the house of Burbon In this space of time you must observe the three ages of France her child-hood till Pepin her man-hood till Capet her old age till now For in the first age the Kings were like children content to be taught by others in matters of Religion as then ye may note that Clovis received the Faith and was Baptized as also in matter of policie they were content that others should beare the whole sway and rule them also such were the Maieurs de Palais whereof Pepin was one that usurped In their man-hood they did like men conquer Kingdomes releeve distressed Christians overcome Saracens and Infidels defend the Church against all assailes as yeâ— may perceive by the History of Charles the great and his successors And lastly now in her old age she grew wise erected Courts for Iustice made Lawes and Ordinances to governe her Inhabitants wherein no Countrey in Europe hath excelled her for so saith my Author There is no Countrey in the world where Iustice is better established than in ours which is true but with this addition of a later Writer if the Officers thereof were not too too many and if their places were rightly executed To force this Relation with many notes of things here hapning in former ages were both impertinent and tedious only I would wish you note that in 482. the Christian Faith was here received and in the yeare 800. the Roman Empire hither translated Concerning the Countrie of France the State is a Monarchie and the government mixt for the authoritie of Maieurs Eschevins Consuls Iureurs c. is Democraticall the Paires the Councels the Parliaments the Chambers of Counts the Generalities c. are Aristocraticall The calling of Assemblies giving of Offices sending Embassages concluding of Treaties pardoning of offences ennobling of Families legitimation of Bastards coyning of moneys and divers other to the number of foure and twentie are meerely Regall called of the French Droicts Royaux And sure it is that no Prince in Europe is a more perfect Monarch than he for besides all these Privileges named as we say of the Parliament of Paris that it hath the prerogative to be appealed unto from all other Courts which they call the last appeale so is it likewise true that the King himselfe hath the meere and absolute authoritie over this For though no Edict or Proclamation no Warre or Peace which he makes be good without the consent and Arrest as they call it of this Court Yet true it is that when he sending to them for their confirmation and ratifying thereof if at first they refuse and send Deputies to his Majesty to informe him of their reasons with humble suit to revoke the same he returnes them upon paine of his displeasure and deprivation of their Offices to confirme it Sic volo sic jubeo As touching the Lawes we must know that most of them are grounded on the Civill Law of the Emperour but so as this State ever protesteth against them insomuch as in former times it was ordained that he which alleaged any Law of Iustinian should lose his head Of the Lawes in force some are fundamentall as they call them and immortall Such as nor King nor assembly can abrogate others are Temporall Of the first sort I will only remember you of two examples the Law Salique and that of Appennages As for the first they would needs make the world beleeve that it is of great antiquitie where with they very wrongfully tromped the heires of Edward the third from the enjoying of this Crowne which to them is rightly descended by the Mother and whose claime is still good were the English sword well whetted to cut the Labels of this Law Of which Haillan himselfe confesseth that before the time of Philip le Long 1321. That the Law Salique was never heard tell of before this Kings time who caused it to be ratified by all the Nobles of his Kingdome some by faire promises and others by force and threats Whereupon they have since this proverbe The Kingdome of France cannot fall from the Launce to the Distasseâ— which another would needs as soundly prove out of Scripture for that it is said The Lillies spinne not that is the Lillies or Flowerdelyces being the Armes of France cannot descend to a Spinster or woman Touching the Appennages it is also a Law of great consequent for the Crowne for by this the Domaine cannot be aliened and by the other the Crowne cannot fall into the hands of strangers You must note that this Law imports that the younger sonnes of the King cannot have Partage with the Elder which till the time of Charlemaigne when this was made they might they must onely have Appennage suas propriete By which Charter of Appennage is given all profits arising of the said Apannes as Domaine the Hundreth Rents rights of Seigneurie parties Casuelles â—ots Sales Homages rights of Vassalage Forrests Ponds â—â—â—vers Iurisdictions Patronages of Churches Provisions and Nomination of Chappels Goods of Mayn-mort Fift s of Lands sold and all other profits and commodities whatsoever to returne to the Crowne for want of heires male But the levying of Taxes and aids the minting of money and all other things of Regalitie are reserved Concerning the other sort of Lawes in this Realme they are infinite which argueth à consequente that they be ill kept for Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas and ab antecedente that the people of this Countrey have beene ill inclined for Evill manners cause good Lawes These French Lawes are too full of Preambles Processes Interims and Provisoes as by all their Ordinances and Edicts appeareth There is nothing me thinkes colder than a Law with a Prologue Let a Law command and not perswade Of all these Lawes I will only name you this one That the minority of the King shall be assisted with a Councell chosen by the States of France wherein the Princes of the bloud ought to hold the first place and strangers to bee excluded Which was enacted at Toures by Charles the eighth Anno 1484. I tell you of this as of the true source and spring of all the late civill warres because the Cadets of Lorraine by insinuation with the young Kings Francis the second and Charles the ninth under the favour of the Queene Mother took upon them to manage all publike matters at their own pleasure and thrust out the first Princes of the bloud of the house of Burbon Whereupon Navarre and Condie the Princes of this Family assisted by many of the French Nobles embarqued themselves in the action of reforming such an abuse and displacing the Gursard out of this authorite tooke it upon themselves to whom it rightly belonged Howbeit out of that which I there saw which I have heard of others and read in Authors I will adventure to relate concerning the Officers of this Court for as for other great Offices as of Constable Admirall Marshall Grand Master of the Eaues
