Extraction from them at this Day And this John the first had by this Alliance Alfonso the fifth and John the second successively Kings who both Deceasing without any Issue surviving Emanuel Son to Ferdinand Duke of Visâ—o third Brother to these two Monarchs ascended the Throne of Portugall and from him it descended to his Grandchild John the fourth who upon his Decease left it to be enjoyed by his Son and Heir Don Sebastian who being unhappily slain in the Fatal Battail of Alcasar which stained the Feilds of Africk wiâ—h so much Blood Henry third Brother to King John above mentioned and Unclâ— to this Sebastian put off his Cardinals Hat to adorne his Head with the Diadem of Portugall but he being Aged and Impotent his Hand was too weâ—k to Manage or sustain a Burden of that importance as the Royal Scepter long so that being assaulted with Cares and over-laid with Years after some short Time of his assuming the Crown shrunk into Ashes and paid that Debt we all owe upon his Decease several pretended a Title to this Diadem Lewis second Brother to King John above mentioned died without any Lawful Issue but left Antonio Christopher and others begot in unlawful imbraces Antonio fixt his Claim upon a pretended Act of Legitimation from the Estates of Portugall but there were Titles which appeared more specious and plausible which stav'd his off for Edward the fourth Brother to King John though he concluded without Issue Male yet he left two Daughters and Co-heirs Mary wedded to Alexander Duke of Parma and Catharine Matched to John Duke of Braganza and the two Aunts of the Deceased Sebastian namely Mary was espoused to Charles the fifth and Beatrix was married to Charles Duke of Savoy from both which Alliances there proceeded Issue so that now the Controversie was whether after the Decease of Cardinal Henry a Brothers Daughter or a Sisters Son had the more fixed and established Pretence to the Crown and Scepter of Portugall and when this Question was begun to be winnowed by the Civill Lawyers the Duke of Alva to endear himself to his Prince who was Phillip the second King of Spain and Son to Charles the fifth and Mary above mentioned and to assoile himself from that Stain his stupendous Massacres in the Netherlands had contracted perswaded his Master to cast his Claim upon no other Debate but the Umpirage of the Sword and this counsell had so great an Operation upon him that he employed this Duke and a puissant Army under his Conduct to assert his Title to the Diadem of Portugall the Effects of which Invasion were so visible that after some Trivial Opposition made by the Portuguees who were broken and split into Division and Faction the whole Kingdome stoop'd and resigned it self up with a Restriction to havs its original Franchises preserved and supported to the Dominion and Scepter of Phillip the Second and under the command of his Successors it continued untill the year 1640. and then by the Arts and dark Engines of Cardinal Richâ—lieu the Negligence and Supine inadvertency of Conde d'Olivarez and the ill managery of Affairs in Portugall it self by the King of Spain's Ministers that Kingdome was torn off by a total Defection from the Crown of Spain and the Scepter placed in the Hand of John Duke of Braganza who was with the publique Applause of the people acknowledged for King by the Name of John the Fifth and upon his late Decease this Kingdome is come to confesse Alfonso his Son just Heir to his Dominion and Scepter Leon and Oviedo THe Kingdome of Leon and Oviedo is bounded on the East with Biscay on the North with the Main Cantabrian Ocean on the South with Castile on the North with Galicia The ancient Inhabitants were the Astures from whence the name of Asturia was imposed upon it and were divided into the two general names of the Augustani and Transmoâ—tani in which the particular Tribes of the Pesici Gigari Zoelae and Lanciâ—â—sâ—s were involved and circumscribed It is divided into two parts Asturia de Oviedo confining on Galicia towards the West and Asturia Santillana approaching Biscay towards the East From which Divisions thus approportioned the eldest Son of the Monarch of Spain is styled Prince of the Asturias which Denomination some probably conjecture was derived from this Foundation that this Countrey was the first that like a Dam stopt the Current of the Moorish Fury which before like an impetuous Inundation carried down all before it though other Spanish Writers of Authentick credit refer the rise and original of this Appellation to that time which was cotemporary to the Match of Catharine Daughter to John of Gâ—â—nt and in Right of her Mother Constance the indisputable Heir of Castile unto Henry Son of John the first then planted in the possession of the Kingdome of Castile it being then assented to more to improve the Honour of this married pair that as the Heir apparent of England is styled the Prince of Wales so the eldest Son of Castile should be named Prince of the Asturias It was first conquered by the Romans and by Augustus Caesar made parcel of the Province Tarracoâ—ensis and part afterwards of the Province of Gallicia by the Emperor Constantine torn it was from the Roman dominion by the conquest of the Goths and from them again it was extorted by the invading Moors though they were not long after supplanted For as the Lust of Roderick excited the injured Count Julian to call in the Moors so the intempered and disordered Lust of Magnutza a Moorish Viceroy engaged him to ravish the Sister of Prince Pelagius whilest he had embarqu'd the said Prince in an Embassy to Musa the Moorish Generall who being a person of noble pretensions and daring Hopes at his return to expiate this Dishonour and Infamy with which his Family was bespattered to assoil this Stain he gave up the life of this Viceroy as an Oblation offered up to the Justice of his Sword and the Price of so great an Insolence and Lust Despairing of pardon for this Act he flew to defensive Arms as his noblest Sanctuary and fortified himself in the most inaccessable Retreats of this Country to which many of the old inhabitants resorted and having prospered under his Command elected him for King by the Name of King of the Asturias though after he had reduced the City of Leon he assumed the Title of King oâ— Leon and left it to his Son Fasila who dying without Issue it devolved to Alfonso for his piety sirnamed the Catholick who had wedded Ormisind his Sister and he had Issue Froilla the Repairer of Oviedo Aurâ—lius and Odesin matched to Sillo who after the Decease of the two others was King of Leon after whose Exit the Crown of Leon was unjustly usurped by Mauregate natural Son to Alfonso in which violent detention he was supported by Aderamen King of the Moors who was obliged to this supply by an infamous stipulation transacted and
672. Wamba not Bamba as his name is placed in ordinary Registers managed the Government eight years 680. Erigius erroneously sometimes written Eringius continued placed on the Throne six years 687. Egica falsly styled Egipsa weilded the Scepter of the Goths 15 years 701. Witiza and not Vitiza as his Name is enrolled in some Chronicles reigned in a joint Combination of Government with his Father five years and five years he swayed the Scepter alone 711. Rudericus so his Name is inscribed on his Coins and not Rodericus as it is registred in the Spanish Annalls governed one year and then having by an injurious and violent Rape polluted and debauched the Honour of Cana Daughter to Count Julian an eminent Nobleman of Spain he to assoil his Name and Family from that Stain which this ignominious Affront had spread over it invited the Moors of Africk under the Conduct of Musa to expiate the former violence who indeed executed the Vengeance designed by him for Roderick so solemnly that in a signal Battell commenced at Xeres de la Frontera in Andalusia the Fortune of Spain was entomb'd in the Carnage of that Field and Roderick abandoned both Crown and Kingdome to the prevailing Sword of the Moors and Musa being supported and reinforced by new Supplies by frequent successes forced almost all Spain to bow to a universal Conquest whilst the scattered Reliques of the pale and amazed Goths immur'd themselves in the inaccessable Retreats of Asturia or Leon from whence Garcia Ximenes a Nobleman extracted from the Royal Gothish Blood about the year 713. or as others assert about the year 716. descended with 600 men and after divers successeful encounters with the Moors gave a Beginning to the little Kingdom of Suprarba locked up within the Pyrenean Hills which sometimes after dilated it self and spread into the Valleys which from hence assum'd the Name of Navarra or Navierras which in Spanish imports as much as plain grounds And of this Kingdome I shall now render an Account NAVARRE NAVARRE is circumscribed on the East with the principality of Berne in the Kingdome of France on the West with the River Ebrâ— or Iberus on the North with the Cantabrian Mountains and on the South with the River Aragon which seperates it from that Kingdome The ancient Inhabitants were the Vascones invested not only in the possession of this Track but of Biscay and Guipuscâ—a also It was ravished away from these by the Romans who were expulsed by the Goths and they again were disseised of the tenure of this Province by the invading Moors who finally were dislodged from their new Acquists by the Magnanimity of Garcia Ximenes above-mentioned whose Successor Ximenes Garcia dying without Issue after an Interregnum of four years Inigo Arista Son of Simon Earl of Bigorre was advanced by Election to the Royal Dignity of Navarre as the next Heir in the Collateral Line to Ximenes Garcia abovesaid and he was Ancestor to Sancho the fourth who in respect that he was possest by Descent of Navarre and Aragon of Castile in Right of his Wife Donna Nugna or Elvira Sister and Heir of Sancho the last Earl thereof and of Leon by Conquest incorporated into his stile the Title of Great and he upon his Decease bequeathed the Kingdom of Navarre to his eldest Son Garcia whose Son Sancho the fifth was unnaturally assassinated by his younger Brother Raymir after whose Tragical Exit and the brief interposition of this bloody Intruder who had bespattered the Throne of Navarre with such a purple Effusion this Diadem was pluck'd from his Temples by Sancho Ramires to invest his own after whom Pedro and Alfonso Kings of Aragon likewise did severally and Successively weild the Scepter and manage the Government of Navarre But this Alfonso dying without Issue and his Brother Raymir a Monk unclouding his Head of his Cowle to adorne it with the Crown of Aragon the Soveraignty of Navarre was vested in Garcia Raymir Grandchild of Garcia de Nagera and Son of Raymir the Usurper abovementioned so that the Right of this Descent so fortified his Title that he ascended the Throne of Navarre as the direct Heir of that Kingdome from whom the transmission of Descent transported it to his Grandchild Sancho the eighth in whom the Male Line of Garcia Ximines was wound up in a Conclusion for he going out without Issue Theobald Earl of Champaigne Son of Blanch his Sister and Heir was entitled in Right of this Descent to the Diadem of Navarre and from the Thread of Succession wafted this Dignity to his Grandchild Henry who determining in Joan his sole Daughter and Heir she by Matching with Philip the Fair King of France by this new Alliance inoculated the the Scepter of Navarre on that of France and in the Hands of his Posterity it flourished during the Government of Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair Kings of France and of Navarre his Lineal Successors but Charles the last of these expiring without Issue Jane Daughter of Lewis Hutin as Heir General of this Charles was invested in the Possession of this Kingdome and in her Right Philip Earl of Eureux her Husband step'd into the Throne of Navarre and from these two did the Diadem of this Province devolve by Successive transmission to his Grandchild Charles the third King of Navarre in whom the Male Line determining the Distaff prevailed against the Spear for Blanch his Daughter annexed this Kingdome to the Patrimony of her Husband John King of Aragon who likewise found his Name wrap'd up as to this particular Match in two Daughters and Coheirs one of whom styled Leonora by espousing Gaston de Foix gave up the Roialty Possession and Crown of this Kingdome to empale the Brow of this Earl her Husband and from these two the Soveraignty was conducted down by successive Delegation to their Grandchild Francis Phoebus who deceasing without Issue the Crown and Dignity of Navarre came to embellish the Head of Catharine his Sister and Heir and she being espoused to John d'Albret of Gascony descended from Amani d'Albret which Amani in the Government of Charles the fifth King of France was wedded to Margaret of Bourbon Sister to Jane Queen of France and by that Alliance very much improved the splendor of his House linked the Kingdome of Navarre to his Patrimony and from these two descended Henry their Son and Heir who was King of Navarre and Match'd with Margaret Sister of Francis the first King of France by whom he had Issue Jane the sole Inheritrix of Navarre who by espousing Anthony of Bourbon entitled him to the Crown and Scepter of Navarre and she was Mother of Henry the fourth Grandmother of Lewis the thirteenth Great-grandmother of the instant Lewis the fourteenth successively Kings of France who by Authority of this Alliance have ever since inserted and interwoven the Title of King of Navarre amongst their Style and Inscriptions But alas this is only a barren naked and empty
