the overgrowing authority of Popes who not content to have robb'd the Emperor of his right to nominate or at least to confirm those Soveraine Prelates have taken from him the power of nominating to the Ecclesiastical dignities of Germany And they did also oblige him to come and take his Imperial Crown at their hands but no Emperor hath been crowned at Rome since Charles V. P. I would gladly know how the Popes have so much lessened the Imperial Majesty G. The Emperor Constantine the Great having removed the seat of the Empire to Constantinople the Roman Bishops began to have more Elbow-room and laying the foundation of their greatness as well upon the distance of the Emperors Residence as upon the piety of Princes and the respect given unto them they took upon them the name of Universal Bishop which their Predecessors never thought of but with horror and detestation Nevertheless the Lombards kept the Popes in awe and vexeâ— them often till the time of Pepin and Charlemagne who undertook their protection and enriched them with the estate of those troublesoâ—â— Kings The Pope willing to acknowledge these good turns did Homage to those Princes for the Territories of Ravenna and Pentapolis of Romagnia which Pepin had liberally bestowe upon him obliged his Successors to the samâ— duty agreeing that those Princes and their Heirs should have the Right and Prerogative of choosing Popes Those two Kings madâ— use of that right but after the death of Charles the most potent of the Clergy fearing they might not have interest enough in the Emperors Court got themselves chosen at Rome and afterwards came with an excuse that they were not able to hinder their election and therefore besought Lewis the Debonaire to confirm them which he did for fear of disobliging them P. Did this submission of the Popes continue long G. No but a short time for pope Nicolas I. of that name being better seen in State-matters then his predecessors disengaged himself of that duty and using the Thunder of the Vatican in a right season excommunicated Lotharius brother to Lewis King of Italy and gave so much courage to his Successors that in a short time they took the boldness to pretend to the election of the Emperors to degrade them and to set up another instead of any one that had the misfortune to displease them P. Did not the Emperors withstand those violences G. All that had any resolution resisted that injustice past over the Alpes and forced the Popes to keep themselves within their duty but as Princes are oftentimes some more unfortunate or less couragious then others at length Gregory VII Vrban II. and many other Popes trampled the Majesty of the Emperors under their feet thunder'd and decreed against them in their Councils depriv'd them of their Right and brought them by force to go and take the Imperial Crown at their hands saying there was as much difference betwixt Popes and Emperors as there is betwixt the Sun and the Moon intending to infer from thence that as the latter of those two planets hath no light but what is communicated to it by the Sun so the Emperor had no other glory nor power nor Majesty but what the Pope bestowed upon him But since Charles V. his time no Emperor hath been Crowned by the hands of the Pope and it seems that the House of Austria hath recovered that to the Empire which the unhappiness of forme times had rent from it P. It was a great unhappiness indeed that our Forefathers gave so much way and parted with so much of their Right to the Popes But you do also confess that his Majesty cannot give any Right of suffrage in the Assemblie of the Empire unto those persons whom he raises to the dignity of Prince without the consent of the States first obtained G No man having voice or seat in the Diets but he that is entred in the Registe or Matriculation-Roll of the Empire which remains in the custody of the Elector of Mentz it follows necessarily that no maâ— can be admitted to sit there without the knowledge and allowance of that Elector P. That which you tell me doth in some some sort derogate from the Majesty of the Emperor who in that respect seems less absolute then the Kings of France and Spain for they can give the titles of Duke and Grande to whom they please and endue new men with the priviledges of the ancientest Lords of that Order without pre-acquainting them with it G. Those that the King of France raises to the dignity of Duke must have their Patent verified in the Pariament of Paris before they can take their place there and though this were not so we should only be bound to confess that the Emperors have used more favour toward the principal Members of the Empire then the Kings of France do toward their Peers or those of Spain toward