1607. at which time the Burgers endeavouring to hinder the Catholiques from burying a Corps with the ceremonies of the Church of Rome it incurred the Imperial Ban or Proscription which was executed by the Duke of Bavaria who brought it into subjection and holds it still under his Laws Dunkelspiel hath been so often taken and re-taken in the last Wars that it will carry the marks thereof a great while Eslinguen is a pretty Town upon the Neckar within the Dutchy and under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg to whom it sends every first day of the year a hundred Florins of gold in a green velvet purse for the honour he doth them in being their Protector P. If I be not mistaken this City hath been honoured with the celebration of some Turnament G Not with a Turnament only but also with an Imperial Diet And produces great store of excellent Wine Francfort which was anciently called Tentoburgum and Hellenopolis signifies the passage or Ford of the Franks and was so termed because it served them for a retreat when they went into and came back from Gaule This City is renowned for its Fairs for the Article of the Golden Bull which ordains that the King of the Romans should be chosen there for its Fortress and for the river of Mein which parts it into two Towns whereof one retains the old name and the other is called Saxenhausen P. You have told me elsewhere that that clause of the Golden Bull is not observed and that many Kings of the Romans have been elected in other places G. That is true but yet the Town is very considerable for all that The Religion professed there is of two sorts and the Jews drive a great Trade amongst them Fridberg a very small City in Wetteravia had not above 60. Burgers when I passed that way but it hath great priviledges There is a Castle near it the Lords whereof are called Burgraves Guemunde which seems to signifie Gaudia Mundi the joys of the world in regard of the Turnaments or other pastimes which the Lords of Swaben have heretofore given their friends there is entirely Catholique and an Imperial City since the death of Conradine who was beheaded at Naples Gostar a City of Hircynia was fortified in the year 1207. The Castle is called the Imperial Palace and the Town the Royal City because the Kings of Germany were wont to make their aboad there and some Emperors have honoured it with their residence Guelnehausen after the same manner as Fridberg hath City and Castle and place in the Assemblies though the Electors Palatine use their utter most endeavour to bring it under their subjection P. I wonder how these petty places are able to maintain their liberty G. They are supported by others and the Emperor would not willingly see Princes make themselves Masters of them Haguenau a City of Alsatiâ— is Head of a Bailywick that comprehends the Imperial Cities of Colmar Selestad Weissembourg Landau Oberhenheim Rosherim Munster in the valley of St. Gregory Keichersberg and Turgkeim This Bailywick was given to the most Christian King with its appurtenances and the right which the House of Austria had to it heretofore This City was very much a favourite to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who caused it to be walled about after he had built a house there for himself and six for the principal Gentlemen belonging to his Hunting which the Lords of Flekenstein Durcheim and some others do still hold in Fee of the Empire P. I think the Lords of Durcheim are your kinsmen G. Margaret of Rottembourg a Gentlewoman of a very ancient family in Lower Alsatia was married to John Albert of Anweil of which marriage came Anne Margaret of Anweil my wife by whose means I find my self allied to the Houses of Anweil Rottembourg Scheling Welward Spest Durcheim Stursel Dalbourg Bernehausen Flekenstein Stein and many others But this is besides our purpose Hambourg situate upon the Elbe where the reflux of the Sea makes a good Port is one of the richest Cities in Germany the greatest in Vandalia and the best fortified in Europe It doth ordinarily maintain a thousand Souldiers and for a time of necessity it hath 15000. Burgers listed in fifty Companies Trade is exceeding quick there by reason of the river which joyns it to the Sea and a multitude of Portuguese Jews who have liberty of conscience there This City hath been subject to several Lords but at last it is become free notwithstanding all that the Duke of Holstein could do or the King of Denmark who hath built Glugstadt and a Fort in the river to annoy and incommodate the City of Hambourg P. The neighbourhood of the Swedes may entrench much upon their liberty G. The Crown of Sweden hath the possession of Stade near the river of Elbe and the King of Denmark hath Glugstadt on the other side of the same river So that if those two Kings should conspire to ruine Hambourg it would be in great danger but it is sheltered under the jealousie that is between those two Crowns Although this City be indeed so prodigiously rich that if the Kings should agree together it is probable the Senat would be able to guard themselves and preserve their liberty by the expense of their Treasure And questionless if Hambourg make good use of its own strength and the friendship of those that are concerned for its preservation it hath no cause to fear For the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein apprehending the Swedes will be always glad to fortifie themselves by the good affection and forces of Hambourg and Lubeck which are as so many Bulwarks to their States P. Is Lubeck also in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese G. These Cities are not far distant from one another They have the same interest and are powerful Hambourg upon the Ocean and Lubeck upon the Balthique Sea in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese which contains the Dutchies of Holstein Schleswick Stormar and Dithmarsh with the Countrey of Jutland The City of Lubeck was built by Adolph Count of Holstein in the time of the Emperor Conrade III. and a little after it was taken by Henry Leo Duke of Bavaria and Saxony who founded a Bishoprick there as I have read over the Gates of the Castle of Eutin the place where the Bishop resides After the death of that Henry it returned to its first Master and passed from him into the power of Canute King of Denmark but the Danes being overcome in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. it became an Imperial City and enjoys that priviledge to this day When it began it was of no great consequence but now it is large fair and potent by land and by water too the river Drave encreasing its Trade and giving it opportunity to put great store of shipping to Sea P. If the King of Denmark had the command of these two Cities it would enable him to attempt upon his neighbours
for the money they disbursed in that War and besides such a considerable summe Pomerania which is more worth then Alsatia is left in their hands G. They have not only received that summe and Pomerania but Wismar also a Port of the Baltique Sea the Fortress of Walfisch the Bailiwick of Poel and Neucloster which heretofore belonged to the House of Meklebourg and which is yet more the Archbishoprick of Bremen and Bishoprick of Verden converted into Dutchies together with the City and Bailywick of Wilshausen In all which lands and Principalities the Swedes have Soverain Justice right to erect an University and to set Imposts upon all commodities that enter into go out of or grow within the Countrey by them conquered and possessed So by that Peace the King of Sweden hath gotten the names and titles of Duke of Bremen Verden and Pomerania Prince of Rugia and Lord of Wismar P. You told me before that during the last War the Swedes had more Forces in Germany then the French and I see now they have reaped much more profit make me understand what satisfaction the Heroical Lady of Hesse received G. That Princess which reigned in the hearts of all those that have had the honour to speak with her had too well served the victorious Party to remain without satisfaction It was therefore accorded unto her for her self her son William and their Successors for ever that besides the general clause of the Article Tandent omnes they should enjoy the Abbey of Hirchfeld with all its appurtenances as well Ecclesiastical as Secular as well without as within the Territory of the said Abbey and the right Lordships and demesnes of the Cities and Bailywicks of Schaumbourg Bukembourg Saxenhaguen and Stathaguen which heretofore belonged to the Bishoprick of Minden and 600000. Crowns in money payable at Cassel within nine moneths after the publication of the Peace And for an accomplishment and full measure of satisfaction the Assembly of Munster ratified the transaction between the two Branches of Cassel and Darmstadt made by the mediation of Ernest Duke of Saxon-Gotta April 14. 