and afterwards persuaded the King to ratifie the same This Match was mightily opposed by the Duke of Gloucester the King's Uncle who alledged That her Father had only the bare Titles of King and Duke and that besides this great Injury was done thereby to the first Bride viz. to the Daughter of the Count of Armagnac Notwithstanding this the Match went forward and to obtain the Bride of the French Anjou and Maine were given them as a Recompence The King being thus led away by the Queen and his Favourites her first design was to revenge her self upon the Duke of Gloucester whom she accused of Male Administration and after she had got him committed to Prison caused him privately to be murther'd The death of so innocent a Man did afterwards fall heavy upon the King For the French not long after took from them all Normandy the English by reason of a Rebellion in Ireland not being in a capacity to send thither speedy and sufficient Relief They were also beaten out of Aquitain so that they had nothing left them in France but Calais and some neighbouring places neither could they afterwards ever get footing again in France This sudden loss was occasioned by the carelessness of the English Garrisons that were not provided with able Governours as also by the Pride of the English whereby they were become hatefull to the French Subjects But the chief cause was Richard Duke of York who had underhand raised intestine Commotions in England For he being sensible of the King's Weakness and how ill satisfy'd the People were with the Queen's management of Affairs hoped by fomenting and raising Troubles in the Kingdom to make way for himself to obtain the Crown and this he did principally because he pretended to have the best right to the Crown being descended by his Mother's side from Lionel Duke of Clarence third Son of King Edward III. whereas Henry was descended from John of Gaunt fourth Son of the said Edward III. but publickly he profess'd That his Intention was only to remove from the King's Person his pernicious Favourites and especially the Duke of Somerset Having therefore got an Army on foot he fought with the King's Forces in which Battel the Duke of Somerset was slain and the Duke of York thereupon declared Protector of the King's Person and the Kingdom But this Agreement did not last long and things came quickly again to an open War wherein the Duke of York being worsted was forced to fly into Ireland But not long after the Earl of Warwick did beat the King's Army and taking him Prisoner the Duke of York was again declared Protector of the King and Kingdom and lawfull Heir of the Crown under condition that Henry should retain the Title of King during his life But Matters did not remain long in this condition for the Queen who was fled into Scotland marched with a great Army against the Duke of York who was kill'd in the Battel and all the Prisoners were executed But his Son in conjunction with the Earl of Warwick raised another Army and marching up to London the young Duke of York was there proclaimed King by the Name of Edward IV. § 16. Thus Edward IV. came to the Crown but could not maintain it without great difficulty For Henry had got together a very powerfull Army in the North against whom Edward fought the most bloody Battel that was ever fought in England there being 36796 Men killed upon the spot because Edward knowing his Enemies to be superiour in number had ordered not to give Quarter to any of them After which Battel Henry retired into Scotland from whence he returned with another Army and being again defeated with much adoe got safely into Scotland But returning again incognito into England he was taken Prisoner and committed to the Tower This Prince would have made a better Priest than a King of such a Nation that was distracted by the Animosities of several Factions But the Tragedy did not end here The King had sent the Earl of Warwick into France to conclude a Match betwixt him and Bona the Daughter of Lewis Duke of Savoy But the King having in the mean time suddenly married Elizabeth the Widow of John Gray the Earl was so dissatisfy'd at it that he declared for King Henry and having brought over to his Party the Duke of Clarence the Brother of King Edward he fell upon a sudden upon Edward and took him Prisoner but by the carelessness of his Keepers he escaped not long after And tho' an Agreement was then made betwixt them yet was it of no long continuance for the Earl of Warwick's Forces were routed and he forced to fly into France As soon as he had recover'd himself a little he returned into England where he was so well received that he forced King Edward to fly into the Netherlands to Charles Duke of Burgundy And King Henry after he had been nine Years a Prisoner in the Tower was again set upon the Throne But Edward having received some Assistance from the Duke of Burgundy returned again into England but perceiving that but few came in to him he made an Agreement with King Henry which he confirm'd with a solemn Oath That he would not undertake any thing against him but be contented with his own Estate Yet notwithstanding his Oath he underhand gathered what Forces he could The Earl of Warwick therefore marched towards him when the Duke of Clarence being reconcil'd to his Brother King Edward went over with all his Forces to him This gave a signal blow to the Earl of Warwick who being now not strong enough to oppose him was forced to let him march up to London where he was joyfully received by the Londoners to whom as 't is said he owed much Money and was very acceptable to their Wives but King Henry was committed again to the Tower Then King Edward attack'd the Earl of Warwick where a bloody Battel was fought the Victory seeming at first to incline on the Earl's side But some of his Troops by reason of a thick Fogg charged one upon another which lost him the Battel he remaining with a great many other persons of Quality slain in the Field There happened also this misfortune That King Henry's Lady and his Son Edward having got together very considerable Forces in France could not come time enough to his assistance having been detained by contrary Winds and coming afterwards into England she was taken Prisoner and her Son kill'd and King Henry also was murthered by the Hand of the bloody Duke of Gloucester England being thus restor'd to its Tranquility at home Charles Duke of Burgundy who was in hopes of getting an advantage by a War betwixt England and France stirr'd up King Edward against Lewis XI King of France But King Lewis who was not ignorant how mischievous the Confederacy of England and Burgundy might prove to him did endeavour to detain
But there lived a great many Noblemen among them also who by degrees getting the ascendant over the Common People did oppress their Liberty especially during the diffeâ—ences which were betwixt the Emperors and the Popes when the Nobility us'd to side with the Popes but the Commonalty with the Emperor These divisions betwixt the Nobility and the People grew very high at the time of the great Interregnum which happen'd after the death of the Emperor Frederick the Second which breaking out into an open War the whole Nobility was driven out of the Counrry but by the Emperor Rodolfus's Authority a reconciliation having been made betwixt them the Nobles were restored to their Estates Thus these Countries did enjoy their former Liberty till the Reign of Albert I. who having conceived a hatred against them because they had sided with his Rival Adolph of Nassaw was very desirous to annex them to his Hereditary Countries the Monasteries therefore and a great many of the Nobility having upon his desire submitted themselves to the Jurisdiction of the House of Austria The same was also proposed to the three above-mentioned places who refusing his proposition he set over them Imperial Judges or Vicars who contrary to the antient Custom began to reside in strong Castles and having first try'd by perswasions to bring them over to the House of Austria afterwards when they found their labour lost that way grew very burthensom to the People by their oppressions neither were the Petitions made against them by the Commonalty in any ways regarded by the Emperor nay the Judge of Vnder-Walden who 's name was Geisler was become so extravagant that he set his Hat upon a Pole in the Market-Place of Altorf commanding that every body should pay the same respect to his Hat as to himself thereby to make a tryal of their Obedience And among others one William Tell having often pass'd by without paying his Respect he forced him to shoot with an Arrow through an Apple which was plaâ—ed upon his own Sons Head but this man whilst he was carrying to prison making his escape stirr'd up the hatred of the People against the Judges § 2. There were at that time three Men of great Authority among them viz. Werner Stouffacher born in Switz Walter Furst born in Vry and Arnold of Melchtale born in Vnder-Walden These entred into an Association whereby it was agreed among them to rid themselves of this Tyranny and to restore their antient Liberty A great many more having entred afterwards into this Association an agreement was made betwixt them that in the year 1308. on the first day of January they would surprize these Judges in their strong Castles and drive them out of the Country This Confederacy was made in the year 1307. on the 17. of October and having afterwards been put in execution in the abovementioned year on the first day of January these three places entred into a Confederacy for ten years for the mutual Defence of their antient Liberties In the year 1315. Leopald Arch-Duke of Austria Son of Albert I. marched with an Army of 20000 Men to force them to Obedience against whom they marched out with 1300 men and whilst the Austrian Forces were marching betwixt the Lane and inaccessible mountains some of the Switzers by rowling down upon them and throwing great heaps of stones among them put the Enemy in confusion whilst the rest fell upon them and entirely defeated them near Morgarten Then these three places renewed their Confederacy and having confirmed it by solemn Oaths they agreed it should continue for ever This was done at Brun in the year 1320. on the 7 th of December And this is the first beginning of that Commonwealth whose Confederates us'd to call themselves Edytsgenossen which signifies Ally'd by Oath but strangers call them in general Switzers from that one place called Switz § 3. Nevertheless the first intention of this Confederacy was not to separate themselves from the German Empire but only to maintain their antient Privileges tho by degrees they began to Administer their own Affairs at home without sending their Deputies to the Dyets of the Empire and the Switzers were not till in the year 1648. viz in the Westphalian Peace declared quite Independent from the Roman Empire for the Emperor Lewis IV. had confirmed the former Confederacy and in 1320. had sent them a new Imperial Vicar or Judge unto whom after having received new assurances to be maintained in their Privileges they did Homage in the name of the Emperor But the following Emperors gave them full power to choose Judges among themselves granting them the supreme Jurisdiction both in Civil and Criminal Affairs In the year 1332. Lucern and in the year 1351. Zurick entred into this Confederacy Lucern was formerly under the Jurisdiction of the House of Austria Zurick which is the chiefest of the Confederacy was formerly a free Imperial City Immediately after Glaris and in the year 1352. Zug and Bern were United with the former The Switzers after this time had great Wars with the House of Austria and in 1386 slew Leopold Arch-Duke of Austria with a great many Nobles in the battel near Sempach In the year 1444. the Switzers did give another proof of their Valour for the Dauphin of France afterward call'd Lewis XI marching with a great Army to disturb the Council then held at Basil was attack'd by 1900 Switzers with such fury that tho they all fell in the enterprize yet did they strike such a terror into the French that they quickly retreated homewards § 4. In the year 1476 the Switzers were engaged in a war against Charles Duke of Burgundy who was stirr'd up by Lewis XI who was for setting the Duke at work Against him Rene Duke of Lorain and the Bishops of Strasburgh and Basil made an Alliance with the Switzers The Emperor Frederick III. also being desirous to revenge the quarrel of his House commanded them to fall upon the Duke of Burgundy who then was an Enemy of the Empire And having afterwards made a Peace with the Duke without including the Switzers he hop'd they would be severely chastized by this brave Prince but things happen'd quite contrary to his expectation for the Switzers defeated the Duke in three great Battels the first near Granson afterwards near Murten where the Duke had an Army of one hundred thousand Men and at last near Nancy in Lorain where the Duke himself was killed By these Victories the Switzers gained great Reputation In the year 1481. Fribourgh and Solothurn in the year 1501. Basil and Shafshausen and last of all Appen-Zell were united with this Confederacy The whole body then of the Swisse Confederacy is composed of 13 Common-wealths which they call Places but the Italians and French call them Cantons among these Zuric Bern Lucern Zug Basil Fribourgh Selothum and Shafshausen are Cities Vry Switz Vnderwalden Glariss and Appen-Zell are Countries where are a
the Year 1510 the Pope Ferdinand Henry VIII and the Swiss Cantons denounced War against Lewis For the Pope could not look with a good Eye upon the growing Power of France in Italy Ferdinand feared lest Lewis might attack Naples and Henry being come lately to the Crown was for making himself famous by so great an Undertaking the Swiss were set against France because Lewis had not paid them their old Arrears and had refused to encrease their Pension not because their Demands were extravagant but because he would not be out-brav'd by them In this War the French General Gasto de Foix behaved himself very gallantly for he relieved Bononia beat the Venetian Army killed 8000 of them in Brescia and obtained a glorious Victory against the Confederate Army near Ravenna in which Battel nevertheless this brave General being too hot in pursuing the Enemy was slain With his death the French Affairs began to decline and they were again forced to leave Italy Maximilian Son of Lewis the Black was restored to his Dutchy of Milan by the help of the Swiss The Genoucse revolted and made sanus Fregosus their Duke Ferdinand the Catholick took from King John the Kingdom of Navarre which the French in vain endeavoured to regain from the Spaniards But Lewis being extreamly desirous to regain Milan enter'd into a League with Venice and retook most places of that Dukedom and the City of Genoua He besieg'd Duke Maximilian in the Castle of Novara but the Swiss coming to the Assistance of the Duke attack'd the French with incredible Fury in their Camp and drove them quite out of the whole Dukedom which was twice taken in one Month. Then Lewis was at one time attack'd by the Emperour England and the Swiss and if the English and the Swiss had join'd France would have run a great Risque But King Henry in lieu of entring into the Heart of France lost his Time at the Siege of Terouâ—ne where he defeated the French that were come to its Relief near Guinegast this Battel was call'd La journée des esperons or The Battel of the Spurs because the French made better use of their Spurs than their Swords and after he had taken Tournay he return'd into England The Swiss who kept the Duke of Tremoville besieg'd were bought off with 600000 Crowns which were promised to them by the Duke without the King's Order as likewise that he should renounce the Council of Pisa and his Pretensions to the Dukedom of Milan Which shamefull Agreement the King refus'd to ratify and if the Swiss had not been more fond of the Ransom offer'd for the Hostages than their Blood they had pay'd with their Lives for it In the Year next following Lewis made a Peace with the King of England who gave him his Sister Mary in Marriage which young Lady 't is thought did hasten the Death of the old King which ensu'd in the beginning of the Year 1515. This King was so well belov'd by his People that he was generally call'd Le Pere du Peuple or The Father of the People § 17. His Nephew Francis I. succeeded him who having made a League with England the Archduke Charles and Venice enter'd upon a sudden into Italy and took Genoua and some other Places without great Opposition but being encamp'd near Marignano within a League of Milan the Swiss unexpectedly fell upon him where a bloody Fight ensu'd The Swiss were at last repuls'd and found that they cou'd be beaten having lost above 10000 but the French also left 4000 of their best Men upon the Spot After this Maximilian surrender'd himself and the whole Country to the King on the Condition of an annual Pension of 30000 Ducats to be paid him Soon after the King agreed with the Swiss whom in Consideration of a good Summ he brought again into an Alliance with France He made also an Agreement with Pope Leo X. by vertue of which the King was to have the Right of naming Bishops and Abbots but the Pope to keep certain Benefits out of the chiefest Church Benefices In the Year 1518 he redeem'd Tournay form the English for a good Summ of Money In the Year next following after the Death of the Emperor Maximilian Francis employ'd all his Engines to be exalted to the Imperial Dignity but the German Princes fearing lest the French should endeavour to humble them and for some other Considerations preferr'd before him Charles V. This proved the Occasision of great Jealousies betwixt these two Princes for Francis being very sensible what great Advantages he had gained by the Imperial Dignity put himself into a good posture to prevent his becoming Master of him and all the rest of the Princes in Europe This Jealousie broke at last out into an open War Francis endeavouring to re-take Navarre from the Spaniards as thinking to have met with a fair Opportunity whilst the Divisions in Spain were on Foot The French conquer'd that Kingdom in a few days time but being not carefull enough to preserve it as easily lost it again Soon after the War was kindled in the Netherlands occasion'd by Robert Van de Marck Lord of Sedan whom Francis took into his Protection This Robert was so puft up with the French Protection that he writ a Letter of Defiance to the Emperour and fell into the Country of Luxemburgh But Charles quickly chastis'd this petty Enemy and being persuaded that Francis had encourag'd him thereunto he took from him St. Amand and Tournay The Business nevertheless might have been compos'd at the beginning if the French had not insisted upon keeping Fonterabia which in the mean time had been surpris'd by them But the hardest task was in Italy both the Emperour and Pope being willing to drive Francis out of Milan and to restore Francis Sforza They effected both with good Success for the French Army was not timely supply'd with Money and being besides this beaten near Bicoque the French were again driven out of Milan and Genoua And on the other side they also lost Fonterabia But what happen'd very ill to Francis was That the Constable Charles of Bourbon went over to the Emperour the Reason of which was That he had been for a while mightily kept under by the Queen Mother the Chancellour Duprat and Admiral Bonnivet The first had commenc'd a Suit at Law against him about the Dukedom of Bourbon which he despair'd to be able to maintain against so strong a Party as believing that the King was underhand concern'd in the Matter 'T is said that the first Cause of this Difference was because the Duke of Bourbon had refus'd to marry her The Duke of Bourbon therefore had agreed with the Emperor and the King of England That they should divide the Kingdom of France betwixt them the Kingdom of Arelat and the Emperour's Sister having been promis'd to the Duke of Bourbon But the Design being discover'd the Duke of Bourbon was