their Grandes But for all that neither of those Kings though great and potent is so eminent as the Emperor except in this regard that both of them have no Superior nor any equal within their Dominions P. Hath the Emperor any more illustrious marks of Soverainty then those Kings who give no man an account of their edicts but in these terms For such is Our pleasure G. Those Kings are great and as it were Emperors upon their own Territories and make Lawes create Magistrates Lords and Gentlemen as many as they please but neither they nor any other person in the World equals the Emperor who by a plenitude of power creates Kings and hath a Right to hinder any other Potentate from attempting to do the like P. The Emperor doth often erect Lands into Baronies Earldoms and Dukedoms nay he makes Barons Counts and Dukes without giving them any land But I have never heard it affirmed that he had the power to erect Principalities into Kingdoms G. The Emperor Otho III. made Poland a Kingdom of a Dukedom in the year 1001. Henry IV. did the like for Bohemia in the year 1086. and Charles the Brave Duke of Burgundy desired the Emperor Frederick III. to give him the title of King but could not obtain it All which things do without question elevate the Emperor above all the Monarchs of the Universe and make it evident that the Imperial dignity is the most eminent upon earth P. I believe as you do that no King assumes the authority to erect Principalities into Kingdoms and that our Emperor in that point hath no equal in the world but you have not yet proved that he hath the power of hindring others from giving those eminent titles G. The Pope sayes he hath the same Prerogative but Pius V. having given the title of great Duke of Tuscany to Cosmo de Medicis in the year 1569. the Emperor Maximilian II. opposed it and made Cosmo receive it from him And by that action the Pope was obliged to confess that he had exceeded and transgressed the bounds of his power
powerful and what are its priviledges After that he discourses of the Palatine Saxon and Brandenbourg Houses and sayes all that the curious can desire to know about them IV. V. Dialogues In these two Dialogues he treats of all the Secular Princes of the Empire and of every House in particular assuring the curious they shall there find wherewithal to satisfie themselves in their search after the antiquity descendancies rights rank titles alliances and Branches of the Houses of Brunswick Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse Baden Holstein Saxon-Lawembourg Anhalt Hohenzolleren Aremberg Henneberg and East Friseland in like manner as they saw the greatness of the Electoral Houses in the preceding Dialogues And all along where occasion offers any Political question he resolves it briefly not forgetting the praises of men of merit of Vniversities and of Colledges which are very many in Germany And because it is almost impossible but there should be some jealousie hatred or envy between so many Houses of equal condition he layes down the causes thereof and shows how those that precede by turns take their place and how many voices they have in the Diets of the Empire who ought to inherit those Houses in case they come to be totally extinguished in what Houses there is right of Primogeniture and what Religion they profess VI. Dialogue This Dialogue will give you a perfect knowledge of the Ecclesiastical Princes of Germany wherein he shows how many there were in former times and how many there are now as well Bishops Abbots Abbesses as other Ecclesiastical Prelates How many Orders of Knighthood what power they have and what observance they are under And because ordinarily some Churchman is Director of the Circles of the Empire he speaks of the Directors of all the Circles then he discourses of every Bishoprick in particular And afterwards he passes to the Abbots and to the original of the Teutonique Knights how they became so potent and how they have lost those great Provinces they had acquired After that he shows how the Prelates are become so rich how they obtain their Dignities which he makes appear not to be after the same manner now as anciently VII Dialogue Here he speaks of the Counts and Barons of the Empire and the word Count called Graff in Dutch gives occasion to enquire into the origin of Palsgrave Margrave Landgrave and Burgrave and to know how many there be when and how they became great from whence the title of Archduke came and whether the dignity of a Duke was alwayes more illustrious then that of a Count He proves that there are several sorts of Dukes and Counts and confutes the opinion of those that hold an Emperor should have four Kings under him a King four Dukes a Duke four Counts a Count