1649. and the right of Primogeniture in those two Branches P. Those satisfactions were without question of very hard digestion to the contrary party but a good Peace cannot be bought too dear G. The Emperor lost nothing for by giving up his right in Alsatia he made the Kingdom of Bohemia Hereditary to his House But the Spaniards will not easily be able to comfort themselves for that loss because if Alsatia and Lorraine remain in the hands of the French it will be impossible for them to joyn their Forces of Italy with those of the Low Countreys unless they transport them by Sea with great expense and greater danger or through the Territories of others which cannot be done without buying the friendship of those that are not willing to see the formidable forces of Spain united And from hence grows a great advantage to the French by that Treaty P. Methinks I am now sufficiently instructed in that which concerns our Germany But having heard nothing hitherto of the Golden Bull except some words which you have scattered here and there I would gladly hear you discourse more amply of it G. That Bull is the Diamond Nail which holds together these remainders of the Empire and keeps them from dissolution by the wholesome Ordinances which it contains touching the time the place and the persons which ought to concur to the Election of the Emperor the number immunities and preheminences of the Electors the integrity candor and probity which they ought to use in choosing the first Prince of Christendom the order they ought to keep in their Assemblies as well while they accompany the Emperor as in their seats and places and to cut off all occasion of dispute between the Princes of the Electoral Houses the Emperor by that Edict sets down and prescribes the order they are to observe in their successions who ought to be Tutor and Guardian of their sons during their Minority and at what age they are to come out of Wardship Now because Elective Estates have no symptom more dangerous then while they lie under an Interregnum the Bull provides a remedy for that inconvenience ordaining that the Electors Palatine and of Saxony shall be his Majesties perpetual Vicars and shall have the same power after his death or in his absence that the Emperor had while he was living and present Lastly that Bull contains the office of every Elector at the Coronations Processions and publick Feasts of the Emperor P. Methinks in that Bull the Emperor Charles IV. hath had more care of the Electors then of all the Empire besides G. The Electors are the principal Pillars of our State and the Emperor thinking the destruction of the Empire might follow upon their dissension his special aim was to keep them united together by his Ordinance and to provide for the time to come that there should be no disorder in the Election of the Emperors nor in the Succession of the Princes Electors that the septenary number should continue for ever as most proper for an action of so great importance P. Is that Bull of any bigness G. It is a little book the Original whereof bing written in parchment containes 24. leaves and 30. Chapters of which the 23. first were published at Nuremberg the 10. of Ianuary 1356. and the other seven at Mets on Christmas day in the same year by the full power of his Majesty in the presence and with the consent of the most part of the Princes Lords and other Estates of the Empire the Emperor wearing the Imperial Cloak and having the Crown upon his head the Scepter in one hand and the Ball of the Empire in the other P. Why is that little book called The Golden Bull G. The Letters Patents of Emperors Popes and some other great Princes are called Bulls by reason of the seal which gives them their strength and validity Those Bulls or Seals are not alwayes of the same matter nor of the same bigness but according to the importance of the Letters the Seal is greater or less and of different wax or metal The ordinary Letters are sealed with an impression made upon wax the colour and bigness whereof encreaseth either the respect to or the honour of those persons to whom they are directed and those that contain Edicts are sealed with lead silver or gold according to the importance of the Laws which the Prince publishes From hence it was that this perpetual and irrevocable Edict containing the fundamental Laws of the Empire ought to be sealed with his Majesties great seal and not upon wax lead or silver but upon gold to show that as that metal is incorruptible the most excellent of all so the matters contained in that Bull being the principal Laws of the Empire should be preserved there without alteration P. Tell me more particularly of what fashion that Bull is G. The
appearance there then his fellow it hapned at the three and twentieth Turnament which was held at Darmstadt in the year 1403. that the Gentlemen of Franconia and those of Hesse drew so much blood upon one another that there remained dead upon the place seventeen of the former and nine of the latter And yet some have been celebrated since but either that jealousie or the wars which suffer not men to think on such pastimes or other causes to me unknown have absolutely banisht those Exercises by means whereof the Nobility was powerfully attracted to vertue and obliged to accomplish and perfect themselves in all kind of Chivalry P. I believe that as none but Illustrious or Noble persons entred into those Turnaments the number also of the Knights and Squires was limited G. They confined the number of parties allowed to appear for fear it might otherwise grow too great and to avoid the confusion which would arise from too many Masters and Servants For that cause and in regard every mans charges were born there besides that they would admit no new Nobility no Bastard no Usurer none guilty of High Treason no Oppressor of Widows and Orphans none born of Parents whereof one was of base extraction and ignoble no Heretique Murderer Traytor no Coward that had run away from the Battel nor indiscreet person that had given offence to Ladies by word or deed they did also refuse to admit more then one of the same Family at a time Princes came into the Lists with four Squires apiece Counts and Barons with three a Knight with two and a Gentleman with one P. It may be those Exercises will be set up again in their pristine honour and in case that should come to pass I would gladly know what a man should do to be admitted thereunto and how he ought to behave himself being come into the Lists G. The place and hour for the Turnament being resolved they that had a desire to break a Lance there came thither at the time appointed and went to the Presidents Lodging to have their names written down which was done in the presence of three Heralds to whom the Champion delivered his Helmet and Sword and after he had been at Confession he presented himself in the Lists with one two three or four Squires according to the quality of the persons The horses of the Combatants were to be without fault or exception the Caparisons and furniture such as to give no offence their Saddles without any extraordinary raising before or behind and all equal After which they performed all kind of exercises on horseback and when the Jousts were ended every man repaired to the President of his Nation to wait for the sentence of the Judges And he that had best deserved the Prize received it either from the hand of some Lady or from the Prince that gave it P. If the Emperor should ever have a desire to see the skill and sufficiency of his Nobility in that way I would endeavour to make one there and though that should never come to pass I will howsoever take pains to make my self a good Horseman Now since we have discoursed enough concerning Turnaments tell me what you know of the Cities of the Empire G. All the Cities of Germany are either free or subject or partly free and partly subject Those of the first sort acknowledge none but the Emperor are Estates of the Empire and participate in the right of Soverainty the second depend upon Princes Lords and Gentlemen give respect to their Orders and obedience to their Justice the last are those which having been subject have obtained some priviledges from the Emperor from their Princes or by their swords And though they be almost Free yet have they neither voice nor place in the Assemblies nor do they quietly enjoy their pretended priviledges These Cities being rich and potent make bad use of their power endeavouring to shake off the yoke of obedience which they owe to their Masters to whom they give very little respect but try their uttermost to make themselves Imperial Cities Such are Brunswick Erfort and Embden which have evermore some matter or other of dispute the first with the Duke of Brunswick the second with the Elector of Mentz and Embden with the Princes of East-Friseland P. I imagine that the Cities belonging to Princes are neither so wealthy nor so fair as the Imperial G. That rule doth not alwayes hold There are some Imperial Cities to he found of no great consequence as Fridberg Aalen Weiler Gueminde Biberac Dunkelspiel and several others on the the contrary there are divers Cities subject to Princes surpassing in beauty magnificent in buildings and considerable for riches as Munchen Ingolstadt Dresden Wirsbourg Mentz Magdebourg Bamberg Stutgards and Lunebourg but they have not the same right which those lesser places we last mentioned enjoy P. I have often heard say that the Cities of Germany are neither so ancient nor of so fair structure as in other Countreys G. Many good Antiquaries assure us that the Cities on the East-side of the Rhine were built about the time of the Emperor Henry I. but