and Forests Grand Master of the Artillerie and others I shall speake of them when I come to relate of the Kings Forces in generall to which place these Offices especially appertaine The first Office then of Court is that of the great Master which in elder times was called Earle of the Palace and after changed into the name of Grand Seneschall and now lastly into Grand Maistre It is his Office to judge of matters of difference betweene other Officers of Court He had also the charge to give the word to the Guard to keepe the Keyes of the Kings private Lodging and to determine in disputes among Princes that followed the Court for their Lodgings In assemblies he sitteth right before the King a staire lower as you reade in the Dern Trobl Great Butler or Taster was in former times a great Office in the Kings House they had place in the Courts of Iustice as Peeres This Office was long in the Counts of Seulis It is now vanished and only there remaines that of the Grand Panetier This Office is ancient he hath besides the Kings House super-intendence over all Bakers in the Citie and Suburbs of Paris They which were wont to be called Pantlers Tasters and Carvers are now called Gentlemen Wayters of the Court. The Office of great Chamberlaine was long in the House of Tankervile he lay at the Kings feet when the Queene was not there His Privileges are now nothing so many as in times past Those which were then called Chamberlaines are now Gentlemen of the Chamber The Office of great Esquire is not very ancient though now it be very honourable and is the same that Master of the Horse is in the Court of England for it is taken out of the Constables Ofâ—â—â—â— to whom it properly appertained It was first instituted at the time of Charles the seventh In the Kings entrance into the Citie he carries the Sword sheathed before him The Cloth of Estate carried over the King by the Maior and Sherifes belongs to his Fee No man may bee the Kings Spur-maker Mareschall and such like Officer but he must have it of him as also other inferiour Offices belonging to the Stables He had in times past the command over Stages of Post-horses but now the Controller generall of the said Posts hath it The Office of Master or Steward of the Kings House hath charge over the expence of the Kings House For a marke of his authoritie he carries a truncheon tipt at both ends with silver and gilt and marcheth before the Sewer when the Kings dinner comes to the Table No Sergeant can arrest any of the Kings House without their leave They serve quarterly they were wont to be but foure but now I have heard it credibly said they be eightie in name but all of these doe not execute the Office The Great Provost of France and of the Kings House was so called since Charles the ninth for before he was called Roy des rebauds King of the Rascals His Office is to stickle amongst the Servants Pages Lacquies and Filles de joye Punkes or pleasant sinners which follow the Court and to punish all offences in these people I should have named before these last as a place more honourable the Office of Great Faulconer and Common Hunt who have authoritie over all Officers of Chase. They of the Kings Chamber are either Gentlemen of the Chamber of whom I spake before or Groomes of the Chamber which are but base Groomes and Yeomen The hundred Gentlemen of his Guard though there be two hundred of them they hold and use a weapon called Le bec de corbin They march two and two before him they are part French and part Scots The Scot carries a white Cassocke powdered with silver plates and the Kings device upon it The French weare the Kings Colours There is also a Guard of Swisse attired in partie-coloured-Cloth drawne out with silke after their Countrey fashion these follow the Court alwayes on foot the other on horse There belong to the Court also the Marshals of Lodgings and Harbingers they have like Offices as the Harbingers in the English Court there bee also divers others which are here needlesse to be spoken of It followeth I speake of his Forces aswell horse as foot of which this Country is very well furnished and indeed vaunteth and I thinke worthily to be the best and greatest Gens d'armerie of any Realme in Christendome but on the other side their foot have no reputation Insomuch as at the Siege of Amrens we should heare the Spaniard within the Towne speake over the wals to our English Souldier in their Trenches after we had saved the Kings Cannon from which the French were shamfully beaten by them within fallying out upon them You are tall Souldiers say they and we honour you much not thinking any foot to come neere us in reputation but you and therefore when you of the English come downe to the Trenches we double our Guard and looke for blowes but as for these base and unworthy French when they come we make account we have nothing to doe that day but play at Cards or sleepe upon our Rampart Of both these Forces of horse and foot of France you are to note this which followeth It is reported of the great Turke that when he conquereth any Province or Country he divideth the Lands upon his horsemen and to each his poâ—tion â—ith an exemption of paying either Rent Tax or â—allage whatsoever only they are bound to serve the Grand Seigâ—ior with a proportion of horse at their owne charge and in their owne person in his warres except either age or sicknesse hinder which are the two only excuses admitted These are called his Timariots of like Nature were the Calasyres or Mamalucks of Aâ—gypt So did the Kings of France in former times bestow upon Gentlemen divers lands and possessions freeing them likewise from taxes and aids upon condition to have their personall service in time of need These Lands were called Feifs instituted before Charlemaigne his time but till then they were given onely for life as at this day are those of the Turks but since they bee hereditary The word Feif hath his Etymology of Foy Faith signifying Lands given by the King to his Nobility or men of desert with Hauâ—â—â— et basse â—ustice with an acknowledgment of fealty and homage and service of the King in his warres at their owne charge Some Feif was bound to finde a man at Armes some an Archer some the third and some the fourth of a man at Armes according to the quantity of Land he held He that had Land from the value of five to six hundred Livres rent that is from fifty to sixty pound sterling was bound to finde a man on Horse-backe furnished for a man at Armes and from three to foure hundred a good light Horse-man who if it please the Prince and upon occasion of service shall
and consequence For the River Vistula arising in the extremest bounds of Silesia watereth all Poland the lesse and part of the Greater Mazovia and Prussia and then it falleth into the Baltike Sea below Danske whither it transporteth the greatest quantity of Rye Corne Honey and Wax of the whole Kingdome a journy of foure hundred miles From another coast the most famous River Duina arising out of the Lake Ruthenigo and parting Livonia into equall portions falleth into the Sea about Riga a City of great concourse There are in Prussia and Livonia many Lakes amongst which one is called the New-Sea 100 miles long in Livonia is a Lake called Beybas more than 400. miles long from thence spring the Rivers which running by Pernovia and Narâ—e make two notable Havens for traffike Betweene these two Cities stands Rivalia giving place to neither in beauty Samogithia is more rude and barbarous than the other Provinces and Podalia more barren which is not to be attributed to the nature of the soile for it is plentifull of those Commodities which the climate under which it lieth can afford but to the cruelty of the Tartars which so vex it with continuall inrodes that the Inhabitants are driven either to flie for feare or to bee led away captives by these barbarous people The riches of Poland are the abundance of Corne and all sorts of graine which grow there in such plentifull sort that in it selfe it never suffered want but evermore as in the yeare 1590. and 1591 it releeved not onely the bordering Nations oppressed with famine and scarcity but also yeelded some portion of releese to the wants of Genoa Tuscanie and Rome It floweth with Honey and Wax And whereas in all these Northerly Nations of Poland Lituania Russia Muscovia there are no Wines growing in stead thereof Nature hath bestowed upon them incredible quantities of Honey whereof these people doe brew an excellent kinde of Beverage The Bees make Honey either in Woods where they finde the trees made hollow by rottennesse or mans industry or in Hives set in open