse 4. Gino Châ—m whose daughter conveyed the Empire unto her husband Tamerlane or Tamberlâ—ne 1370. 5. Tamir-Cutlu Tamir-Cham or Tamerlane a great tyrant but withall an excellent Souldier It is thought that he subdued more Provinces in his life-time than the Romans had done in 800 years Of whose acts we have spoke at large Dying he divided his great Empire amongst his Children as Persia to Miza Charok his fourth sonne Zagathay to another perhaps unto Sautochus his eldest sonne and so to others 1405. 6. Lutrochin the second sonne of Tamerlane succeeded in Cathay though the eldest was before proclamed which his Father had before prognosticated who when his sons came to him before his death laid his hand on the head of Sautochus who was the eldest but lifting up the chin of Lutrochin who was the second He lived not long succeeded to by 7. Atlan who added little
in site and the true type or Figure of the old English Puritan opposite to the Papist in things fit and decent though made ridiculous many times by that opposition In other things they do much resemble those of China if not the more ceremonious of the two washing their infant-children in the neerest River as soon as born and putting off their shooes when they go to meat The people have but one Language but that so intermingled with the words of others nations that it seems rather to be many languages than one They have long used the Art of printing which probably enough they might have from China the Characters whereof are a kind of Brachygraphy and signifie not only letters but some whole words also In matter of Religion Gentiles adoring antiently the Sun Moon and the Stars of Heaven and giving divine honour to wild beasts and the Stags of the Forrests but specially worshiping some of their deceased Priests and Princes by the names of Fotoques and 〈◊〉 the first of which they use to pray for goods of the other world and to the last for Temporall blessings Theâ—â— Priests they call by the name of Bonzes setled in goodly Convenâ—s and endowed with very large Revenues who though divided into eleven different if not contrary Sects do well enough agree in denying the providence of God and the immortality of the soul Of late times by the care and diligence of the 〈◊〉 Christianity hath begun to take footing here whether with such a large increase as their letters called Epistolae Japanicae have been pleased to tell us I am somewhat doubtfull They tell us there of some Kings of these Ilands whom they have converted and baptized that within 50 miles of 〈◊〉 they had 50 Churches 200 at the least in all that in the year 1587 the number of their Converts was two hundred thousand Of this if the one half be but true we have great cause to praise God for it and to give them the commendation of their pains and industry not letting pass the memory of the first 〈◊〉 who was Father Xavier one of the first foundation of this Society employed in this 〈◊〉 by Ignâ—tâ—â—s the first founder of it who landed here about the year 1556. Rivers of note I find not any though the Iland be generally well-watered more memorable for two mountains in it than for all the Rivers One of which called Figâ—noiama is said to transcend the clouds in height the other but without a name useth to cast forth dreadfull flames like Stcilian Aetna on the top whereof the Devill environed with a white and shining cloud doth sometimes shew himself unto such of his 〈◊〉 as live about this hill an abstemious life like the antient Hermits Chief Cities of the whole Ilands 1. Meaco seated in Japan and the chief of that Iland formerly 21 miles in compass but now by reason of their warrs scarce a third part of it The ordinary residence of the 〈◊〉 or three principall Magistrates which sway the affairs of all these Ilands oâ— whom the first entituled 〈◊〉 hath the chief care in sacred matters the 2d named Voo doth preside in Civill and the third called 〈◊〉 manageth the concernments of Peace and Warre At this time it is used for the common Eâ—pâ—â—y of the trade of 〈◊〉 that people not permitting Merchants to come amongst them but bringing to this place their merchandise as the common Staple where they are sure to meet with Chapmen to buy it of them 2. Ossacay a great and renowned City conceived to be the richest in all the East of so great trade that every ordinary merchant is said to be worth 30000 Crowns 3. 