Pius the first of which Monarchs which weilded the Burgundian scepter was Charles younger Son of Lotharius the Emperour in which Lotharius likewise the Title to this Crown as being Son to Lewis the Godly was tacitly lodged but he dying without Issue it devolved to his Brother Lotharius who likewise determined without Children and â—o a second Vicissitude brought it to confesse the Scepter of their Uncle Charles the Bald King of France and Emperour of Germany who conferred the Seignory with the Title of Earl on Boson Earl of Ardenne who had Matched with his Sister Judith which Boson was advanced not long after by Charles the Grosse to the Title of Monarch and was styled King of Arles and Burgundy in which last this Province was rolled up from whom by several Traverses it came down to Rodolph the first who had the Title of Duke of Burgundy beyond the Jour and from him the Devolution of successive Interest carried it to Boson the second Brother to this Rodolph the first by whom the Dukedome of Burgundy beyond Jour was united to the Kingdome of Arles and Burgundy And from him the Thread of Descent transported it along to his Grandchild Rodolph the second who concluding without Issue gave this and many other Provinces to Conrade the second Emperour of Germany who had Espoused Gisela Sister and Heir General of this Rodolph After this it was so couched in the Caesarean Patrimony that it was esteemed as a Limb of the German Empire and was managed and Governed by such Earls and Provincial Officers as those Emperours transmitted hither to sway and regulate the Affairs of this Province Otho of Flanders Son of a Sister of the Emperour Conrade by the Aid and Concurrence of Robert King of France was the first who was invested in it as Proprietary those others whom the French Registers and Records represent to us to have held it being Official rather than Hereditary This Otho above mentioned determined without Issue so that Reinald his Cousin and Kinsman became Heir to the Earldome of Burgundy but here the Title was very transitory for he concluded in a female Inheritrix called Beatrix who was Matched to the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa by which Alliance it was annexed to his Patrimony and from him it devolved to his youngest Son Otho but here likewise the Possession was as transient for he expired in a Daughter and Heir styled Beatrix who by Matching with Otho Duke of Meranis which was part of the Province of Tyroll brought it to confesse him for Earl of Burgundy and by her he had Issue Alice his only Daughter and Heir who was violently dispossessed by Stephen de Chalons and his Complices who was next Heir to Garrard de Vienne and Joan his Wife second Daughter to Otho the first and Sister of Beatrix acknowledged by his Faction there for Earl of Burgundy even in the Life Time of Otho and from him did the Title glide down to his Grandchild Hugh who finding his new acquited Dignity was established upon a crazy Foundation to fortifie his Claim he Matched with Alice the Heir of Otho the second above-mentioned and so by twisting their Titles together became indisputable Heir to this Earldome and he had Issue Othelin who going out in a Daughter and Heir known by the Name of Joan she by Matching with Philip the Long King of France annexed it as an Appendage to his Scepter and he setled it on Joan his eldest Daughter issuing from this Match on Eudes Duke of Burgundy but his Grandchild Philip dying young and without Issue this upon his Decease by right of Inheritance devolved to Margaret second Daughter of King Philip the Long and Joan his Wife above mentioned who was Wedded to Lewis de Malain Earl of Flanders and he had Issue by her Lewis de Malain who in her Right incorporated this Earldom into his Patrimony but here it was not long resident for he found his Sepulchre in a Female Heir called Margaret who by Espousing Philip the Hardy second Son of John King of France linked this and the Title and Interest of many other eminent Seignories to his Paternal Demeasne Having thus in Landskip discovered the Fate of the French County I shall represent in a Compendious Prospect those Vicissitudes and Revolutions that roll'd about the Title of the Dutchy of Burgundy untill it came finally to accknowledge the Dominion of Philip the Hardy above-mentioned The Dukedome of Burgundy hath on the East the French County and â—o â—e part of the Savoy on the West Burbonnis on the North Champaigne on the South Bresse Lionnois and and some part of Peau jeulois The Ancient Inhabitants of this Dukedome were the People in Ancient Recoâ—ds so Eminent for their Warlike Disposition called the Hedui In times of a more modeâ—n Inscription that is about the Division of the French Kingdome of Burgundy made by Charles the Bald that part of it which was called the Dukedome of Burgundy on this side of the Soasne was Canton'd into the Five Earldoms of Dijons Chalons Autun Lions and Mascon whereof the three first being laid and amassed together by Eudes King of France during the Minority of Charles the Simple were given unto his Brother Richard embellished with the Title and Style of Duke of Burgundy But the common Fate which attends upon all humane Frailty transported this Province upon the Decease of Gilbert Son of this Richard who made his Exit without Issue Male to Otho Son of Hugh Capet Earl of Paris surnamed the Great in Right of his Wife who was Daughter and Heir General of this Gilbert in whose Patrimony it had not long resided when he dying without Issue this Dutchy which he had been entituled to by the Authority of this Alliance came over to his Brother Henry who likewise expiring without Children the Thread of Desent wafted it along to Robert King of France Son to Hugh Capet who was Nephew to Otho and Henry above mentioned and from him did the Clew of Succession guide it down to Robert the third who had Issue Hugh the fifth of that Name Duke of Burgundy and Eudes who upon the Decease of his Brother Hugh the fifth without Issue entered upon this Dutchy as his Heir and from him again did it come down to his Grandchild Philip who dying young and sans Issue this Province with all its Perquisites augmented the Revenue of John King of France to whom it accrued in right of his Mother Joan Wife to his Father Philip de Valois who was one of the Daughters of Robert the Third above mentioned and by Consequence upon defailance of Issue in Philip abovesaid became entitled as his Heir General to the Propriety of this Dutchy But this was pretended onely for his Title was better supported by a violent Detention of this Dutchy upon which he had entered as an Escheat to the prejudice and supplantation of the Earls of Eureux by an illegall Inroad upon their Interest since those Earls extracted
their Descent and Claim from the Daughter and Heir of Lewis de Hutin K. of France before Philip de Valois which Lewis Matched with Margaret eldest Daughter to Robert the Third above mentioned and Mother to the Heir General But to proceed K. John being thus invested in the Possession setled it on his second Son Philip the Hardy from whom by the steps of some Descents it came down to Charles the Hardy who finding an untimely Sepulchre in the Feilds of Nancy left the Propriety of Burgundy to be enjoyed by Mary his sole Inheretrix upon the Decease of which Charles Lewis the Eleventh King of France seised upon the Dutchy of Burgundy as an Appendage to the Crown of France pretending it was by the Fundamental Customes of that Kingdome to return to that Scepter in case there were a defailance of Issue Male but the French County being an Imperial Isle was permitted to remain united to the Patrimony of his Daughter Mary abovesaid in whose Right Maximilian the Emperour her Husband was invested in the Fee and from him is the Seignory and Demeasne of this Province by the transmission of Successive Descent guided down to own the Scepter and Dominion of Philip the fourth the instant King of Spain Flanders and Artois THese two though since since separated were Originally knit together in the Interest of one Estate yet after the Interval of five or six Descents were again twisted together and remained thus incorporated ever since Flanders is bound in on the East with Haiâ—alt and Brabant on the West with the German Ocean on the North with the Seas of Zealand and a Branch of the Scheld and on the South with Picardy and Graveling interposing betwixt Callis and Graveling Antiquity hath extracted its Name from several Conjectures as first from Flando because it lyeth upon the winds others again assert that it was imposed upon it from Flandbert the Son of Blesinda Daughter of Clâ—dion the second King of France some fetch it from a Town of that Name situated in that part of the Country where now Ardenbourg stands so long since languished and shrunk into Ruin that the least Symptome or Representation being wanting to inform us that there was once such a place in being that we now with difficulty trace out its Rubbish amidst its Ruines therefore the Conjectures of more rational heads extract the Appellation from Flandrina the Wife of Lideric the second the first who managed the Government of these parts as Forrester It was in elder Times resolved into three Divisions that is Flandria Imperialis called so because it was long in its obedience subservient to the Emperours of Germany Flandria Gallica so styled from the French Dialect there spoken and Flandria Teutonica because within its precinct the Dutch Language was properly used Artois is limited on the East with Flanders Gallicant and the County of Cambray on the South and West it is bounded with Picardy on the North with Flanders Flammegant and the River of Lis. The Name is extracted from the Atrebates the old Inhabitants thereof the Air is temperate and the Soil so pregnant and â—ertile that it may very well have the Denomination of the Granary of Flanders and Brabant These Countries of Flanders and Artois were anciently if not a part yet much of the same Nature and Condition with the great Forrest of Ardenne nothing but the Solitudes of continual Woods and Deâ—arts making the Aspect of it rude and desolate The ancient Inhabitants of the first were the Nervii and Morini who were supplanted by the Romans and these again by the French who having established the great Earldome of Ardenne made these Provinces in part subject to the Dominion and power of its Governours whilest that Track of Earth which confined on the Sea was so exposed to Rapine Pyracies and Depredations of the Danes that it was neglected uncultivated and almost unpeopled the In-land Countries something contributing to the general Calamity by being meanly planted from a Deficiency of those Necessaries which should support the Life of Man But when Brunulph Earl of Ardenne was secured by Dagobert King of France this Wild and disordered Country extending as far as the River of Some and enwrapping besides Artois and Flanders a considerable part of Piâ—ardy about the Year 621. was given to Lideriâ— le Beuque with the Title of Forrester to be held under Homage to that Crown In whose Posterity this Title sojourned until the time of Baldwin the first the Son of Odoacer the seventh of the Forresters whose Names are Recorded in the Registers of Flanders there being a Gap or Parenthesis which ravels their Memories during the Ravage of the Danes and Normans This Baldwin having by a violent Onset ravished away and after Wedded Judith Sister to Charles the Bald King of France and Emperour was by him created Earl of Flanders about the Year 864. the Soveraignty reserved as before it was in whose Issue the Interest of these Provinces remained combined and entire until Philip the first surnamed of Elsas Son of Theodorick the first surnamed likewise of Elsas to which Theodorick the Seignory both of Flanders and Artois accrued as being Heir General of Heltrude Daughter and Heir General likewise of Robert the first Earl of Flanders and Artois after the Decease of her Brother Robert the second Charles Son of Canutus King of Denmark who had Matched with her Sister Adeliza and of William Grandchild of William the Bastard Duke of Normandy who had Espoused Mawde Daughter of Baldwin the Fifth Earl of Flanders and Artois gave unto Philip Augustus King of France the Province of Artois with the Earldome of Veramandois with Isabel his Neice Daughter of Baldwin the eighth Earl of Hainault which Baldwin had Wedded Margaret Daughter of Theodorick above-mentioned and Sister and Heir of this Philip. By Lewis the Eighth Son and Successor to this King Philip Artois was given as a Portion to swell the Patrimony of his youngest Son Robert who was adorned with the Title of Earl of Artois by King Lewis the Ninth Anno 1234. This Robert had Issue Robert the second in whom the Male Line failed so that Mawde his sole Daughter being Matched to Othelin Earl of Burgundy he in her right became Earl of Artois But in him the Title was as volatile and unfixed as in the former for he Deceased without Issue Male and so Joan his Daughter and Heir by Espousing Philip the Long King of France united this Earldome to his Scepter and the Estate to his Patrimony and gave it in Marriage with the County of Burgundy with Joan his Eldest Daughter to Eudes Duke of Burgundy and from him the right of Descent wafted it along to his Grandchild Philip the Third who expiring without Issue Margaret second Daughter of King Philip the Long above mentioned who was Matched to Lewis Earl of Flanders entered upon this Earldome as his Heir General and transmitted it and both the Burgundies to his Son Lewis de