his mediation for the procuring of a Peace in Germany and represented again to the Estates of Sweden the necessity of meeting the Imperialists with an Army abroad he with all expedition prepared himself for the next Campagne and having sent Alexander Lesley with some Troops before to drive the Imperialists out of the Isle of Rugen which he effected and settled his Affairs at home he embarked with 92 Companies of Foot and 16 of Horse which were however considerably augmented afterwards by some Regiments raised in Prussia and landed the 24 of June at Vsedom Upon his arrival the Imperialists having left their Forts thereabouts and at Wollin he re-embarked his Souldiers with a Train of Artillery in some small Vessels and directly took his course towards Stetin and having obliged the Duke of Pomerania to receive him and his Forces into that City he made a defensive Alliance with him From hence he marched to Stargard Anclam Vckermund and Wolgast all which places he took without much opposition And whilest King Gustave acted with such Success against the Imperialists in Pomerania Christian Withelm administrator of Magdeburgh who had been deposed by the Emperour had got into the possession again of the City and Territories of Magdeburgh whither King Gustave sent Dâ—cterick of Falekenbergh to be assisting to the said Administrator in settling his Affairs that were then in great confusion In the mean while several Regiments of Liflanders and Finlanders were arrived under the Command of Gustave Horn these having been joined by such Troops as were lately come out of Prussia the King left his Camp near Stetin he himself marching with his Army into Mecklenburgh In his absence the Imperialists had endeavoured to force the Swedish Camp near Stetin but were vigorously repulsed and at his return he also beat them out of Greiffenhagen and Gartz nay even out of the furthermost parts of Pomerania and the New Marck The Archbishop of Bremen Duke George of Lunenburgh and William Landgrave of Hesse then entred into an Alliance with the King and the Protestant party in general being encouraged at the Success began to consider of ways and means to rid themselves of the Roman Catholick yoke At the beginning of the next ensuing year King Gustave at last concluded the so long projected Alliance with France by vertue of which he was to receive a yearly Subsidy of 400000 Crowns from the French King Having thus strengthned himself he notwithstanding the Winter Season took Lokenitz Prentzlow New Brâ—ndenburgh Clempenow Craptow and Leitz without much opposition Demmin also where the Duke of Lavelli was in Garrison with two Regiments was surrendred after a Siege of three Days and Colberg surrendred after a Blockade of five Months The Emperour in the mean while perceiving that his Generals were not able to cope with King Gustave Adolph had given to Tilly the Bavarian General the supreme Command over his Forces who being an antient experienced and renowned Captain marched directly to the relief of Demmin but having received intelligence that the place was surrendred before he fell with great fury upon Kniphausen who lay with two Regiments of Swedes at New Brandenburgh which being a place of no defence he forced after a brave resistance killing most of the Common Souldiers But perceiving that King Gustave being strongly entrenched was not to be forced in his Camp he directed his march upwards to Magdeburgh in hopes to draw the King out of his advantageous Post But King Gustave marched directly towards Franckfort upon the Oder where the Earl of Shaumburgh lay with a small Army notwithstanding which he took the place by Storm after a Siege of three Days slew 700 of the Enemies and took 800 among whom were a great many Officers of note From hence he sent a Detachment to Landsbergh to endeavour to drive also the Imperialists from thence About the same time a general meeting of the Protestant German Princes was held at Leipzick where a League was proposed to be made in opposition to the demanded resâ—itution of the Church-Lands Thither King Gustave sent some of his Ministers to exhort them to a mutual Union against the Emperour and to demand some assistance from them of Men and Money But the Elector of Saxony was very backward in declaring himself positively pretending several reasons but in effect intended to make himself head of the Protestant League and in the mean while to take this opportunity of putting the Protestants in a good posture and to keep the ballance betwixt the Emperour and the Swedes King Gustave therefore perceiving that the Protestants in Germany were so very cunning and over-cautious thought it his best not to venture his Army at the discretion of others wherefore tho' he was very willing to have relieved the City of Magdeburgh which was reduced to extremity yet did he not think it advisable to march thither before he had secured his retreat To render therefore his design effectual he marched with his Army strait to Berlin and having obliged the Elector of Brandenburgh partly by fair words partly by threats to put into his hands the Forts of Spandau and Custrin for the security of a retreat over the two Rivers of the Havel and Oder he would have straitways marched to the relief of the City of Magdeburgh if the Elector of Saxony would have joined him but whilest the said Electors made a great many tergiversations the said City was taken by Storm by General Tilly who miserably burnt the City and killed most of the Inhabitants there having been but 400 left of a great many thousands After this Disaster King Gustave having published his Reasons why he could not timely enough relieve that City and having cleared the whole Pomerania of the Imperialists he divided his Army and having sent part of his Forces to the assistance the Dukes of Mecklenburgh he marched with the rest into Marck and encamped at Werben near the River Elbe to observe Tilly who having received Intelligence of the King's arrival near that River was obliged to alter his march which he intended to have directed towards Saxony in hopes to force the King to a Battel But the King surprised his Avaint-Guard near Wolmerstadt where he totally ruin'd three Regiments of Horse Notwithstanding which Tilly approached near the King's Camp at Werben but the King refusing of fight and he not daring to attack him in his Camp he was for want of Forrage obliged to march back to his former Camp at Wolmerstadt In the mean while the Dukes of Mecklenburgh had with the assistance of the Swedish Auxiliaries driven the Imperialists out of their Territories except Domitz Wismar and Rostock which places they also kept block'd up And about the same time James Marquis of Hamilton came with 6000 English and Scots into Pomerania but stood the King in no great stead most of them dying in the same year by several Diseases But Tilly seeing that he could not attack the
of which he died in a few days after at Ingolstadt His Army being dismayed at the loss of their General left their advantageous Post and the Swedes having cut 1000 of them in pieces in their retreat marched straightways into the Country of Bavaria where they took possession of Raio and Niewburgh upon the Danube Augsburgh surrendred without much resistance But their design upon Ingolstadt and Ratisbonne miscarried being repulsed at the first where the King's Horse was shot under him and Christopher the Marquis of Baden killed by his side but the latter the Elector of Bavaria had secured by throwing some of his Forces into the place The King therefore returning into Bavaria set that Country under Contribution and the City of Municken opened its Gates to the King In the mean while General Wallenstein having left the Elector of Bavaria a while to shift for himself had driven the Saxons out of Bohemia by the treachery of their General Arnheim who was an utter Enemy of King Gustave and the Imperialists under Lieutenant General Pappenheim had made considerable progresses in the Circle of the Lower Saxony Wallenstein also had taken a resolution to fall with all his Forces upon the King in the Country of Bavaria Pursuant to this resolution the Elector of Bavaria having left a sufficient Garrison at Ingolstadt and Ratisbonne marched towards Egen to join Wallenstein whom the King pursued in hopes to hinder their conjunction but coming too late he encamped near Numbergh till he could be joined by his Forces that were dispersed in several parts of Germany Wallenstein then made a shew as if he would turn his Arms against the Elector of Saxony thereby to draw the King out of his advantageous Post near that City but the King remaining in his Post he marched towards him spreading his Cavalry all round about which occasioned a great scarcity of Forage in the King's Camp but as for Provisions he was sufficiently supplyed withal from Numbergh Whilst the King was reduced to these Straits he received a reinforcement of 15000 Foot and 10000 Horse from several places so that being now superiour in number he attacked Wallenstein in his Camp who being strongly Entrenched repalsed the Swedes with the loss of 2000 Men. In the mean time the Imperial General Pappenheim had beat the Hessians near Volckmarsen had forced the Duke of Lunenburgh to raise the Siege of Callenbergh had beat General Baudist from before Paterborn and Hoxter had relieved Wolffenbuttel and taken Hildesheim from whence he was marched into Thuringia to join Wallenstein On the other hand the Saxons were entred Silesia with an Army of 16000 Men where meeting with no opposition they might have carried all before them if their General Arnheim had not been treacherous to King Gustave whom he hated and was for working a reconciliation betwixt the Emperour and the Elector of Saxony The King therefore not to lose any more time having put a good Garrison into Numbergh resolved to send part of his Army into Franconia and with the main Body to return towards the Danube into Bavaria where he had taken several places on the River of Lech But whilst he was carrying on his victorious Arms among the Roman Catholicks frequent Messengers were sent to him by the Elector of Saxony craving his assistance against Wallenstein who was with all his Forces entred into Misnia The King though he had great reason to be dissatisfied with the Elector yet fearing he might be forced to make a separate Peace with the Emperour if he did not come to his assistance he having left some Forces in Bavaria and Suabia under the Command of Paltsgrave Christian of Berckenfeld and commanded Gustave Horn to remain in Alsatia where he forced Benfelden to surrender as Franckenthal was about the same time forced to surrender by Famine himself marched with the Army towards Misnia Being arrived at Nauenbuâ—gh he received information that the Enemies had raised the Siege of Werssenfels and that they had detached Pappenheim with some Forces upon another design Having therefore resolved not to stay for the Duke of Lunenburgh who being already arrived at Wittenbergh was to have joined him but to fight the Enemy before he could be rejoined by Pappenheim Pursuant to this resolution he marched to the great Plains near Lutzen where a most bloody Battel was fought betwixt them in which the Swedish Infantry fell with such fury upon the Imperial Foot that they routed them and made themselves Masters of their Cannon But the Swedish Horse being stopt by a broad Ditch that was cut cross the Plains for the conveniency of floating of Wood the King put himself at the Head of the Smaland Regiment of Horse encouraging the rest by his example to follow him Thus furiously advancing before the rest and being only accompanyed by Francis Albucret Duke of Saxen Launenburgh and two Grooms he there lost his life Concerning his death there are different opinions but the most probable is that he was shot by the said Duke of Lauenburgh who was set on by the Imperialists that had their only hopes in the King's death The Swedes were so far from being dismayed at the King's death that they fell with great fury again upon the Enemy whom they routed on all sides The Imperialists having been rejoined by Pappenheim would have rallied again but Pappenheim having also been killed they were routed a second time leaving an entire Victory to the Swedes which was nevertheless dearly purchased by the death of so great a King § 15. The death of this great King caused great alterations in Europe for though the Imperialists had lost the Battel and a great many brave Officers yet were they in no small hopes that the Swedish Affairs would now sink under their own weight and therefore made great preparations against them the next Campagne The Protestants in Germany were by his death divided into several Factions not knowing whom they should choose for their Head and the Swedes overwhelmed with troubles his Daughter Christina being then but six years of Age. Nevertheless having settled their Affairs at Home and committed the Administration of the Kingdom to the five chief Officers of the State the chief management of the Affairs in Germany was committed to the care of the Lord Chancellour Oxenstirn who having been sent by the King's order into the higher Germany received this sad News at Hanau The Chancellour did not so much fear the Power of his Enemies as their constancy and unanimous Resolution whereas the Protestants were divided in their Counsels and Opinions and were not likely to follow his directions after the King's death it being not probable that the Electors and Princes of the Empire would be commanded by a Foreign Nobleman nevertheless he thought it not advisable by leaving their Conquests to ruin at once the Protestant Cause and the Interest of Sweden but rather to endeavour by a brave resistance to obtain an honorable Peace Having