four Barons and a Baron four Castellans The Counts were anciently no more then Iudges and he shows how and at what time they got the inheritance and became Lords of their Counties At present those of the Empire have place and voice in the Diets are almost equal to the Princes and many of them coyn money He speaks of the Houses of Nassau Hohenzolleren Furstemberg and of many others in particular and then he passes to the Barons who differ not from the Counts but in name and sets down a Catalogue of them Then having distinguished them from those which the Emperor creates in his Hereditary Provinces he ends this Dialogue with a touch upon the new Barons who would have the same title that the old ones have VIII Dialogue Here will be seen the difference between a Knight and a Gentleman and between Knights among themselves There are four kinds of them in Germany where the Gentlemen are separated from the Body of the Lords and are not admitted into the Estates of the Empire though many of them hold immediately of the Emperor and they are those onely of Swaben Franconia the Rhine and Lower Alsatia who observe a kind of Aristocratical Republique among themselves whereof he speaks at large as also of their Order and their priviledges Then he passes to the Gentlemen Subjects and because they prove their antiquity by the Turnaments wherein they appeared as Parties he speaks of Turnaments and the Laws therein observed heretofore and at what time and by whom they were brought into Germany by whom called together and in what place From whence he takes occasion to discourse of the Citties their beginning their beauty their priviledges and their incredible power Then he tells what each Imperial City hath most considerable and how they preserve their liberty IX Dialogue In this Dialogue he speaks of the Vniversities of Germany of their foundation their number and their usefulness Then he passes to the administration of Justice and showes how it was administred in the time of the first Emperors and how it is at this present at what time the Parliament or Chamber of Soverain Iustice was made sedentary of how many persons it is composed of what quality they ought to be and of what matters they take cognizance After that he discourses at large of the Diets of him that hath the power to call them together after what manner he doth it who are the persons that he calls thither who they be that ought to come when and whither they are to be summoned and of the rank which the Electors Princes Lords and Cities hold when the Emperor presides there how suffrages are given and lastly in what manner Conclusions are resolved on with all that can be desired upon this subject X. Dialogue Here is an abridgement of the last Wars of Germany which showes in what condition the Empire was when the Peace was concluded where may be seen the Confederates of both Parties and the Battels and Encounters of Armies briefly set down with the advantage which each Party had therein After which the Peace was made where he speaks of the satisfaction which the Confederates obtained and of the Troops that remain in Germany still Then he adds a word of the Golden Bull which contains the fundamental Laws of the Empire The State OF THE EMPIRE OR An Abridgement of the Government OF GERMANY Cast into Dialogues for the easier accommodation of a young Prince who was instructed therein by his Governor Dialogue the First That it is requisite for German Princes to travel and to learn the French and Italian Languages and the State of the Empire P. HAving already suckt in the milk of piety and learnt that a Christian Prince ought evermore to have before his eyes the fear of God the salvation of his Soul the good of his Subjects and the honor of his House I feel my self touched with an emulous desire to equal my ancestors and to that purpose I would willingly joyn Political and Military knowledge with moral and Christian vertues But considering that life is short and that I must know many things to attain the end I aim at I should lose all hope of being able to