Malain and from him again did Margaret his sole Heir carry the united Titles and Interest of all these Provinces to Philip the Hardy to whom she was solemnly Wedded at Gaunt in the Year 1369. Having thus in a Compendious Discovery represented those Revolutions which annexed Artois to the Burgundian Stem I shall now in as narrow a Volume pursue and trace out the Fate of Flanders and it stood thus Theodorick of Elsas Earl of Flanders above mentioned had Issue Philip surnamed of Elsas and Earl of Flanders likewise who dying without Issue Baldwin the eighth Earl of Hanault who had Espoused Margaret his Sister and Heir in her Right was entituled to the Earldome of Flanders and left his new Acquists to his Son and Heir Baldwin the Ninth a man of that Latitude of Power in the Age he lived in that he was not only Earl of Flanders and Hainault but Emperour of Constantinople also but he and his Greatnesse found one Sepulchre together in two Daughters and Coheirs Joan the eldest was first Matched to Ferdinand Son of Sancho King of Portugal and secondly to Thomas third Son of Thomas Earl of Savoy by whom having no Issue surviving Margaret her second Sister Wedded to William of Dampiere became Heir to her Concernment in Flanders and Hainalt by her Husband abovementioed she had Issue William of Dampiere whom even in her Life Time she admitted to the Title of Earl which he continued until his Death which was divers years before her own Decease and Guy of Dampierâ— who was not only Dignified with the Title of Earl on the Death of his Brother but invested also in the Estate on the Exit of his Mother and from him did the steps of several Descents conduct it down to his great Grandchild Lewis de Malain Earl of Flanders Hainault Artois and both the Burgundies but expiring without Issue Male Margaret his sole Inheritrix by Matching with Philip the Hardy fourth Son of John King of France brought them not only to improve the Grandeur of his Family but likewise to swell and inforce his Patrimony and from him did the Title of these Provinces flow down to his great Grandchild Charles Duke of Burgundy surnamed the Warlike who being unfortunately cut off at the Battle of Granson and expiring without Issue Male his Interest in Flanders Burgundy and many other Provinces came to be enjoyed by Maximilian the Emperour and his Son Philip having Wedded Joan Daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella Monarchs of Spain so twisted the Title of Flanders and Burgundy with that of Spain that it is still subservient to the Dominion and Empire of Philip the fourth who now weilds the Scepter of the Spanish Monarchy Hainault HAIN AULT is bounded on the East with Namur on the West with Flanders on the North with Brabant on the South with Picardy and Champaigne It was in elder times called Saltus Carbonatius by some Writers the Lower Picardy In Latine Records of a more modern Inscription Hannonia It borrows this Name from the River Haine or Hania which glides through it and the Word Holt which imports a Wood this Province being almost clouded and over-spread with Forrests so that the Etymologie will be Hainault quasi Hain-holt a Country replenished with Woods on the River of Haine Thus it is represented in French but in Dutch it is best known by the Name of Henegou that is a Country consining on the River Haine as the signification in that Language does intimate The ancient Inhabitants of this Province were the Nervii so eminent in History for their Valour and Prudence who after Bloody Contests were supplanted by the Romans but they again being dislodg'd by the Prench it became a Limb of the great Earldome of Ardenne and remained so until the Death of Brunulph who was subdued and slain in Battel by Dagobert K. of France which Brunulph his Father in his Life Time had invested with the Title of Duke of Ardenne and designed unto the Conquest of it but the Fury of War being allayed and the parts of Flanders and Brabant which were parcels of that Dutchy being enstated on other Houses this by the Indulgent Magnificence of Sigebert King of Metz or Austrasia was setled on Alberic surnamed the Orphelin one of the younger Sons of Brunulph and was likewise adorned with the Name and Title of Earl of Hainalt and from him did both the Title and Estate by the Thread of Descent come down to Walter the third by whose eldest Daughter it was brought to confesse Albon both for Earl and Proprietary and from him the Clew of Paternal Descent transported the Title to his Successor Reigner the third who determined in a Daughter and Heir called Richild who by Matching with Baldwin the Fifth of that Name Earl of Flanders added so strong a Right to this Alliance that he became Earl of Hainalt by the Name of Baldwin the first and left it to his Son Arnulph who was Barbarously robbed of his estate by his unnatural Uncle Robert who not glutted with this Ruin ravished away likewise the Earldome of Flanders by an unjust and Usurped Surprizal into which he succeeded though his Nephew Baldwin Brother to the infortunate Arnulph was repossest of Hainault by the Name of Baldwin the second and styled himself likewise Earl of Flanders and from him by a continued Channel of worthy Successors did the Title of this Earldom flow down to Baldwin the eighth of that Name in Hainault and the Ninth in Flanders who went out in two Daughters and Coheirs Joan who dyed without Issue though twice married and Margaret who being entrusted to the care and Tuition of Buschart her Guardian he by ill Arts and worse Stratagems so seduced and charmed her Affections that she was made a prostitute to his Lust and by those unlawful Embraces had a Natural Son called John de Avesnes Prior of St. Peters in L'isle who by the Designs of Force and Fraud by an unjust intrusion extorted Hainault from his two Brothers William and Guy of Dampierre both being Sons of William of Bourbon Lord of Dampierre and this Margaret both the Issue of Lawful Sheets and this John being thus swoln with an Increase of Patrimony and made tall in Title Matched with Aleida Daughter and Heir of Florence the fourth Earl of Holland and so by the Authority of this Alliance was not only Earl of Hainault but of that Territory also of whose Descendants and how both Hainault and Holland came to devolve to the House of Burgundy I shall discover when I come to treat of Holland Namur NAMUR hath on the East Hainault on the West the Bishoprick of Leigh on the North Brabant and on the South Luxenbourg The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Nervii It was first erected into an Earldom by some of the Descendants of the Sons of Clodion second King of the French who being by a violent Usurpation devested of their Fathers Diadem by Meroveus Master of his Horse to whose
concentered in her was now lodged on him which Bernard King Henry the second the more by some solemn Obligations to endear and fasten to himself adorned with the Title of Earl of Medinâ— Câ—li and his Son Gastoâ— the better to enforce and propagate the memory of the Noblenesse of his Antiquity and Extraction discarded the Name of Foix to embrace that of De la Cerda which hath ever since been transmitted with the Title bestowed on Lewis Grandchild to this Gaston and to his Posterity though there hath not wanted a successive regret and murmur in this Family to be thus excluded from the Spanish Diadem It is customary for this House at the Coronation of the Kings of Spain to put up a Petition to the Prince wherein they exhibit their Claim to the Spanish Scepter that at the least upon the Defailance of this Family now Reigning the stream of Soveraignty might flow back into this House to which demand the King subscribes this Answer Despois Nos Voâ— After Us You And sometimes No est lover There is no place for him Thus have I in a compendious Prospect represented the Fate which attended on the Stock and Lineage of Ferdinand de la Cerda I shall now trace out what Vicissitudes waited on Sancho the third from whom the Scepter of Castile and Leon by the unbroken Thread of Succession came to be swayed by the Hand of his Grandchild Pedro the Cruel who was expulsed out of the possession of his kingdoms by the procurement and influence of his natural Brother Henry Earl of Transtamare because of that havock and ravage his savage Executions had acted both on the Nobility and Populacy who after the discarding and Renunciation of him was by the Favour of the People advanced to the Crown of Castile and Leon but his Son John the first finding that his Title was established but upon a crazie Foundation unlesse there were some more powerful Buttresses to sustain more to fortifie his claim matcht his Son and Heir Prince Henry to Catharine Daughter to John of Gaunt by Constance one of the Daughters of Pedro the Cruel and so twisted the two differing Titles into one and from him did the Diadem devolve to his Great Grandchild Henry the fourth who going out without Issue Male Isabell his Sister and sole Inheritrix being Wedded to Ferdinand Son to John King of Aragon incorporated it with the Patrimony of his Crown and Scepter but both these Princes dying without Issue Male Joâ—n their onely surviving Princesse of Castile Leon Granadâ— c. and of Aragon Navarre Sicily Naples c. by espousing Phillip Arch-Duke of Austria and Lord of Belgium fastned these vast Territories into one Body the Ciment which knits them together hath been in subsequent Ages so closely united by the combination of many reciprocal Leagues and Marriages that they are still the Demeasne of the Austrian Family and particularly the Scepter of this Kingdome is lodg'd in the Hands of Phillip the fourth now Monarch of Spain PORTUGALL PORTUGALL is bounded on the North with the Rivers Minio and Avia which seperate it from Gallicia on the South with Algarue on the West with the Atlantick Ocean on the East with the two Castiles and Estremadura The ancient Inhabitants were the Lusitani and from them the Name of Lusitania was imposed upon it but though these were the principal yet the Celtici and Turditani who dwelt on the South-side of Tagus and the Gallaici Braccarii so styled from the Gallaici Lucenses who were Proprietaries of Gallicia and who inhabited on the North of Duero were entitled to a considerable part of the possession of it It was at first by the successful Sword of the Romans made Subject to their Empire but when their Power began to sink under the Impressions of those barbarous Nations who had so fatally assaulted them this was extorted from their Jurisdiction by the Alani but continued not long twisted into their Acquists for the Suevians breaking in upon them supplanted the Contexture of their newly obtained Conquests and forc'd them to dislodge and tamely to surrender their Interest here to them but a usurped Right can have no solid Foundation to establish itself upon for not long after these new Invaders were cast out from their new encroachments by the prosperous Attempts of the Goths but they again sunk in ths Ruins of Spain particular Lamentations are not distinguishable in universal Groans when the Moorish Invaders by a publique Conquest made the Liberty of Spain stoop to their Commands and Successe and after it had for some Ages groaned under those Fetters they imposed upon it it was rescued from its servitude by the noble Conduct of Henny of Lorrain to whom as a just Recompense of his Vertue and exemplary Services Alsonso the sixth King of Leon espoused his base Daughter Teresa and with her to improve her Fortune transmitted that part of Portugall which he and his Ancestors had by some auspicious Conquests rent from the Moors and and to make his Bounty more conspicuous he Invested him with the Title of Earl from whom it came by Descent to his Son Alfonso who by the Soveraigns of Leon was as Guerdon to poize both his Valour and his Virtue and that testimony of an excellent Courage he exhibited at the Battle of Obriquâ— Anno 1139. he Governed as Earl and King seventy two years and managed his Scepter with that Art and Prudence that at his Decease he made his Exit with the Fear and Reverence of his Enemies and the Adoration of his Friends And from him did the Diadem of this Kingdom descend to Alfonso the Wise who by a successful Conquest inlarged the Dominions of Portugall and wrung the Kingdome of Algarue from the Moors of Morocco who had before supplanted the Moors of Sevill and so broke the Power of Aben Mefad one of the most Puissant Princes of this Track that most of the Towns and petty Governours became by a subordinate Vassalage subject to the Scepter of Portugall and having thus entwined the Right of these two Provinces he transmitted them to his Grandchild Pedro who left Issue Ferdinand the first in whom the Male Line of Hen. of Lorrain determined so that the Right both of Portugall and Algarue was concentered in Beatrix his Daughter who was disseised of her Title to the Crown by her Uncle John Natural Son to Pedro above mentioned who having thus dislodged her from the Throne by ill Arts and dark Stratagems disdaining to be tir'd down by any bordering Title by an unlawfull Disherision diâ—carded and cast out the remaining Lawful Issue of his Father Pedro and having thus by these crooked Designs grasped the Scepter and empaâ—'d his Temples with the Diadem of Portugall and Algarue he to fortifie and support his unjust pretensions Match'd with Phillippa Daughter to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster with whom so many noble English Families enter'd Portugall that most of the Eminent Houses of this Nation spin out their