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 at the foot of the chill so called and about nine miles from Meaco An University of the Bâ—nzeâ— for whose convenience and study one of the Kings of Japan is said to have founded in this Town and about that mountain 3800 Convents and to endow it with the third part of the Revenues of the Kingdom of Vorn These Colleges or Convents now reduced to 800 onely but still the Vniversity of such same and credit that they give not the command or government of it unto any but the Kings sonne or his neerest kinsman 4. Banoâ—m another of their Vniversities where they give degrees affirmed to be as big as Paris 5. Bongo the chief of all that Province in which the Jesuites have a College the Japonues learn the Portugal language and the Europaeans that of Japan 6. Coia the sepulture of their Princes or of some part of them it being antiently ordained that if their whole bodies be not here interred they must at least send one of their teeth 7. Fiongo about 18. leagues from Meaco the subject of many great misfortunes Destroyed in part by Nabunanga one of the Kings of this Iland who lived Anno 1550 that which he left terribly shattered by an Earth-quake Anno 1596. most of the ruins of it since consumed by fire 8. Amangasaqui five leagues from the Sea 9. Surungo as big as London with the Suburbs 10 Edâ—o a much fairer than that and the chief Seat of one of their Kings 11. Firando a seat-Royall also of some other King where in the year 1613. there was a Faâ—tory established for the English Merchants 12. Ochinofamanus one of their most noted Havens 13. Tosa or 〈◊〉 giving name to one of the Ilands These Ilands utterly unknown to the Antients were first discovered by Antonio Mota a Portugal in the year 1542. I know Mercator taketh it for the Aureâ— Chersonesus spoken of by Ptolomy and I cannot choose but wonder at it The situation of it so far distant from that of the Chersonese that either Mercator must be grossely out in his conjecture or Ptolomy as much mistaken in his informations which no man hitherto can justly accuse him of But passing by the improbability of Mercators fancy we are to know that in former times these Ilands were subject to one Prince whom they obeyed and reverenced with great affection which government continued as themselves report 1600 years in great State and Majesty But in the end the Dairi so they call their King addicting himself wholly unto pleasures and laying the burden of Government upon other mens shoulders his Deputies or inferiour Officers usurped Regaâ— power plumed themselves with Eagles feathers used in their stiles the name of Jucatas or Kings and in a word left nothing but the name of Dairi to their Lord and Soveraign His issue to this day do enjoy that title and but little else the Princes bordering on Meacâ— once his Royall seat hardly allowing him sufficient means to find himself victuall and Apparell but otherwise befooling him with as glorious titles as if he were possessed still of his antient power Onely they let him execute the place of an Harald in giving Arms and selling dignities and honours which brings him in the greatest profit he hath to trust to Of all these Kings he
Forerunner to a following dearth but prognosticateth some ensuing mischief to the Prince and State Confirmed by the testimony of good and creditable Authors who have told us that in the 10. and 11. years of Cleopatra the River increased not at all that it was noted as a Foreteller of the Fall of those two great but unfortunate Princes Cleopatra her Sweetheart Antonius A second commodity which ariseth from the over-flowings of Nilus is the health which it bringeth with it in most parts of the Country the Plague which oftentimes miserably rageth upon the first day of the flood abating instantly insomuch that whereas 500. may die of that disease in the City of Caire but the day before there dieth not one of it on the day following A third wonder in this River is that keeping its waters united in a body together after it falleth into the Sea it changeth the colour of the Mediterranean further then any part of it can be seen from the shore Add unto these the many living creatures which the slime thereof engendreth on the withdrawing of the River to its natural channel whereof Ovid thus Sic ubi deseruit madidos septemfluus agros Nilus antiquo sua flumina reddidit alveo Plurima Cultores versis Animalia glebis Inveniunt Which I English thus So when the Seven-mouth'd Nile the fields forsakes And to his ancient Channel him betakes The Plough-men many living Creatures find By turning up the mud that 's left behind Amongst which Creatures so ingendered are said to be such innumerable heaps of Frogs that if Nature or Divine Providence rather did not furnish this Country with a proportionable number of Storks by whom they are greedily devoured the Plague of Frogs would come