the Marquis of Brandenbourg and his Successors or rather to Anne only Niece to the said Mary Eleonor excluding Magdalen wife to John Duke of Deux-ponts and Sibyll Marchioness of Burgon her sisters daughters to William and sisters to John William the last of that Family Duke of Juliers and Cleve who received the same priviledge from the Emperor Charles V. in the year 1546. P. It is then the inheritance of John William Duke of Juliers which served for a pretense to the vast preparation that Henry IV. King of France made when he was unfortunately assassinated which hath already occasioned some misunderstandings between the Houses of Brandenbourg and Newbourg and which may yet cause greater But let us leave these intricacies to be disentangled by those that are concerned and take a further view of the immunities priviledges and Alliances of the House of Brandenbourg G. The Golden Bull which hath in all things been exceeding liberal and free of the graces of the Empire towards the Electors grants them all in general and every one in particular Soverain Justice Some say that these Electors not regarding this priviledge so much as they ought carelesly lost it and having been depriv'd of it may years at last the Elector Joachim Frederick got himself repossessed of this Right by the Emperor Rodâ—â—ph II. For my part I am of another opinion and think with the greater number of Writers that they alwayes preserved and enjoyed it As for the order of place observed in Assemblies this Elector is the last but one since the creation of the eighth Electorship We have already said that he hath many voices and the younger brethren of his House to wit the Marquisses of Culembach and of Anspach have each of them one but no right to give a definitive judgement in their Subjects causes if the sum exceed 400. Florins of the Rhine P. I would gladly know whether there be many Princes of this House G. At the time I now write there are three married and three children The Elector Frederick William son to George William and Elizabeth Charlotta Princess Electoral Palatine after long hopes of marrying the matchless Christina Queen of Sweden who hath since declared that she will dy a Maid was married December 7. 1646. to Loâ—yse of Nassau daughter to the great Town-taker Frederick Henry Prince of Orange by whom he hath a son called Charles Amelius who was born February 2. 1655. and another named N. N. born 1657. The Electoral Branch doth at this time consist of these three Princes The Marquisses of Culembach and Barheit are Christian Ernest son to Herman Augustus and Sophia daughter to Joachim Ernest also Marquiss of Brandenbourg This young Prince was born July 27. 1644. and George Albert his Unkle born in 1619. married Mary Elizabeth daughter to Philip Duke of Holstein in the year 1651. The third Branch which resides at Anspach hath been long in fear of ending without issue Male there being none but Albert son to Joachim Ernest and to Sophia Countess of Solmes who in her â—ife time had but few her equals in vertue and beauty This Prince endued with piety as well as magnanimity was born September 28. 1620. and in 1642. married Henrietta Loüyse daughter to Lewis Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg by whom he had only two daughters But that Princess being gone to receive in Heaven the Crown which her vertues merited upon earth this Lord hath taken for his second wise Sophia Margaret daughter to Joachim Ernest Count of Ottinguen And by this Lady who is a Phenix in beauty courage and liberality he had a son October 8. 1655. and is at this time in hopes of having many more Which I wish he may and pray God that imitating their Ancestors they may be as so many German Achilles and Alcibiades P. Have these Princes any good Forts full Magazins and wherewithal to bring Armies into the field G. The Elector hath at this present very considerable forces in Prussia where he takes part with the King of Sweden and he is of so high esteem by the means he hath to help and to harm that he is courted on all hands His Forts are exceeding well maintained and as well provided Custrin hath never been taken Pillaw and Memel make him redoubted in Prussia Colberg in Pomerania Drisen in the Mark and Landsperg upon the Vard His Cousins of Culembach and Anspach have their sure retreats at Blassembourg and Melspourg And forasmuch as Princes strike their enemies more smartly with the head then with the hand the Elector and the Marquis of Anspach are as much to be feared for their prudence as for their valour The end of the third Dialogue Dialogue IIII. Of the Secular Princes of the Empire P. If you be so particular in describing the Origin progress and Alliances of the Princes as you have been in those of the Electors it will be long before we get out of Germany G. The desire I have to see you speedily comprehend the manners strength and Laws of other well governed Nations in Europe will quicken me to pass as lightly as may be over the consideration of the Princes of the Empire We must nevertheless speak of all those that have place in the Assemblies P. I am content you should do so but your undertaking will carry you out of Germany or into a tedions repetition for the King of Sweden the Elector of Brandenbourg and many Princes of his and other Electoral Houses whereof you have already made mention are in the number of those who have place in the