those very Authors say that the City of Trier is one of the Ancientest in Europe and that Strasbourg Wormes and Spire flourished before the time of Julius Caesar As for the beauty and number of Cities our Germany yields to no Province in Europe The Italians who for the most part undervalue all that is on the other side of the Alpes from them cannot deny us that prerogative anst John Botero confesses that for that matter we may give them fifteen and a bisque using these words to that purpose I Thedeschi avanzano di gran lungai Romani And I am sure that the Constable of Castille who to disgrace the greatness and magnificence of Paris told Mareschal d'Ornano that he had left behind him the fairest Cities in Christendom would have changed his opinion if he had seen Germany and been forced to acknowledge in his heart though according to the Spanish vapours he would not have exprest it with his mouth that there is nothing in Spain equal to Antwerp Amsterdam Hambourg Collen Nuremberg Strasbourg Erfort and Augsbourg P. If the Cities of Germany excell all others in beauty then they are inferior to them in nothing for Bocalini esteems them without comparison richer then those in other places when he saith that Laurence de Medicis going about to weigh them the balance wherein he had already weighed all the Estates of Christendom broke not being able to bear so great a burthen But I suppose the houses of Great men are not so embellished in Germany as in Forain Countreys G. I pray be of another mind for when you have seen all Europe you will confess that the Cities and Castles where the Princes and Prelates of Germany make their residence are so stately in buildings so delicious in gardens so artificial in Grots so abounding in Fountains flowers fruits and
you may be sure not to repent your self forasmuch as the people of Sienna are highly courteous and friendly to strangers and Rome being the Epitome of the world there is more to be seen there then in any City of Europe P. Tell me likewise if you please which are the Provinces and Cities of France where they speak French the best G. There is no Province in France where men of knowledge do not express themselves passably well both in speech and writing but in many parts of France the Natives are forced to learn the words and rules of their language as well as strangers Therefore if you desire to know where I think they speak French purely I shall tell you it is in the Parliament of Paris where the Judges and Advocates study to utter nothing in publick but what may distinguish them from the vulgar and at Court where every one speaks excellently well except some who being willing to please forain Ladies bring in a new way of pronunciation when those Ladies are troubled to pronounce some word right P. I make no doubt but the Presidents of Paris who are members of the most illustrious Parliament in the world express their sentiments in perfection and no less that Courtiers endeavour to excel in all things But is it of absolute necessity for one to continue in Paris or at Court if he would learn the French language well G. If it were necessary to follow the Court or abide in Paris to learn to speak French very few would speak it perfectly because expenses at Paris are so great and most strangers having been pinched by the late Wars are forced to be good husbands and be content with a little P. I am more sensible then I would be of the incommodities of the last War and doubt not but the greatest Lords are forced to retrench their expenses but seeing it is not possible for me to be long at Court what City in France is the most convenient for my purpose and in what Province may I spend some time at the easiest rate G. Before the War every thing was cheap throughout all the Kingdom but now I conceive that as the Provinces lying in the heart of the Countrey feel less incommodity from the Souldiers then those upon the frontiers so they have greater plenty of provisions and may afford them better cheap Thus the Cities that are situate upon the river Loire may give you the satisfaction you desire because the language there is pure the people civil and all things at reasonable rates P. The Maps place this River almost in the middle of France and the head thereof rising in the mountains of Auvergne it washes the walls of many fair Cities from Roane down to the Ocean Sea and by a course of above 150. leagues passes by Marsilly Nevers Desise Sully Orleans Blois Amboise Tours Saumur Pont-de-Cé and Nantes so that if you do not specifie the City or Cities which are most proper for my design I shall believe they are all so and be in perplexity how to make choice of the most convenient G. Considering your humour I judge that Saumur and Anger 's will suit best with you because there are Lords and Gentlemen near those Cities who will take pleasure to show you that of hunting and will also furnish you with Greyhounds Setting-Dogs and Water-Spaniels to course the Hare take Partridge Quail and wild-Duck P. Do they not fly at the Heron too and the Mag-pye G. Yes but it is not ordinary to meet with Gentlemen in France that keep Hawks and there are few that have not some excellent Dogs both for their pleasure and their profit I say for their profit because you shall see some of them that provide their Kitchin with the game they take themselves P. Do you think a young Lord that desires to learn sciences and exercises can spend any time at hunting G. Hunting hath always been the most gentile and the most useful recreation of Princes nor was it ever disesteemed but by those that know not the benefit of it It withdraws great men either from idleness which is the mother of vices or from gaming which is unsuitable to their condition such as Dice and those games whereby much money is lost as Prime and Hoc it makes them strong active and bold and teaches them even to fight and to beat their enemies P. Almost all Princes love hunting and apply themselves to it with great industry because it is a representation of War G. War and hunting have great resemblance and the good huntsman is or may easily become a good Souldier To surprize the Wolf and the Fox you must use a certain subtlety which teaches us to lay ambushes for your enemies to take the wild Boar you should know how to present the Boar-spear to the best advantage just as you do a Pike or a Halbert when two Bodies of Foot come to push a pike and to shoot a Deer and a Hare running or a Partridge and a Quail flying you ought to be as good a marks-man as the best Fuzillier in an army Besides these advantages hunting inures you to endure hunger thirst heat cold rain snow and all the incommodities of the air without which it is impossible to be a good Souldier P. I confess that hunting hardens us to labour and teaches us many things necessary for War but I think I have heard you say that Louis de Camoes the Prince of Portuguez Poets calls hunting furia loca insana and doth exceedingly vilifie huntsmen G. Louis de Camoes is reproved by his Commentator for having spoken very impertinently of the pleasure of Kings and they that would excuse him say that he speaks of none but those that make it their only profession and prefer the pleasure of hunting a Stag or flying at the Heron before the safety of their Subjects and their own Honour However it be Camoes was neither your Master nor your Law-giver and that which he said ought not to hinder you from laying ambushes to take wild beasts of all sorts nor from going a hunting when your mind stands in need of relaxation P. You mean then that after I have spent some hours at my study I should bestow some others upon sports because as a Bow standing too long bent grows weak so the mind when it is too long taken up with contemplation begins to disrellish study if it be not refreshed with some Gentleman-like recreation in the number of which you place Hunting as one of the most agreable to Princes G. It is true but because youth runs so easily down the hill towards pleasures and that our Nature disaffects and loaths the occupation of the mind I would have you hunt as little as possibly you can and that to keep yourself in appetite you would prefer Tennis and Fencing before Hunting for that exercise hath such catching baits and the Princes of your House are so vehemently inclined to that kind of pleasure that we see