a second time upon them to their utter destruction Now because Nilus runneth in its certain Channels and that the People have no other water to make use of for all necessities there are many By-trenches and deep Ditches cut in convenient places by the care and munificence of their Kings to receive its waters and to communicate them to the People who know almost no other drink then the waters hereof and indeed they need not the water of this River being of such excellent both taste and vertue that when Pescominus Niger saw his Souldiers murmure for want of Wine What said he do you grumble for wine having the waters of Nile to drink On the banks of the River stood that famous Labyrinth built by Psamniticus which we have touched upon before situate on the South of the Pyramides and North of Arsinoe or the City of Crocodiles It contained within the compasse of one continued wall a thousand houses and twelve Royal Palaces all covered with Marble and had only one entrance but innumerable turnings and returnings sometimes one over another and all in a manner invious to such as were not well acquainted with them The building more under the ground then above the Marble stones laid with such art that neither Wood nor Cement was imployed in any part of the Fabrick the Chambers so disposed that the Doors upon their opening did give a report no lesse terrible then a crack of Thunder the main Entrance all of White-marble adorned with stately Columns and most curious Imagerie The end at length being attained a pair of Stairs of 90 steps conducted into a gallant Portice supported with Pillars of Theban stone which was the entrance into a fair and spacious Hall the place of their generall Conventions all of polished Marble set out with the Statues of their Gods A work which afterwards was imitated by Daedalus in the Cretane Labyrinth though that fell as short of the glories of this as Minos was inferior unto Psamniticus in power and riches On the Banks of this River also grew those sedgie Weeds called Papyri of which Paper was made in former times They divided it into thin flakes into which it naturally parteth then laying them on a Table and moyst'ning them with the glutinous waters of the River they prested them together and after dryed them in the Sun By means of this Invention Books being easier to be transcribed and reserved then formerly Ptolomie Philadelphus made his excellent Library at Alexandria and understanding how Attalus King of Pergamus by the benefit of this Egyptian Paper strived to exceed him in that kind of magnificence prohibited the carrying of it out of Egypt Hereupon Attalus invented the use of Parchments made of the skins of Calves and Sheep from the materials called Membranae and Pergamena from the place where they were invented The convenience whereof was the cause that in short time the Egyptian Paper was worn out of use in place whereof succeeded our Paper made of Rags the Authors of which excellent Invention our Progenitors have forgotten to commit to memory Before the use of these Papers and Parchments were first made known I observe three wayes of writing amongst the Antients I hope I shall be pardoned this short digression 1. On the inward side of the Bark of a Tree which is in Latine called Liber and whence Books have the name of Libri 2. On Tables framed out of the main body of a Tree which being called Caudex gave the Latines occasion to call a Book Codex 3. They used to cover their Tables over with Wax and thereon to write what they had to signifie from whence a Letter-carrier was named Tabellarius The Instrument wherewith they wrote was a sharp-pointed Iron which they called Stylus a word now signifying the Original derived from hence the peculiar kind of Phrase which any man useth as Negligens stylus in Quintilian and Exercitatus stylus in Cicero I should have also noted that they used sometimes to write in Leaves That the Sibyls Oracles being so written and scattered abroad had the name of Sibyllae Folia and that from thence we have the phrase of a Leaf of Paper But of this Argument enough Having thus done with the Rarities concerning Nilus and that great increase of wealth which accrued thereby to all the Country in the improvement of the natural commodities of the Earth let us next look on the Red-Sea and the great Riches which that brought unto this Kingdom in the way of Trading A Sea whereof we have spoke already as to the reason of the name the extent thereof and the several Islands contained in it and therefore shall not need to repeat it here That which is proper to this Country and to this alone is the fame it hath for the miraculous passage of the Israelites through it as upon dry-land and the drowning of Pharaohs Cenchres and all his people at large commemorated in the books of Holy Scriptures as also for that through it the Spices of India and Arabia were brought to Alexandria and thence by the Venetians dispersed through all Europe Africa and Asia I suppose I shall not do amisse to set down historically out of Galuano a relation of the