field by the Country people or in holes of the earth or in any place where they can finde never so small a liking It aboundeth with Flax Hempe with Sheepe with Cattell tell and with Horses Amongst the beasts of the wood are sound wilde Oxen wilde Horses and the Buste which cannot live out of the Wood of Nazovia The riches of the land consist in the Salt-pits of Bozena and Velisca in the territory of Cracovia The Revenues of the Kingdome for the most part are equally divided between the Noblemen he Gentlemen for no man is left so rich by inheritance that hee may exceed others above measure and the greatest Revenue of all exceedeth not five and twenty thousand Ducats Onely the Dukes of Curland and Regimount exceed this meane For although they are feodaries of the Kingdome and acknowledge the King as their superiour yet are they not as lively members of the State they come not to the Diets of the Kingdome they have not their voices in the election of the Prince neither are they accounted as naturall Lords of the Kingdome but for strangers as in truth they are the Duke of Curland being of the house of Ketlert and the Duke of Regimount of the family of Brandenburge All Prussia did belong to the Dutch Knights who had their Great Master resident there but he not being able to withstand the force of the Polonians yeelded himselfe feodarie to King Casimere Afterwards when Albert of Brandenburge their Great Master became a Protestant hee was created Duke of Prussia and the Country was divided into two parts the one regall mediately holden of the Crowne the other Ducall allotted to Albert and his successors to hold by fealty In the Kings parâ—ition stand Marieburge Torovia Culma Varnia and Daâ—â—keâ— in the Duchie which yeelded an hundred and twenty thousand Ducats yearely the chiefe Towne is Regimount the Germans call it Conningsburgh and there the Duke keepeth his Court. The Government of Polonia is altogether elective and representeth rather an Aristocracie than a Kingdome the Nobility who have great authority in the Diets chusing the King and at their pleasure limiting him his authority and making his soveraignty but a slavish royalty These diminutions of Regality beganne first by default of King Lewis and Iagello who to gaine the succession in the Kingdome contrary to the Lawes one for his daughter and the other for his sonne departed with many of his Royalties and Prerogatives to buy the voyces of the Nobility Whereupon by degrees the King of Poland as Stanislaus Orichovius confesses is little more than the Mouth of the Kingdome which speakes not but what his Councell prompts him The great Officer whom they call the President of their liberty and Guardian of it is still joyned with the King as it were to Tutor him and to moderate his desires The power royall there is no more but what King Sigismund assumed in full Parliament at Petricovia Anno 1548. which was to conclude nothing but by advice of his Councell To give instances of the power of these great Counsellours they made void the testament of King Casimire forbade King Iagello to warre upon the Knights Hospitalers unto whom in his expedition into Lituania they adjoyned the Bishop of Cracovia limiting their King to doe nothing but with his approbation Casimire the third had foure Commissioners joyned with him Without their leaves the King cannot chuse his owne wife for which reason King Iagello was by them perpetually perplexed Appeales the supreme marke of Soveraignty are not made to the King but to the States King Alexander Anno 1504. was faine to remit the disposing of the publike treasure unto the Lord Treasurer to which Officer Iagello Anno 1422. could not but grant the royalty of coining monies also Well therefore as Cromerus reporteth might Queene Christina complaine That her Husband was but the shadow of a Soveraigne They have neither law nor statute nor forme of government written but by custome from the death of one Prince to the election of another the supreme authority resteth in the Archbishop of Gesna who is President of the Councell appointeth the Diets ruleth the Senate and proclaimeth the new elected King Before King Stephen erected new Bishops Palatines and Castellanes in Livonia few other besides the Archbishop of Leopolis and his thirteene Suffragans eight and twenty Palatines and thirty of the chiefest Castellanes were present at the election of the new King They hold an assembly of the States every yeare for two causes the one to administer Justice in Soveraigne causes unto which are brought appeales from all the Judges of the Country the other to provide for the safety of the Common-weale against their next Enemies the Tartars who make often incursions upon them In the time of their Diets these men assemble in a place neere unto the Senate-house where they chuse two Marshals by whom
honourable respect of our Nobilitie wherein though they possesse few Castles or strong places invironed with rampiers and ditches neither that the Titles of Dukes Marquesses or Earles are more than titular as bestowed upon desert at the pleasure of the Prince yet have they the government of Provinces with subordinate authoritie over the people to the great quiet of the State and the prosperitie of the kingdome where on the contrary the Nobilitie in France possessing some absolute and some mixt jurisdiction with hereditary titles c. being Lords not only of Townes but of great and goodly Cities also and receiving homage and fealtie of their tenants doe as wee have often seene but badly and at pleasure acknowledge the soveraigntie of the King and the Arrest of the Parliaments SCotland another portion of Brittaine in times past began at the Mountaine Grampius and from thence to its utmost border was extended Northward But in future times by the extinguishment of the Picts it reached also unto Tweed and sometimes also to Twine the chance of warre so moderating in these counterchanges as in all other worldly occurrences Whereupon its longitude from Tweed unto the utmost limit is thought to be foure hundred and fourescore miles But as this Province is longer than England so is it narrow for that it endeth like unto a wedge For the unshapeable and rough Mountaine Grampius whereof even Tacitus in the life of Agricolâ— made mention runneth thorow the very heart thereof even from the German shore that is from the mouth of the River Dee unto the Irish coast and unto that Lake which the Inhabitants call Lomund which lieth betweene that country and the said mountaine The Kingdome hath every where safe harbours creekes lakes marishes rivers and fountaines replenished with fish As also mountaines and in tops thereof large plaines yeelding abundance of grazing to cattell and woods wonderfully abounding with venerie By the advantages of which place the people being sustained could never be fully conquered for every Province Woods and Marishes were ready refuges to their safeties and wilde beasts and plentie of cattell remedies against famine for their bodies Those who inhabit the Southerne part as by much the best so are they the better qualified the civillest and speake the English language And sithence that Nature hath denied them plentie of fewell their firing is of a blacke stone which they digge out of the earth The people who dwell in the Northerne and Mountainous parts are a very savage and uncivill kinde of men and termed Silvestres viz. Highland-men These after the Irish fashion were accustomed to be cloathed with a mantle and a shirt coloured with Saffron and to goe bare legged as high as their knees Their weapons are Bow and Arrowes with a very broad Sword Dagger sharpe but on one edge They all speake Irish and feed upon