sacred Empire The Bishops of Mets Toul and Verdun do also bear the title of Princes of the Empire though they neither send any more to the Diets nor have the same power which formerly they had P. There being so many Lutheran Bishopricks converted into a Secular State I do not think the Protestants have many in their possession G. They have none but Lubeck which belongs to the House of Holstein ever since the year 1547. when Balthasar of Rantzau died When I was in that Countrey John Duke of Schleswick and Holstein was Bishop thereof and laid out the Revenue of his Benefice in doing good to the poor and maintaining Gentlemen that had not means to raise themselves at their own charge That Prince dyed A.D. 1650. and had one of his brothers sons for his Successor young in years but very hopeful This Prelate makes his residence at Eutin a fair seat upon a Lake four leagues distant from Lubeck P. Since you have done with the Benefices in Germany which have suffered some alteration you will be so kind as to speak of the others and to begin with Saltzbourg so much famed for its abundance of Salt which makes that Prelate extraordinary rich and for the situation of the City which puts it into the rank of the fairest and strongest in Europe G. Dignities are not only considerable for the strength riches and beauty of a place but also and more especially for the rank they give unto the persons that possess them The Archbishop of Saltzbourg is Legate born of the Apostolick See he alternates with the Archdukes in the Diets of the Empire and gives place to none but the Electors Paris Count of Ladron was long in possession of this Benefice with great honour and when he dyed made room for Gardobaldi Count of Thurin who comes not behind him either in vertue or magnificence P. There is enough said of the Archbishopricks let us see the Bishopricks G. The Catholick Bishops that still enjoy a seat and suffrage in the Assemblies of the Empire are Bamberg Wirsbourg Wormes Spire Eichstedt Augsbourg Constance Hildesheim Paderborne Munster Osnabrug Passau Strasbourg Frisinguen Liege Trent Brix and Basile of which nevertheless Osnabrug belongs to the Catholicks only by turns and after the death of Francis Count of Wirtemberg a most venerable Prelate who was plenipotentiary of the Ecclesiastical Electors at Munster and gave great proof of his prudence dexterity and magnificence to the satisfaction and with the admiration of all the Assembly I say after his death Ernest Augustus Duke of Lunebourg shall be Bishop of Osnabrug though he be a Lutheran All the rest that I mentioned do absolutely belong to the Catholiques greatly fortifying the Popes authority in Germany and bringing a large Revenue to Rome by the obligation the Prelates have to send thither for their Bulls P. I think I have heard that Prague and Olmuts were Suffragans to the Archbishoprick of Mentz and yet you make no mention of them G. These two Bishopricks were Suffragans to Mentz but afterwards united to make up the Archbishoprick of Prague which sends no Deputy to the general Assemblies of the Empire nor hath any place or voice there no more then the Kingdom of Bohemia And that is the reason why I speak not of them here P. Tell me something in particular of every one of the Bishopricks G. That of Bamberg is the first of the Empire it acknowledges no Metropolitan but depends immediately upon the Pope and its Subjects cannot appeal from the Justice thereof This Bishoprick is of Imperial foundation and the Bishop hath right to receive the Oath which the Electors are to take to the Emperor for their Offices of Great Cup-bearer Great Steward Great Marshal and Great Chamberlain And which is to be admired these Electors were anciently hereditary great Cup-bearers great Stewards great Marshals and great Chamberlains to this Bishop who in that had the same honour the Emperor hath though every one thought it strange to see the greatest Princes of the Empire in the service of a Gentleman He that is Bishop at present succeeded Melchior Otho Voite of Salsbourg and is of the same House that he was of This Prelate is exceedingly well lodged at Bamberg where he hath pleasant gardens and excellent walks of Orange-trees but the City is weak which enforces the Bishop to betake himself unto some other place in the time of Wars P. If I be not mistaken Francis Count of Hasfeld brother to him that was General of the Imperial Forces had this Bishoprick and that of Wirsbourg both together and after his death they were given the one to Melchior Otho Voite and the other to John Philip Schemborne Gentlemen of Franconia G. That is true and Anselm Casimir Elector of Mentz departing this life soon after John Philip Schemborne was put into his place with the general applause of all that know him This Prince is fortifying Wirsbourg Castle which is marvellously well situated upon a lofty rising-ground at the foot whereof runs the river Meyn The City is large and fair entirely Catholique as Bamberg is This Bishop bears the title of Duke of Franconia and it is denyed him by none but the Marquisses of Brandenbourg His Countrey is pleasant and well peopled his Subjects are free from all other Jurisdiction and his Fortress of Konigshoiffen is excellent So that this Prelate is able to assist his friends with great forces if he will make use of his men and his money P. He cannot be poor being both Archbishop of Mentz and Bishop of Wirsbourg But Churchmen do oftentimes think more of enriching their kindred then succouring their friends Let us look upon the rest if you please G. Wormes is the Head and Director of the Circle of the Rhine joyntly with the Prince Palatine of Simeren The City is vast as well as Spire and both of them being fit for nothing but to exhaust the Treasure and employ the Army of him that holds them in time of War the Great Gustavus upon that consideration judged it necessary to dismantle them Spire belonged heretofore to Philip Christopher of Sotteren Elector of Tryer who having fortified Vdenheim a Village upon the Rhine where he had a Castle called it Philipsbourg At present the French have a garrison there which costs the Bishop nothing but may in time of war annoy both him and the rest of his neighbours P. Is not this Elector he whom Ferdinand II. caused to be secured and who after he got out of prison engaged himself to France in a perpetual bond of amity and interest G. The very same who to the great grief of his enemies lived till he was 80. years old and dyed A. D. 1652. He was succeeded in his Electorship by Charles Gaspar de Legen and in his Bishoprick of Spire by a Gentleman called Lotharius Frederick of Meternik P. I think it very reasonable that every great Benefice should have its own Prelate G. And I am of the
those above mentioned but in the form and colour of their Cross and was approved by Pope Celestin III. Afterwards when Ierusalem was taken by Saladin those Knights betook themselves to Ptolemais from whence the Emperor Frederick II. sent them back into Germany and employed them against the Prussians and Livonians who at that time were still Pagans but by the valour and piety of those Knights their souls were brought into subjection to Christ and their bodies to the Order which began that War in the year 1220. A little while after those Knights found themselves Masters of a Countrey of very large extent which obeyed the Order till the year 1525. at which time Sigismond King of Poland gave the Investiture of Prussia unto Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg In the year 1563. the Great Master became Secular again and took a part of the lands subject to the Order with the name of Duke of Curland And Livonia having been the subject and Theatre of many Wars between the Polanders Muscovites and Swedes these last did at length become Masters of it and have it in possession still So there is no more remaining of the Teutonick Order but some Commanderies scattered here and there in Germany and the Great Master hath the seat of his residence at Manenchal or Morkenthal He is at present the Archduke Leopold William only brother to the Emperor Ferdinand III. P. All things here below being subject to change I do not wonder that the zeal of those first Knights should grow cold and that they like the Templers abused their riches Tell me something of the Abbot of Fulda and the Grand Prior of Germany G. This Abbey is one of the richest and most celebrious in Europe It was founded upon the river of Fulda between the Countreys of Hesse Franconia and Wetteravia by Charlemagne and Pepin Kings of France in the year 744. This Abbot is first of the Empire he is Arch-Chancellor to the Empress calls himself Primate of Gallia and disputes precedence with the greatest Lords They say that heretofore he could raise 60000. men and though there were a Cypher too much in the account he would be yet be too potent for an Abbot who should have no other care but to direct the Monks in the path of vertue by his doctrine and example The Grand Prior of the Order of Malta in Germany is at this time Frederick Landgrave of Hesse brother to him of Darmstadt who was created Cardinal within these few years and when from being a Lutheran he turned Catholick in the year 1636. he was made one of the Great Crosses of Malta by Vrban VIII and a little after being General of the Galleys of that Order for an Essay of his prowess he entred with five Galleys into the Port of Carthage at Goletta and came out again in spite of the Turkish Canon which continued playing upon him as thick as hail each of his Galleys towing one of Caragoges the great Pirates Ships at her Stern the biggest whereof carried forty pieces of Ordinance and as many Murderers That action got this young Prince a great deal of honour amongst the Knights of his Order two hundred whereof were partners in his fortune and admirers of his resolution P. The Landgraves never do any dishonourable thing and if this Prince had pursued his point and continued in the warlike profession he had cut out work for the common Enemy of Christians Let us see the rest if you please G. The Abbey of Murbach whereunto that of Luders is united because they have both suffered the injury of the times