Opposing the Growing Power of Philip by raising Powerfull Enemies in Greece against him and his Son Alexander which for great Summs of Money they might easily have done and thus have cut out so much Work for these two Warlike Princes at Home that they could not have had leisure so much as to have entred on the thoughts of Invading Persia In the same manner as formerly the Persians had obliged Agesilaus quickly to return into Greece But being over secure in their own Strength and despising Others they drew upon themselves their own Destruction § 6. Greece was in ancient times divided into a great many petty Common-wealths every one of these being governed by its own Laws Among those in Process of time Athens grew most famous whose Citizens for Ingenuity Eloquence and the knowledge of Arts and Science surpassed all the rest their Glory increased exceedingly after they had signalized themselves so bravely against the Persians After this by adding of the Harbour of Pyreum to their City they made it very commodious for Shipping and acquired such vast Riches that by their naval Strength they subdued the Isles of the Aegean Sea and the Coasts of the Lesser Asia But being puffed up with their good Success they drew upon themselves the hatred of their Allies and after they once attempted to be sole Masters of Greece the Peloponnesians headed by the Spartans who especially envied the Athenians united together to chastise the insolence of Athens Yet the Athenians behaved themselves so bravely that the War was carried on for a considerable time with near equal Success till at last being vanquished in a Battle in Sicily they also lost their whole Fleet on the Coast of Thrace then the Lacedaemonians becoming Masters of Athens constituted thirty Governours who tyrannized most cruelly over such of the Citizens of Athens as survived the Storming of their City yet Thrasibulus having expelled the same with the assistance of some of the banished Athenians restored the City to its former Liberty After this though the Athenians did recover themselves a little yet were they never able to arrive at the former Grandeur of their Common-wealth and being afterwards too forward in making head against Philip they were severely chastised by him It was therefore the immoderate Ambition of the Athenians and their desire of conquering more than they were able to defend which occasioned their Ruin For the number of the Citizens of Athens did not exceed ten thousand and they rarely receiving others as Citizens among them great Cities and Provinces could not be kept in obedience by such a number and with one unfortunate Blow their whole power was struck down without Recovery And considering that such Cities are better fitted for their own Defence than making Conquests upon others it is more adviseable for them to mind the advantage of their own Trade than to inter-meddle too much in foreign Affairs and rather to keep safe their own Walls than to invade their Neighbours Next to Athens Lacedaemon was famous in Greece whose Citizens by the constitutions and rigorous Discipline introduced by Lycurgus seem'd to be most fitly qualified for warlike Atchievements This City having not any powerfull Neighbour to contest withall was strong enough to defend its Liberty against the Neighbouring Common-wealths And the Spartans as long as they according to their Laws and Institution despised Riches had no great occasion to invade others But as soon as they began to aim at higher matters they found by experience that it was a quite different case to conquer Kingdoms than to defend their own City For having had the good Fortune of subduing Athens they fell into the same folly which had been the Ruin of the Athenians and were not only for conquering the Asiatick Sea Coasts but also under the Conduct of Agesilaus they invaded Persia But it was easie for the King of Persia to find out means to chastise their Insolence who caused a diversion to be made by the Greeks that envied the Success of the Spartans so that they were quickly obliged to recall Agesilaus to defend themselves at home Not long after their Fleet being beaten by Conon Epaminondas defeated their Army by Land in the Battle of Leuctra whereby they were so weakened that they were scarce able to defend their own Walls Next to these two Cities Thebes was for a while famous through the Valour and Wisdom of Epaminondas who so well knew how to head his Countrymen that they humbled the Spartans and as long as he lived were the most flourishing State of Greece But after his death this City returned to its former State and making head against Philip was severely chastised by hir◠and quite destroyed by his Son Alexander § 7. Macedon was before the times of Philip an inconsiderable Kingdom and so exposed to the Incursions of its Neighbours that it was scarce able to defend it self this Nation being then esteemed the most despicable of Greece But by the Military Virtue of two Kings this Nation did show it self so considerable that it conquered a great part of the World The circumstances wherein the neighbouring Nations of Macedon were at that time and the good Conduct of Philip whereby he so settled the Kingdom at home that it quickly became the chiefest in all Greece gave the first opportunity to lay the Foundation of this Monarchy For on one side it had for its Neighbours the Thracians Triballians and Illyrians very barbarous Nations these were easily kept in awe by a neighbouring wise and brave King On the other side was Greece and its Cities which though they were much fallen from their ancient Glory yet were all together still too hard for the Macedonians Against those he made use of this Artifice That by setting them together by the Ears among themselves he so weakened them with intestine Wars that they were afterwards not able to hold out long against him And because Philip used only to attack one of those Cities at a time and the rest were not forward enough unanimously to hinder his growing Greatness he was upon a sudden before they were aware of it grown too strong and potent for them all Philip seemed particularly endowed with great qualifications for this enterprize For besides the Vivacity of his Spirit he was push'd on by an extraordinary Ambition to make himself famous by great Actions What real Vertues were wanting in him he endeavoured to supply with pretending to the same wherefore tho' he did nothing without a fair Pretence yet did he never stick at any thing provided he could obtain his ends and was never sparing in Promises or Oaths if he thought he could thereby deceive such as he intended to overcome He was an absolute Master of his Passions and knew how to keep his Counsels secret how to set Friends together by the Ears and by pretending Friendships to both Parties to deceive them by vain hopes He being also very Eloquent knew how to
insinuate himself with every body and as for Money he made no other use of it than to advance his designs He was a most experienced Warriour and had made the Macedonians so excellent Souldiers that the Macedonian Phalanx first invented by him was terrible even to the Romans And because he was always at the Head of his Armies continually exercised his Souldiers and punctually paid them there were no better Souldiers in his days than the Macedonians Being arrived to this Greatness so that he was chosen by the common consent of Greece their General against the Persians and being busie in making preparations for this expedition he was barbarously murthered leaving his Son Alexander the glory of pursuing it § 8. There is scarce in all History to be read of an Expedition more famous than that of Alexander the Great wherein he with thirty odd thousand Men conquer'd so vast and potent Kingdoms and by his victorious Arms extended his Empire from the Hellespont to the Indies If we enquire into the causes of so uncommon and happy progresses it is undeniable that besides the Providence of God Almighty who has put bounds to all Kingdoms upon Earth the incomparable Valour of Alexander himself had a great share in the same who having an Army of chosen Men fell upon his Enemy's Army with such swiftness and vigour that it was impossible for any new levied Forces though never so numerous to resist him Yet Darius committed a grand mistake when he offered Battel to Alexander it being evident that the Persians never were equal to the Greeks in Pitch'd Battels Besides this the Persians having lived for a considerable time in Peace had few experienced Souldiers among them so that the greater the number was of such undisciplined Souldiers the sooner were they brought into disorder at the time of Battel Darius was ignorant of that great Art of protracting the War and by posting himself advantageously and cutting off the Provisions from his Enemies to take off the edge of fierce Alexander And because he had neglected to give him a diversion at home with the assistance of the Greeks who envied his Greatness no other Event could reasonably be expected than what afterwards followed § 9. But the untimely Death of Alexander robb'd both him and his young Children of the fruits of his Victories For these being young lost not only their Father's Kingdom but also the fatal Wars carried on after his Death betwixt his Generals brought the conquer'd Nations under great Calamities who else would have been in hopes to have changed their Kings for a much better and greater Prince But that it seem'd was next to an impossibility that these so suddenly conquered Countries should so soon be united in one Kingdom Since a firm Union betwixt so many Nations could not be established without a singular Prudence of their supream Head and a considerable time We find also that a sudden Greatness is rarely lasting there being no less ability required to maintain than to acquire a thing of this nature The Conquests therefore of Alexander being of so vast an extent that the small number of his Macedonians was by no means sufficient to keep them in awe and to make those Provinces dependent on the Macedonian Empire there was no other way to maintain such vast Conquests than to treat the conquered Nations in the same manner with his native Subjects and not to oblige them to recede from their ancient Laws and Customs or to turn Macedonians but rather for him to turn Persian that the conquered might not be sensible of any other change but what they found in the Person of their King Alexander understood this very well wherefore he not only used himself to the Persian Customs and Habit but also married the deceased King's Daughter and had a Persian Guard about him Those Writers who reprehend Alexander's Conduct in this matter only discover their own indiscretion But to settle a right understanding betwixt the Conquerours and Conquered did require a considerable time to effect which Alexander seemed to be the fittest Man in the World as being endowed with a more than ordinary Valour Magnanimity Liberality and Authority If he had left a Son behind him not unworthy of so great a Father the Persian Throne would questionless have been entailed upon his Family § 10. The Death of Alexander the Great was the occasion of long and bloody Wars For the Army puff'd up with the Glory of its great Actions esteemed no body worthy of the supream Command And the Generals refusing to obey one another were grown too potent to live as private persons 'T is time Arideus had the name of King but this poor Man wanted both Authority and Power to bridle the Ambition of so many proud and great Men. Wherefore all spurr'd on by their hopes some of obtaining the whole Empire some of getting a considerable share they waged a most bloody and long War among themselves till their number was reduced to a few from a great many who first pretended to the Empire Five of them took upon themselves the Title of Kings and the Sovereign Dominion of their Provinces viz. Cassander Lysimachus Antigonus Seleucus and Ptolemy But only the three last transmitted their Kingdoms to their Families There were then no more than three Kingdoms remaining in the power of the Macedonians viz. That of Syria Egypt and Macedon That part of the Persian Empire which lay Easterly beyond the River Euphrates being become a vast new Kingdom under the name of the Parthian Empire The above-mentioned three Kingdoms were afterwards swallowed up by the Romans and the Kingdom of Macedon was the first as lying nearest unto Italy For the Romans after having subdued all Italy began to extend their Conquests beyond the Seas and perceiving that Philip an active King bid fair for the Conquest of all Greece they did not think it advisable to let him grow more Powerfull he being so near to them that in time he might easily prove troublesome to Italy They entring therefore into a League with the same Cities of Greece which were Attack'd by Philip under that pretence made War upon Philip and having driven him back into Macedon restored Liberty to all Greece By which means the Romans at the same time divided their Strength and gain'd their Affections at length they Conquer'd Perseus and with him the Kingdom of Macedon Then they turn'd their Arms against Syria and took from Antiochus the Great all that part of Asia which extends as far as Mount Taurus And though this Kingdom did hold out for a while after yet being miserably torn to pieces by the Dissentions which were risen in the Royal Family it Surrendred it self to Tigranes King of Armenia But he being Conquered by Pompey the Whole was made a Province of the Roman Empire Egypt at last could not escape the Hands of the Romans after the Emperour Augustus had defeated Cleopatra and her Galant Mark Antony §
Henry II. therefore succeeded him who among other memorable Actions demolish'd such fortify'd Castles of the Nobility and Bishops as were built with the consent of King Stephen After he had reigned near eighteen Years in Peace and Quietness he had a mind to have his Son Henry crowned the better to secure the Succession he received him as his Copartner in the Government but he being married to Margaret the Daughter of Lewis the younger King of France this proved the cause of great Disturbances afterwards For some persuaded young Henry That his Father having abdicated himself from the Government had committed thereby the same to his management France envy'd that a King of England should have such vast Possessions in France The Scots wish'd for nothing more than to have an opportunity of committing Depredations in England Wherefore the French and Scots joining with young Henry fell upon Henry II. all at one time but were as vigorously repulsed by him the Scots especially suffered the most in this War and lost all Huntingtonshire A Peace was also concluded with France Adela Daughter of Lewis King of France being promised in marriage to Richard second Son of Henry But the old King as 't is reported falling in love with her privately kept her company and therefore opposed the consummation of the marriage betwixt her and his Son Richard This so exasperated Richard who after the death of his eldest Brother Henry was now the next Heir to the Crown that he made Head against his Father and Philip Augustus King of France taking hold of this opportunity took the City of Muns King Henry seeing himself besides this deserted by his Friends Wife and Children died in few days of Grief This Henry also conquer'd Ireland and united it to England which he and his Successours govern'd under the Title of Lords of Ireland till the time of Henry VIII who after he had withdrawn himself from the Obedience of the Pope to nettle him the more assumed the Title of King of Ireland because the Pope pretends to the sole right to bestow the Title of King in Christendom and that none ought to take it upon him without his consent wherefore the Pope afterwards to make his Pretence the more plausible freely gave the same Title to Mary Queen of England Henry also had some differences with Thomas Backet Archbishop of Canterbury who pretended it was derogatory to the Glory of God that the Priests according to the King's Commands should be subject to the Civil Judicatures There is a fabulous Relation concerning this Archbishop Thomas That he riding a Horse-back one time through a Village the Country Fellows cut off the Tail of his Horse and that their Children afterwards were born with such Tails § 8. Richard I. who succeeded his Father Henry in the Kingdom did out of a preposterous Zeal undertake an Expedition into the Holy Land with 35000 Men being accompained by Philip Augustus King of France In this War he took the Island of Cyprus which he gave to Guido Lusignanus who in consideration thereof resigned his Right to Jerusalem and in the Year 1192 he was present at the taking of Ptolemais where the Standard of Duke Leopold of Austria being set up first he pull'd it down again putting his own in the place But when they were in great hopes of gaining Jerusalem Philip returned home engaging himself by a solemn Oath that he would not injure Richard in any of his Dominions Hugo Duke of Burgundy afterwards followed his example which greatly encouraged Saladin And Richard understanding that the French were fallen into Normandy he also made a Peace with Saladin and taking his way by Land incognito was discovered in his Journey through Austria where Duke Leopold remembring the affront done to him near Ptolemais took him Prisoner and delivered him to the Emperour who after fifteen Months Imprisonment made him pay 100000 Pounds for his Ransom After his return home he found every thing in confusion the French having not only ravaged Normandy and other Provinces belonging to him but also his Brother had made a Pretension to the Crown but he obliged the latter to implore his Pardon and beat the French back into their own Country He died not long after of a wound which he received in a Siege of some inconsiderable place in France After his death his Brother John took upon him the Crown of England who was opposed by Arthur Earl of the lesser Britainy his elder Brother's Son who finding himself alone not strong enough sought for Aid of the King of France who was ready upon all occasions to create Troubles in England He took a great many Cities in Normandy and Anjou Wherefore King John was obliged to make a dishonourable Peace with him giving in marriage to Lewis King Philip's Son Blanch Daughter of Alfonsus King of Castile and of his Sister Eleonora to whom he gave as a Dowry all the Cities which Philip had taken from him except Angiers Then he married Isabella Daughter and Heiress of the Earl of Angoulesme who was promised before to Hugh Earl of Marche He to revenge this affront join'd his Forces with the King of France and Prince Arthur of Britainy and fell into Touraine and Anjou But King John falling upon them unawares routed the Enemy and took Prince Arthur Prisoner who died not long after a Prisoner in Roan But Constantia the Mother of Arthur made her Complaints to Philip King of France whose Vassal King John was on the score of such Provinces as he was possess'd of in France and the King of France summon'd King John to appear before him and to answer for the death of Arthur But he not appearing it was declar'd that King John had forfeited what Fiefs he was possess'd of in France and King Philip took from him Normandy 316 Years after Rollo the Norman had conquered the same But the French afterwards attack'd also Angiers where they were repulsed with great loss by King John whereupon a Truce was concluded betwixt them for two Years During which time he routed the Scots and suppressed the Rebels in Ireland and Wales The Truce being expired the War began afresh with France and King John's Army being routed he made another Truce with France But this ill success had much diminished his Authority among his Nobles who also hated him because he had imposed heavy Taxes upon them wherefore they with joint consent demanded from him the restitution of their ancient Privileges but perceiving that he only intended to give them fair Words for Deeds they called to their aid Lewis Son of Philip King of France who landing with a great Army in England was received with a general applause and whilst King John endeavoured to make Head against him he died overwhelm'd with Troubles § 9. Him succeeded his Son Henry III. whose tender Age wrought Compassion on most and extinguish'd the Hatred which had been