fish milke cheese and flesh and have great store of cattell They differ from the English both in Lawes Customes for the one retaineth the Civill Law as almost doe all other Nations but the English have their peculiar or Municipall Lawes In other things they differ not much Their Language as aforesaid is one and the same the same constitution of body equall courage in battell and semblable addiction unto hunting even from their Childhoods Their houses in the Villages are very small and covered with straw or reed wherein as well their cattell as themselves in manner of stables doe reside Their townes except that of S. Iohns are invironed with no walls so that it should seeme that their couragious minds doe repose the safetie of their lives in the only vertue of their bodies They are also ingenious which their learning manifesteth so that unto what Art soever they doe addict their capacities they easily profit therein And those also who meditate nothing but sloth ease and lazinesse though by refusall to take any paines they live most basely and beggerly yet will they not let to boast of their Gentrie and that so presumptuously as if it were more commendable for a man well descended to beg than to betake himselfe to any ingenious profession for the sustentation of his carkase But withall they are accounted naturally to be very zealous in Religion About Scotland in the Irish Ocean are more than forty Islands by Pliny termed Britaniae but by others Meraniae and Herbrides The biggest of these in length exceeds not thirty miles in bredth not above twelve Amongst them is Iona famous for the ancient sepulture of the Scottish Kings All the Inhabitants speake the Irish tongue a pregnant argument that they are descended from the Irishry Beyond Scotland Northwards lie the Orcades in number saith Ptolomy thirty being partly seated in the Deucalidon Ocean and partly in the German The chiefe whereof is called Pamonia and therein is an Episcopall Sea being subject unto the King of Great Brittaine The Islanders speake the Gotish tongue a record that they are descended from the Germans Of stature they are all of a sound constitution whereby it commeth to passe that for the greater part they are long-lived although most commonly they live upon fish The soile is in a manner alwayes covered with snow in many places it will scarce beare graine but of trees almost none Beyond the Orcades heth Thule from whence but one dayes saile saith Pliny is the Frozen Sea and therein Island whereunto at this day our Merchants doe make an annuall trading to fish themselves or to buy fish of others Which for that it is neerest unto the Pole some doe judge to bee Thule And this is all that I have to say concerning the situation of Scotland now will I turne my pen to the nature and fashions of the Inhabitants WAles is accounted the third portion of the Island In regard of the heart of England it lieth upon the left hand and in manner of a Peninsula stretcheth into the Ocean on all sides incircled with the Sea save towards the East where it is bounded with the Severne the separatresse of Wales and England although many late Writers as abovesaid make the City of Hereford the bounder thereof and will have Wales to beginne at Chepstow where the River Wy being united with Lugge and passing by Hereford falleth into the Sea This River as Severne ariseth from an Inland part of Wales from one and the selfe-same Mountaine but whether from one and the selfe-same Fountaine I am not able to shew and it Cornelius Tacitus as aforesaid termeth Antona For even thither reacheth a huge arme of the Sea which cutting in betweene the Land by the West watreth Cornwall on the right hand and Wales on the left This Topography we follow as the Moderne and therefore say that Wales from Chepstow where it taketh beginning is extended Northward a little above Shrewsbury as â—arre as Chester Hither it was as Memory recordeth that the reliques of those Brittons who over-lived the generall slaughter after the
the Duchesse Beatrice his wife those of the Towne presented him the Keyes thereof therby acknowledging him their chiefe Lord and Master During the civill warres in France the Towne was marvellously peopled insomuch as there were to the number of twelve or fourteene thousand strangers the greatest part whereof were Gentlemen but since those troubles began to diminish the number likewise hath decayed and at this instant there are not many besides the Inhabitants by reason whereof the Towne is very much impoverished The Towne is governed by a Councell of two hundred called the great Councell out of which is chosen another Councell composed of five and twentie and of these foure especiall men called Sindiques who have the managing of the whole Common-wealth unlesse it be in some great matters wherein the whole State is deeply interessed as in making of peace or warre in leagues offensive and defensive appeales c. The people are governed by the Civil Law the Iudge whereof is called a Lieutenant Criminall before whom all causes are tried and from whom there is no appeale unlesse it be to the generall Councell of two hundred When the Towne was besieged in eightie nine the Venetians did not only send them intelligence of sundry practices against them but also sent them twenty foure thousand crownes to maintaine their warres and out of England they had thirteene thousand crownes The Great Duke of Thuscan did likewise send them many intelligences at the same time and heretofore when as the Pope the King of Spaine the French King and the Duke of Savoy have joyned their powers together with purpose to besiege them the Emperour hath not only revealed all their practices but offered to aid them with men and money yea and sometime the Dukes of Savoy have lent them money to maintaine them against the others For hee had rather the Towne should remaine as it doth than fall into any other mans hands than his owne Queene Elizabeth highly favoured it and releeved it so did all the Protestant German Princes together with the French King Who though â—ee be of a contrary Religion yet hath he had it alwayes in especiall protection The people are very civill in their behaviour speech and apparell all licentiousnesse being severely corrected and especially dancing Adultery is punished with death and the Women drowned in the Rosne simple Fornication with nine dayes fasting bread and water in prison for the second offence whipping out of the Towne and the third time with banishment The Towne lent unto Henry the third King of France a little before his death 450000. crownes and twelve Canons which are not yet restored the Bernesi seeme to be their friends but those of Geneva are very jealous of them and dare not trust them The Ministers have a consistorie unto which they may call publike offendors and such as give scandall unto others and there reprove them and if the crime be great and the partie obstinate they forbid him the Communion if notwithstanding hee persist they may excommunicate him But the Ministers cannot call any before them into the Consistory but by the authoritie of a Sindique who must assist them otherwise the Ministers have power to summon any Man They have their maintenance out of the common Treasury and meddle with no Tithes Master Beza in eighty seven had some 1500. Florens for his stipend which amounteth to some seven or eight and fiftie pounds sterling besides twenty coupes of corne and his house All which will hardly amount to fourescore pounds the rest of the Ministers had some six or seven hundred Florens twenty coupes of corne and their houses The Ministers in the countrie have three hundred forty and five Florens and twenty coupes of