was once so potent that it could maintain 1260. Horse It was founded in the mountains of Alsatia by Eberhard Duke of Almaine now called Swaben to the honour of St. Landegat one of his Ancestors These two Abbeys are at this time in the possession of the Archduke Leopold William The Provost of Elvang is usually chosen out of the body of the Chapter of the Provostship the Canons whereof are Gentlemen He is rich and well lodged in a Castle situate upon a high ground near the City of Elvang Corbay is an Abbey in Saxony so called because St. Adelar Cousin to Charlemagne Abbot of Corbie in Picardy was the Founder thereof in the year 822. and since that time it hath produced great personages Prum had the honour within its own walls to see Lotharius son to the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire change a Crown for a Monks Cowl And Stabel is an Abbey in the Bishoprick of Liege All these Prelates go before the Secular Princes P. I think there are some Prelates that come behind the Secular Princes and though they sit in the Assemblies have no voice there but in Body as the Counts have G. Those Prelates are three and twenty in number and fourteen Abbesses to wit of Quedlimbourg Essen Hermord Nidez and Obermunster at Ratisbon of Lindau Herenroda Buchau upon the Lake Federsic Rotemmunster near Rottevil Hagbaen Guttenzel Beind Dandelan and Gunderthem These Ladies have right to sit in the Assemblies but for the decorum of their Sex they are excused from coming thither in person and yet are obliged to send their Deputies The Prelates do all bear the quality of Abbot Provost or Bailiff and are so rich and powerful that if their Revenue were well employed they might justly strike a terror into all those that would meddle with them P. I know the power of the Churchmen in Germany is too too boundless and it may be their riches gave occasion to the Princes to make themselves Masters of a part of the good things which they abused G. Although the errors which were crept into the Church and the depraved conversations of Churchmen were the first motive of those changes that hapned in the last age nevertheless it is certain that if that had not been some other cause would have been found out to abate the Revenues of Priests which were every day encreased by ways unjust and violent P. How did the Churchmen come to be so prodigiously wealthy G. The piety of the ancient Christians began that which the avarice of the Priests hath accomplished and to speak more clearly Christians of every condition seeing men of the Church afflicted beaten and martyred for the Gospels sake gave them both in their life-time and left them after their deaths a part of their Estates either upon money lent out for their use or upon lands set at a perpetual rent or upon other goods After which Priests went on even to excess and by Legacies in Wills and Testaments got Dutchies Counties Baronies Fiefs Castles Rent-charges as well as Services and Fee-farm-rents and Houses both in City and Countrey by which means Successions fell to them on every side and so they purchased exchanged negotiated with the Revenue of their Benefices employing the profits thereof to compass other estates which being in their hands became exempt and free of all charge It was that vast enriching of Church-men which made
Consistory where all the Ecclesiastical controversies of that Dutchy are decided The President at this time is Melchior Nicolaï Doctor in Divinity very famous for his writings and no less worthy of that eminent rank for his piety P. Do the reformed Protestants called Calvinists observe the same order G. There is no mention of Archbishop or Bishop in the places where the Calvinists prevail Yet in Germany they observe some order and they that are but Pastors yield obedience to the Superintendents P. I do not think there be many of that way in Germany G. The Laws of the Empire permit three Religions whereof the Reformed is the least numerous and powerful yet considerable in regard of the neighbourhood of the Swisses and Hollanders The Electors of Brandenbourg and the Palatine Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel the Princes of Anhalt the Palatines of Simeren and Deux-ponts and the Counts of Lippe make publick profession of that Religion but the first hath almost none of his Subjects of the same Confession the second hath lost the greatest part of his estates by the last Treaty of Peace and his Subjects are of a different Religion the Princes of Anhalt and the two Palatines are but weak and the Counts of Lippe of small consideration The Catholiques have for them the Imperial Majesty the Houses of Austria and Bavaria part of the Palatine and of Baden that of Zolleren all the Ecclesiastical Princes and the Prelates whose power is extraordinary and some Imperial Cities The Lutherans have all the rest of Germany to wit all that the Crown of Sweden possesses there all the Principalities of the Houses of Saxony Brandenbourg Brunswick Lunebourg Holstein Meklebourg Wirtemberg Darmstadt Dourlach Lawembourg and East-Friseland a great number of Counts and the most able Imperial Cities as Hambourg Lubeck Strasbourg Brunswick Vlâ—e Nuremberg and many others which being backed with the neighbourhood of Denmark and Sweden are able to strike an awe into all those that would disturb their peace and if they hold together they will easily disappoint all the evil designs of their Enemies because the Reformed Calvinists will alwayes joyn with them when hostility is used against them for Religion being well assured that their preservation is linked in one common concern with that of the Lutherans The end of the Sixth Dialogue Dialogue VII Of the Counts and Barons of the Empire P. BEing we are now to speak of the Counts it comes into my mind that we have already discoursed of the Princes without any light given me by you why they are called Archdukes Dukes Marquisses Landgraves Palsgraves and Burgraves And therefore before we proceed any further I would gladly learn the Etymology of the names whereby those Dignities are exprest G. They were purposely deferred till we came to this place that you might have them all together or to avoid repetitions which are usually very irksom And because most of these names are compounded of the word Grave I will begin with that Touching which you are to observe that the Germans call Counts Graven which in old language signifies Judge and the Latins call them Comites because anciently Justice was administred at the Court and those Judges did alwayes accompany the Emperor Afterwards that name was given to those who administred Justice in Cities and Provinces because the chiefest of the Judges were sent thither from the Court out of the Emperors followers P. The derivation which you make of that word as well Latin as Dutch pleases me well but from whence do you fetch the words Palsgrave Markgrave Landgrave and Burgrave G. All these names are compounded of Grave which signifies Judge Bailiff or Governor in general and being restrained by the words Phaltz Mark Land and Burg signify the Judges or chief Bailiffs of the Palace the Borders the Countrey and the Fortresses So that Palsgrave signifies the Lord Chief Justice of the Imperial Palace Margrave the Judge of a Frontier Province Landgrave of a Midland Province and Burgrave the Governor of a considerable Fortress to the command whereof was annext the duty of administring Justice in the whole extent of the jurisdiction of his Government P. I pray enlarge your discourse a little more concerning these Offices G. The Palsgrave being the head of Justice in the Empire all appeals were brought to him and he joyntly with the Emperor decided all matters of importance Now as every thing here below is subject to alteration the abuses committed by the Landgraves the Marquisses and even by the Counts obliged the Emperors to send Palsgraves into several places of the Empire and at last those Counts Palatine craftily making use of the Emperors negligence appropriated unto themselves the Provinces of Saxony Bavaria Franconia and the Palatinate Neither did the Margraves and Landgraves continue in the same state For in the beginning their principal aim was the preservation of equity between the Subjects of the Empire and a little after they took upon them the care to hinder the Forain Enemy and the seditious inhabitant from doing wrong to those that were under their jurisdiction There are others that draw the word Margrave from Marka which in old Dutch signifies a horse if that Etymology be allowed for true I think the Marquisses were Generals of Horse and the Landgraves of Foot Those Lords having raised their Commands to so high a point and the Emperor losing his authority by little and little from Officers they became Proprietors of the Provinces they had in charge The reason why I think that Marquisses were first Judges then Governors and at last Princes of some Frontier Provinces is because the ancient Marquisates are all upon the Borders of the Empire where the Emperors in former times maintained some Troops of Horse to hinder the inroads of disaffected Neighbours P. I believe the Marquisates of Germany are all ancient G. There is no doubt but they are so much more then those of France and Spain For besides what you may have observed before when we spoke of the Houses of Brandenbourg and Baden Albinus writes that Henry I. appointed the Marquis of Misnia in the year 931. to withstand the incursions of the Bohemians those of Lusatia and Moravia to keep out the Silesians who were then under the obedience of the Polanders and that of Schleswick to oppose the attempts of the Danes Those of Austria and Stiria had been established before by Charlemagne to bridle the Hungarians and keep them within their duty P. Methinks there are not so many Marquisates in Germany as you mention G. Austria Stiria and Schleswick have been erected into Dukedoms and the Saxons who possess the Marquisates of Misnia and Lusatia prefer the title of Duke before that of Marquis because the Electoral Dignity is annext to the Dutchy of Saxony and Moravia is in the possession of the Emperor By which means there is never a House left in Germany that is honoured with the quality of Marquis but that of Brandenbourg and of Baden