Diets of the Empire G. Having elsewhere said that this King and some younger brethren of Electoral Houses have voices in the general Assemblies I shall not repeat it here and shall speak of the Duke of Lorraine in another place because his Estate is at present in the most Christian Kings hands P. By that means you will very much shorten this discourse and yet not lose the opportunity of entertaining me with the commemoration of that House wherein Valour Affability and modesty seem to be natural G. Since there is nothing more dear to me then to give you content I shall willingly omit all other matters to discourse upon the Houses of Brunswick Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse Baden Holstein Saxon-Lawembourg Anhalt Hohenzolleren Aremberg Henneberg and Eastfriseland And having considered them one after another I will pass to the Ecclesiastical Princes the Prelates the Counts and the Barons But before I enter upon this Theme I beseech you to consider that the King of Sweden being a Member of the Empire may very much contribute to the preservation of its Liberty and the maintenance of the Protestant Religion P. The French accuse the Spaniards for aiming at the Universal Monarchy and on the other side the Spaniards say that the French seek for an opportunity to seize upon the Empire If it were so methinks the King of Sweden might disappoint the designs of those Monarchs G. All Princes know that
of Brandenbourg and widow to Christopher the last King of Denmark That Prince having Reigned happily 33. years in Denmark 32. in Norway and 25. in Sweden dyed afterwards A. D. 1482. leaving two sons who succeeded him in this manner John his eldest was King of those three Kingdoms after his Father and gave his brother Frederick the moyety of his Hereditary lands Then having reigned peaceably he dyed A. D. 1513. leaving his son Christian II. to be his Successor That Prince was born A. D. 1481. and married Isabel sister to the Emperor Charles V. by whom he had Dorothy Electoress of Brandenbourg Christina Dutchess of Milan and afterwards of Lorraine and John who dyed bearing arms under the Emperor Charles his Unkle by the Mothers side in the year 1532. Christiern otherwise Christian II. forsook the way of his Father and Grandfather and became so cruel a Tyrant that the Swedes drove him out of their Countrey and placed upon the Throne Gustavus Vasc son to Erick a Swedish Knight A. D. 1523. And nine years after the Danes cast him in prison where he ended his dayes in five more P. Men seem to be of a worse condition then beasts inasmuch as Eagles do not ingender pigeons nor Lions Stags yet Heroical persons rarely beget their like The greatest men are subject to the misfortune of seeing their children unworthy to succeed them But what came to pass after the imprisonment of Christiern G. We will speak in another place of what followed in Sweden In Denmark the Nobility had an honourable memory and high esteem of the virtues of Christian I. and of Iohn wherefore instead of the Tyrant who was prisoner at Sunderbourg they placed Frederick his Unkle by the Fathers side upon the Throne who was very aged and yet he introduced the Doctrine of Luther into Denmark and his own hereditary Principalities That Frederick was the first Duke of Holstein which is held in Fee of the Empire as Schleswick is of Denmark but neither he nor his son Christian III. durst send any body to the Diets fearing they should be but ill used for having assumed the place of a brother-in-law to two Emperors P. It may be those Princes not daring to send their Deputies to the Diets lost the Rank they held there G. Frederick I. of that name King of Denmark was Duke of Holstein before he came to the Crown yet I cannot tell whether he had taken place in the Assemblies of the Empire But to pursue the discourse we have begun that Prince left two sons the elder of whom was King after him by the name of Christian III. and Adolph his younger son Duke of Holstein They had both children from whom all the Princes of this House are descended For Christian was Father to King Frederick II. and to Iohn the younger and Adolph to Iohn Adolph and to Frederick Archbishop of Bremen and Bishop of Lubeck P. I pray draw out this Genealogy a little more at length G. Frederick II. husband to Sophia daughter to Vlrick Duke of Meklebourg had one son and four daughters very worthy of your knowledge For as much as Elizabeth the eldest was married to Henry Iulius Duke of Brunswick Anne to Iames VI. King of Scotland who afterwards got all Great Britain by the death and Testament of Elizabeth Queen of England Augusta to Iohn Adolph Duke of Holstein and Hedwig to Christian II. Elector of Saxony His Son and Successor to