also exercised them in Sea Affairs wherein consists the chief Strength and Security of this Kingdom Wherefore she always kept a good Correspondency with all such as were Enemies of the House of Austria she assisted France against the Designs of the Spaniards favoured the Protestant Princes in Germany upheld the Dutch against the Spaniards thereby the better to weaken so formidable a Neighbour looking upon the Netherlands as the Out-work of her Kingdom Besides this she finding continual employment for her Subjects abroad did not a little contribute towards the preserving the Health of the State for by this means a great deal of corrupt and inflamed Blood being taken away it prevented intestine Diseases in the State But King James took quite another course and perceiving that the Vnited Provinces were grown strongh enough not only to support themselves against Spain but also to dispute the Dominion of the Narrow Seas with England he left them to themselves and concluding a Peace with Spain establish'd a lasting Tranquility at home for his Inclinations were more for Books than Arms. And because Subjects in general are apt to follow the Inclinations of their Sovereigns the People laid aside all Warlike Exercises and fell into such Weaknesses and Vices as are commonly the product of Plenty and Peace And the King hoped when these Nations applyed themselves only to Trade and Commerce they would be diverted from having any thoughts of opposing his Authority He made it also his main endeavour to unite the Minds of the Scots and English by Naturalizing the English in Scotland and the Scots in England and by joining the great Families by Marriages But he was more especially carefull of establishing one Form of Religious Worship in both Kingdoms For tho' there was no great difference in the Articles of Faith yet the Ceremonies and Church Government were very different For Queen Elizabeth when she established the Protestant Religion retained many Ceremonies which were anciently used in the Primitive Church as also used by the Papists afterwards she maintained also the Authority of the Bishops yet under the Royal Power supposing that this Constitution was most suitable to a Monarchy considering that the Bishops had some dependence on the King and had their Votes in Parliament And it used to be the saying of King James No Bishop no King But this Constitution did not agree with those of the Reform'd Religion in Holland Switzerland and France partly because these Nations were used to a Democratical Liberty and therefore loved an Equality in the Church-Government as well as the State partly because they had suffered from some Kings and Bishops and therefore both were equally hated by them These would not allow of any Superiority among the Clergy but constituted the outward Church-Government by Presbyteries Classes and Synods neither would they admit any Ceremonies believing that the perfection of the Reformed Religion did consist in not having so much as anything tho'never so indifferent common with the Papists And according to this Form the Church of Scotland being establish'd the number of such as were of the same Opinion increased daily in England who were commonly called Presbyterians or Puritans And the Capriciousness of those who were of several Sentiments proved the more dangerous because these Nations being of a melancholy temper used to adhere stedfastly to their Opinions not to be removed from them King James being besides a great Enemy of the Puritans thought to have found out a way to suppress them in Scotland by inserting it among the Royal Prerogatives which was to be confirmed by the Parliament of Scotland That he had the Supream Power both in Spiritual and Temporal Affairs in the same manner in Scotland as in England By this means he hoped to model without any great difficulty the Church of Scotland according to that of England And tho' this Proposition was opposed by a great many in the Parliament of Scotland yet the King's party prevailed and a new Form of Church-Government was established in Scotland But the King had no sooner turned his back and was return'd into England but the common people made an Insurrection against the Bishops in Scotland who began to introduce there the Ceremonies of the Church of England § 25. Tho' King Charles I. was of a more warlike temper than his Father yet was he obliged tho' against his Will according to the Maxims of his Father to preserve Peace abroad to avoid the danger of being oblig'd to depend on the Capricious Humours of his Subjects And because he as well as his Father had a great dislike of the Power of the common people and of the Temper and Principles of the Puritans all his Thoughts were bent to find out ways how to secure himself from the danger of both And because the King could not impose any extraordinary Taxes without the consent of the Parliament Charles chose rather to controul his own Inclinations which were bent for War than to fawn upon the Parliament in hopes that its Heats which was for limiting the King's Power would by degrees diminish if it was not called together for a considerable time It is supposed that the Lord Treasurer Weston did confirm him in this Opinion who did expect to be call'd to an account by the Parliament The Parliament used anciently to provide a certain yearly Revenue for the King towards maintaining his Court and Fleet to secure the Commerce of the Kingdom which Revenue was not hereditary to the next Successour The first Parliament which was called by Charles I. had settled the Customs as part of his Revenue but when he afterwards having dissolved the same against the Opinion of the Male Contents his Revenues also began to be call'd in question it being their Opinion that nothing could so soon oblige the King to call a new Parliament as if what was necessary for his and the Courts Subsistence were withheld from him But the King however did not only receive the same Customs as his Predecessours had done but also augmented them with new Impositions to the yearly value of 800000 l. by which means the King who was firm in his Opinion was thought to have a Design to alter the ancient Constitution of the Government and to maintain himself without a Parliament which however was look'd upon as an impossibility by the generality of them For King James had left above 1200000 l. Debts which were since increased by Charles 400000 l. more which Money was expended in the Wars against France and Spain it was therefore not visible how he could extricate himself out of these Debts without the assistance of a Parliament since according to the fundamental Constitutions of the Realm he could not levy any Taxes upon the Subjects and to force them to pay any was beyond his Power having no Forces on foot but the Militia of the Kingdom And it was impossible to bring in such a Foreign Force as could be supposed to be able
from thence to Constantinople Francis thought to have met now with a fair Opportunity because Charles had suffered a considerable loss before Algier He therefore attack'd the Emperour with five several Armies at once But the strongest of all which lay before Perpignan did nothing the Second took some Places in the Country of Luxemburgh The Emperour Solyman also made a great Diversion in Hungary taking Gran and some other Places The great Pyrate Barbarossa arriv'd in Prevence with his Fleet but did more mischief than good to France But Charles on the other hand made an Alliance with Henry VIII who was dissatisfy'd with Francis because he had taken part with the Scots and would not renounce his Obedience to the Pope He after he had beat the Duke of Cleves who depended on the French besieged Landrecy with a great Army but to no purpose In the mean time the French had obtain'd a most signal Victory over the Imperial Forces near Cerisolles in Piedmont But the King could not prosecute his Victory being obliged to recall his Troops because the Emperour and Henry King of England had made an Agreement with an Army of 80000 Foot and 22000 Horse to fall into France the first by the Way of Champagne the second by the Way of Picardy to join their Forces near Paris to ransack the City and all the adjacent Countries as far as to the River Loire The Emperour took by the Way Luxemburgh lay six Weeks before Disier got abundance of Provision in Espernay and Chasteau Thierry which put the whole City of Paris into a great Consternation and no small Danger seemed to threaten that City if King Henry had joined his Forces in time according to his Promise But he losing his Time in the Sieges of Boulogne and Monstrevil Charles hearkened to a Peace which was concluded at Crespy By vertue of this Peace all the Places were restored and the Emperour promised to the Duke of Orleans the second Son of the King either his or his Brother's Daughter in Marriage and to give for her Dowry either Milan or the Netherlands which was not performed because the said Duke died in the Year next following Francis also made a Peace with England under Condition that he should have liberty to redeem Boulogne for a certain Summ of Money He died in the Year 1547. § 18. Him succeeded his Son Henry II. to whom fell the Marquisate of Saluzze as a Fief of Dauphine the last Marquiss Gabriel dying without Issue He severely chastiz'd the City of Bourdeaux which had rebelled against him In the Year next following he redeemed Boulogne for a certain Summ of Money from the English In the Year 1551 the Emperour being engaged in a War against the Turks and the German Princes being very jealous of his Greatness Henry thought to have met with a fit Opportunity to break with him He began therefore in the Netherlands and Piedmont and having made an Alliance with Maurice Elector of Saxony he marched with his Army towards the Rhine and surpriz'd by the Way the Cities of Metz Toul and Verdun and would have done the same with Strasbourgh if they had not been upon their Guard there But the Elector of Saxony having made a Peace with the Emperour without including the King and some Princes intreating him not to advance farther into the Empire he marched back into the Country of Luxembourgh where he took some Places The Emperour then besieged Metz with an Army of 100000 Men but the Duke of Guise defended himself so bravely that the Emperour was obliged to raise the Siege with great loss To revenge this Affront he attack'd Terouëne in Artois with great Fury and rased to the Ground this Fortress which had proved hitherto so troublesome to the Netherlands The same he did to Hesdin both the Garrisons being put to the Sword On the other side the French took Siena in Italy and several Places in the Island of Corsica but were again beaten out of Siena after they had been maul'd near Marciano In the Year 1556 a Truce was concluded at Vaucelles near Cambray the Emperour being desirous to leave the Kingdom to his Son to whom he had surrender'd the same in Peace But the Truce was scarce confirm'd by Oath when the French upon the Instigation of Pope Paul IV. broke the same again who having some Differences with Spain persuaded Henry to take his part The Duke of Guise was therefore sent into Italy with an Army but did nothing worth mentioning In the mean time King Philip had gathered an Army of 50000 Men hoping thereby to establish his Reputation in the beginning of his Reign and having also drawn England into the War he besieged St. Quintin into which place the Admiral Gaspar Coligny had thrown himself The Constable Montmorency advanced with an Army to the Relief of the Place but retreating again in sight of the Enemies they fell upon him and gave him a terrible Defeat France had been then in the utmost danger if this Victorious Army had march'd directly towards Paris and if the Enemies Design upon Lyons had not miscarry'd But King Philip feared least the Duke of Savoy who commanded his Army might take this Opportunity to reconcile himself to France upon some advantageous Conditions wherefore he would not let him march on far into the Country but took St. Quintin by Storm and lost his Time in the taking of Han Chastelet and Noyon This gave leisure to the French to recollect themselves and having recall'd the Duke of Guise out of Italy they retook Calais and those few other places which remained under the English thereabouts as likewise Thionville in the Year 1559. In the same Year a Project was set on foot to unite the Kingdom of Scotland with France by a Marriage betwixt Queen Mary and the Dauphine Francis but the same miscarried no Children being born of them The Mareschal de Fermes who made an Inrode into Flanders was soundly beaten near Gravelingen At last a Peace was concluded at Chasteau en Cambresis which prov'd very pernicious for France because for the Castle of Cambray the Cities of Han Chastelet and St. Quintin there were not only 198 Places redeliver'd to Spain and the Duke of Savoy restor'd but also this Peace was partly the Occasion of those intestine Wars which afterwards miserably tore in pieces the Kingdom of France It was also resolv'd in France not to intermeddle any more in the Italian Affairs and to dissolve the Alliance with the Turks After this Peace was concluded Henry was kill'd in a Turnament a Splinter of a broken Lance having got into his Eye for the King had challeng'd the Earl of Montgomery to run against him with an open Vizier and as soon as he was wounded he lost both his Senses and Speech and died within eleven days By this Accident the Wedding which he celebrated for his Sister Margaret which was married to Chilibert
Emperour clapt up a Peace with the Turks fearing lest the King of France might make use of this Opportunity to fall into the Netherlands Yet those Forces which were sent to the Assistance of the Venetians into Candie did not acquire so much Glory they being too forward and hot in the first Onset where they lost the Duke of Beaufort In the Year 1665 the King of France kindled a War betwixt the English and Dutch thereby to weaken their Naval Force which was so formidable to him and in the mean while to get leisure to conquer the Netherlands In the Year 1667 he enter'd the Netherlands in person and took Charleroy Lisle Tournay Doway Courtray Oudenarde and some other places pretending that the Netherlands did belong to him in right of his Queen by vertue of the jus devolutionis or right of devolution in Brabant notwithstanding that in the Marriage Contract she had renounc'd all her Title to it He also conquer'd the County of Burgundy but after having demolish'd the Fortifications he restor'd it again but kept those places which he had taken in the Netherlands by vertue of the Peace concluded at Aix la Chapelle The tripple Alliance as it is call'd made betwixt Sweden England and Holland which was intended for the Preservation of the Netherlands did greatly hasten this Peace tho' France afterwards found out a way to draw the English Court from this Alliance and to join with him in humbling the Hollanders who he said were too proud For tho' France all along had been in the Interest of Holland yet the King took it very ill that the Dutch had made a Peace at Munster without including France and that they had been so bold as to undertake the Preservation of the Netherlands and when afterwards the King put strong Garrisons into the conquer'd places they sent a Fleet on these Coasts as it were to brave him The tripple Alliance also was displeasing to him and some are of Opinion that the King of England who had not forgot the Business at Chatam and that the Peace concluded at Breda was not according to his wish had engag'd himself in this Alliance only to draw in the Dutch thereby and so to exasperate the King of France against them At last France in conjunction with England made War on Holland with prodigious Success at first for he took three Provinces viz. Gueldres Over-yssel and Vtrecht besides that he had already possess'd himself of some Passes leading into Holland But his Confederate the Bishop of Munster had not the same Success in the Siege of Groningen and afterwards lost Coeverden again And the Dutch had better Success at Sea where they behaved themselves bravely in four several Engagements whereas the French Fleet as the English say did not engage heartily Besides England grew Jealous of the great Success of the French which was one reason why the Parliament did in a manner oblige the King to make a separate Peace with Holland fearing that France after England and Holland had destroy'd one another at Sea might also at last fall upon them The Emperour and Elector of Brandenburgh endeavour'd immediately at the beginning of the War to give a Diversion to France but to no great purpose