furlongs 50 fathom deep in the midst whereof were two Pyramides 50 fathoms above the water and as much beneath it the Fish of this Lake for one fix moneths in the year said to be worth twenty of their pounds a day to the Kings Exchequer for the other six each day a Talent 4. The Lakes called Amari into which the Trench or River called Ptolomaeus doth discharge its waters conveyed from thence into the Red-Sea The whole divided antiently into two parts only 1. That called Delta betwixt the two extreme branches of the River Nilus the form of which letter it resembleth to him who standing on the Sea-shore could take a view of it 2. That called Thebais from Thebe the principal City of it comprehending all the rest of the course of that River shut up on both sides with the Mountains spoken of before But this Division leaving out all those parts hereof which lie on the East-side towards the Arabian Golfs and on the West as far as to the borders of Libya Marmarica the Macedonians laying it all together divided it into 18 Cantreds or Districts by them called Nomi increased in the time of Ptolomie the Geographer to 46. Ortelius out of divers Authors hath found 20 more When conquered by the Romans and made a Diocese of the Empire it was divided into four Provinces not reckoning Marmarica and Cyrene into the accompt that is to say 1. Aegyptus specially so called containing all the Delta and the District or Nomus of Mareotica bordering on Marmarica 2. Augustanica so called from Augustus Caesar on the East of the Delta betwixt it and Arabia Petraea 3. Arcadia so called from the Emperor Arcadius in whose time it was taken out of Thebais lying on both sides of the River from the Delta to the City of Antinous 4. Thebais extending on both sides of the River from the borders of Libya Marmarica to the Red-Sea as the other doth unto Aethiopia Divided otherwise by some into Superiorem reaching from Aethiopia to the City of Antinous Mediam stretching thence to the point of the Delta and Inferiorem which comprehendeth all the rest But at this time that part hereof which lieth on the South and East of Caire is called Saud or Salud honoured heretofore with the dwelling of the antient Pharaohs because nearest unto Aethiopia their most puissant neighbour 2. That betwixt Caire Rosetta and Alexandria hath the name of Errifia wherein the Ptolomaean Princes did most reside because most convenient for receiving supplies of men from the States of Greece And finally that from Caire to Tenese and Damiata is now called Maremna in which the Turks and Mamalucks made the seat of their Empire because more neighbouring to the Christians whom they stood in fear of as likewise to invade them upon that side In the whole Country there was reckoned in the time of Amasis the 2d. no fewer then 20000 Cities but if the Towns and Villages be not reckoned in I should much doubt of the accompt By Diodorus Siculus it is said that there were 3000 in his time but Ortelius on a diligent search finds 300 only Those of most note in the Province of Augustanica 1. Pelusium the most Eastern City of Egypt towards Idumaea situate on the most Eastern channel of Nilus called hence Pelusiacum by Ammianus said to be the work of Peleus the Father of Achilles commanded by the Gods to purge himself in the Lake adjoyning for the murder of his brother Phocus Accounted for the chief door of Egypt towards the Land as Pharos was to those who came thither by Sea the Metropolis of the Province of Augustanica the birth-place of Ptolomie the Geographer and the Episcopal See of S. Isidore sirnamed Pelusiotes whose eloquent and pious Epistles are still extant Out of the ruines hereof if not the same under another title arose 2. Damiata memorable for the often Sieges laid unto it by the Christian Armies for none more then that under John de Brenne the titulary King of Jerusalem and the Princes of Europe An. 1220. During which being of 18 moneths continuance the Famine and the Pestilence so extremely raged that the Town in a manner was dispeopled before the Besiegers knew any thing of their condition till in the end two venturous Souldiers admiring the silence and solitude of so great a City in a Bravado scaled the walls but found no man to make resistance the next day the whole Army entred where they found in every house and every corner of the streets whole heaps of dead bodies none to give them burial A lamentable and ruthful spectacle 3. Heros or Civitas Heroum in the Arabian Isthmus at the very bottom of the Golf remarkable for the first interview betwixt Jacob and Joseph after his coming into Egypt 4. Heliopolis or the City of the Sun now called Betsames in the Scriptures On of which Potiphar the Father of Asenath whom Pharaoh married unto Ioseph was priest or Prince as is said Gen. 41. 