corne The Professor in Divinity hath per annum 1125. Florens and twenty coupes of Corne The Professor in Law 580. Florens The Professor in Greeke 510. Florens The Professor of Philosophy 600. Florens and twenty coupes The Professor in Hebrew 510. Florens All honest exercises as shooting in Peeces Crosse-Bowes Long-Bowes c. are used on the Sabbath day and that in the morning both before and after the Sermon neither doe the Ministers finde any fault therewith so that they hinder not from hearing the word at the time appointed Swizerland IN the daies of Caesar this Province contained two hundred and forty miles in length and one hundred and fourescore in breadth which circuit or territorie seeming too narrow a roome to containe so valiant and a warlike people that not long before had overthrowne L. Cassius a Roman Consull slaine the Consull himselfe and sold the souldiers for bondslaves upon these apprehensions and the conceit of their owne valours they began to entertaine a resolution by conquest to gaine a larger territory correspondent to the ambitious greatnesse of their minds and to forsake their owne country which first gave them breath and being In heat whereof they prepare for their departure they provide victuals study tillage two yeeres buy carts and cariage beasts and left any mans courage should decline with the time they make a law that every one should be in readinesse to set forward in the beginning of the third yeere Being upon their way and hearing that Caesar then Proconsull of France had caused the bridge of Geneva to be hewne downe and to debarre them of passage had raised that famous fortification betweene the Lake and Mount Iura they sent some of their greatest Commanders to Caesar to intreat a quiet passage thorow the Roman Province At their appointed day of Audience hearing Caesars deniall they resolve to open the way with the power of their forces In triall of which project after they had received divers defeatures they againe sent their Ambassadors to Caesar to intreat an acceptation of submission throwing themselves at his feet and with many supplications craving such favoâ—rable conditions of peace as might best comfort so distressed a people and beseeme the glory of so mighty a conquests which requests Caesar upon delivery of pledges mercifully granted injoyned them to returne to the Country from whence they came and to build the cities and villages which before their comming forth they had destroyed Ever since which time they retained the reputation of their ancient glory but never enterprized to forsake their limited habitations The number of Men Women and Children that were in that journey was 3680000. whereof 920000. were fighting men of them that returned and saw the fortune of both their States was 110000. Some hold opinion that this Nation is utterly extinguished and that the present Inhabitants whereof we now intreat both for their resemblance in manners and phrase of speech are descended from the Germans It is almost all situated amongst the Alpes and therefore supposed to be the highest Region in Europe and the rather for that the most famous Rivers of this part of the World viz. Rhone Rodan and Po falling from these high places doe disperse their chanels
The Duchie of Mantua lieth wholly in Lombardie and the Duchie of Vrbin betweene Marca d' Ancona and Tuscane 15. The Duchies of Parma and Placentia are in Lombardie and holden of the Church Of these Princes and Common-wealths every one holdeth himselfe in his owne Territorie absolute Prince and Governour and maintaineth his estate upon the custome taxes and impositions of the people For lightly they have little or no Lands of their owne THe Estate of the Pope is twofold the one consisteth in Temporall Dominion the other in Spirituall Iurisdiction His Temporall Dominion is likewise divided into two kinds the one profitable and as a man may terme it an hereditarie the other immediate and holden in fee of he Church As touching his Temporall Dominion hee is Lord of a great part of Italie as of all that lieth betweene the River Fiore and Cajetta betweene Preâ—est and the Truentian streights except the Duchie of Vrbin In that compasse are incircled the Provinces of Bonnonia and Romandiola Marchia Vmbria the Duchie of Spoleto S. Peters patrimonie Tuscan and lately Ferrara It is seated in the heart of Italie stretching from the Adriatike to the Tirrhene Sea and in regard of situation as also in plenty of provision as corne wine and oyle it is comparable to any State of Italie For Romandiola imparteth great store unto their neighbours the Venetians and Sclavonians And yet have the Inhabitants sufficient for their owne provision Marchia reacheth from Tronto to Foglia betweene the Apenine and the Sea it is divided into little hils and plaines It is rich of Wine Oyle and Corne having divers great Townes and Castles therein The Citie of greatest trading is Ancona by reason of the Haven to which many Lasterne Merchants doe repaire The fairest is Ascoli the most powerfull Fermo because of many Fortresses subject unto it Macerata is a new Citie and because it lieth in the middest of the Province it is the Governours seat In some yeares it hath supplied the Venetians wants with many thousand measures of Corne and Oyle And although Vmbria is not so plentifull of graine as to spare for their neighbours yet is it able to maintaine it selfe without buying of others and in stead thereof it is abundantly stored with Wines Cattell and some Saffron S. Peters Patrimonie and Tuscan often releeved Genoa and at some seasons Naples This territorie bringeth forth fierce and warlike souldiers and herein it is reported to excell all the residue of the Italian Provinces Bonnonia Romania and Marchia are able to levie twenty thousand foot-men and the other Provinces as many In the time of Pope Clement Marchia alone aided him with a thousand souldiers The chiefe Seat is Rome once the Lady of the World and at this day inhabited with two hundred thousand soules but two parts thereof consisting of Church-men and Curtizans The second Bononia wherein are eighty thousand of both sexes Next to these are Perugia Ancona Ravenna and some fiftie others The defensible places are the Castle and Borough of Rome Ovietta Teracine c. It is a great credit and commendation to this State to have many Noblemen therein to excellent in Negociation of Peace and Warre that the residue of the States and Princes doe most commonly choose their Leaders and Lieutenants out of these Provinces If the Prince hereof were secular both for people and power hee might very well be compared with any State of Italy Besides these Dominions the Pope hath the Territory of Avignon in France wherein are foure Cities and fourscore walled Townes In Naples he hath Benevent Romagna extendeth from Foglia Panora and from the Apenine to the River Po. For temperature and fertilitie it is like to Marchia but hath generally more famous Cities as Rimini Cesana Faensa Ravenna Turly Imola Sarsina Cervia Bertinoto once a Bishops Seat but now translated to Forlimpoli The Noblest of all these is Ravenna where some Emperor have kept their Courts and after them their Exarches or Lieutenants When Pipin having expulsed Astolpho put the Church in possession thereof this Territorie comprehended Bolognia Regio Modena Parma Piacenza Ravenna Sarsina Claesse Forli Forlimpoli and made one estate called Pentapoli which indured an hundred eightie three yeares even to the yeare of our Lord 741. in which yeare it ended by the taking of Ravenna by Astolph King of Lombards So that first the Roman Emperours especially Honorius and after him the Kings of the Gothes and then Exarches amongst