the Crown was Christian IV. a great King both in time of peace and war That Prince who admiring the worth of Henry the Great King of France made him his pattern in every thing and had at the least as many sons as he as well Legitimate as Natural But there remains no more of the lawfully begotten then his Successor Frederick III. who hath already many children and may have more P. This King is esteemed throughout all Europe for a knowing Prince and one that sets a value upon good men Let us see the Descendents of Iohn the younger G. That Prince was even goodness it self and God blessed him exceedingly for he had 23. children by Elizabeth Dutchess of Brunswick and Agnes Hedwig Princess of Anhalt his wives Two of those Princes dyed in Hungary one at the illustrious Colledge of Tubing two departed in their infancy and four lived to be married who are fathers of many Lords either residing at Sunderbourg Nortbourg Glugsbourg and Plone or else seeking their fortune in the Wars The daughters were thus married the eldest to a Duke of Lignitz three of the youngest to three Dukes of Pomerania Anne Sabina to a Duke of Wirtemberg Eleonor Sophia to a Prince of Anhalt and Margaret to John Count of Nassau The rest dyed in their Cradle except Eleonor who is still unmarried and leads an exemplary life she is 67. years old yet very lovely for her age and worthy to be visited by Kings for she hath a marvellous way of entertaining those Princes and Ladies that do her the honour to see her And I can assure you I never saw better sweet-meats served any where then at her house nor strangers received with greater civility P. Tell me I pray a little more particularly who are the Descendents of John the younger brother to King Frederick II. G. Alexander his eldest son had six sons whereof the eldest married a Countess of Delmenhorst and at his death left one son and two daughters by her Frederick Philip and Joachim Ernest brethren to Alexander are yet living the first hath three sons and as many daughters the second hath but two sons alive five Princesses married and one to marry the third hath four Princes two whereof have command in the King of Spains service and three Princesses still maids all beautiful and witty and brought up in the School of a Father inferior to none in the Empire for prudence and of a Mother that hath but few equals in all kind of vertues P. Do not forget the Descendents of Adolph younger brother to Christian III. of that name G. Adolph had many sons that dyed young one that was Archbishop of Bremen and John Adolph his eldest married Augusta daughter to Frederick II. King of Denmark These two had issue John Bishop of Lubeck a comely and liberal Prince who dying left his son John Augustus still very young but pretty and exceeding hopeful Frederick this Bishops elder brother hath the moyety of the Dutchies of Schleswick Holstein Stormar and Dithmarsh and takes turns with the King of Denmark in the administration of Justice in having place and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire and in all other Rights of Regality This Prince great in knowledge and magnanimity hath for a partner in his bed and felicity Mary Elizabeth daughter to John George Elector of Saxony by whom he hath still living three sons and five daughters four whereof are married to John Prince of Anhalt Gustavus Adolph Duke of Meklebourg Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt and Charles Gustavus
King of Sweden And all these Princesses have children P. If promises be debts you are bound to tell me to whom the other Princesses of this House are married G. Elizabeth Juliana daughter to Frederick who resides at Nortbourg married Antony Vlrick Duke of Brunswick A. D. 1656. Her Cousins daughters to Philip are thus married Mary Elizabeth to George Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg Augusta to Ernest Gunther Duke of Holstein Christina to Christian Duke of Saxony and Dorothy to Christian Lewis Duke of Lunebourg Hedwig is still to marry and Sophia Hedwig dyed after she had born two children to her husband Maurice Duke of Saxony P. Doth the whole Countrey of Schleswick Holstein and their appurtenances yield a great Revenue G. All these Dutchies together make up above 7000. Crowns of yearly Rent I would in good manners adde one Cypher more and make it 70000 lest the Estates of many private English Gentlemen should exceed the Revenue of these Dutchies And although a great part of the Countrey be taken up in Lakes and Forests yet it abounds with all things by reason of the Ocean and Baltick Seas that make many Harbors there There come out of Jutland above 12000. head of Cattle every year and a great number of Horses which are to be brought into the