45. Given as Iosephus telleth us for an habitation to the sons of Iacob by consequence one of the chief Cities of the Land Rameses or Goshen and memorable in times succeeding for a publike Temple built for the Iewes with the consent of Ptolomie sirnamed Philadelphus by Onias the High-Priest then dispossessed of his authority and office by the power of Antiochus a Temple much esteemed by the Hellinists or Grecizing Iews and though Schismatical at the best in its first original yet not Schismatical and Idolatrous as was that of Mount Garizim 5. Bubustis somwhat more North then Heliopolis by some of the Antients called Avaris by the Scriptures Pibeseth another City of that tract now better known by the name of Zioth supposed to be the same which the Notitia calleth Castra Iudaeorum memorable in times of Paganisme for a famous Temple of Diana 6. Arsinoe on the shore of the Red Sea so called in honour of Arsinoe sister of Philadelphus and wife to Lysimachus King of Thrace afterwards called Cleopatris in honour of Queen Cleopatra now better known by the name of Sues Of great commerce and trading in the time of the Ptolomies Now almost abandoned and would be utterly deserted were it not made the station of the Turkish Gallies that command the Gulfe which being framed at Caire of such Timber as is brought thither by sea from the Woods of Cilicia and sometimes from the Shores of the Euxine Sea are again taken in peeces carried from Caire unto this City on the backs of Camels and here joyned together Conceived to be the same which in former times was called Baal Zephon of which see Exod. 14. 9. the last incamping-place of the Tribes of Israel who from hence passed through the Red Sea as upon dry land 7. Gleba Rubra by the Greeks called Hiera Bolus and sometimes Erythra Bolus also more neer the Latine the redness of the soyl giving name unto it situate on the River or Trench of Tralan more memorable for a
Thebans against the Phocians brought all that Country in a manner under his command The Romans by aiding the Sicilians against the Carthaginians possessed themselves of that flourishing Island by assisting the Hedui against the Sequani mastered France by succouring Androgeus against Cassibelan seised on Britain by siding with the Aetolians against Perseus united to their Empire all the Kingdom of Macedon and by the same course what not In after-ages the Britains called in the Saxons and were by them thâ—st out of all the Irish called in the English by whom they were in process of time totally subdued and the Indians called in the Mogul-Tartars who now Lord it over them These forrein supplies are invited or let into a Country commonly in four cases First when some one man upon discontent or desire of revenge openeth them a way to a Country upon which motives Narses invited the Lombards into Italy and Count Julian brought the Moors into Spain the one to be revenged on the Empresse Sophia who had despitefully reviled him the other to revenge himself on King Rodorick who had ravished his daughter Secondly when a weaker Faction makes way for them to maintain their cause against a stronger On which ground the Duke of Burgundy being oppressed by the faction of Orleans made way for Henry the fifth to passe into France and the Leaguers drew the Spaniards in to hold up their declining cause against Henry the 4th Thirdly when an ambitious Prince makes use of a forrein power to usurp upon the rights of another man And for that cause Ludowick Sforze perswaded Charles the 8. to undertake the Conquest of the Realm of Naples that by the countenance of his Arms he might appropriate to himself the Dukedom of Millain Fourthly when a King overburthened by a forrein or domestick force which he is not able to resist requires the help of a forrein friend in which case Plus à medico quam a morbo mali the Physick proves many times worse then the Disease for thus the Kings of Naples of the house of Aragon being in danger of the French drew in the Aids of Ferdinand the Catholique the Cousin-German once removed of