all the Cities of Italy chose this for the Seat of their Courts which from amongst other respects I suppose to proceed by reason of the plentifull Territory now covered with water and the conveniencie of the Haven which at this day is likewise choaked This Province was first called Flaminia but Charles the Great to raze out the remembrance of these Exarches and to make the people willing to obey the Roman Prelats called it Romagnia As touching his immediate Soveraigntie he is Lord Paramount of the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicil and the Duchies of Vrbin Ferrara Parma Placentia and many others Where his authoritie is maintained he hath supreme government of all religious Orders and bestoweth the Ecclesiasticall Benefices at his dispose Having many strings to his Bow he hath many meanes to raise money so that Xistus the fourth was wont to say That the Popes should never want Coine as long as their hands were able to hold a pen. Paul the third in the league betweene him the Emperour and the Venetians against the Turk bare the sixth part of the charges of that warre Against the Protestants and in aid of Charles the fifth he sent twelve thousand foot-men and five hundred horse-men bearing their charges during the warre this was he that advanced his house to that honour wherein it continueth to this day in Florence Pius the fifth aided Charles the ninth King of France with foure thousand footmen and a thousand horse Xistus the fifth in five yeares and a halfe of his Pontificacie raked together five millions of crowns and spent bountifully notwithstanding in bringing Conduits and Water-pipes into the Citie and in building Pyramides Palaces and Churches So that it should seeme that the Entrado could not but amount to much above the value of ten hundred thousand crownes per annum for Newman a late Writer would have this surplusage to be raised upon use money yearely laâ—d up in the Castle of Saint Angelo And this to arise of his ordinary Revenues within his Territories of Italy Since those times it cannot but be much more augmented by the addition of the Dukedome of Ferrara as also for that in those dayes the monethly expence of the Court being thirtie thousand crownes is in these times defalked unto five thousand A State wherein you shall see Religion metamorphosed into policie and policie meditating nothing but private greatnesse the Man-seeming-God affecting Honour Majestie and Temporall riches with no lesse ambition and
on all the land which they take from their enemies and assigning a small parcell peradventure none at all to the ancient Lords they divide the residue into Timars to every Servitor a portion viz. to every one about foure and twenty or thirtie Acres of our measure with seed to sow it Upon condition to pay halfe the fruits the seventh yeare and halfe of the twelfth Herein consisteth the chiefest preservation of the Ottoman Empire for unlesse upon this consideration the care of manuring the Land were committed to these Masters and they againe set it over unto others for their profit and lucre all would lye waste thorow the whole Empire themselves affirming That whatsoever the Grand Seignior once treadeth with his horse-hoofe were it not for this course there never after would grow grasse againe With these Timars he also maintaineth an hundred and fifty thousand horse-men excellent well armed and alwayes readie at their owne charges to march whither their Leaders will command them So great a Cavalry can no other Prince maintaine with the yearely expence of fourteene Millions of Gold Which maketh me to wonder that some Writers comparing the Turkish receits with the Entrado of the Christians never spake word of so huge a member of the Turkish Puissance It is reported that in the warre of Persia the Turke conquered so much land that thereof he erected forty thousand Timars and a new Exchequer at Tauris from whence he receiveth yearely a Million of gold By these troopes the Grand Seignior so aweth his subjects that they no sooner can stirre but as so many Falcons these Timariots are presently on their necks And this is the drift of this dispersing them thorow the Provinces So that one part of them is alwayes readie at the sound of the Trumpet upon all occasions to march while the other stay at home to keepe the Inhabitants in their due obedience With his Treasure his Bassaes intermeddle not But two generall Treasures or over-feers are chiefe dealers therein the one residing in Romania the other in Natolia The Cadalisquers have the administration of Justice who assist the Bassaes in the Divan Neither doe any sit there but the twelve Beglarbegs the Princes children being Presidents in their fathers absence and some certaine of the Cadies to assist in matters of Law and difficultie as is used with us in the Court of Star-chamber This Court is holden foure dayes in the weeke by the Bassaes wheresoever the Prince sojourneth if it be in the time of peace then at Constantinople or in some other Town according to occasions within his Dominions if in Warre then it is kept within his Pavillion In this Councell called Divan where audience is open to every futer they consult of Embassies and of answers to be made unto them of matters of State and of Soveraigntie of the meanes to provide for decayed or ruinated Provinces of murders and condemnation The Suppliant Complainant or Suter speaketh without Advocate or Atturney and is forced to answer presently to the information of his Adversary if he be present or to prove or disprove his accusation by witnesses Upon hearing of both parties judgement definitive is given and may not be repealed When the Councell hath sitten seven or eight houres the Bassa visier maketh true relation to the Prince of all that hath beene handled if he lye it is present death For the Prince often listeneth at a window termed Dangerous right against the Divan being made in such sort that he may heare and see and not be perceived Though he be seldome there yet are they alwayes suspitious After he hath heard the discourse and advice of his Councell he seldome gain-sayeth but confirmeth or moderateth the same These things thus ordered they are written and registred by Officers appointed To the management also of the Civil Government they as the Christians have many severall degrees of Civilians or rather Church-men which is a kinde of Ecclesiasticall Law the professours whereof are all of the Clergie if I may so terme them And to the training up of these professors there are certaine Houses or Colleges called Medressae in Constantinople Andrianople Burssia and other places in which they live and studie their Sciences wherein they have nine severall degrees The first are called Saffi and are the puisne Students or Novices The second are Calsi Readers or Tutors unto the first The third are Hogi Writers of Bookes for they have no Printing The fourth are Naipi or young Doctors who are not yet so well studied in their Lawes as to be profound or absolute Judges but yet are of sufficiencie to supply a Judges place in case of absence The fifth are Cadi who are both Judges and Justices to punish offences Of this sort there is one atleast in every Citie thorowout all the Grand Seigniors Dominions they are distinguished from other men by their high Turbants being at least two yards in compasse The sixth are called Mudressi who are as Suffragans unto their Flamins or Bishops Their authoritie stretcheth to over-looke Cadies and to see that they doe their duties in their severall charges The seventh are Mulli Bishops and are the principall Church-governours next unto the Mustee Their office is to place and displace Church-men at discretion The