since they did nothing but ruin several Provinces in Germany and drew Turenne with his Army thither who ravag'd the Country but especially Westphalia The Elector of Brandenburgh made a Peace with France at Vossem whereby he got the Restitution of his strong Holds in the Dutchy of Cleves but as soon as he got them into his possession he made no great account of the Peace In the Year next following France took the strong City of Mastricht where the French both shew'd their Bravery and Dexterity in attacking of places On the other hand the Imperialists had good Success against Turenne who pretended to oppose their March for they trick'd him and having march'd to the lower Rhine in conjunction with the Spaniard and Prince of Orange took Bon This and the loss of Narden which the Dutch took caus'd the French to leave Vtrecht and all the other places in the United Provinces except Grave and Mastricht For it seem'd very difficult to maintain so many Garrisons and at the same time to have a sufficient Army in the Field to oppose the Enemy since it might easily have happen'd that all Correspondency with these places in the United Provinces might have been cut off by the Enemy Afterwards Spain and the whole German Empire declar'd against France and a great many were of Opinion That the joint Power of Spain Holland and Germany would be sufficient to curb the French and to carry the Seat of the War into France it self but this could not be effected 'T is true the Germans did take from the French Philipsburgh and beat them out of Treves where Mareschal de Crequi receiv'd a Defeat But on the other hand the Germans were several times also especially near Sintsheim and in Alsace worsted by the French and oblig'd to repass the Rhine And in the Year 1675 there was a great probability that it would not have gone very well with them on this side of the Rhine if the brave Turenne had not been kill'd by an accidental Shot which oblig'd the French who were ignorant of his Design after a sharp Engagement to retire on the other side of the Rhine For the rest Spain lost most by this War for the Franche Compte was taken from them Messina receiv'd voluntarily a French Garrison and the Dutch Fleet which was sent to the Assistance of the Spaniards into Sicily got nothing but Blows the brave Admiral de Ruyter being there slain tho' afterwards the French quitted Messina on their own accord Besides this the French took from them these strong holds Limburgh Conde Valenciennes Cambray Yper St. Omer Aire and several others The Prince of Orange retook Graves but in the Battel of Seneffe and St. Omer he was worsted and sustained a considerable loss before Mastricht At last France ended this War very gloriously for it self restoring to Holland what it had taken from those Provinces but kept Burgundy and a great many strong places in the Spanish Netherlands In Germany in lieu of Philipsburgh it got Friburgh and for the rest the Westphalian and Copenhagen Treaties were renewed by Virtue of which Sweden was restored to its own again § 25. To consider the French Nation whose History we have briefly related it must be observ'd That it is swarming if I may so speak with People and sow'd thick with Cities and Towns Under the Reign of Charles IX it is related That above twenty Millions of People paid the Poll Tax Some say That Richlieu affirm'd that by Computation France could bring into the Field 600000 Foot and 150000 Horse provided every Man that was able to bear Arms did go into the Field This Nation also has been always warlike nevertheless in
try'd all ways to reduce the revolted places to Obedience by force having among others pillag'd Malines and Zutphen quite destroy'd Naerden and taken Haerlem after a tedious Siege the Inhabitants of which City were most barbarously treated § 5. The Affairs of the Spaniards in the Netherlands being by the rigorous proceedings of the Duke of Alva who us'd to bragg that during his Regency of six Years he had caus'd 18000 to be executed by the Hangman put into Confusion he was recall'd in the Year 1573. Lewis Requesenes succeeded him a Man of somewhat a milder Temper but who had a very ill beginning of his Regency the Fleet which he had sent out to relieve Middleburgh being destroy'd before his Eyes and the City surrender'd to the Prince of Orange Yet the Prince also receiv'd a great Blow for his Brother Lewis who led an Army to his Assistance out of Germany was routed near Grave upon the Mockerhyde where he and his Brother Henry were slain in the Field After this Victory the Spanish Souldiers mutiny'd for want of Pay and liv'd upon free Quarters in Antwerp till all was paid Then the Siege of Leyden was undertaken which was reduc'd to the utmost extremity by Famine till a Dyke of the Maese was cut through by which means and the help of a North West Wind at Spring tide the Country round about being put under Water the Spaniards after a great loss sustain'd were forc'd to leave it In the Year next following the Emperour endeavour'd by his Mediation to compose these Troubles and a Meeting was held for that purpose betwixt the Deputies of both Parties at Breda which prov'd fruitless Then the Spaniards took Ziricuzea after a Siege of nine Months but before the place was taken Lewis Requesenes died After his Death the Council of State took the Administration of the Government into their Hands which was approved by the King § 6. In the mean time the Hatred of the Netherlanders against the Spaniards was more and more encreas'd especially after the Souldiers who were grown mutinous for want of Pay and had committed great Outrages that the Council of State had declared them Enemies giving leave to the Inhabitants to take up Arms against them During which Disturbances Maestricht and Antwerp were plunder'd Which disposed the rest to enter upon a Treaty with the Prince of Orange at Ghent which contained That the Provinces had made a Peace betwixt themselves That the Proclamations issued forth during the Regency of the Duke of Alva should be annull'd and the Spaniards sent out of the Country Which Contract tho' it was ratify'd by the King yet he had taken a Resolution quickly to disunite them again For this purpose he constituted Don John d' Austria his natural Brother Governour of the Netherlands The Prince of Orange forewarn'd the Netherlanders That he ought not to be trusted notwithstanding this he was receiv'd by plurality of Voices they having oblig'd him to subscribe the Contract made at Ghent and to send away the Spanish Souldiers But the Prince of Orange and the Provinces of Holland and Zealand were not well satisfy'd with this Agreement and the rest also quickly began to mistrust him He gave them sufficient occasion to believe that their Jealousie was not ill grounded when he by Surprize made himself Master of the Castle of Namur under pretence to secure his person against any Attempts which so disturb'd the Netherlanders that they took up Arms to drive him out of Namur They also took all the strong Holds where any German Garrison was left and demolish'd the Castles And sending for the Prince of Orange to come to Brussels they constituted him Grand Bayliff of Brabant This encrease of the House of Orange made some great Men envious who made a Party to balance it among whom one of the chiefest was the Duke of Arshot These called in Matthew Archduke of Austria whom they made Governour of the Netherlands who coming with all speed was also receiv'd by the Party of the Prince of Orange under condition that the Prince should be his Lieutenant and he not do any thing without the consent of the Estates On the other hand Alexander Duke of Parma came with an Army out of Italy to the Assistance of Don John d' Austria who bringing with him a good number of old Spanish Troops beat the Army of the Estates near Gemblours and took Louvain Philipville Limbourgh and several other places The Estates then finding themselves alone not strong enough offer'd to put themselves under the Protection of Henry III. King of France and he having refus'd to accept it the same offer was made to the Duke of Alenson his Brother who having accepted of it came into the Netherlands But could do nothing of moment the Provinces and great Men being so divided among themselves that no body knew who was Master There arose also a new Division among the Estates when upon Request of those of the Reformed Religion Liberty of Conscience was allow'd in the Netherlands which was willingly consented to by those of Ghent and others but Artois Haynault and some other Wallooon Cities that were very zealous for the Catholick Religion did oppose it with great violence and having by degrees separated themselves from the rest set up a new Faction who were call'd the Malecontents During these Troubles Don John d' Austria died leaving the Government to the Duke of Parma who was confirmed in his place by Philip. He began his Regency with the taking of Maestricht and bringing over the Wallon Provinces viz. Artois Haynault and the Walloon Flanders to the King's Party by accord § 7. The Prince of Orange therefore perceiving that the Contract of Ghent was quite broke and that the Great Men who envied one another and the several Provinces that were of a different Religion were scarce ever to be United And yet being desirous to secure himself and to establish the Protestant Religion he got the Estates of the Provinces of Gueldres Holland Zealand Friesland and Vtrecht to meet Here it was agreed that they would defend one another as one Body that they would consult concerning Peace and War Taxes and the like with common Consent and that they would maintain Liberty of Conscience This Union made at Vtrecht wherein also afterwards Over-Yssel and Groningen were included is the Foundation of the Common-wealth of the United Netherlands At that time their Affairs were in so low a Condition that they coined a Medal wherein their State was represented by a Ship without Sails or Rudder left to the Mercy of the Waves with this Inscription Incertum quo fata ferant The Fortune of the Prince of Orange absolutely depending now on this Union he made it his business to hinder the Conclusion of the Treaty of a general Peace which by the Mediation of the Emperour was set on foot at Collen because a general Peace might
are seven Common wealths which by the Union at Vtrecht are joined into one Confederacy they have their Deputies constantly residing at the Hague whose business it is to take care of such Affairs as concern the whole Union and if any thing of moment is to be decreed they send to the several Provinces and according to the Approbation of these they make their Decrees these Deputies are called the States-General Nay it seems that each Province is rather a Confederacy than one City or Common-wealth because the several Members of each Province do treat with one another like Confederates and not like one Body where one is superiour to the other or the majority of Votes determines a business For even in the Provincial Assemblies a great many things cannot be determined by the Plurality of Votes but every Member's consent is required Which shows that these Provinces and Cities not united by so strong a Tye as those who are govern'd by one Soveraign except as far as Necessity obliges them to keep together And the great Cities are fill'd with Rabble which if once put in motion uses to make strange work among them It is therefore the great Care of the Magistrates that they are kept in constant Employment to get Bread for Famine would quickly be the occasion of great Tumults here There is also a Jealousie betwixt Holland and the other Provinces the latter pretending to some Prerogative as being the most Powerfull and contributing most to the Publick whereas the others are for maintaining their Liberty and Equality All the rest of the Cities are especially jealous of Amsterdam because this City draws abundance of Trade from the rest and puts them in apprehension as if She were ambitious to domineer over them But the greatest Irregularity happens in their Constitution by means of the Prince of Orange who having the Favour of the Common people of the Land-Souldiers and the Clergy for the Clergy hate the Arminians who being of the Barnefelt Faction are Enemies of the Prince seems to endanger their Liberty Wherefore the chief Men in the Cities to whom belongs the Magistracy there possess their places in continual fear except they will be pliable to the Prince of Orange Whose interest is also inconsistent with that of the State because no Land way can be advantageous for Holland whereas in time of War his Authority is much greater than otherwise And therefore according to this Form of the Government scarce a firm Peace can be establish'd at home It may easily happen that the Prince may aspire to be their Soveraign And when the Province of Gueldres did offer to him the Soveraignty he did give them to understand That if all the rest were of the same Opinion they should have no occasion to look for him behind the Wine-pipes as the Jews did for Saul yet the wiser sort are of opinion that he would reap no great benefit from this Soveraignty since it would be scarce possible to keep so many great Cities in Obedience against their Will For Cittadels and Garrisons would prove the Ruin of Trade which never flourishes where absolute Power controuls the Subject Wherefore it seems more adviseable for the Prince to be satisfied with what Power he has it being certain that if he knows how to manage the Humour of the People he is almost able to do what he pleases It has been a great Dispute whether it be for the advantage of these Netherlands to have a Governour General Those who are for the Affirmative alledge That this Country having been from ancient Time under the Jurisdiction of a limited Soveraignty has been used to that Form of Government That it conduces to the outward Splendour of the Common-wealth and to uphold the Authority of the Magistrates in the Cities That thereby Factions and Tumults are kept under and suppressed That thereby are prevented a great many Inconveniences in executing any designs of moment which were incident to an Aristocratical and Democratical State viz. Slow and divided Counsels in Consultations delays in Executions and the divulging of secret Designs all which we will leave undetermin'd here This is also to be esteemed one of the Weaknesses of this Common-wealth that so great a number of Inhabitants cannot be maintained by the Product of the Land but must get their Bread from abroad and by the help of Foreigners Wherefore the certain Ruin of this Common-wealth is at hand when-ever its Trade and Navigation should be stopt which however is not altogether impossible to happen The difference of Religion is commonly reckoned among the weaknesses of a State But some make this one of the main Pillars of the flourishing Condition of Holland because it contributes greatly to the Strength and Encrease of this State The Reformed Religion is here the Establish'd Religion all the rest being only tolerated The Papists are connived at but also they keep over them a strict Eye for fear the Priests who all depend on the Pope should enter into a Correspondency with Spain Yet it is rarely seen in Holland that one Subject hates the other or prosecutes him upon the Score of Religion It has been the Saying of some that in other Countries Religion doth more good but in Holland less harm It is also very inconvenient for the Inhabitants that all sorts of Victuals are sold at so excessive a Rate The reason of which is That the greatest Revenues of Holland are raised by way of Excise upon these Commodities and it is a common Saying That before you can get a Dish of Fish ready dress'd upon your Table at Amsterdam you have paid above Thirty several Taxes for it And notwithstanding all these heavy Impositions the State is much in debt There are some also who pretend that the Traffick of the Dutch does grow less and less for which they alledge several Reasons viz. That since the Peace concluded at Munster other Nations have also applied themselves to Trade That the Price of the East-India Commodities does fall every Year and yet the Charges of the Company increases daily For whereas formerly five or six East-India Ships coming home yearly were reckon'd very considerable now eighteen or twenty do return which so over-stocks them with these Commodities that they are obliged to lay them up in their Ware-houses for a considerable time before they can vent them without Loss They alledge allso that Corn has been of late years so abundant in France Spain Italy and England that the Hollanders have not sent much of it into these Parts it being their custom to fetch Corn from off the East-Sea where they vent in exchange of it most or their Spices That the great Addition of Fortifications and sumptuous Buildings to the City of Amsterdam have taken up a great quantity of Ready-money which might have been better employed in way of Trade and that Luxury and Debauchery does encrease daily in that City But the Reason why the Hollanders had