made between him and the said Mauregate by which this Usurper was engaged to pay him as an annual Cense or Tribute fifty Virgins collected out of the Families of the most eminent and noblest Estimate in this Region but after his Decease the Crown of Leon returns to invest the Temples of Veramund Son to Froilla above-mentioned and from him the Clew of Descent guided it down to his great Grandchild Alfonso the Third who not only with Contempt and Scorn disdained to pay the ignominious Tribute of Virgins abovesaid but in so many signal contests and encounters retrenched the power of the Moors that he justly merited the Title of Alfonso the Great and he left Issue Garcia who deceasing without Children the Crown and Scepter of Leon devolved to his sâ—cond Brother Ordogno who was King of Gallicia and from him the Inheritance by many Generations flowed down to his Successor Veramund the Third who engaging in an unsuccesseful War with Ferdinand King of Castile was by him in a prosperous Conflict discomfited and slain upon whose Tragedy the Scepter of Leon was seised on by this Ferdinand as having match'd with Sanctia Sister and Heir to Veramund and he left the Crown of Leon to Alfonso his youngest Son and that of Castile to Sanctius his eldest which Sanctius dying without Issue both Scepters devolved to be grasped by Alfonso from whom the Efflux of Descent cast them into the possession of his Daughter â—rraca Queen of Leon and Castile and she had two husbands Raymond of Burgundy and Alfonso the Seventh King of Arragâ—n and Navarre by the Raymond she had issue Alfonso the Eighth who succeeded in the Realms of Leon and Castile and he had issue Sancho the Second on whom he setled the Kingdome of Castile and Ferdinand the Second on whom he enstated the Realm of Leon and from him it went along to Alfonso the Ninth of Leon who more to twist the complicated Interest of these two Diadems espoused with Berengaria Sister of Henry King of Castile from which Alliance descended Ferdinand the Third King of Leon who by the Arts and Designs of his Mother Berengaria was advanced to the Soveraignty of Castile to the prejudice of Blanch her eldest Sister matched to Lewis King of France And thus the Crowns becoming once more united they were never since dissever'd though the Title by the violent Assaults of Sancho second son of Alfonso the fifth was distorted and planted in his Family to the injury and apparent disherison of the Children of Ferdinand de la Cerda Of which discomposure I shall discover more when I come to treat of Castile Biscay and Guipuscoa BIscay is bounded on the West with Leon on the East with the Pyrenean Mountains and Guienne on the North it confines on the Cantabrian Ocean and on the South with Navarre and Old Castile The ancient Inhabitants of this Province were the Cantabri subdivided again into the several Tribes of the Marâ—ogi Caristi Antrigones Varduli and the Cantabri properly so called a people as eminent for their Antiquity as they were for their Valour and Conduct which they exemplified in many solemn Contests with those Adversaries of theirs that endevoured either to retrench or else absolutely to subvert their Liberties nor lost they any thing by their intermixture with the Vascones who came out of Navarre and setled amongst them but rather improved their courage by this union so that notwithstanding the frequent Impressions and Onsets made upon them by the Romans Carthaginians Goths and Moors they remained as in their Liberties not vanquish'd so in their Language unalter'd the Reasons of which eminent Courage of theirs may be assigned to be these First their Habitations being amongst the craggy and inaccessable Retreats of inexpugnable Mountains those natural Bulwarks cast up at Gods own charges might make them more confident and daring and secondly the purity of their native Air might so fan and winnow their Spirits from those Dregs and compacted humours which thicker fumes and grosser exhalatious frequently amass together might possibly render them more active and vigorous This hath made them so impatient of servitude and not easily yeilding a tame Compliance to any thing they resent with dislike and regret so that this scale of privileges still fortifies their Liberties First Though they give obedience to their Prince with their Bodies they deny him the service of their Purses being exempt from all Tallages and Impositions for when ever the King of Spain approaches their Borders he is accosted in his progresse by the Noblesse of the Country neer the Borders and there they present him with some small pieces of Brasse called Maravedies treasur'd in a Lethern Bag appendant to the End of a Lance which he is oblieged not to take which refusal as they conceive of his does enwrap a Tacit Symboll of a Confirmation of their Immunity from Taxes Secondly at all their publique Assemblies the Women first taste of the Cup which custome hath grown by tacit Consent into use and hath been made hoary and reverend by a prescription of many years ever since Ogne Countesse of Castile attempted to destroy the Life of her Son by a Cup of Wine fatally mingled with poyson Thirdly they admit no Bishops which aversnesse to that Order peradventure had its Rise and Growth from some antecedent pressure imposed upon them by that Order as our modern Sectaries from some personal Defects they beheld in the English Protestant Bishops did arrive at that height of Animosity as to abrogate their Function as if this were an equitable piece of Logick because there is an Error in the Seed therefore consequently there must be one in the Soil not considering that these Biscainers by the want of Bishops and Episcopal Visitations have fallen into that ignorance rudenesse and excesse which like a Cimmerian Mist dwells yet about them Fourthly they allow or give license to no Priest to officiate amongst them unlesse he bring his Concubine with him to appease his desires affirming it impossible to preserve their Wives chast and unmix'd from the imbraces of the Incumbent if he hath not a woman with may allay the wilder flames of Concupiscence But to proceed though the ancient Inhabitants were so martial and vigorous yet the frequent Assaults of the Romans so wasted their strength that though they were not wholly subdued yet they were forced to resign themselves with some Salvo or Provision which had a Reflection on their Liberties to the Command of Augustus Under the Romans they continued untill that Empire shrunk into its own Ruins and then not brought under Servitude by the Goths but surrender'd to them with the Residue of Biscay And this indeed may be added to their glory that they were the last Province of Spain which offered themselves up to the successeful Fury of the Moors excepting the Asturias never part of their Triumphs and the first which disengaged their Necks of that yoke of Conquest the Moors had loaded them with
the ancient Inhabitants of some part of it though others upon as possible Grounds assert it was extracted from the Catalauni an ancient People of Languedoc a Province of France divided by no considerable distance from this Province But the Affirmation of those is certainly the most proportionate to Reason who deduce it from Gotholonia which by depravation of Dialect and a more easie pronunciation was melted into Catalonia This Province having been adopted into the Name of Gotholonia by the Goths as having been one of the first Provinces of Spain on which that Nation made their violent and successeful Eruptions The ancient Inhabitants of this Province were the Castellani Auxitani Indigites Cosetani with part of the Ilercones and Jaccetani all of them Possessors of that distribution of Spain which was styled Hispania Tarraconensis but when the Glory of the Roman Empire began to suffer her Eclipse and umbrages and wand into a visible Declension this was rent from that great Body by the Alani who not long after were subdued and disseised by the Goths but when a general ruin was super-induc'd on Spain by the power of the Moors this sunk in that general Shipwrack and was forc'd to stoop to receive a yoke from the Hands of Infidelitie from them after many signal struglings it was rescued by the Magnanimity of Charles the Great who having reduced the City of Barcelona about the Year 801. settled it on one Bernard a Frenchman with the Title of Earl and he managed the Affairs of this Province for that Emperour as Gothofredus his Successor did for Lewis the Godly But Gothofredus Son to this Godfred having acted some exemplary Service which obliged Charles the Grâ—â— to some grateful acknowledgement he to expiate this Engagement made him Proprietary of it with this Limitation reserved that the Year of the Kings of France as was accustomed to be performed by his Predecessors should be Inscribed and used in all Records and Instruments of publique Cognisance and from him it was transported to his Grandchild Gothofred the Second who dying without Issue his Uncle Borellus entred upon the Possession of this Earldome and in his Line was it so successively fixed untill by an even Clew it descended to Raymond the Fifth who by Matching with Petronilla Daughter of Raymir the Second King of Aragon was by the Authority of that Alliance invested with the Diadem of that Kingdome and knit by a future Combination this Earldom to the Patrimony of that Scepter whose Successor was James the First King of Aragon and Lord of Catalonia for so the Records of Spain seem to insinuate his Style was used in Coins and other Inscriptions to whom St. Lewis King of France by Resignation and Surrender released that Vassalage and acknowledgement which was due from his Predecessors to the Diadem of France in the Year 1260. and this King James to ballance and poize the Merit of so great an Obligation by a proportionate Compensation at the same time devested himself by a general Release of all his Right and Title to Carcassan Bâ—ziers Nismes and some other considerable pieces in France in Timâ—â— of elâ—er Inscription relating as Appendages to the Revenue of that Crown Thus have I represented in Landskip how Catalonia became twisted into the Demeasne and Royaltie of Aragon where it constantly reposed it self untill the Year 1638. and then that Defection from the Crown of Spain which was occasion'd by the Invasion of the Liberties of the Catalans as was pretended by the Spaniard though those pretences were improv'd inflam'd and aggravated by the Arts and cloudy Stratagems of Cardinal Richelieu having torn it off from that Scepter it was by the Inhabitants modelled and fashioned into the shape of a Common-wealth but with a Reservation that it should still be under the Patronage and shelter of the Crown of France and in this Capacity it remained untill the sucbesseful Sword of Don John of Austria the Marquiss of Cerra and the Marquiss of Mortara so vigorously asserted the Interest of Spain that they wrung all Catalonia from the hands of the French and although this Nation by the concurrent Aid of the Catalans did retrive Puycerda Castiglione and some other pieces from the Spaniard yet the more principal part of Catalonia doeâ—â—et after all these vast Concussions acknowledge no other Scepter but that which is swayed by the Hand of Philip the Fourth King of Spain ARAGON ARAGON is fettered in on the East with the Land of Roussillon and the Pyrenean Hills on the West the two Castiles on the North Navarre on the South and South-East Catalonia and some part of Vanlentia The ancient Inhabitants were the Celtiberi who spread themselves over a very considerable part of Spain styled Hispania Tarraconensis but originally had their Rise and Extraction from the Celtae an ancient People of France who being clogg'd and surcharg'd with superfluity of People advanced over the Pyrenean Hills and mingled with the Iberi the old Possessors of Aragon yet there were other Inhabitants of lesse importance as namely the Jaccetani the Lacetani with some part of the Editani and Ilergetes or Ilurcones that had their Concernment in this Province and thrived under the protection and shadow of the Nobler Colonies And in this posture it remained until the Carthaginians endevouring to enlarge their Territories made it bow to their Government but here it had not long been resident when the power of the Romans growing paramount to theirs it was forced to submit to the more predominant strength of that Empire and to their Interest it was subservient untill it was ravished away by the prevailing Arms of the Goths whose Acquists here attended the Fate of Spain and was surrendred to the Moors in that publique Calamitie which was complicated with their Conquest But about that time when the Foundations of the Kingdomes of Leon and Navarre were established one Aznarius a Person of an unbroken Courage disdaining any longer to lye panting under that load of Slavery which the Moors had cast upon him disengaged himself of the pressure and by many generous Conflicts with the Moors wherein he exhibited many Symptomes of an inexpugnable Courage he invested himself in the Possession of some Lands on the Banks of the River of Aragon but because he found his Power was too infirm and crazie to support his new Acquists without some collateral supply he put himself under the Protection of the King of Navarre about the Year 775. And that Monarch both to excite and cherish so worthy a Vertue with some exemplary Guerdon dignified him with the Title of Earl of Aragon and from him it devolved by Descent to his Lineal Successor Fortunio Ximines in whom the Male Line determined so that Fortunio the Second King of Navarre in Right of his Mother Urraca who was his Sister and Heir was entitled to Aragon supported by this Alliance annexed this Province to Navarre and from him the Clew of Descent transmitted it to Sancho the Great