and those Lords prefer it before all other titles P. I do not think there be many Landgraves G. There is none but the House of Hesse that takes its chief title from thence The Landgraveship of Alsatia was transferred to the King of France by the Treaty of Munster that of Leuchtemberg to the House of Bavaria by the marriage of Duke Albert with Matildis heiress of that Principality that of Thuringia belongs to the Duke of Saxony that of Sausemberg to the Marquiss of Baden and that of Nollembourg to the House of Austria Besides these Landgraveships the Counts of Furstemberg take upon them the quality of Landgraves of Stillinguen and Bath and those of Sultz are styled Landgraves of Klegeu But these two last prefer the title of Count before that of Landgrave from whence you may judge that the Landgraves are not all Princes P. I conceive there is no Landgrave nor Burgrave but in Germany and strangers know not those names in their own Countreys G. Certainly there is no Landgraveship out of Germany but some think that Burgrave is that which Forainers call Viscounts or Viguiers I refer my self to the truth in this case and shall only tell you that they who fansie and take delight in Quaternions say there be four of them in Germany to wit of Nuremberg Magdebourg Strombourg and Reinek The two last whereof are no longer acknowledged for such For Strombourg is a Castle situate between Simeren and Creisenach which belongs to the Elector Palatine and Reinek is fallen to the inheritance of the Counts of Issembourg The Elector of Brandenbourg doth still bear the title of Burgrave of Nuremberg though Frederick V. of that name who was made Elector on St. Johns Eve A. D. 1417. sold unto the Burgers of Nuremberg the Castle which he had in that City and some Villages and Forests with the right of the Schultets or Aldermen for 240000. Florins reserving to himself the name and some rights That of Magdebourg belongs to the Elector of Saxony who bears the title thereof and the Arms which are a Demy-Eagle Argent in a Field Gules There are some other Burgraves as those of Kirchemberg Donau and Fridberg but they are not equal to the former P. Are the Archdukes ancient G. That name was unknown before the time of Frederick III. and I think Maximiliaâ— of Austria was the first that bore it And all the world affords no Archdukes but those of Austria As to the cause for which those Princes took up that glorious title I judge that the Emperors of that House seeing their Family arrived to the highest degree of power and dignity were desirous that it should have a peculiar name to it self and for that reason they would never communicate it to any one else though they have been entreated so to do very often and very earnestly Now the word signifies Prince or chief of Dukes as that of Archbishop signifies Prince or chief of Bishops But I do not see that the Archdukes have any Suffragan Dukes as the Archbishops who have Bishops under them P. I do not believe that the Archdukes pretend to have any Dukes their Suffragans but only to shew by that title that there is as much difference between them and other Dukes as there is between an Archbishop and a Bishop Tell me something of the Dukes G. The title of Duke is very ancient but it hath not alwayes been so considerable as it is now The Romans honoured their chief Officers of war with that name because they led on the souldiers to the battel After that and in process of time the state of affairs obliging the Emperors to have Officers of quality and long experience in war to guard the Frontier Provinces they sent some of their Dukes thither P. The Emperors did not appoint Dukes only for the Government of Frontier provinces seeing those that ly in the midst of the Empire are honoured also with the title of Dukedom G. The first Governor that bore the quality of Duke was he of the Marches of Rhetia a Countrey betwixt Germany and Italy which at this time we call the Grisons To that Province the Emperors sent a Duke to withstand the Germans who oftentimes endeavoured to make irruptions into Italy through that passage since which several Governors as well of other Provinces in the Empire as those on the Borders have had the same honour because it was thought necessary to send garrisons into those parts to keep the People in obedience and also by that means to provide an honourable entertainment for those Lords that had served well in the wars But as nothing is enough for ambition those Governors in the end made themselves masters of the Provinces which they had in charge And so the Dukes grew great by the diminution and enfeebling of their Head as the Marquisses Landgraves Burgraves and Counts in like manner did The word Duke is borrowed from the Latin Ducere as Hertzog in Dutch from words that signify a Conductor of an Army P. Are all Dukes of the same condition G. There is not one in Germany but is a prince and allied to Kings those of other Countreys are not so And whether you consider their antiquity or cast your eye upon their estates Alliances and manner of living they ought certainly to be preferred before those of Spain France and England and to be ranked equally with the greatest of Italy P. I know that in France the ancient Dukedoms have been united to the Crown that in Spain the proud Morisco humour gave the title of a Kingdom to the lands that are not worth a good County and that in England there is never an ancient Duke But before we enter upon a particular consideration of the Counts of the Empire I pray tell me whether the Dukes were alwayes greater and more illustrious then the Counts C We have seen already that the ancients called them Duces that led on souldiers to the battel and Comites those that were taken out of the Emperors Court to administer Justice to the Subjects of the Empire A little after the nature of those employments were altered and the Dukes became Generals of Armies or Governors of Provinces and the Counts chief Justices in the Cities and Provinces of the Empire And both of them made themselves Masters of the lands whereof they were Judges or Governors All those Lords assisted the Emperor in the beginning some at the Councel-board and others in the field all of them performing useful and beneficial service to the State Nay I believe without regarding the title either of Duke or Count the Emperors employed those Lords indifferently in the Palace or in the Armies so that it is hard to judge whether title was the more honourable Yet it is to be observed that there were some Counts by Office and others by Dignity that the former sort were raised to places of authority without regard had to their birth and the others were equal or very little
even Orange-trees that there is nothing comparable to be seen elsewhere The Elector of Bavaria is lodged at Munchen in the fairest Palace of Europe the Archbishop of Saltsbourg hath no reason to wish for those at Rome the Bishop of Bamberg hath seen nothing more recreative then his own Gardens Heidelberg hath one of the proudest buildings Stutgardt one of the most commodious Cassel one of the most regular Wirsbourg one of the strongest and Plone one of the most delightful that can be seen Wolfenbottel is a true seat for a Prince Berlin for a King Dresden for an Emperor and Munchen for a God on earth Weymar Gotta Gottorf Cel Baden Auspach Dourlach and Echinguen are very little inferior to the fairest in Europe P. I am glad to hear that our Countrey hath an advantage of other Provinces in Cities Castles and Gardens as well as in civility Tell me a word of the Free Cities G. I do not think you require a Catalogue of the Imperial Cities Nevertheless if you have such a desire you shall find them here of every one whereof I shall say something in an Alphabetical order Aix which the Latins call Aquisgranum from the hot and holesome Baths that Granus brother to the Emperor Nero found there is the place where De Serres saith that Charlemagne was born and where all Historians agree that he lyes buried Many say that Heroical person made this City the Metropolis of the Empire on this side the Alpes and it may be for that reason it is styled the Royal City The Golden Bull ordains that the Emperor receive the first Crown there and if he take that honour in another place they bring