the King then being And the Caliphs of Egypt not able to withstand the forces of Almericus craved aid of the Turks by which meane both those kingdoms were made a prey to their forrein friends and by avoiding Scylla fled into Charybdis Nay many times it so happeneth that these forrein succours joyn in design with those against whom they were called and divide the conquered State between them And so we find that the Burgundians being called by Stilico into Gaul to prevent the breaking in of the Franks or French joyned with them in a common league against the Romans whom they dispossessed at last of all that Country Onely amongst so many examples to this purpose we find the Low-Country-men to have prospered by these forrein aids who by the assistance of the English ransomed themselves from that yoke of bondage which was intended to be put upon them by the King of Spain This I acknowledge to be true and look upon it as a great Argument of the integrity and honesty of the English Nation although it be as true withall that the English never had such an Army there as to be able to subdue them But give me such another instance I will quit the cause for the same Low-Country-men found it otherwise with the Duke of Anjou Brother to Henry the 3. of France whom they created Duke of Brabant and their Governour-Generall permitting him to bring in as many of the French as either his authority or their own monies were able to raise who was no sooner setled in that command but he made it his chief business to seize upon their strongest Holds and to be a more absolute Prince amongst them then ever the Spaniards or Burgundians had been before So that I think I may conclude that these forrein Succours are the last to be tryed and the least to be trusted of any remedies in State But it 's now more then time to return to the Mamalucks and in them to The third Dynastie of the Egyptian Kings or the Race of the Mamalucks A. Ch. 1255. 1 Turquimeneius who being promoted to the kingdom released King Lewis whom Melechsala his predecessor had taken prisoner but performed not half of the conditions agreed upon 2 Clothes by some called Elmutahaz taking advantage of the miseries of the Turks then distressed by the Tartars seised on the greatest part of Syria and Palestine 1260. 3 Bandocader perfected the begunconquests of Clothes and took from the Christians the strong City of Antioch carrying on his Armies as far as Armenia where he did much spoil 4 Melechsait or Melechsares restored the power of the Mamalucks in Syria and Palestine where it had been much impaired by Edward the son of Henry the 3. of England and Henry Duke of Mecklenburgh c. 1289. 5 Elpis or Alphix recovered from the dissenting Christians the strong Cities of Tripolis Berytus Tyre and Sidon all which he razed to the ground that they might not be any more serviceable to the affairs of the Christians 1291. 6 Araphus or Eustrephus by birth a German released Henry Duke of Mecklebourg after he had been prisoner 26 years He rooted the Christians out of Syria took Ptolomais the last Town they there held and so razed it that he made it fit to be ploughed 7 Melechnesar when he was Lieutenant to Arapbus was discomfited by Cassanes a great Prince of the Tartars with the loss of 40000 Egyptians but Cassanes being departed he recovered again all Syria and destroyed Hierusalem for which service he was afterward made Sultan of Egypt 8 Melechadel whom I suppose to be that Sultan that governed Egypt when Tamberlane with unresistable violence conquered it but of this I am not certain neither can I meet with any constant and continued series which I dare relie on of his successors in this kingdom till I come to 9 Melechella or Melechnaser who in the year 1423. subdued the Isle of Cyprus and made the Kings thereof to be from thenceforth Tributaries to the Mamaluck Sultans 1465. 10 Cathbeyus who much reformed the State of Egypt and was a professed enemy of Bajazet 2. the 8 th King of the Ottomans 1498. 11 Mahomet the son of Cathbeyus deposed by the Mamalucks for fear the kingdom might by him be made hereditary it being against their usual custome that the son should succeed his father in the name and privileges of a Mamaluck 1499. 12 Campson Chiarsesius succeeded on the deposing of Mahomet 13 Zanballat who dethroned Campson and not long after was deposed by 1500. 14 Tonombeius outed of his Estate by the joynt-consent of the Mamalucks so to make way for Campson Gaurus 1501. 15 Campson II. sirnamed Gaurus reformed the disordered and factious estate both of Court and Country and for the space of 16 years governed very prosperously But siding