ingrateful and unworthy Tuition they had been entrusted by their confident but unwaâ—y Father were forced to seek shelter in the most desencible places of the great Forrest of Ardenne where they established the great Earldomes of Ardenne and Mosell Divided in succeeding Generations into many parcels of which this was one Who the first Earls were because Ancient Records are dim in that particular is incertain Albert who was Co-temporary to Hugh Capet and Matched with Irmingrade Daughter of Charles of France and first Duke of Lorraine is represent in very old Registers to have been Earl of this Province and he was Grandfather and as some Authors assert Father to â—eter Earl of Namur in whom the Male Line determined so that his Daughter and Heir by Espousang Henry the second Son of Baldwin the eighth Earl of Flanders and Hainault which Henry was Emperour of Constantinople likewise after the death of his elder Brother Baldwin the ninth Earl of Flanders and Hainault brought this Earldom into that Family and from him it descended to Yoland his Daughter who Wedded Peter Earl of Auxerre who also succeeded his Father in Law Henry in the Empire of Constantinople and he supported by a Right derived from Her was entitled to this Earldome and upon his Decease Philip his younger Son as being then in the Netherlands entered upon it as Earl but he dying without Issue John his elder Brother who at his Fathers Decease was at Constantinople and there made his Claim was entitled to it but he likewise making his Exit without Issue it devolved to Philip the second Brother to Henry the Emperour above mentioned and the likewise determining without Children it was transmitted to Margaret one of the two Daughters and Co-heirs of Baldwin the ninth as Heir General to this Philip and she setled it on her third Son John sirnamed of Dampierre upon whose Decease his elder Brother Guy of Dampierre entered upon the Earldome and left it to his Son by his second Wife by the Name of John the third upon whose Exit his Brother who was one of the Sons of Guy de Dampierre above mentioned by his first Wife was invested in the Earldome by the Style of John the fourth but he expiâ—ing without Issue his Brother by the whole Blood entered upon the Possession by the Name of Guy the second and from him it Descended to his Grandchild John the sixth who in the Year 1429. passed away his Estate here in Reversion to Philip the Good to be enjoyed by him on the Decease of his next Heir Theodore who being Infirm and going out without Issue it accordingly augmented the Revenue of Philip the Good and from him hath the steps of several Descents carried down the Title and Propriety to Philip the fourth now King of Spain Luxenbourg LUXNBOURG is environed on the East with the Moselle and the Land of Triers on the West with the Maes and the Forrest of Ardenne on the North with Luick-land Namur and a part of Hainault and on the South with the Dutchy of Lorraine It hath borrowed this Name from the Castle near the Town of Luxenbourg selected by Sigifride the first Earl hereof for his Seat and Residence The whole Dutchy is resolved into two parts that on the East having borrowed the Name of Famenne that on the West having the Appellation of Ardenne imposed upon it This Province was at first a Limb of the great Earldome of Ardenne rent from it in the Raign of Otho the first by Sigifride the Son of Ricâ—inus Prince thereof who in the breaking the Estate by Division into paâ—cels had this consigned for his Portion with the Title of Earl Of his Successors Gilbert Godfrey and Conrade there is little represented to us by ancient Record in a constant order of Succession until the Time of Henry the first who being slain in the Cause and Quarrel of Renald Earl of Gueldres contending with John Duke of Brabant for the Dutchy of Limbourg this Province descended to his Son and Heir Henry the second who by the Influence and procurement of his Brother Baldwin Elector of Triers Emperour of Germany and he had Issue John who Matched with Elizabeth Daughter of Wenceslaus the Elder King of Bohemia the Respect had to that Alliance was so operative upon that Nation that he was in the Life Time of his Father by their Election advanced to the Scepter of that Nation And he had Issue Charles who was Emperour of Germany the fourth of that Name and likewise King of Bohemia and Wenceslaus the first who was created Duke of Luxenbourg by his Brother Charles the Emperour to inlarge and multiply the Grandeur of their Family but he Deceasing without a Successor this Dutchy again was united to the Patrimony of Wenceslaus who was eldest Son to Charles the fourth and was Emperour and King of Bohemia also and to him Succeeded his Brother Sigismund who was invested in all his Estates and adorned with all hâ—s Titles as namely Emperour King of Bohemia and Duke of Luxenbourg but grew more considerable when he Matched with Mary Heir of Lâ—wis the first King of Hungary by which Alliance that Diadem likewise encircled his Temples and he the better to fortifie his own Family with external Butteresses by a munificient Donation enstated this Dutchy on Elizabeth Daughter to his younger Brother John Duke of Gortlitz which endowment of his fitted her for the Bed of Anthony of Burgogn Duke of Brabant after whose Decease she was remarried to John the third Earl of Hainault and Holland but having Issue by neither of them she by Sale conveyed her Concernment in this Dutchy to Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy 〈◊〉 whom several Descents hath conducted the 〈◊〉 down to Philip the fourth now King of 〈◊〉 Brabant BRABANT is bounded on the East with Luickland on the West with the River Scheld and a part of Flanders on the North with the Maes which separates it from Holland and Guelderland and on the South with Hainault Namur and a branch of Guelderland The ancient Inhabitants of this Province were the Aduatici and some part of the Tungri by the Romans reputed a Limb of that Province called Germania Secunda and by the French a Province of the Kingdome of East-France or Austrasia the Southern parts thereof Confining on Hainault were subservient to the Command of the Earls of Ardenne the Northern parts extending towards the Sea were miserably harrassed with the Depredations of the Danes and Normans and therefore for their future Indempnity were committed to the Custody and Protection of one who had the Title of Lord Warden of the Marches But long these Robbers had not laid this Province Desolate with their wilde Depopulations when their Rapine met with a just Expiation for Theodebert Son of Theodorick first King of Austrasia accompanied with Utilo a Boiarian Prince so check'd their Insolencies and retrenched their Eruptions by seve al Defeats that Theodorick at the request of his Son Theodebert to ballance
the signal performances of Utilo gave him not only the Command of these Countries but the Propriety and possession of a considerable part of them likewise by the Title of Lord Marquiss of Antwerpe the fourth from whom called Araulph was the first Mayor of the Palace to the Kings of France made Hereditary to this Family and his â—uccessors By Dagobert the first â—ole King of the French that Branch of this Country which was 〈◊〉 â—ubjection to the Earls of Ardenne was by his Victorious Sword extorted from them and the whole Estate conâ—erred on Ansegisus Son of Arnulph with the Title of Duke of Brabant and from him did the Title and Estate descend to Charles Martell Base Son of his Son Pepin the first and this Charles had Issue Pepin the second surnamed the Short who having managed Successfully the Affairs of France at last Usurped that Diadem and solemnly receive the Crown at Soissons from the Hands of Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz in the year 751 The Dukedome of Brabant was by this means incorporated into the Revenue of the Crown of France where it 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ch â—â—ntâ— the partage of the French Empire amongst the â—ons and Kinsmâ—n of Lewis the Godly and 〈◊〉 â—t wâ—s link'd as an Appendage to the Kingdomâ— of Lorraine where it lay wrapped up until Lotharius the third King of France in whose share it was involved conferred it on Charles his younger Bâ—other with the Title of Duke of Brabant But this Donation little improved his Interest because the principal part of this and that Moiety of the Kingdome of Lorraine which obeyed the French was cut off by the Sucessful Sword of Otho the second Emperour of Germany and annexed to the Empire But this Otho considering that Charles above-said thus devested was his Cousin German as being Son to Lewis King of France surnamed the Transmarine who had Wedded Gerburg Sister to his Father Otho the first invested him in the great Dukedome of Lorraine which in spacious Latitude and extent of it circumscribed within its Precincts and perambulation Lorrain Gulick Brabant which had then the Denomination of Basse or Low Lorrain and the Lands of Luick But out of this spreading Patrimony thus enstated on Charles of France Otho the second above-mentioned reserved out of it for his Aunt Gerburg Mother of the said Charles the Towns and Territories of Lovain Bruxells Antwerpe and Nivelle as her Dower which with Reference to the Ancient Title he Honoured with the Dignity of Marquisate of the Holy Empire Annâ— 981. Gerburg the Sister and after the Death of Charles her Brother abovesaid without Issue succeeded in Lovain Antwerpe Bruxells and Nivelle by a Right transmitted to her from her Grandmother the first Gerburg aswell as from him though she had injuriously disseised of Lorrein and the Title to that large Demeasne by the Emperour Henry the second the Emperour which Territories of Lovain and the rest above-mentioned she conveyed in Marriage to Lambert one of the Sons of Reigner Earl of Hainault with the Title of Earl of Lovain Henry his Son reduced Antwerpe which it seems by an unjust Violence was detained from him and by this Atchievement obtained the whole Marquisate but still reserved the Title of Earl of Lovain Godfrey the sixth Earl having by several new Acquists much extended the Bounds and Marches of his Dominions was by the Emperour Henry the fifth to whom he was link'd in as near an Obligation of Affinity having Matched with his Sister as in Friendship in the Year 1108 Created the first Duke of Brabant and from him the Title flowed down with an undisturbed Channel to John the third of that Name Duke of Brabant by whose Daughter and Co-heir both the Title and Seignory was transported to Wenceslaus the first Duke of Luxenbourg by whom though she had no Issue yet on him and on his Posterity she enstated this Dutchy and Sigismund his second Son Duke of Luxenbourg setled it on Elizabeth his Neice Daughter to John Duke of Gorlitz in Lusatia and she by Matching with Anthony of Burgogne one of the younger Sons of Philip the Hardy annexed it to his Inheritance and being by this Alliance thus entitled to it it was transmitted to John the fourth Duke of Brabant who was eldest Son by his first Wife for this his second deceased without Issue Joan Daughter of Waleran Earl of S. Paul but he dying without Issue it devolved by Descent to his second Brother Philip who likewise expiring without Children Philip the Good Grandchild to Philip the Hardy Succeeded in this Dutchy as Heir to his two Kinsmen above mentioned and from him did the Clew of diverse Descents guide the Title down to Philip the second King of Spain and he lost a considerable proportion of it in the Fatal Defection of the Netherlands occasioned by the Bloody Impression made upon their Invaded and Injured Liberties by Ferdinand Duke of Alva though Bruxells Antwerpe Machlin and other Important peices do yet confesse the Scepter and Dominion of Philip the fourth now King of Spain The Seignory of Machlin consists onely of that City and some Eight or nine contiguous Villages The most eminent of the Villages is styled Liest or Hiest situated on the pleasant Knob of a swelling Hill the residue of the adjacent Villages confining on the foot thereof Both Town and Villages were formerly enwraped in the Patrimony of the powerful Family of the Bertholts which Name expiâ—ing in the person of Gualter de Bertholt slain in the Battel of Worancan by John Duke of Brabant one Moiety of it devolved to the Bishop of Leige who again conveyed it by Sale to John the second Duke of Brabant and the other proportion accrued to ...... Duke of Gueldres and he in the Year 1333. passed it away to Lewis de Malain Earl of Flanders but he conveyed nothing away but a naked Title which was before denuded of its Revenue by the Successful Hand of John the third Duke of Brabant who tore it away to augment his own Estate since which this Seignory of Machlin with all its Perquisites and Appendages hath so constantly attended the Fate of Brabant and Flanders that it at this instant confesses the Interest of the Spanish Scepter Limbourg hath on the East the Dukedome of Gulick on the West the Bishoprick of Leige on the North Brabant and on the South the Dukedome of Luxenbourg The ancient Inhabitants of this Track were the Eburones when it was first advanced to the Title of an Earldome the Light which should be Collected from Ancient Records is so dim and faint that it cannot conduct us to any clear and positive discovery onely it is probable that it was Originally a Limb of the great Earldome of Ardenne from which it was rent to institute and make up a Patrimonial Inheritance for some Cadet or younger Son as Namur and Luxenbourg were or snatched away by the Violent hand of some For aign pretender as Gulick was when Godfrey and Baldwin