such ill Success at the beginning of this War seems to be that by the great Eagerness of Gain and Trade their Martial Heat was almost extinguish'd and that after the Peace concluded at Munster they being not apprehensive of any Invasion by Land they only applied themselves to strengthen their Power at Sea and having dismissed their best Officers they had supplied their place with their own Relations whose Motto was Peace and a good Government For at the time of the War with England they had dismissed the Old English Bands and in the Year 1668 the French Troops both which were the flower of their Armies which of necessity must have been reduced into a very ill condition since the Prince of Orange had no more concern with them Besides this they thought themselves very secure not imagining that France would either dare or be able to attempt a Conquest over them as long as they were sure that the Emperour and Spain would side with them neither did they imagine that the English would join with the French against them And at last they hoped they would beat the English out of the Sea before France should be able to take three or four Places They relied upon the old Way of making of War when a whole Company was taken up with the Taking of one Place and when whole Books were composed of the Taking of Groll or the Sar of Ghent It is also believed that some of the Hollanders were not sorry that they had no great Success by Land hoping thereby to bring into discredit the Conduct and to diminish the Authority of the Prince whom they had been obliged to make their Captain-General against their Will § 22. As for the Neighbours of Holland and what it has to fear or to hope from them it seems that the English are the most dangerous Neighbours to the Hollanders they being the only Nation that have been formidable to them hitherto against their Pretensions to the Dominion of the Seas and Trade who are extreamly dissatisfied that this new Common-wealth which when it was in a very tottering condition was strongly upheld by them has now been before-hand with them in the East-Indies and daily spoil their Markets almost every-where For because an English-man is naturally proud and loves to live well whereas a Hollander minds nothing so much as his Gain being satisfied with an indifferent share nor spends any thing idly a Hollander can sell cheaper than an English-man and Strangers will always rather deal with the first than the last It is therefore in all probability the chief Interest of Holland not to irritate England and rather to allow them some Ceremonial Prerogatives at Sea such as striking and the like but withall to strengthen their Power at Sea that in case England should really contest with them for the Trade and Fishing it may be able to make head against them The Hollanders must also as much as is possible endeavour to encourage the same sort of Manufacture as is in England and either to make these Commodities better or at least to sell them cheaper thereby to get the advantage from them The Hollanders ought to stand in great fear of France on the Land-side especially since that King is their great Enemy having opposed for a considerable time all their Designs It is therefore very necessary to be in a good posture on the Land-side and to keep fair with the Princes of Germany who else would permit the French to march through their Territories or else perhaps join with him They must endeavour the Preservation of the Spanish Netherlands which they ought to consider as their Frontiers and whereby Spain is obliged always to Side with Holland against France They must take care to be provided with good Officers and to put the Province of Holland into a better Posture of Defence on the side of Gueldres It is not easie to be supposed that England and France will join again against Holland which may be prevented by the Hollanders It is also the Interest of Holland to take care that the Naval Strength of France do not increase too much and to prevent as much as in them lies that they do not settle a Trade in the East-Indies And because France draws the Riches of all Europe to it self by its Manufacturies the Hollanders must try to imitate them and furnish other Nations with the like From Spain Holland need fear nothing either by Sea or Land since that time that this Kingdom has lost all its labour against them Nay it is their Common Interest now that they cultivate a mutual good Understanding to stop the Progresses of the French in the Netherlands And the Spaniards have scarce any thing left them from which the Dutch could have any prospect of Benefit they being not in a Capacity to conquer or to maintain the West-Indies And though the Hollanders may be very troublesome to the Spanish Silver Fleets yet the Spanish Privateers may also do them considerable mischief Portugal has no Pretensions against Holland and it ought most to stand in fear of the Hollanders because these would be glad of an opportunity to take from the Portuguese Brosile and what they have left in the East-Indies which however they would not so easily be able to execute because the Hollanders are obliged to fetch their Bread out of the East-Sea they have always taken care that neither of the Northern Kings should be Master alone of the East-Sea which Balance is the easier kept now since the Sound is divided betwixt Sweden and Denmark And it is notorious enough what Game they have play'd with these two Kings For the rest it is the general Interest of Holland to keep fair with all other Princes thereby to maintain a free Commerce every-where And in these Places where they cannot Trade alone it is the Interest of the Hollanders either by goodness or cheapness of their Commodities and an easie Deportment to endeavour to draw the chief Benefit of Trade to themselves For this is the easier and less odious Way to heap up Riches than if they should attempt publickly to mix the Foreign Trade of all other Nations since it would prove impossible for them alone to maintain a general Monopoly CHAP. VII Of the SWITZERS § 1. THese Countries which are possess'd now by the Switzers belonged formerly to the German Empire but that they were united in one Commonwealth was occasioned thus the three small Counties of Vry Switz and Vnder-Walden which commonly are call'd the three Forest Towns enjoy'd very antient Privileges which they pretended to have been granted them by the Emperor Lewis Surnamed the Pious yet so that the Emperor used to send thither an Imperial Judge or Vicar who had the supreme Jurisdiction in criminal Affairs There were also some Monasteries in those Countries which tho they enjoy'd particular Privileges yet did they not interfere with their Liberty of the People
And thus the Empire was transferred from the Carolingian Family to the Saxons § 3. Henry Surnamed the Birdcatcher did bridle the Fury of the Hungarians For they having made a great inroad into Germany and demanded the Yearly Tribute from him he sent them a Mungeril-Dog and afterwards Defeated them in a bloody Battle near Merseburgh where he slew 80000 of them Under the Reign of this King the greatest part of the Cities which are situated on the sides of the Rhine were either Built or else Fortified with Walls This Henry also did Conquer the Serbes and Wendes a Sarmatick or Sclavonian Nation who being possessed of a large Tract of Land in Germany on the River Elbe he drove out of Misnia Lusatia and the Marquisate of Brandenburgh After he had re-established the Affairs of Germany he died in the Year 936. After him succeeded his Son Otto Surnamed the Great who at first was engaged in heavy Civil Wars against several Princes but especially against those who pretended to be of the Race of Charles the Great and were extremely dissatisfied that the Royal Dignity was transferred to the Saxons He was also very Fortunate in his Wars against the Danes To the Hungarians who ventured to make another Incursion into Germany he gave a capital overthrow near Augsburgh since which time they never have dared to shew themselves in Germany In Italy there had been great Confusions for a long time the Soveraignty having been usurped sometimes by one sometimes by another till at last Otto being called thither possessed himself both of the Kingdom of Italy and the Imperial Dignity it having been then agreed that both the Imperial and Royal Dignity of Italy should be inseparably annexed without any further Election to the Royal Dignity of Germany and that no Pope should be chosen without the Approbation of the King of the Germans and Otto was Crowned at Rome tho' this Conquest has proved not very beneficial to Germany the succeeding Popes having made it their Business to raise continual Disturbances which was not easy to be prevented because these Places were not kept in awe by strong Castles or Garisons Wherefore as often as the Popes were pleased to raise new Commotions the Germans were obliged to send great Armies thither which continual Alarms consumed great quantities of Men and Money In lieu of which their Kings had scarce any Revenues out of Italy except that they had Free Quarters and Entertainment given them during their stay there This Otto died in the Year 974 leaving for his Successour his Son Otto II. who also at first met with great Disturbances from some of the Princes of Germany Afterwards Lotharius King of France would have made himself Master of Loraine and had very near surprised the Emperour at Aix la Chapelle But Otto marched with an Army through Champaigne to the very Gates of Paris but in his return home received a considerable Loss At last a Peace was concluded at Rheims by Vertue of which Loraine was left to the Emperour He then undertook an Expedition into Italy against the Greeks who had made themselves Masters of that Country these he overthrew at first but received afterwards a grand Defeat because the Romans and those of Benevento immediatly turned their Backs he himself fell into the Hands of the Enemy but found means to make his Escape from them and revenged himself against the former for their Infidelity He died not long after of Vexation His Son Otto III. did employ a great part of his Reign in appeasing these Tumults which were raised in Rome by the Consul Crescentius who aiming at the Sovereignty was hanged for his pains by Order of Otto who was afterwards poysoned by the Widdow of the said Crescentius with a pair of Gloves made up with a certain sort of Poyson Otto having left no Children behind him the Crown was conferred upon Henry II. Surnamed the Lame Duke of Bavaria who sprang from the Saxon Race with whom Ecbart Landgrave of Hesse did contend for the Crown but lost his Life in the Quarrel This Emperour was entangled in continual Troubles in Italy and chastised Boleslaus King of Poland Because he was a great Benefactor to the Clergy he was made a Saint after his Death § 4. Henry II. having left no Children behind him the Princes elected Conrad Sali Duke of Franconia Emperour in his room which occasioned great Jealousie in the Saxons and great Wars in Germany This Emperour met with great Disturbances both in Germany and Italy which were at last all composed Radolf the last King of Burgundy and Arus dying without Issue left him that Kingdom by his last Will which he took Possession of and united the same with Germany having forced Eudo the Earl of Champaigne who made a pretension upon it to resign his Title He was also very Fortunate in his Wars against the Pole◠and Sclavonians and died in the Year 1035. Him succeeded his Son Henry Surnamed the Black who was continually allarm'd by the Hungarians and the Popes Intrigues against whom he maintained the Imperial Dignity with great bravery He died in the Year 1056. His Son Henry IV. his Reign was very long but also very Troublesome and Unfortunate Among other Reasons this may be counted one of the Chiefest that he being but Six Years of Age when his Father died was left to the Tuition of such as had no true Care of his Education and besides this by selling the Church Benefices without having any Regard to Deserts had done considerable Mischief to the Empire Wherefore Henry coming to his riper Years and perceiving how the Ecclesiasticks had got all the best Possessions of the Empire into their Hands he resolved to dispossess them again whereby he drew upon himself the hatred of the Clergy The Saxons were also his great Enemies because he had by Building up of some Fortresses endeavoured to restrain their Insolencies and tho' he often kept his Court in Saxony yet he seldom preferred the Saxons to any Offices Most of the Princes were also dissatisfied with him because he rarely advised with them concerning the publick State of Affairs but either followed the Advice of his Counsellors who were most of them Men of mean Birth or else his own Head These and some other Reasons set the Saxons against him in an open Rebellion with whom he waged long and bloody Wars till he vanquished them at last But Pope Hildebrand or Gregory VII and his Successours did raise a more dreadful Storm against him for the Popes having long since been vexed to the Heart that they and the rest of the Clergy should be subject to the Emperour Hildebrand thought to have now met with a fair Opportunity to set the Clergy at Liberty at a time when the Emperour was entangled in a War with the Saxons and hated by most Princes of the Empire The Emperour had lived somewhat too Free in his younger
mean while the Dutch sent a Fleet to Relieve Copenhagen against whom the Swedes fought with great bravery But in the year next following the Swedes did in vain storm Copenhagen and besides this lost the Battel in Funen Bornholm revolted and Druntheim was retaken And tho the Danes endeavour'd to carry on the War against the Swedes hoping to have now after the death of their King Charles Gustavus met with an opportunity to revenge themselves for their former losses yet acccording to a Project concluded upon by France England and Holland a Peace was made near Copenhagen almost upon the same Conditions with that concluded formerly at Roshild except that Bornholm and Druntheim remained in the possession of the Danes in lieu of which some Lands were assigned to the Swedes in Schonen A Peace being thus concluded the King at the Dyet held at Copenhagen was declared an absolute Sovereign and the Crown Hereditary whereby the great Privileges of the Nobility were abolished and a new Form of Government introduced where the whole Management of Affairs depends absolutely on the King's pleasure This King died in the year 1670. Him succeeded his Son Christian V. who after he had put his Affairs into a good Posture entred into an Alliance with the Emperor Holland and their Confederates And seeing that the Swedes had been worsted in the Country of Brandenburgh he hoped to have met with a good opportunity to break with Sweden He began therefore with the Duke of Holstein who not foreseeing the Design came to him at Rensburgh whom he forced to quit all his Advatanges which he had obtained by the Peace of Roshild and to surrender into his hands the Fortress of Tonningen which he caused to be demolished and afterwards took Wismar from the Swedes In the year next following he entred Schonen where he took Helsingburgh Landscrone and Christianstad as also the Isle of Gotland with little Resistance But he having detach'd some Troops to invest Halmstad they were surprized by the King of Sweden who routed them and such as were not slain were all made Prisoners Not long after the whole Danish Army was beaten out of the field in a bloody Battel fought near Lunden In the year 1677. King Christian besieged Malmoe but having miscarried in a Storm which he made upon the place he was forced to raise the Siege and soon after received another Overthrow in a Battel fought near Landscrone betwixt him and Charles King of Sweden In the Year next following the Danes were obliged to raise the Siege of Bahus and to surrender Christianstadt which reduced to Extremity by Famine but at Sea they had better Success yet by virtue of a Peace made betwixt them they restored all such places as they had taken from the Swedes § 10. It is evident out of antient History That this Nation has been formerly very warlike but in our age the Danes have lost much of their antient Glory because the Nobility have been rather for enjoying their Revenues in Plenty and Quietness than for undergoing the fatigues of War and the Commonalty have followed their Example This may also perhaps be alleged for a reason that they having seldom been engaged in any Wars but with Sweden except that Christian IV. made war in Germany which however was carried on chiefly by German Souldiers which could not be of any long Continuance the Danes often wanted opportunity to keep themselves in exercise especially since they had the conveniency of making use of the Germans whom they listed for money and the number of Inhabitants seem'd to be but proportionable to the Country which is of no great extent Since the King has been declared Soveraign all means have been employed to improve the Military force of the Nation but it seems that the National Forces without the help of the Germans will not be of any great Consequence as to Land-service Neither is it the King's interest to put his Nobility upon Martial Exploits or that they should grow famous in War for fear they should make an Effort to recover their former Privileges The Norwegians undergo all sorts of hardship with more Courage and Vigour whereunto they are inured by their Climate and Air. But the Danes since they have been Masters of Norway have always endeavoured to keep under this Nation by taking from them all opportunities of exerting their vigour and there are very few left of the antient Nobility in Norway Yet the Norwegians are now adays very good Seamen and the Dutch make good use of them in Sea-service and a great many of the Inhabitants of North-holland where they are addicted to Fishing were originally of Norway § 11. The country of Denmark is of no great extent yet it is generally very Fertile and fit both for Tillage and Pasturage for a great number of Oxen and Horses are yearly Transported out of Denmark to other places And a considerable quantity of Corn is sent out of Denmark into Norway and Island The Seas near Denmark are pretty well stock'd with Fish which however are rather for the benefit of the Inhabitants than for exportation There are little or no Manufactories there the Inhabitants being not fitted for such works neither is there any Commodities fit for Exportation in great quantities On the other hand the Danes are oblig'd to Import Wine Salt good Beer and Woollen Manufactury for Cloaths They have begun to bring Spices themselves out of the East-Indies where they have a small Fort upon the Coast of Cormandel The Toll which is paid by Foreigners in the Sound in ready money is a very good Revenue in Denmark Which is the reason why the Danes can scarce forgive the Swedes that they do not pay this Tributary Toll to Denmark Norway is for the most part a very raw Country yet it produces several Commodities fit for exportation viz. dry'd and salted Fish in great quantity Timber Board Masts Tar Pitch and the like There are also in Norway Silver Copper and Iron Mines But it produces not Corn sufficient in quantity for the maintenance of its Inhabitants nor to brew Beer besides it wants also the same Commodities which are wanting in Denmark As for its situation it s very commodious to Export and Import Merchandises to and from other Sea-Coasts in Europe Island is stock'd with Fish some salted Flesh and very good Down Feathers which the Inhabitants are fain to exchange for such Commodities as are besides Fish and Flesh requisite for the sustenence and convenience of Life The Fenock Islands do for the most part live on their Sheep and Fish Besides that Denmark cannot raise a considerable Army of its Natives this is also a great weakness to this Kingdom that not only Norway and Denmark are separated by the Sea and cannot keep correspondency together but by that way but also that this Kingdom is divided into so many Islands so that if an Enemy once becomes Master