the Royal ornaments from thence with the Persian sword which Great Charles wore by his side and with which the Emperor creates Knights P. I believe the Emperor Charlemagne indulged that City so much because it stands in a place from whence he might commodiously look after the Government of both his Kingdoms France and Germany G. I think so too Argentina so named from the silver or money brought thither from all parts as to the custom-Custom-house which the Romans setled there is now called Strasbourg This City is very populous strong and well built The Church there is one of the wonders of the world for the bigness thereof the sumptuousness of its building the marvellous height of its Steeples all made with through-lights and its inimitable structure There are two and twenty Tribes which have every one an Eschevin or Alderman out of whom they choose the Consul whom they call Ammeister who joyntly with the Aldermen elects Ten Gentlemen of the City to be Senators and all together make up the Senat. They take four of those Ten Gentlemen to be Statmeisters or Pretors who at debates ask the voices first of the Consul and then of the other Senators The Office of the Consul is annual and cannot be possessed by any Gentleman that of the Aldermen is for two years The Senat consisting of thirteen and the Councel of fifteen are perpetual The first treats of Confederations and Military affairs the latter hath power to exhort the Consul if he fail in his duty The Arsenal of this City is provided with so great a quantity of all sorts of Canon Pikes Musquets Halberds Partisans Swords Bucklers Pistols Head-pieces Back and-brests Gantlets Vambraces and other Arms as well offensive as defensive that there be few of the like to be seen any where else P. I have read in Limnaeus that this City hath many priviledges and that the Nobility had the administration of it till the year 1332. I would willingly know something of Augsbourg G. Augsbourg by abbreviation from Augusti Burgum that is the City of Augustus was so called because Augustus setled a Roman Colony there after Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus had brought it in subjection to the Roman Empire This City was anciently called Drusomagus and afterwards Augusta Tiberia but now Augusta Vindelicorum It is so well built that it comes not short of any one in Europe and the Guild or Town-house is a Palace worthy to lodge the Emperor In the year 1368. the People took the administration of affairs out of the hands of the Patricians which Charles V. restored to them again 180. years after P. This City is very famous for its magnificence and Goldsmiths work but Aalen and Biberac are not considerable Therefore let us see Collen G. As for Aalen you must know it is but a little hole where there are not above thirty Burgers which belonged heretofore to the Counts of Wirtemberg and was lost during that War which Eberhard the Riotous waged with the Cities of Swaben Collen is the Rome of Germany and the Capital City of the Vbians It is called Colonia Agrippina because Marcus Agrippa subdued it to the Romans or because Agrippina daughter to Germanicus and Wife to Claudius was born there That Lady was very lascivious and it is said that the women of this Town use but little modesty when they are in the Baths It is an Imperial City and yet does homage to the Archbishop in these terms We Free Burgers of Collen to day for to day and for the days hereafter promise to N. Archbishop of Collen to be faithful and favourable unto him as long as he preserves us in right and honour and in our ancient priviledges us our wives our children and our City of Collen So help us God and his Saints And the Archbishop obliges himself to the said City after this manner We by the grace of God Archbishop of the holy Church of Collen Elector and Arch-Chancellor of the Empire throughout Italy to the end there may be between us and our dear Burgers and the City of Collen an amiable confederation entire confidence and sincere peace and that the same may remain inviolable do make known by these presents that we have promised and assured and do promise and assure in good faith and without fraud that we confirm all the rights and franchises written or unwritten old or new within and without the City of Collen which have been granted unto it by Popes Emperors Kings or by Archbishops of Collen and will never violate or infringe the same In witness whereof we have caused the Seal of our Arms to be put unto these presents the c. Now the Senat makes process in criminal causes and the Elector hath right to condemn or to free offenders P. If you say so much of all the Imperial Cities it will be long before we make an end Do me the favour to pass lightly over the rest G. Campidunum which the Germans call Kempten was the ordinary residence of the ancient Dukes of Swaben and the native place of Hildegardis daughter to Hildebrand Duke of Swaben and wife to Charlemagne Colmar is a good City of Alsatia where Berthe mother to Charlemagne and Adelais his daughter have founded many Monasteries Donavert was a Free City till the year
Proposition which usually contains no more then the points which the Emperor touched in his summons of calling the Estates together After that is read the Electors Princes and Ambassadors rise up and having conferred together a very little while one of the company answers the Emperor in the name of all the rest that by the proposition even now made unto them they understand the importance of the affairs which obliged his Majesty to call the Assembly together that they know he hath alwayes had and still hath a very particular care of the publick good for which they most humbly thank him assuring him they will do all that lyes in their power for the advantage of the State and to the end they may more maturely deliberate they beseech his Majesty to cause a Copy of the Proposition to be delivered to them and to take their persons and fortunes under the shadow of his protection The Emperor having heard that discourse gives command that the Proposition be communicated to them all exhorts them to give their advice upon every point and promises them his favour and affection Which being done his Majesty goes back again to his Lodging in the same Order as he came P. They say that in those Diets there is more time spent in regulating of places then in deliberating upon business that seldom any thing is resolved there and that one Diet alwayes begets another G. In Germany as well as in other places one equal submits not to another but against his will and the Emperor doth not willingly decide those controversies where the sentence cannot but de displeasing to one of the parties Now because the taking of places is not regulated in every respect nor perchance will ever be there ariseth always some stop to affairs which would not happen if every one were of Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg his humour who upon a certain occasion where much time was lost in those vanities said that they should put him behind the door so they concluded that for which they came together As to the other branch of your objection they do rarely resolve any business because it is hard to reduce many heads and different interests unto one and the same opinion P. It were well that every one should know his place or be less concerned for it but since that cannot be we must let those abuses take their course Tell me now how they sit when they give their suffrages G. The Estates of the Empire having had some time to consult among themselves the Elector of Mentz sends a note to him of Saxony and he to the Vice-Marshal of the Empire requiring him to give advertisement unto all whom it may concern to repair the next day unto the place appointed at such an hour in the forenoon Which order the Vice-Marshal obeys The Estates having received such notice meet together every one in their own Classe whereof there are three The first is that of the Electors the second that of the Princes as well Ecclesiastical as Secular of the Abbots Counts and Barons the third of the Imperial or Immediate Cities The Electors being met together he of Mentz sits at the upper end those of Trier and Collen on his right and left hand by turns they of Bavaria and Brandenbourg alwayes on the right and the Saxon and Palatine alwayes on the left hand P. As far as I perceive the Electors know their places do not other Princes and Lords know theirs as well G. The Golden Bull assigns a certain place to each Elector but it is not so with the other Lords no nor with the Imperial Cities which have alwayes some protestation to make against the wrong they pretend to be done them The second Classe is distinguisht into two Benches Upon the first sit the Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Abbesses the Grand Master of the Teutonique Order the Archdukes and the Duke of Burgundy upon the second are placed all the Secular Princes Counts and Barons that have right to sit in those Assemblies As to those of the first Bench the Duke of Burgundy seldom sends thither the House of Austria take then turns of precedence with the Archbishop of Saltzbourg who is now the only man left of that quality that sits in the Diets and the Grand Master of the Teutonick Order