Dukes of Lorrain the indisputable Heirs of the House of Ardenne were engaged to a necessary absence by the Holy War But when and by whom it was aâ—orned with the Title of an Earldome certain it is that of an Earldome it was erected to a Dukedome by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa Anno 1172. Henry one of the Dukes hereof Matched his Daughter Margaret to Godfrey the third Duke of Brabant which suggested to his Successors some specious Colour to pretend unto it supported with a Title of more Authority which came in to reinforce the former on the Decease of another Henry the last Duke of Limbourg whose next Heir Adolph conveyed it to John Duke who fortified his Claim and Title to it by a colourable Pretence and Right derived from the former Match Anno 1293. But Reynald Earl of Guelders being blown up with an over-weening Conceit that his Title was established and erected on a better Foundation than that of Adolph in Right of Ermingrade his Wife Daughter to Herman a late Duke thereof cast in his Challenge to this Dukedome and attempted to evict the Title by the power of the Sword but this was ruinous and destructive to him for being subdued and made Captive by the said Duke John in the Battel of Worancan he was forced to redeem his Liberty by no lesse a price or Ransome than his total Release to all Title or Claim that he or his Successors might pretend to the Dukedome of Limbourg after which it was so folded up in the Interest of the Dukes of Brabant that it came over with it to the House of Burgundy and from that again to own ever since the Dominion of the Spanish Monarchy Guelders Zutphen and Groning GUELDERLAND is shut in on the East with Cleve and the Earldome of Zutphen on the West with Holland and Utrecht on the North with Over Issell and the Zuyder-Sea and on the South with Brabant and the Land of Gulick The ancient Inhabitants of Guelderland were the Menapii and Sicambri People very eminent in ancient Record for their Magnanimity and Courage In Ages of a more modern Inscription these Sicambri mingled with the French and under that Name and notion were entitled to the spreading Empire of the West In the partage thereof by the Posterity of Charles the Great this Province was knit to the Kingdome of Austrasia or East-France and afterwards being broken off was united to the German Empire At the beginning of its Government the Publique Astâ—iâ—s were swayed and weilded by some who enjoyed no other Title but Guardians and Protectors and were advanced to that Dignity by the People in the Raign of Charles the Bald the first who were embellished with this Title were Wickard and Leopold two Brethren who fixing their Chief Residence in the Castle of Guelders gave an occasion to future Ages to impose the Name of Gueldâ—rland on the whole Province but they and their Successors were supported by a Power of so narrow a circumscription that in effect their Office was but Provincial they themselves being accomptable to the Emperours how they managed the publique Concernments of this Province The first Prince who disengaged from the Shackles of these Restraints was Otho of Nassaw who Matched with Aleida Daughter to Wickard the last Guardian and was by the Emperour Henry the third made the first Earl of Guelderland and under this Style and Title his Successors continued until the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria improved this Dignity in the person of Reynold the second to the Degree of a Duke about the Year 1339. and from him did it descend to his Son Edward the Offspring of his second Wife Eleanor Daughter of Edward the third King of England and he deceasing without Issue Mary his Sister by Matching with Williamâ—arl â—arl of Gulick brought both the Patrimony and Ducal Crown of this Province to be possest bâ— him and his two Sons William and Reynold the fourth successively enjoyed it but they dying without Issue Arnold of Egmond Son of John Lord of Egmond and Mary his Wife Daughter of Joan the Sister of William and Raynold the two last Dukes as Heir General possest himself of Guelderland but in the declension of his Age being worried by his unnatural Son Adolph with War and Imprisonment he was in this agony supported by Charles the Warlike Duke of â—urguâ—dy who rescued him from his Son and released him â—rom his Fetters and he to Ballance â—o signal a favour conveyed his Interest in Guelderland and Zutphen to this Duke which Contract was after much Contest and Effusion of Blood ratified to Charles the fifth by his second Son Arnold and accordingly the Provinces of Guelderland and Zutphen were by a voluntary Resignation surrendred to Charles the fifth and from him the Title devolved to his Son Philâ—p the second King of Spain in whom it was lodged until the Barbarous Cruelty of the Duke of Alva engaged most of the Belgick Provinces to a Revolt or defection and the Prudential Conduct of Maurice Prince having much extended the Conquests of the Confederate States most of this Province was by his successful Atchievements annexed to their United Patrimony Zutphen ZUTPHEN was anciently an Earldom of it self without any Connexion or dependance on the Fortune or Seignory of Guelderland and remained in this Capacity until it devolved to be the Patrimony of Wickman the last Earl who determined in Sophia his sole Daughter and Heir who by Matching with Otho first Earl of Guelderland fastned it to that Province annd so it continued after this subservient to the Command of the Successive Earls and Dukes and when Arnold the last Duke of Guelderland conveyed all his Interest to Charles the fifth this was wrapped up in the Purchase and remained under the Dominion of the Scepter of Spain until the Defection of Holland and other Provinces from that Crown and then about the Year 1590. it was by Prince Maurice and the Army of the United States by Conquest torne from the Spanish Patrimony and hath ever since remained linked in Confederacy with those Combined Provinces Groining GROINING both City and Province did in elder Times confesse no other Seignory but of that of the Bishop of Utrecht but he either by want of Power of Inadvertency being remisse in Asserting their Liberties against Forraign Eruptions they submitted to the Protection of the Dukes of Guelderland But these Princes were disturbed in their new Acquists by the Dukes of Saxony who by a pretended Claim entitled themselves to the Propriety of it during which disorder and emotion it was surprized by Ezardus the Earl of East-Frizeland who about 1514. conveyed his Usurped Interest here to the Duke of Guelders the just Proprietary of it Afterwads they resigned themselves up with a Reservation of their ancient Liberties to Charles the fifth which being menâ—ced to be overwhelmed by the Fury of the Spâ—niard they Combined 1594. with Holland in â—â—ion and remain yet wrapped up in that Confederacy Holland Zealand and
Frizeland HOLLAND hath on the East the Zuyder-Sea Utrecht and some part of Guelderland on the West and North the German-Ocean on the South the Isles of Zealand and some part of Brabant Zealand consists of Seven Islands viz. Walcheren South Beverlant North Beverlant Wolfers-Dike Schowen Duvelant and Tertoleâ— It is divorced from Flanders by the Left Branch or Arm of the Scheld on the East it is divided from Brabant by the right Branch of the said River on the North it is separated from Holland by the Gulf called the Flack and on the West it is rent from England by the Ocean West-Frizeland hath on the East the Land of Groining and a part of Westphalia on the South Over-Issell and the Zuyder-Sea on the North and West the main Ocean The ancient Inhabitants of these three Provinces were the Batavi and Carinefates Inhabiting that Track of â—arth contracted almost into the circumambient embraces of the Rhine and Wael and which now circumscribes within its precincts and Verge Holland Utrecht â—â—d a part of the Dutchy of Guelders the Frisii who were entitled to the Possession of West-Frizeland and the Mattiaci who were planted in Zealand But when the Ravage and Pyracies of the Normans had by many Bloody Onsets and Impressions acted such a Devastation here that these Provinces were almost dispeopled Charles the Bald to Thierry Son of Sigebert a Prince of Aquitane and the more to manage and improve his encreasing Hopes and enable him to protect these depopulated Countries he engraffed on him the Title of Earl with this Restriction annexed to the Donation that he and his Successors should own and confesse the Soveraignty of the Crown of France which was accordingly performed until it was by Arnulph the fourth Earl interrupted and discontinued who rendred himself Homager to the Empire and from this Thierre an undisturb'd Channel of Descent transported it down to John the Son of Florence the fifth who determining without Issue John of Avesnes Earl of Hainault in Right of the Marriage of his Father John of Avesnes Earl of Hainault and his Mother Aleide Sister and Heir of William the second Earl of Holland entered into the Possession of these Provinces as their Heir General and from him it was wafted down to his Grandchild William the fourth of that Name Earl of Holland and the second of Hainault who being slain in a War against the Frisons and leaving no Issue Margaret his Sister and Heir brought it to be possest by Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of Germany after whose Decease she was forced to relinquish Holland to her second Son William and Hainault to her third Son Albert but Earl William the fifth above mentinoed deceasing without Issue Albert his Brother became entitled to the Earldoms of Holland and Hainault and had Issue William the sixth who by a Right transmitted to him from his Father wore the Coronet of Holland and in him this Family was entombed for he Deceasing without Issue Male Jaqueline his only Daughter became his heir but it seems she was condemned by nature to an inexpugnable barrenness for though she had three Husbands namely John the fourth Duke of Brabant from whom she was separaed by Divorce under pretext of Consanguinity Humfrey Duke of Gloucester and John de Borselles a Gentleman of a private Orb yet the Annalls of Holland do assert that she had Children by neither so that wanting Posterity to inforce and propagate her Memory to succeeding Times she conveyed her Concernment in Holland and Hainault to Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy Son of John Duke of Burgundy and of Margaret his Wife Sister to Earl William the sixth and Daughter of Albert above-mentioned from whom by the Traverses and steps of several Descents the House of Burgundy having by the Match of Joan the Heir of Ferdinand and Isabella faâ—â—ned and knit the House of Castile unto it self the Propriety and Title of Holland Zealand and Frizeland devolved to Philip the second King of Spain 〈…〉 Vice-Roy for the â— Provinces the Duke 〈…〉 va having by his prodigious Butcheries and â—â—â—cutions incited the People to a total Defection from the Crown of Spain they to Fortifie tâ—â—mâ—â—lves against the Bloody encroachments of the Spamard Chained their divided Interests together in one common Union and Coâ—sâ—â—â—â—â—cy in which they continue linked at this instant Utrecht UTRECHT is chain'd in on the East with Guelderland and on the West North and South with Holland The City of Utrecht was sometimes the Royal Residence of Radbold King of the Frizons after the Romans were dislodged who had long been plante â—here in those Cities and Seats they by an unjust Violence had torn from the Bructeri Salii and Batavi who wâ—re the ancient Inhabitants but when Dagobere King of France had dissipated and broken the Strength of the Frizons he erected this Province into a Bishoprick and annexed unto it a Demeasn spreading and opulent the better to soment the increase of Christianity and improve the subsequent Dignity of it The first Bishop whose Hand sustained the Crosier was Willibald an English-man who established Christianity and dispelled the Mists of Infidelity which had long over-shadowed these parts and his Successors multiplied it to that Grandeur and formidable Power that they asserted their Patrimony and Intetest in this Province about Nine hundred yearâ— with much of Reputation and Courage against all the encroachments and unjust Incursions of the Invading Earls of Holland until it came to be possest by Henry of Bavaria Bishop hereof who being distressed by the Duke of Guelders and expulied out of Utrecht by his own mutinous and tumultuous Subjects about the Year 1527. conveyed his Estate here to Charles the fifth and he procured an Investiture in it from the Estates of the Empire it being an Imperial Fief and so not to be alienated or imbezelled without their License not long after and from him did it devolve by Succession to his Son and Heir Philip the second who having lodged the Government of the Netherlands upon his Vicegerent Ferdinand de Toledo Duke D'Alva this Duke by his Massacres and Assassinations having filled the Inhabitants with a universal Regret and Animosity this with the rest of the Provinces by a pubâ—ique Revolt renounced and disclaimed all Alleigeance to the Crown of Spain and the better to secure their Liberties from the future Onsets of that Kingdome the People of this Province cemented themselves in a Confederate Union with those of Holland and continue at this day wound up in that first Combination Cambray THE City of Cambray with the Territory annexed was established and erected into a Bishoprick in the person of St. Diogenes by Birth a Grecian In Times of a more recent Aspect that is about the Year 1562. it was advanced to the Dignity of an Arch-Bishoprick by Paul the fourth It was made an Imperial Fief by the German Emperours and was given in protection by the Emperour Henry the fifth to Robert of Hierusalem Earl of Flanders