at Sea he must needs prove very troublesom to Denmark § 12. As to the Neighbours of Denmark it Borders on one side upon Germany for Holstein which belongs to the present Royal Ramily is a Fief of the Empire And tho the Land Forces of Denmark do not come to any comparison with those of Germany and Jutland lies quite open on that side yet the Islands are very secure from the Germans who are not provided with Shipping except it should happen that the great and lesser Belt should both be frozen which happens very rarely Neither is there any great probability that these two States should differ except the pretensions upon Hamborough which the King of Denmark will not easily let fall should furnish an occasion for War And to speak truly it is so delicious a morsel that it may easily provoke an Appetite But it will be a very difficult task for the King of Denmark to attain his aim by open force except there should happen a very strange juncture of Affairs or that the inward Divisions or else by treachery this City should give an occasion for its Ruin In the mean while it is not easily to be supposed that the Neighbouring German Princes should suffer that a City of so great Consequence should fall into the hands of a Foreign Prince In fine it is of vast Consequence to Denmark to hold a good understanding with Germany since from thence it must draw the greatest part of its Land-Forces wherewith to defend itself against Swedeland With the Swedes Denmark had been in continual Broils for a considerable time and it seems that there is an old grudge and animosity betwixt these two Nations arising chiefly hence that the Danes have formerly always endeavour'd to make themselves Masters of Sweden and to reduce this Kingdom into the same condition as they had done Norway Besides that afterwards they have made it their business by ruining their Shipping and Trade to prevent the growing Greatness of Sweden But Sweden has always vigorously defended itself and in latter times has gain'd great advantages upon Denmark for the Swedes have not only recover'd Schonen and secured West Gothland by the Fortress of Bahus but they have also a way open into Jutland out of their Provinces in Germany On the other hand the Danes have made it their business hitherto by making Alliances with the Enemies of Sweden to get from them these Advantages But if we consider that these two Kingdoms are now divided by their natural Bounds to preserve which France England and Holland seem to be mutually concern'd and that as in human probability Denmark cannot conquer or maintain itself in Swedeland so the other States of Europe are not likely to suffer that Sweden should become Master of Denmark It seems therefore most convenient that these two Kingdoms should maintain a good understanding and be a mutual security to one another against their Enemies From Holland Denmark may expect real assistance in case it should be in danger of being Conquered since the prosperity of Holland depends partly on the free Trade of the Baltic and if one should become Master both of Sweden and Denmark he would questionless keep these Passages closer than they are now But the Danes also are sensible enough that the Hollanders will not engage themselves any further in their behalf than to keep the ballance even for fear they should with an increase of Power attempt hereafter to raise the Toll in the Sound at pleasure But as long as Holland sides with Denmark England will not be fond of the Danish Party but rather declare for the other side for the preservation of Denmark and the Trade in the Baltic is not of so great consequence to England as it is to Holland The Muscovites may prove very serviceable to Denmark against Sweden yet cannot the Danes make any great account upon an Alliance with them because it is very difficult to maintain a Correspondency with them especially if the Poles should declare for Sweden Besides that the Muscovites as soon as they have obtained their aim commonly have but little regard to Alliances or the Interest of their Allies Denmark can have no great reliance upon Poland except that Crown should be engag'd in a War against Sweden France has hitherto shewn no great concern for Denmark because it has always been in Alliance with its Enemies yet France would not willingly see it ruin'd because no State of Europe would desire the two Northern Kingdoms should be under the Subjection of one Prince But I cannot see any reason why an offensive Alliance with Denmark should be profitable to France Spain is more likely to wish well to Denmark than to assist it except it should happen that Swedeland was engaged in a War against the House of Austria or any other Allie of Spain CHAP. X. Of POLAND § 1. THE POLES who anciently were called Samartians and afterwards Slavonians derived their Name from the Nature of the Country which they possess which lies most upon a Plain for Pole signifies in their language a Plain tho some are of opinion that the Word Polacki is as much as to say the Posterity of Lechus This Nation formerly did inhabit nearer to the Country of the Tartars but after vast Numbers out of Germany entred the Roman Provinces their places were supplied by the nations living behind them And it seems that Poland being in the same manner left by its Inhabitants which were then Venedi or Wends they made room for the next that took their Place These then as 't is said having taken possession of this Country about the year 550 did under the Conduct of Lechus lay there the Foundation of a new State Lechus resided at Gnicsen being encouraged thereunto by an Eagles Nest which he found there and taking it as a good Omen put an Eagle into the Arms of the new Commonwealth giving to that City the name of Gnicsen which in the Polish Language signifies a Nest This Nation first setled it self in that part of the Country which now goes by the name of the great and lesser Poland neither did their Limits extend any further tho since that time they are mightily encreased § 2. The first Governours of this Nation did not assume to themselves the Title of Kings but only that of Dukes and the first form of Government was very inconstant for after the Race of Lechus was extinguished tho it is uncertain how many of them and for how long a time they Ruled or what were their Atchievments twelve Governours which in their Language are called Vayvods did administer the Government who having at first regulated and refined this barbarous People by good Laws and Constitutions at last were divided among themselves Wherefore the Poles elected for their Prince one Cracus who having restored the Commonwealth to its former State built the City of Cracovia so called after his
Money It is reported of the House of the Barbarini's that at the death of Vrban VIII they were possessed of 227 Offices and Church-Benefices most of them reckoned at three five eight and ten Thousand Seudi a piece whereby it is said they got together a Treasure of 30 Millions of Scudi This has been represented as a very scandalous thing by some but if duly considered it is a great folly to suppose that since the main intention of the Popish Sovereignty is to enrich the Clergy the Popes should stifle their natural inclination toward their Kindred and not make Hay whilst the Sun shines This is rather to be look'd upon as a common Infirmity that Favourites and others whilst they are Fortunate are envied by others who are vexed because Fortune is not so favourable to them Besides that the Revenues of the Church are so great that the Popes since they need not entertain any considerable Army scarce know how to employ them better Since the time of Pope Vrban VIII a Custom has been introduced to make one of the Pope's Nephews Chief Minister of the Ecclesiastical State whom they call Cardinal Patroon Cardinal Patrono Among other Reasons why the Pope commits the management of Affairs to one of his Nephews this is alledged for one that by reason of the nearness of Blood he ought to be preferred before others and that by so doing the Pope's Person is better secured against any attempts which are sooner made upon his Life than of other hereditary Princes whose death their Successours are able to revenge How fearful the Popes are of Poyson may be judged from thence that as often as the Pope receives the Sacrament his Chaplain who is to administer the Bread and Wine is obliged to taste of both before the the Pope It is also pretended that by the Ministry of the Nephews this Advantage is obtained that the other Ministers and Governours have not so much opportunity to enrich themselves and to put one another out of place which is the common Custom in Elective States For their Nephews are few in number and therefore sooner to be satisfied neither will they easily suffer that others should enrich themselves since they are sensible that all the hatred falls upon themselves They are also very serviceable to the Pope in that they more freely can disclose the Interests of the several Princes to him than other Ministers who are not so nearly allied to him and that they are fain to be more circumspect in their management of Affairs for fear left they may one time or another be called to an account for which reason it is their Business so to oblige one Prince or another that they may upon all occasions be sure of his Protection Besides that by their Assistance Affairs may be carried on with much more secrecy than otherwise And if the Pope were destitute of their Counsel he would be obliged to have recourse to the Cardinals who most commonly are very partial being most of them engaged to foreign Princes either by Pensions or Benefices § 32. The Subjects of this Ecclesiastical Monarchy may commodiously be divided into two several sorts the first comprehends the whole Clergy the second all the rest of Christendom as far as the same professes the Roman Catholick Religion which is commonly called the Laiety The first may be compared to the standing Army of a Prince who thereby manitains his Conquests the rest are to be deemed as Subjects that are Tributaries to the Prince and are obliged to maintain those standing Forces at their Charge The first have this particular Obligation upon them that they must abstain from Marriage This is done under pretence of a special Holiness and that thereby they may be the more fit to perform their Duty without any hinderance but the true reason is that they should not prefer the Interest and Welfare of their Wife and Children before that of the Church and in consideration thereof not side with those Princes under whose Jurisdiction they live or that they should not enrich their Children with the Revenues of the Church but be the more ready upon all occasions to execuâ—e the Pope's Will especially against such Princes under whose Protection they live For since Wife and Children are esteemed the dearest Pledges not to be left to the discretion of an enraged Enemy they could the easier despise the anger of their Princes if they had no other Care to take but for themselves a single Man not needing to fear a livelihood in any place whatever And it has been the main endeavours of the Popes to exempt the Clergy by all means from the Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrates and to make them only dependent on himself Besides this the avaricious Clergy would not have made so good a Harvest if it had been taken for granted among the People that the same was collected for their Wife and Children whereas now it is pretended that they receive not for themselves but for the maintainance of the Church But those who have been so busie to force Celibacy upon the Clergy were forgetful in not prescribing them at the same time a Recipe against Incontinency and which they seem to stand in great need of How vast a number there is of this sort of People may be best judged out of what is related of Pope Paul IV. who used to brag that he had 228000 Parishes and 44000 Monasteries under his Jurisdiction if he did not mistake in his account especially as to the Monasteries The Clergy may again be subdivided into two sorts viz. those who are bare Priests and Ecclesiasticks and those who have engaged themselves by a particular Vow viz. the Monks and Jesuits who are to be esteemed the Pope's pretorian Bands They receive for their pay Honours and Dignities great Revenues a quiet Life without any great Labour and live always near a good Kitchin but those who have addicted themselves to a more strict Order are fed with the vain belief of Holiness great Merits and particular Prerogatives above others § 33. The Pope makes use of this Artifice to keep the Laiety in Obedience that he persuades them to receive and consider his Ecclesiastical Troops as the Chief Promoters of their Salvation and Masters over their Consciences which serves like a Bridle to lead and turn them about according to the Will of the Clergy And that every thing may be accommodated to the Interest of this Spiritual Monarchy several Articles of the Christian Religion have been by degrees stretched or patched up with new Additions and any one that will duly weigh these Matters wherein they differ with their Adversaries will soon find that in those points there is generally a mixture of Interest as to the Authority Power and Revenues of the Clergy Among those in the first place is to be reckoned the Doctrine concerning the Authority and Power of the Pope whereby they pretend to set him above Councils and make