eight are Cadeliscari they are two great and principall Judges or Cardinals the one of Grecia the other of Natolia Selimiu the third added another over the Provinces of Aegypt Syria Arabia and part of Armaria equall in authoritie to the former These sit every Session in the foresaid Divano amongst the Bassaes to determine temporall suits being as it were chiefe Justices in dignitie and authoritie The ninth and principallest is the Muftee Hee commandeth and governeth all Church-men or Judges whatsoever and his sentence in matters of Law and Religion is uncontrollable yea the greatest Bashaws in matters of Law or difficultie referre all to his decision without appeale Such is his greatnesse that he may not abase himselfe to sit in the Divano neither when he commeth into the presence of the great Seignior will he vouchsafe to kisse his hand or to use greater reverence towards his Highnesse than his Highnesse will afford unto him And therefore when hee entereth the Grand Seigniors Chamber hee will presently rise and then both sit downe face to face and so conferre And these be the degree and no other by which the poorest scholler may ascend unto the highest place of Honour in this Turkish government Toward the East from Taâ—ris to Balsara lye the Persians Toward the South and the Persian Gulfe the Portugals Toward the Red-sea â—hesterhâ—â—â— Upon the West the Xeriffe and the Kingdome of Naples On the North border the Polonians and the Germans Without all question the Turke farre excelleth the Persian in military discipline for Mahumet the second tooke 〈…〉 the first and after him his sonne Soliman defeated Ismael and Taâ—ias Amurath the third by his Lieutenants tooke
is a City of West-Freesland and the head of 145. villages about it It hath had a chargeable neighbour of the Spanish garrisons in Lingen Oldenzeel but by benefit of the Sea they obtaine both liberty and riches T is very full of Cattell and of Mechanicks their breed of Oxen and Horses are the largest of Europe And so much for the descriptions of these united Provinces The chiefe Entrata or revenue of this people is gained out of the Sea which is not onely invaluable but incredible it being reported that there be more ships belonging to Amsterdam alone than to all England almost a thousand ships going in and out every tide The Custome paid by the Merchant is very great and their Excise upon victuals doth almost maintaine their warres the Inholder paying as much for the Excise as he did at first for the thing T is beleeved that for very butter and cheese sold out of Holland alone they receive a million of Gold yearley All the people be wonderfull induâ—â—rious scarceâ— poore mans childe of five or six yeares old which cannot earne the best part of his owne living Their gaines by fishing is inestimable their Linnen Salt and other curious manufactures are good merchandize all the world over and finally none of their least commodities is the Warres for whereas all other Nations are undone by them they have the secret to thrive and to grow exceeding rich by them These are of two sort Land-forces and Sea-forces In their severall garrisons they cannot have fewer than foure and twenty thousand in continuall pay and their times of leaguer or being in the field costs them a thousand pound a day more than odinary This very yeare 1629. the Prince of Orange is said to have had off and on neere upon 60000. men at the siege of S'Hertoghenbosch his trenches being 18. or 20. miles about and yet hath hee left his Townes well garrison'd They have had an Army on foot continunally for these 60. yeares together and such a one as were it imployâ—d in an invasive as it hath beene in a defensive warre I see no reason but it might long agoe have overtunne even Spaine it selfe It hath still beene the prime schoole of warre for all Europe Their Sea-forces increase every day and yet were the three Provinces of Holland Zeland and Freestand able many yeares agoe to make three thousand lusty ships fit for warre and burthen They have for these eight or ten yeares togâ—ther had two or three severall Fleets about the West Indies as namely that whereof Monsieur L'Ermite was Admirall which sent home many a rich prize That which tooke Todos los Santos and those two which this very yeare tooke those two mighty prizes from the Plate Fleet and the Brasile Fleet within the same space having oftentimes twentie or fortie ships imployed against the Dunkirker All this while have they maintained their Trades and Factories in New Holland the East-Indies Muscovia c. where oftentimes have they beene so strong that they have beaten our English from the Trades once broke they our Muscovia Company what they did at Amboyna is too famous and how much our East-India Company hath beene indammaged by them let them tell you This I repeat not to refresh the complaint but to set forth their power and plainly they are at least Quarter-masters of the Narrow Seas Finally the Low-Countries may say as Tyrus did in the Prophet I sit like a Queene in the midst of the Sea So that were the Spaniard but Master of their Ports nothing could hinder him from his designed Monarchie This is their honour that for these many yeares they have inforced the King of Spaine to spend his Indies upon them they have still kept him at the staves end if hee hath besieged one of their Townes they have besieged another of his for Ostend they tooke Sluce Groll for Breda and at this very instant all the Spanish power was not able to beat them from the siege of S'Hertoghenbosch But at Sea they are ever terrible to him ever aforehand with him and their Coines are made of his Gold and Silver They have still fiftie saile of ships upon the Coast of the West-Indies fiftie saile more going out and fiftie more comming home with their Fleets they have this Summer beaten his Armada troubled Carthagena and mightily inricht themselves by his Prizes Finally they are the people that next to the Spaniard have the honour of it both by Land and Water the greatest Monarchs are glad of the Friendship of this Nation whom our finicall people stile no better than a company of Boores and Mechanicks and this also makes for their honour For no where such Boores to be found no where such Mechanicks others derive honour from their Ancestors but they from their owne valour and vertue Their Government is administred according to the Rules of the Civill Lawes of the Empire respect being had to the privileges of each private people and Citie who enjoy theâ—â— ancient Customes and Lawes municipall The stile of their principall Governours is The high and mightie Lords the States Generall These are chosen by the particular States of the severall Provinces of the Vnion out of the Nobilitie and primest Magistrates both of the Provinces and Citizens And these receiving power from the rest doe in their meetings at the Hage plenarily conclude upon all the great Actions of State either for Peace Warre Religion Treasure Leagues Trafficks and all publike things whatsoever Amongst these the Legier Ambassador of England hath hitherto beene admitted in all consultations and so hath the Prince of Orange as being Generall of their Armies These States doe every weeke choose a new President among themselves the proposition is made and the Votes are collected by an Advocate who is a standing Officer for the purpose From their Placaerts Proclamations or Edicts there is no appeale as carrying the same power of Law with them that Proclamations and Acts of Parliament doe with us To enter into the Governments of the Courts of Iustice and of the severall Provinces and Corporations would require a volume by it selfe Libertie of Conscience being one of the maine pretences of their falling off from the Spaniard they might seeme to deale hardlier with others than they did with themselves should they not now give what themselves tooke Libertie of Conscience Publike profession therefore of all Religions except the Popish and Arminian even of Iudaisme is there tolerated Each Faction cals it selfe a Church and every new-fâ—ngled giddie Enthusiasticall Button-maker is able enough to make a Faction The generall Religion of the States and best people is Calvinisme the profession whereof though fatall to Monarchies agrees well enough with the parity of Free States where the people and citizens have so much voice and authoritie Their Ministers are here better respected than in the French Churches But our men at home zealous ones of the Geneva discipline