Conquerour so disgusted his Allies and Relations that to decline the Tempest which menaced him he retired into this Kingdome for shelter and after many Conflicts commenced with the Sarazens by a Fortunate Managery of the Christian Quarrel he contracted their Power into narrower limits but being supplied with new Recruits the Sarazens not onely reinforced their Animosities but Hopes also until Tancred and his twelve Sons arriving out of Normandy with fresh Supplies after many signal encounters wholly supplanted the Interest that these Infidels had in Naples but though these Invaders were thus dissipated yet the Greeks remained dis-satisfied and gave new occasion of War and Trouble to these Norman Conquerours under the Command of Melorco Vicegerent of this Province under the Grecian Emperours but the Affairs of the Normans were so well swayed and ordered by the Care and Prudence of William Son to Tancred above mentioned that this new Emotion was extinguished by the Defeat of Melorco and the Troops marshall'd under his Conduct but this Discomfiture did not so totally dispel the Tempest but that there were new Clouds collected together to disorder and ecclipse the Glory of the Norman Conquests which in fine were so wholly dissipated by the active Courage of Robert Guiscard another of the Sons of Tancred that the Greeks being absolutely crush'd and subdu'd the Reliques of the Sarazens extirpated thrown out he justly merited in the Annals of succeeding Times the Title of the Conquerour of the Kingdome of Naples and he bequeathed this Province with all its Perquisits and Appendages to be enjoyed by his second Son Robert Guiscard Earl of Sicily who in the Year 1125. by the Favour and Influence of Anacletus then Pope had the Title of King of Naples conferred upon him and his Son William received the Crown with this Restriction that he should hold this Diadem as a Donative from the Pope and in Homage of the See of Rome and in the Hands of his Successors did the Neapolitan Scepter remain fixed until it came to be weilded by William the second who upon his Decease left Constance his Daughter his onely Lawful Issue and Tancred his Natural Son the Issue of unlawful Embraces and he by the concurrence and support of his Faction so managed his Designs that he invested his Head with the Crown of Naples to the prejudice and Disherision of Constance the Lawful Heir but disdaining to acknowledge the Pope for Soveraign of the Fee the Pope to retaliate this Affront Matches Constance to Henry the sixth Emperour of Germany and by opposing the Right of his Empresse to the distorted and Usurped Title of Tancred so crippled his Authority and Power that finally after many Contests and Bloody Decisions the Scepter of Naples came to be swayed by Henry the sixth abovesaid but his Successor Frederick the second embarquing in the former Contrast with the succeeding Popes in Relation to the Soveraignty of Naples disclaimed and renounced any Homage to the See of Rome which so inflamed that Bishop that he collected all supply that the Engins borrowed either from Strength or Art could contribute to vindicate his pretended Right to the Soveraignty of Naples yet was he thwarted in his endevours with such vigorous Opposition during the Government of Frederick the second abovesaid Conrade his Son Manfred his Natural Son and Conradine Grandchild to Frederick nothing was effected of Importance which might afford any support to the accomplishment of the Designs of the Popes for the time being so that Pope Innocent the fourth to Fortifie his Attempts with Forraign Succour presented the Kingdom to St. Lewis King of France for his Brother Charles Count of Anjou and Provence who had the Repute of an excellent Souldier and an experienced Commander and about the Year 1264. which was two years after Pope Urban the fourth invested him with it he to assert his Interest Commenced a War with Conradine King of Naples and having put his Title to the Umpirage of a Battel after a Bloody Debate took this Conradine Captive and made the forfeiture of his Head expiate its wearing that Diadem which the Popes Donation had before by a pretended Investiture entituled him to and having thus fixed the Scepter of Naples in his own Hand he left it to be swayed by his Son and Heir Charles the Lame who by Mary his Queen Inheritrix of Hungary had Issue Charles surnamed Martel who had his Mothers Kingdom assigned him for his Subsistence or Portion Lewis his second Son who assumed Holy Orders and Clowded all his earthly Glories in the Cowle of a Franeiscan Frier and afterwards was Bishop of Thoulouse Robert his third Son was by the Munificence of his Father entitled to the Inheritance of the Kingdome of Naples There were other Sons who had other Lands consigned them in Appennage for their future support and Alimony Robert abovesaid had Issue Charles who dying without Issue Male in his Fathers life time left onely a Daughter and Heir called Joane who after the Decease of her Grandfather Robert came to Manage the Neapolitan Scepter and this is that Joane so Famously Infamous in the Annals of Naples for the probable Assassination of her first Husband Andrew and other wilde Disorders which have cast so dark a Tincture upon her Fame that though some have endevoured to wrap up her Guilt in a modest Covering yet the Blacknesse of her Life is visible by an indelible stain through all those Veils the Industry of Flattery attempts to fold it up in But to proceed about the Expiration of the Raign of this Ioane which was about the Year 1378. the Church of Rome was Disordered by a remarkable Schisme for Urban the sixth being made Pope the Violence of a predominant Faction a considerable part of the Conclave of Cardinals Elected Robert Cardinal of Geneva by the Name of Clement the seventh Queen Joan being warped with Animosity against Urban who was born under her Dominion and Scepter made her self a Partisan in the Cause and Quarrel of his Adversary and Competitor Clement Her Crime contracted from the Slaughter of her Husband Andrew had been long entombed in a Pacification transacted in her Favour by Pope Clement the sixth with Lewis the Great King of Hungary Brother to Andrew abovesaid But Urban the sixth to recompense her for those Disservices with which she had disobliged him again raked into her Guilt and incensed Charles of Duras of the House of Hungary to expiate the former Murther by a just Revenge and this Prince inflamed by his Instigations came and Beseiged her in Castello del Ovo and having reduced her and that Fortresse to his Discretion strangled her in or near that place where she had acted her Barbarous Parricide on her first Husband Andrew Charles of Duras having thus destroyed this Infamous Princesse seised on the Neapolitan Diadem which did not sit so fast on his Temples but that it was shaken by a Concurrent Title for Joan not long before her Death to
fortifie her self agrinst the Designs of Pope Urban had adopted Lewis Duke of Anjou Brother to Châ—rles the fifth King of France for her Heir and he endevoured to vindicate and extort the Crown from Charles of Duras by Dint of Sword but the latter did so vigorously sustain all the Impressions of the House of Anjou that he not onely asserted and fixed the Right of the Crown to himself but likewise transmitted a peaceable Possession of it to his Successors which were first Ladislaus his Son and Heir who Deceased without Issue and Joan his onely Daughter and then Heir who upon the Death of Ladislaus ascended the Throne of Naples by the Name of Joan the second who for Disorders and irregular Excesses and holding a scandalous Familarity with one Caracciolo as likewise for her ill Administration of the publique Affairs was Degraded from the Regal Dignity by Pope Martin the fourth and Lewis of Anjou Grandchild to Lewis Duke of Anjou above mentioned named by him to wear the Diadem of Naples in her place but she disdaining to be thus devested to secure her self against the attempts and pretences of this Lewis Adopted Alfonsus King of Aragon and Sicily for her Heir but being a Woman of a volatile and inconstant Temper upon pretence of some ingrateful Affronts put upon her by Alfonsus abovesaid Cancelled her first Adoption and by a second Instrument declared Lewis the fourth Duke of Anjou Son to Lewis abovesaid for her Heir and this Lewis having wrung the Crown from the House of Aragon enjoyed it joyntly with this Queen Joan in a fixed serenity of Government for some years but dying without Issue before her she to preserve her self from the Eruptions of the Aragonian Faction Adopted Rene Duke of Anjou his Brother for her Heir and soon after she had declared and effected this she her self was disrob'd by Death of all Earthly Glory But this Rene being then Captive with the Duke of Burgundy was debarred from amassing those Forces together which might adjoust his Title to the Crown of Naples indeed his Dutchesse Elizabeth attempted to retrive it but being overlaid with the Faction and Force of Alfonsus She and the House of Anjou were utterly supplanted and Alfonsus upon a pretence extracted from the first Adoption of Joan which was supported by Conquest upon the Ruines of this Family step'd up to the Throne of Naples and he more to ennoble his Family by an Additional Augmentation of Revenue enstated this Kingdom on his Natural Son Ferdinand who being thus invested in it transmitted it to his Son Alfonsus the second and he had Issue Ferdinand the second who likewise wore the Diadem of Naples but a Tenure very volatile and unfixt attended the Soveraignty and made it rest but loosly on his Temples for Charles the eighth King of France Espousing the Title and Quarrel of the House of Anâ—ou so vigorously supported their Interest that he supplanted this Ferdinand and forced him to abandon the Neapolitan Scepter but the French upon the Departure of Charles the eighth managing both the Civil and Military Affairs of this Kingdome with much Impetuousnesse and Inadvertency excited the Neapolitans to resent their sway and Government with so much Regret and Passion that Frederick Brother of Alfonsus the second regained it with as much Facility as his Nephew Ferdinand had cheaply lost it But Lewis the twelfth Successor and Kinsman to Charles the eighth upon the Decease of this Charles who dyed suddenly at Amboise as he was preparing for a second Eruption upon Naples Collected a Powerful Army to vindicate his pretences and Title to that Kingdome so that Frederick finding himself too weak to sustain the weight of so mighty an Opposition threw himself into the Protection of Ferdinand King of Aragon and Castile who in stead of asserting his Interest against the Onsets of the French by an unworthy Compact with Lewis the twelfth disserted his Kinsman and had the Moiety of the Kingdome assigned him as the price of this Dereliction but not long after the French and Spaniard entering into Contention about the Bounds and Limits of the Lands divided their Animosities were improved to that heighth that they blazed out in the Flame of a publique War which was managed with that Vigor and Prudence by Gonsalvo the Spanish General that after many Encounters the French were wholly disseised and their Interest they had in this Kingdome extorted from them and though in Ages subsequent to this the French did not tamely abandon their pretended Concernment here but sought to retrive it by the Bloody Umpirage of the Sword yet were their Designs so ill managed and their Arms so unprosperous that their Disastrous successe did but more fasten the Crown and Scepter of Naples to that of Spain to whose Diadem the Interest and Title of this Kingdom hath remained ever since so firmely linked that it is still united to the Hereditary Patrimony of Philip the fourth now King of Spain Milan MILAN is shut in on the East with Mantua and Parma on the West with Piemont and Switzerland on the North with the Province called Marca Anconitana and on the South with that Chain of Hills which is styled the Appenine The Ancient Inhabitants were the Insubres the Bâ—ji the Cenomani and the Senones who were after diverse signal Contentions devested of their Possessions by the Romans and forced to surrender themselves as Tributary to their Dominion and Seignory and in that Demeasn which supported Rome as it was first the Head of a spreading Common-wealth and then secondly the Metrapolis of a spacious Empire did this Province lie folded up until the Government of this Province came to be Managed by Augustulus the last of the Western Emperours who being subdued and his Forces broken by Odoacer King of the Heruli and Thuringians this Province became the Guerdon of his Triumphs but the Possession being thus atchieved by an unjust Invasion was not long after extorted and ravished away from them by Theodorick K. of the Goâ—hs about the Year 495. but here the Title was as volatile and transient as formerly for Teyas his â—uccessor was about the Year 567. vanquished by the unâ—ted Forces of Alboinus King of the Avâ—res invited out of Hungary and Narses General for the Emperour Justinian in Itaâ—y the Goths being thus disieised this Province was consigned to Albâ—inus and his Troops by Narses Anno 568. as the price of his Successful Courage and meritorious Fidelity so visibly exhibited in the War commenced with the expulsed Goth and in himself and his Line did the Soveraignty of this Province by a Decursion and Series of Twenty three Kings remain uninterruptedly lodged until the Devolution of Descent brought the Scepter to be weilded by Desiderius who being about the Year 774. Discomfited by Charles the Great this Kingdome sunk in his Ruines and was afterwards incorporated as a Province into the spreading Demeasne of that Victorious Monarch After whose Raign this Province remained Imperial and