Imperialists but these avoiding to come to a Battel the Campagne was most spent in marching up and down the Country But at the beginning of the next ensuing year Banner had very near surprised the City of Ratisbonne where the Emperour and the Estates of the Empire were then assembled if the Ice which was by which was by a sudden Thaw loosned in the River had not hindred them from laying a Bridge of Boats which design having miscarried Banner resolved to carry the War again into Moravia Silesia and Bohemia But the Weimarian Forces under the Command of the French General having left him thereabouts the Imperialists had so closely beset him that there was no way left to retreat but through the Forest of Bohemia which was done with all expedition having left Colonel Slange with three Regiments of Horse behind who after a brave resistance were all made Prisoners of War but saved the Swedish Army which would else have been in great danger if they had not detained the Imperialists the Swedish Army being arrived but half an hour before them at the Pass of Presswitz where they stopt the Enemies march Not long after dyed the famous Swedish General John Banner whose death caused some dissatisfaction in the Army notwithstanding which they beat the Imperialists near Wolffenbuttel at two several times and Torstenson who was made General being arrived in the Camp directed his march into Silesia where he toook Great Glogau with Sword in Hand and a great many other places the chiefest of which was Sweinitz where he defeated the Imperialists that came to its relief under the Command of Francis Albert Duke of Saxon Lauenburgh who was killed himself and 3000 Horse Afterwards he besieged Brieg but was forced to raise that Siege the Imperialists being superiour in number who also prevented him from marching into Bohemia Wherefore having directed his March towards the Elbe and passed that River at Torgaw he straightways went to besiege the City of Leipzick But the Imperialists under the Command of the Arch Duke and General Piccolomini coming to its relief a bloody Battel was fought in the same Plains near Breitenfeld where King Gustave Adolf before had obtained a signal Victory against the Imperialists In this Battel the Left Wing of the Imperialists having been brought into confusion the Left Wing of the Swedes underwent the same fate but the Swedes Left Wing rallying again and falling in the Flank of the Imperialists Right Wing they put them to the rout 5000 being killed upon the spot and 4500 taken Prisoners The Swedes lost 2000 Men and had a great many wounded After the loss of this Battel Leipzick was soon forced to surrender but Freybergh which was soon after besieged by Torstenson defended it self so well that the Swedes upon the approach of the Imperial General Piccolomini were forced to raise the Siege with the loss of 1500 Men. And the Weirmarian Army under the Command of the French General Gebrian was for the most part ruined by the Bavarians In the mean while Torstenson had received Orders to March with his Army into Holstein the Swedes provoked by a great many injuries having resolved to turn their Arms against Denmark which was executed with great secresie so that the Swedes coming unexpectedly upon the Danes took the greatest part of Holstein beat their Troops in Jutland and Shonen and ruined their Fleet made themselves Masters of the whole Bishoprick of Bremen and the Isle of Bernholm which obliged the Danes to make a disadvantageous Peace with them at Bromsebtoo given to the Swedes Jempteland and Herndalen Gothland and Oesel besides other advantages Torstenson having then made a Truce with the Elector of Saxony marched again into Bohemia where another Battel was fought near Janowitz betwixt the Imperialists and Swedes wherein the first were routed with the loss of 8000 Men one half of whom were killed the rest taken Prisoners The Swedes had 2000 Men killed The Swedes then marched through Bohemia into Moravia and from thence into Austria where having been joined by Ragozi they were in a fair way of making greater progresses if Ragoz who had received satisfaction from the Emperour had not left the Swedish Army and marched Home with his Forces The French also under the Command of Turenne having been again routed by the Bavarians Torstenson marched back into Bohemia who having put his Forces into Winter Quarters near the River of Eger and growing very crazy left the Supreme Command of the Army to Wrangel who finding the Enemy too strong for him thereabouts marched further back into Misnia and from thence towards the Weser But having not long after been joined by Turenne near Gieslen they attacked Augsburgh which being reinforced with 500 Men they were forced to quit the Siege upon the approach of the Imperialists who also retook several places in the Hereditary Countries of the Emperour Not long after Wrangel also made a Truce with the Elector of Bavaria which however lasted not long the said Elector having upon the persuasion of the Emperour broke the same a few months after and joined his Forces with the Imperialists But Wrangel marching early out of his Winter Quarters in conjunction with Turenne pressed so hard upon the Bavarians that they were forced to retire to Saltzburgh leaving a great part of the Country to the discretion of the Allies where these burnt a great many Houses because the Inhabitants refused to pay Contribution About the same time Koningsmark had surprised the Suburbs of Prague where he had got a prodigious Booty in the Imperial Palace and other Noble-Mens Houses which are all built on that side of the River but could not take the City which was defended by 12000 Citizens so that having sent his Forces into their Winter Quarters thereabouts whilst Wrangel was marching into the Vpper Palatinate they received the News of a Peace being concluded at Munster This Peace had been long in agitation before it was brought to perfection the Imperialists having endeavoured after they saw the Swedes recover themselves so bravely after the Battel of Nomingen to persuade them to a separate Peace without including the Protestant Estates in Germany But the Swedes having refused these offers as being neither honourable nor secure seven years were spent in the Preliminaries and these having been adjusted the Treaty it self was begun at Osnabrug and Munster where the Emperours Spanish and Dutch Ambassadours as also those of the most Roman Catholick Estates and the Popes Nuncio were Resident but in the first the Imperial Ambassadours also and those of most of the Protestant Estates were assembled where at last a Peace was concluded by vertue of which Sweden got the Dukedoms of Bremen and Veerden the greatest part of Pomerania the Isle of Rugen and the City of Wismar to hold these Countries in Fief of the Empire with all the Priviledges thereunto belonging and five Millions of Crowns towards the
the Spaniards because they have thereby a convenient Correspondence with the House of Austria As long as Burgundy and the Netherlands were united they might be compared to a Kingdom but now Burgundy is lost the seven united Provinces have separated themselves from the rest of the Netherlands and France has conquered a great part of the remainder And tho' in the Spanish Netherlands there are very fair and strong Cities left yet nevertheless it seems that the greatest benefit which Spain receives from them amounts to this That by them the French Arms are diverted from the other Spanish Territories that they commonly draw the Seat of War thither and serve to take off the edge of the French Fury In the East Indies the Philippine Islands belong to the Spaniards whose Capital City being Manilla was taken by them in the Year 1565 but these Islands are so inconsiderable that it has been often under debate whether it were not most convenient to abandon them Yet some Indian Commodities which from several places and especially from China are brought to Manilla are from thence transported to New-Spain and Mexico whereby there is kept a constant Communication betwixt the Spanish West and East Indies § 19. From what has been said it is evident that Spain is a potent Kingdom which has under its Jurisdiction rich and fair Countries abounding with all Necessaries not only sufficient for the use of its Inhabitants but also affording a great overplus for Exportation The Spaniards also do not want Wisdom in managing their State Affairs nor Valour to carry on a War Nevertheless this vast Kingdom has its Infirmities which have brought it so low that it is scarce able to stand upon its own Legs Among those is to be esteemed one the want of Inhabitants in Spain there being not a sufficient number both to keep in obedience such great Provinces and at the same time to make Head against a potent Enemy which want is not easily to be repaired out of those Countries which are under their subjection since it is the Interest of Spain rather to restrain the Courage of these Inhabitants for fear they should one time or another take Heart and shake off the Spanish Yoak And whenever they raise some Souldier in these Provinces they cannot trust them with the defence of their Native Country but are obliged to disperse them by sending them into other Parts under the Command only of Spaniards Spain therefore is scarce able to raise within it self a sufficient number of Souldiers for the Guard and Defence of its frontier places Wherefore whenever Spain happens to have War with other Nations it is obliged to make use of Foreign Souldiers and to raise those is not only very chargeable but also the King is not so well assured of their Faith as of that of his own Subjects The want of Inhabitants is also one reason why Spain cannot now-a-days keep a considerable Fleet at Sea which nevertheless is extreamly necessary to support the Monarchy of that Kingdom Another weakness is That the Spanish Provinces are mightily dis-joined they being divided by vast Seas and Countries These therefore cannot be maintained and governed without great difficulty for the Governours of the Provinces being remote from the sight of the Prince he cannot take so exact an account of their Actions and the oppressed Subjects want often opportunity to make their Complaints to the King besides that Men and Money are with great charge and danger sent out of Spain into these Provinces without hopes of ever returning into the Kingdom Their Strength cannot be kept together as being obliged to divide their Forces The more disjoined these Provinces are the more frontier Garrisons are to be maintained all which may be saved in a Kingdom whose parts are not so much dis-joined They are also liable to being attack'd in a great many places at once one Province not being able to assist another Besides this America being the Treasury of Spain is parted from it by the vast Ocean whereby their Silver Fleets are subject to the hazard of the Seas and Pyrates And if it happens that such a Fleet is lost the whole Government must needs suffer extreamly by the want of it the Inhabitants of Spain being so exhausted as not to be able to raise sufficient Summs to supply the Publick Necessities The Spaniards are also mighty deficient in regulating their West India Trade which is so ill managed that the greatest part of those Riches are conveyed to other Nations whereby they are empoured to chastise Spain with its own Money After the death of Philip II. it has also proved very prejudicial to Spain that by the carelessness of the succeeding Kings and during the long Minority of this present the Nobles have so increased their Power that they are now very backward in duely assisting the King and by impoverishing the King and Commonalty have got all the Riches to themselves It is also a common Disease in all Governments where the Popish Religion has got the upper hand That the Popish Clergy is very rich and potent and yet pretends by a Divine Right to be exempted from all publick burdens except that some of them in the utmost extremity vouchsafe to contribute some small portion for the defence of the whole but that not without consent of the Pope Yet the King of Spain has that Prerogative which he obtained from Pope Hadrian IV. that he has the disposal of all the chief Church Benefices in his Kingdom and he is also Head and Master of all the Ecclesiastical Orders of Knighthood in Spain And because the Kings of Spain have hitherto pretended to be the most zealous Protectours of the Papal Chair and Religion they have thereby so obliged the Zealots of the Roman Catholick Religion and especially the Jesuits that these have always been endeavouring to promote the Interest of Spain § 20. Lastly It is also worth our observation how Spain does behave it self in relation to its Neighbours and what Good or Evil it may again expect from them Spain therefore is opposite to the Coast of Barbary having also several Forts on that side viz. Pegnon de Velez Oran Arzilla and would be better if they had also Algiers and Tunis From hence Spain need not fear any thing now since it has quite freed it self from the very Remnants of the Moors But the Pyracies committted by those Corsaires is not so hurtfull to Spain as to other Nations who traffique with Spain Italy or Turky for the Spaniards seldom export their own Commodities into the other parts of Europe but these are exported by other Nations The Turks seem to be pretty near to the Islands of Sicily and Sardinia and to the Kingdom of Naples Yet are they not much feared by the Spaniards the Sea which lies betwixt them being an obstacle against making a Descent with a considerable Army in any of those Parts and if an Army should
be landed its Provisions which must come by Sea might easily be cut off For in such a case all the States of Italy would be obliged to side with the Spaniards to keep this cruel Enemy from their Borders and their Naval Strength joined together much surpasses the Turks in every respect From the Italian States the Spaniards have little to fear it being a maxim with them to preserve the Peace of Italy thereby to take away all opportunity from France to get a footing in Italy which is also a general maxim among all the States of Italy Nevertheless this is most certain That if Spain should endeavour to encroach upon the rest of the Italian States they would unanimously oppose it and if they should find themselves too weak to oppose their Designs they might be easily wrought upon to call France to their aid The Pope perhaps might be willing enough to be Master of the Kingdom of Naples Spain holding the same in Fief of the Papal Chair and thereby the Popes might have a fresh opportunity to enrich their Kindred But the Pope wants Power to execute such a Design and the rest of the States of Italy would not be forward to see so considerable a Country added to the Ecclesiastical State and the Pope's Kindred are more for gathering of Riches out of the present Ecclesiastical Revenues than to bestow the same upon an uncertain War On the other side Spain having found it very beneficial for its Interest to pretend to the chief Protectorship of the Roman Religion and that the Pope's good or bad Inclinations towards it may either prove advantageous or disadvantageous Spain has always endeavoured by all means to keep fair with the Popes France on the contrary having taken part with the Protestants whom Spain and the House of Austria have sought to oppress has demonstrated sufficiently to the Roman Court that it is not so fond of that Religion as to neglect an opportunity to enrich himself with the Possessions of the Protestants and to make way for attaining to the so long projected Design of the Universal Monarchy which done he might easily make the Pope his Chaplain Wherefore the chief aim of the wisest Popes has been to keep the Power of Spain and France in an equal Balance this being the most proper method to keep up the Authority and provide for the Security of the Popedom It being the principal maxim of the Venetians to reserve their Liberty and State by maintaining the Peace of Italy Spain has no reason to be jealous of them as long as it undertakes nothing against them It is also the Interest as well of them as of all the other Italian States that the Spaniards remain in possession of Milan for fear if France should become Master of this Dukedom it might thereby be put in a way to conquer all the rest of Italy On the other side if Spain should shew the least Inclination to undertake any thing against the Liberty of Italy it cannot expect but that the Venetians if not by an open War at least by their Counsels and Money would oppose it For the rest this State endeavours to remain Neuter betwixt France and Spain and to keep fair with both of them as long as they do not act against their Interest Genoua is of great consequence to the Spaniards from which depends in a great measure the Security and Preservation of the Milaneze Wherefore when Charles V. could not effect his Intention of building a Castle being opposed therein by Andreas Doria whereby he intended to make the Genoueses dance after his Pipe the Spaniards found out another way to make them dependent on their Interest by borrowing vast Summs of Money from the Genoueses upon the security of the King's Revenues in Spain Besides this they are possess'd of the Harbour of Final on the Coast of Genoua whereby they have taken away the power from them of cutting off the Correspondency betwixt Spain and Milan Spain has great reason to give in a good Correspondency with Savoy for if that Prince should side with France against it the Milaneze would be in eminent danger of being lost But because it would be very pernicious for Savoy if the King of France should become Master of Milan since Savoy would be then surrounded on all sides by the French it is easie for Spain to maintain a good Correspondency with Savoy Florence and the rest of the Italian Princes have all the reason to be cautious how to offend Spain yet as much as in them lies they would scarce suffer Spain to encroach upon any of them It is also of consequence to the Spaniards to live in friendship with the Suiss partly because they must make use of such Souldiers as are listed among them partly because they may be very serviceable in preserving the Milaneze and their Friendship is best preserved by Money But because the Suiss are of several Religions Spain is in greater Authority with the Roman Catholick Cantons but France with the Protestant Cantons which being the most potent yet have either cajolled by fair Words or Money or out of Fear conniv'd at the Frenches becoming Masters of the County of Burgundy in the last War whereas formerly they used to take effectual care for its preservation The Hollanders were before the Peace of Munster the most pernicious Enemies to Spain but since the Conclusion of that Peace there is no cause that Spain should fear any thing from them since I do not see any reason why these should attack Spain or endeavour to take any thing from them having enough to do to maintain what they have already got And if they should be tempted to attempt any thing against the West Indies they would not only meet with great resistance from the Spaniards there but also France and England would not easily suffer that both the East and West Indies the two Fountains from whence such vast Riches are derived should be in possession of the Dutch And the Dutch as for their own Interests obliged to take care that France by swallowing up the rest of the Netherlands may not become their next Neighbour on the Land or that it should obtain any considerable advantage against Spain The Power of Germany Spain may consider as its own as far as the same depends on the House of Austria And it is not long ago since the States of Germany were persuaded to take upon them afresh the Guaranty of the Circle of Burgundy whereby Spain hoped to have united its Interest with that of the German Empire against France since whenever a War happens betwixt these two Crowns it is scarce possible that this Circle should escape untouch'd it being the most convenient place where they may attack one another with vigour England is capable of doing most damage to the Spaniards at Sea and especially in the West Indies But England in all likelyhood would be no great