precedes all the Bishops And further then this I do not know what Order the Bishops and the Abbots observe in their Session As to the Secular Princes the younger sons of the Electoral Houses precede the other Princes whose manner of sitting hath been sufficiently declared already The third Classe is that of the Cities which are also distinguisht into two Branches the Deputy of Collen holds the first rank amongst the Cities of the Rhine and he of Rutisbon amongst those of Swaben P. I can give a near guess of the order observed by the Princes in taking their places and would now understand how they give their voices G. In the first Classe the Elector of Mentz takes the voices proceeding after this manner He first asks the Elector of Trier his opinion and then him of Collen in the third place of the Duke of Bavaria then of Saxony after of Brandenbourg and lastly of the Count Palatine After all which the Elector of Saxony asks him of Mentz his suffrage which is of great importance because being the last he can sway the Balance to which side he thinks good P. The Electors have every one a voice in the deliberations Have other Princes and Lords the like G. In the second Classe the Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Abbesses that bear the quality of Princes the Grand Master of the Teutonick Order and the Secular Princes have for every person one or more voices the other Prelates have two voices amongst them all and the Counts with the Barons as many I say there are some Princes that have more then one voice because it happens that one Prince hath more then one Principality and then he hath as many voices as Immediate Lordships to which that right is annext For example the King of Sweden hath a voice for Bremen for Verden and for Pomerania respectively as also the Elector of Brandenbourg for the same Pomerania and for the Principalities of Halberstad and Minden If there were but one Duke of Brunswick he would have four voices and one Duke of Saxony would have above five or six P. I think I am skilful enough in this point Let us proceed to the suffrage of the Cities G. We have seen before that the third Classe is distinguisht into two Benches The first contains all the Free Cities of the Rhine Alsatia Landfortey Haguenau Wetteravis Baxony and Thuringia the other contains all the other Free Cities of Germany The City wherein the general Assembly is held hath the Directory that is the Deputy of that City is seated near a Table with some Senators and a Register or Clerk of each Bench and gathers the voices asking the opinion first
of the Deputy of Collen then of him of Ratisbon afterwards he returns to the Bench of the Rhine and so to that of Swaben continuing in that manner till he hath done By which it is easily seen that there is not the meanest City but hath a voice amongst the Cities if it have right to sit amongst them but they have but two voices for them all together in the Body of the Empire represented compendiously in the Diets P. What affairs are treated on in those Assemblies G. The matters handled in the Diets are all very important regarding Religion or the Civil Government as may be seen in the Recesse of the Empire which contains the resolutions taken in the general Assemblies and the Ordinances therein made Here you are to take notice that in the Assemblies plurality of voices is usually followed in all sorts of business but because the Catholiques taken in grosse are in greater number and have more voices then the Protestants it hath been thought necessary for the peace of the Empire to take an equal number of persons when they would decide any thing in matter of Religion and where scruple of Conscience might strain too hard upon Justice Which is very useful in a Countrey where two Religions are permitted and specially where the parties are almost equal P. Having discoursed of the time the place and the order of Diets as also of the persons that call them and of those that ought to meet there and of the matters there treated on I pray tell me how the Conclusions are made G. The Conclusion of the Diets is taken as followeth The Electors having pitched upon a Conclusion amongst them send it to the Colledge of the Princes who approve or reject it and that either in whole or in part and send back their opinion to the said Electors Upon this opinion of the Princes the Electors deliberate again and return their deliberation to the Princes desiring them to weigh their reasons if they rest satisfied therewith the business is done but if they persist in a contrary opinion an Appeal is made to the Deputies of the Cities who sometimes adhere to the opinion of the Electors and sometimes to that of the Princes and when they also dissent from both the other Classes as oftentimes they do they propose new Conclusions to which the Electors and the Princes make answer endeavouring to draw them unto their opinion These contrarieties are very often longer then were needful and then the Emperor exhorts them all to agree and in all things to prefer the publick before their own private Interest Such exhortation doth oftentimes prevail so far that every one abates a little of his opinion and comes to an agreement in the whole or in part and when they conceive that things are brought to as good terms as they can expect they send them to his Majesty for his approbation From this difficulty of bringing persons to be of one mind whose interests and desires are so different proceeds that ordinary saying That one Diet is the mother of another and from thence also come those Assemblies of Deputation which we have briefly touched before P. You forgot at that time to tell me who they are that use to sit in the Assemblies of Deputation G. There were anciently called thither all the Electors except the King of Bohemia the Archduke of Austria the Bishops of Wirsbourg and Munster the Duke of Bavaria the Abbots of Weingardt and Ochsenhausen the Count of Furstemberg and the Cities of Collen and Nuremberg At this present besides those above named there are also called the Directors of the Circles of Swaben and Burgundy the Dukes of Brunswick and Pomerania and the Landgrave of Hesse In these Assemblies the Emperors Deputy makes the Proposition to the rest who have every man one voice but when they are voting upon a Conclusion all the Electors together have but one voice and all the other Deputies another P. I am well satisfied in this point but your preceding discourse having informed me that opinions in the Diets are oftentimes stiffely and obstinately held on both sides hath left me in a doubt which obligeth me to ask you whether in case the Estates cannot agree the Emperor should have the power to resolve matters and decide the controverted difficulties according to his own will G. You throw me into a field where Writers fence to the right and to the left all of them bringing probable reasons on their side Excuse me if you please from examining them for I am of opinion for my own part that Conclusions ought to proceed by the consent of the Emperor and the Estates together and that neither the Emperor nor the Estates can conclude any thing alone Nevertheless in your case submission should be given to the Emperors judgement because the obstinacy of the Estates might occasion dangerous factions faction Civil Wars and Civil War the universal ruine of the Empire And moreover it is to be thought that the Emperor being as a common Father to the Princes and the Estates hath as great a care of their good as of his own P. I do confess that in that case obedience should be yielded to the Emperors judgement and that sober and rational men should always choose rather to quit a little of their priviledges and immunities then to kindle a flame in their native Countrey Let us see what is done when the Conclusions are taken G. When the Assembly is come to an agreement and the Head hath prevailed upon the Members or the Members brought the Head to consent unto their opinion the resolutions are set down in writing and signed before they be published Heretofore the Emperor alone signed them or in his absence the King of the Romans afterwards there was added thereunto the Sign and Seal of two Electors two Princes one Abbot one Count and the Deputy of the City where the Assembly was held At this time the signing is as followeth The Recesse that is to say the Act being written in parchment the Emperors Seal is applied below upon two small silken cords joyned together which are then parted in two again to the right side and to the left upon the right-side cord there is impressed the Elector of Mentz his Seal if he be present or in his absence one of the Ecclesiastical Electors below that the Seal of the first Ecclesiastical Prince there present and of one of the Prelates in the third place On the left side of the Imperial Seal the first Secular Elector there present puts his just over against that of the Elector of Mentz then the Duke of Bavaria or in his absence the most eminent Secular Prince then present and in the third place a Count of Wetteravia or of Swaben by turns Lastly the two cords are closed again and fastned with the Seal of the City where the Assembly is kept When that is done the Elector of Mentz reads it openly and then all the Princes and Lords