are much deceived if they looke for such a face of a Church such decent Service of God such devotion or strict observation of the Lords day in any of the Calvinist Churches as in the Church of England the Faires and Kirck-masses as they call them are on Sundayes in the after-noone as much frequented there as the Churches were in the fore-noone The States I suppose cannot on the sudden reduce perfection in the profession of Religion for that the Papists are both subtill and diligent to work upon the discontents of the people and to turne them to a rebellion unto which the Historians have noted these Nations to be naturally not indisposed Denmarke ALthough it may seeme needlesse to make mention of Scandia which is that whole Pen-insula of huge circuit which is almost incompassed with the waves of the Sea and abutteth Northward and Eastward upon the German and Sarmatian Coasts because it is as it were situated in another World and with whom there is no great entercourse of trading yet for the spacious largenesse thereof containing two Kingdomes viz. Norway and Sweveland with part of Denmarke it may well deserve a place amongst other Kingdoms spoken of in these Relations It is situate in that part of Europe which some terme Scandia others Scandavia or Balthia from whence issued the Gothes and Vandales the very rooters up of the Roman Empire It is subject both to the Danish and Swevian Crowne The King of Denmarke besides the Cimbrian Chorsonesse where Holsatia Ditmarsen the Dukedome of Slesia Flensburge Friesland and Iuthland Regions fruitfull and replenished with store of cattell and wilde beasts doe lie retaineth other spacious Islands the best whereof-stand in the entrance of the Baltike sea being fifteene in number all comprehended under the name of Denmarke The chiefest of them is Seland containing threescore miles in length and little lesse in breadth It excelleth the rest both for number of Villages the mildnesse of the aire and because that Copenhagen stands in it which hath beene and is the Seat of their Kings He hath also Gothland under his jurisdiction which is placed right over against Gothia One of his Kinsmen hath the Government of Osilia or Oesel a prettie Island in the greater Gulfe of Livonia and ruleth those fat and plenteous Counties which lie on the Continent of Livonia Scania likewise acknowledgeth his Soveraigntie extending from Nihuse to Timale and hee holdeth the Kingdome of Norway which from the Confines of Scania extendeth and stretcheth Northward a thousand three hundred miles to the Castle of Wardhouse upon which border the Lappians The Isles adjoyning thereto Sania Shetland and Faria lying in the maine Sea are in his tenure In times past the people of Norway have beene of great puissance they afflicted England scounged France and therein obtained a Province called to this day Normandie In Italy they conquered the Kingdome of Sicil and Apulia And in the holy Warre Boemond Leader of the Normans wonne the Principality of Antiâ—ch In the North Ocean besides that of Friesland and the Sea-coast of Island and Groineland he holdeth the Dominions of the foresaid Islands of Shetland and Faria The Orcades acknowledged the Kings of Norway for their Lords although they are now subject to the Brittish Crowne Sithence then the Kingdome of Norway became Elective and turmoiled with civill warres and intestine discords it came to the possession of the Danish Kings who that he may hold it surely intreateth the Inhabitants cruelly spoiling them of their substance and to leave no hope of better fortune to this miserable people hee holdeth fortified all the Creekes and Havens of the Sea-coast The wealth of the Kingdome consisteth in the abundance of cattell and sea-fish whereof there is such store that of the herring-fishing only a mighty masse of money is yearely gathered so huge is the number of all sorts of fish that at some times of the yeare a ship can make but slow way in the Sea and the Marishes and Medowes adjoyning thereunto are very pleasant and savourie to the feeding of their cattell Scandia is rich in corne and pasture and well replenished with people Norwey hath no riches of any moment except Timber fit for the erecting of houses and building of ships from thence transported into Holland and Flanders and cattell affording great store of cheese and milke Some profit also ariseth of a kinde of fish dried in the wind which the Dutchmen call Stock-fish It is taken in Ianuarie and laid in the wind and cold untill it be indurate and hardned like Wood and then carried into divers Regions as a kinde of sustenance The greatest matter of gaine to the King of Denmarke is the narrow Sea or Strait betweene Cronburg and Eltzenburg commonly called the Sont or Sound which is a passage so narrow that no shipping can passe that way without the licence and favour of the Watchmen keeping Garrison on either side there to receive the imposts and customes of the arriving Vessels It is easily gathered to what summe of money that impost amounteth by the infinite number of shipping of Holland Zealand France England Scotland Norway and the Balticke Sea that saile in those Seas and of necessitie must passe the jawes of that narrow Strait The Inhabitants are as greedie of Rhenish French and Spanish Wines the Spices of Portugal and the Fruits of Andaluzia as they againe are needie of the Wax Honey Skins and Corne which are brought thither from Prussia Livonia Moscovia and the bordering Nations The Entrada or Tribute due to the King ariseth First out of the Sowndt thorow which sometimes passe two hundred sometimes three hundred vessels in a day many of which are to pay a Rose-noble of gold not only in value but in specie for their passage and some more some lesse which cannot but amount to an incredible summe His gaines likewise upon Herrings and other fish of which there is infinite store in all those Northerne Seas comes to a great matter Adde to this his Customes upon Mast and Cordage Pitch Tarre c. fetcht from him by the Hamburgers Lubeckers and others Mighty droves of Beeves and other Cattell are out of his Dominions sold into Germany out of every one of which he hath his Geldt or tribute In Dietmarsâ—n a Countrey for store of cattell like our Rumney-marsh is a place called the Gap thorow which their infinite droves must passe where the Kings toll is about twelve pence English for every hoofe of greater cattell that is foure shillings for a beast Innland also is as beneficiall unto him in the same kinde and much more It hath beene observed that 50000 Oxen have been driven out of these Provinces into Germany for which toll hath beene paid at Guithorp He reapeth some profit likewise of Ward-house whither the English now of late yeares have sailed betweene Norwey and Groenland some to Colmogro others to Stockholme not farre from Saint Nicholas where they traffique with the Russies for Wax