is transmitted to his Grandchild Leopold Ignatius the instant Emperour of Germany Stiria or Stiermark is bounded on the North with Austria on the South with Carinthia on the East with Hungary on the West with Carinthia likewise It was anciently possest by Inhabitants who fell under the Denomination of the Taurisci part of the Norici from whom it extracted the Appellation of Stiermark the Germans calling that a Stier which the Latines call Tauriscus or a little Bullock From which Account it may be asserted that Stiermark was nothing Anciently but the Borders or Marches of the Taurisci being the utmost Limits or Extent of their Possessions It was annexed to Pannonia in the Destribution of the Roman Provinces and had the Name of Valeria imposed upon it as a Trophie of Honour imposed upon it to improve the Memory of Valeria the Daughter of Dioclesian But when it was rent off from the Roman Empire it obtained the Name of Stiermark which had an Aspect upon the Ancient Inhabitants the Taurisci It was first erected into an Earldome in the person of one Ottocarus who was Dignified with the Title of Earl by Conrade the second And this Title continued until Leopold the fourth was created Marquisse of Stiermark by the Emperour of Germany for the Time being and from him the Right of Succession transported this Province to his Son Ottocarus the fourth who was adorned with the Title of Duke of Stiria by Frederick Barbarossa But he being without hope of Issue and infected with the incurable Disease of the Leprosie conveyed his Interest and Concernment in this Province to Leopold the fifth Duke of Austria which he purchased with that vast heap of Treasure he extorted from Richard the first for his Ransome from that Captivity he was detained in And hath been wrapped up ever since in the Demeasne of the House of Austria but so that it hath been consigned as a Portion to support the younger Sons of that Family as namely to Leopold the ninth of that Name one of the younger Sons of Albert the Short and after to Ernest the youngest Son of that Leopold and lastly to Charles the youngest Son of Ferdinand the first commonly called Charles Duke of Gratz Father to Ferdinand the second who was Successor to Matthias in the Empire and Heir General likewise to that Complicated Interest he enjoyed in Austria and the rest of the Estates incorporate with it where it hath ever since remained so united that it is not probable for the future that it will so unpolitiquely be dismembered from it Carinthia and Carniola are two other Provinces which inforce the Grandeur and swell the Patrimony of the Austrian Family The first called Karnten in Dutch is bounded on the East with Stiermark on the West with the Bishoprick of Saltzbourg on the North with Austria on the South with Carniola Carniola styled Krain in Dutch is surrounded with Sclavonia on the East Friuli on the West Carinthia on the North and Istria on the South The ancient Inhabitants of Karnten and Krain were the Carni from them not only the adjoyning Alpes had the Name of Carnicae but these two Counties had those Names imposed upon them by which they now are known Both Provinces were united long since in the persons of the Dukes of Karnten the first of whom the Testimony of Authentique Record does exhibit to publique view was Henry Son to Berthold a Noble Man of Bavaria in the Time of the Emperour Otho the third who invested him with the Title and planted him in the Estate which were both disposed off in succeeding Times at will of the Emperours as their Interest guided them Nor was the Title fixed in any House until it devolved to Henry Son of Englebert President of Istria in which Family it remained under this Henry his Brother Englebert Ulric the first Henry the second Herman and Ulric the 2d the last who was intituled to these Provinces who by Matching with Agnes Sister and Heir of Otho the second Duke of Meranis linked that Estate to his former Patrimony But being ancient and Issue-lesse he conveyed his Interest here to Ottocarus King of Bohemia and Duke of Austria by whom these Countries were surrendred to Rodolphus of Habsperg as an Oblation to that Peace which was solemnly stipulated between them And though Rodolphus gave Carinthia to Mainard Earl of Tiroll in Right of whose Daughter Albert the Son of Rodolphus was enstated in Austria yet upon the expiration of Henry the Son of Mainard without Issue Male it devolved according to a Pre-contract unto Albert the Short eldest Son of Albert and Grandchild of Rodolphus continned ever since annexed to that Family though not alwayes resident in the Chief House of Austria In this Province of Carniola is the Town and little Territory of Goritâ— anciently styled Noreia and was in elder Times of that Repute that the Proprietary of it was adorned with the Title of an Earl he that had the Dignity of Count of Goritz was Albert second Son to Mainard Earl of Tiroll who devested himself of the Propriety of it to fix the Title on him and in the Descendant Line of this Albert it continued until the Year 1500. and then Leonard the last Earl thereof dying without Issue it was seised on by Maximilian the Emperour as his next visible Heir whose Successors both in the House of Austria and Empire also inter-weave the Title of Earl of Goritz in their usual Style Tiroll TIROLL is bounded on the East with Friuli and Marca Trivigiana on the West with Grisons and some part of Switzerland on the North with Bavaria and on the South with Lombardy The Earls were at first but Provincial Officers but when this naked and empty Title vanished and grew Hereditary no Beam either from private or publique Record does contribute any Light to a Discovery The first whom any certain Evidence does represent to us is Mainard who dyed Earl of Tiroll about the Year 1258. and from him did this Earldome devolve to his Grandchild Henry who dying without Issue Male his Daughter Margaret by the consent and Suffrage of her Subjects conveyed her Propriety in this Earldome to the Sons of Albert the Short which hath been linked ever since to the Revenue of the Austrian Family Ferdinand the first gave it in Appennage to his second Son Ferdinand surnamed of Inspruch who having disgusted his Allies by Matching with Philippina a Burger's Daughter of Ausburg he to becalme their Passions which boyled with Regret and Animosity against this cheap Alliance entered into Covenant with them that her Issue should not be entitled to the Inheritance of Tiroll In order to which stipulation after his Decease this Earldome devolved to the House of Gratz his eldest Son Charles being adorned with the Dignity of Marquisse of Burgh and his second Son Andrew advanced to be Cardinal of Brixia so that the Propriety of this County hath been ever since resident in the above recited Family and at this
Hungars a People of Scithia wandering in Sarmatia Europaea and not tied or fixed to any certain abode to his support and Assistance and they so generously crushed the Attempts and repulsed the Assaults given to the Emperour and his Armies that to reward so signal and generous performances Arnulphus Invested them in the Possession of Pannonia and by a grateful elevation advanced Casala their Leader to the Title of Duke of this Province and he to perpetuate to Posterity the Memory of this Magnificent Donation discarded the Ancient Name of Pannonia and imposed that of Hungary an Appellation extracted from the People above mentioned upon it and from him it came down to his great Grandchild Stephen the fourth Duke of Hungary in whom that Title ceased and was improved to the more eminent Dignity of King which Office by the transmission of Descent passed along to his Successor Stephen the fourth of that Name King of Hungary and he determined in Mary his sole Heir who by Matching with Charles the I ame Son of Charles K. of Naples linked the Crown of Hungary to his Patrimony and in his Descendant Line it resided until the Scepter of this Kingdome came to be grasped by his Successor Ludovicus or Lewis who concluding in Daughters and Coheirs Mary the eldest being Wedded to Sigismund the Emperour brought this Crown about the Year 1387. to acknowledge his Scepter and Seignory and he left Issue Elizabeth Daughter to them two and she by Espousing Albert of Austria planted the Crown of Hungary on his Temples and from him it devolved to Elizabeth his Daughter by this Alliance who was Affianced to Ladislaus the second Son of Casimir the fourth King of Poland who in her Right was justly entitled to the Hungarian Diadem and left it to his Son Ladislaus or Lewis infortunately slain at the Battel of Mohats by the Turks about the Year 1526. upon whose Decease without Issue Ferdinand Brother to Charles the fifth in Right of Anne his Wife who was Sister and Heir to Lewis above-said was Invested with the Crown of Hungary and from him the Scepter of this Kingdom was transported by the Devolution of several Descents to Ferdinand the third Emperour of Germany who upon his late Decease hath left it to be weilded by his Son and Heir Leopoldus Ignatius who now is placed on the Hungarian Throne Croatia CROATIA is bounded on the East with Bosnia on the West with Carniola on the South with Contado di Zara anciently Named Liburnia on the North with Windischland The Reason why the Name was imposed is not obvious in Authours only it is generally asserted it was fixed on it by the Sclaves when they made their first Eruption on this Country when they disseised the Goths who supplanted the Romans who had before rooted out and dislodged by several multiplied Conquests the ancient Inhabitants call'd the Liburni and Illyrij mingled with some allay of the neighbouring Nations or rather Colonies of the Japodes the Scirtari the Mazai the Peruistae the Derrij Ceraunij Daursii Vardae Siculotae Sardiotae and others of more despicable Estimate But long the Sclaves had not setled in this Province but their Disorders unsetled them for by their Mutinies and Rebellions against their Governours which concluded still in their slaughter and Ruin they fill'd the State with Anarchie and Vicissitude and were never calm or fixed until the several Tribes to allay this Distemper had Princes who succeeded one another in a more Regular Method under the Title of Kings of Croatia and in this Capacity it remained until the Year 970. when having worried and harrassed their Neighbours by Pyracies and other acts of Devastation the Venetians inflamed by these Affronts to expiate their Depredations with a just Revenge in several Conflicts so embased and retrench'd their Power that Zelamirus the last King Deceasing without Issue bequeathed the Kingdome to his Wife and she by a willing Donation transferr'd her Interest to her Brother Ladislaus the Saint King of Hungary so that it hath had its Title ever since so involved and wound up in the Fate and Fortune of Hungary that by Ann the Sister and Heir of K. Lewis who perished in the Ruin of the Battel of Mohatz it accrued to Ferdinand the first Emperour of Germany and from him by the Traverses of several Descents did it passe along untill at last it is now come to confess the Soveraignty of Leopoldus Ignatius now Emperour of Germany VVindischland VVINDISCHLAND is chained in on the East with part of the lower Hungary on the West with Carniola or Karnt on the North with the River Dravus on the South with Croatia It was anciently esteemed a Limb of Pannonia Inferiour as in more modern Times a parcell of the Province of Savia The ancient Inhabitants were the Winithi or Vendi who being swallowed up in the frequent mixtures of their Confining Neighbours the Sclaves were esteemed a Branch of that Powerful and spreading Nation but still to preserve the Name of their first Original the Denomination of Windischland was imposed on this Province which since by the Sale and conveyance above mentioned made by Zelamirus to Uladislaus the Saint hath been so linked with Croatia that as it hath had still the same Successours so at this instant it owns no other Scepter but that of Leopoldus Ignatius now Emperour of Germany FINIS