Castle of Gottorf and if his Highness will have any of them he may take them at 18. Rix-dollars a piece The Dutchy of Holstein contains 8000. Ploughs and yet it contributes no more then the City of Lubeck to the necessities of the Empire The peasants there are slaves and the Nobility rich ambitious and valiant as much as any in Europe P. I have heard you say you have drunk so good Spanish Wine at Gottorf Plone Redwisch and Eutin that I am perswaded the remembrance thereof hath made you stay so long in Holstein Yet you must come from thence and see whether the Romeldenph of Ratzebourg and the Beer of Zerbst will be able to keep you at the houses of the Dukes of Saxony and the Princes of Anhalt G. If you would give me leave to entertain you at large about the generosity of the Princes of Holstein we would speak of the horses rings and other gentile presents that were offered me at Gottorf Plone Redwisch and Eutin but since we must pass into the Dutchy of Lawembourg and into the Principality of Anhalt I shall tell you that the Duke Augustus and the Prince Christian have by their favours sufficiently obliged me to be a particular servant to their House which hath at the same time afforded Electors both of Saxony and Brandenbourg P. I shall be glad to know when and how those Princes got and lost those Electorships with the antiquity of their Houses their Titles their Alliances their Religion the number of the Branches whereinto they are divided and other things that you shall judge requisite for my instruction G. No man denies but that these Houses sprung out of one and the same root and that they are reckoned amongst the ancientest in Christendom but I hold it a vanity to enquire for a descent from Father to Son ever since Adams time to ours because the Ancients were more studious to deserve an immortal glory then to seek for Writers to transmit the same to posterity The Author of the Genealogical Tables which the Prince Augustus gave me at Pleskau in the year 1650. Affirms that these Princes were Kings Dukes and Generals of the Saxons even before the coming of Christ and sets down for Head of this Family Berenthobald who in the quality of King led the Saxons to the War against Hermanford King of Thuringia A. D. 524. Limneus goes higher saying they come from Ascana son to Gomer Nephew to Iaphet Noahs son However it be this House is extremely ancient it being above 1000. years since Berenthobald II. and III. were Generals of the Saxons against Clovis II. and Dagobert Kings of France and since Clovis III. King of France married Batildis daughter to Beranger a Princess of this House All which things make it evident that this Family was come to full growth before many very noble ones were produced P. Seeing those Princes were Kings or Dukes of the Saxons how comes it to pass that they kept not that Dignity G. Those titles were not always Hereditary Anciently the Saxons and many other people chose a Duke or a King when they stood in need of one for the War otherwise their State was Aristocratical and Dignities descended not to their heirs In the days of Charlemagne Witikind Head of the Saxons had Aribo Beranger his Son or Brother-in-law for his Lieutenant General And when they were vanquished by the valour of Charles and reconciled to him by the mediation of Henry Count of Henneberg Charlemagne honored Witikind with the quality of Duke and Aribo Beranger with that of Count of Ascania Ballenstet and Hircinia to them and their posterity When they were dead the Descendents of that House became Christians and the Emperor was Godfather to Charles Father to Poppo who took to wife Syndovine daughter to Lewis the Debonaire Emperor and King of France from whom all the princes of this House are propagated P. This indeed is a great alliance but tell me how they came to be Dukes of Saxony and Marquisses of Brandenbourg G. Otho the Great Count of Ascania Ballenstet and Wolpe having married Hileta daughter to Magnus Duke of Saxony had by her Albertus Vrsus who by the favour of the Emperor Conrade III. was made Marquiss and Elector of Brandenbourg the House of Stade being extinguished which had enjoyed that Marquisate a long time A little after Henry Leo Duke of Saxony and Brunswick having disobliged the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was degraded from his Dignity and the same given to Bernard son to Albertus Vrsus in the Diet of Wirsbourg 1169. which dignity continued in his Family till the year 1423. as that of Marquiss of Brandenbourg did till 1417. P. Do not Princes offend against the maximes of true Politicks when they make their Subjects too great G. Theodosius Duke of Bragansa and the richest Lord in Portugal being dissatisfied with Philip III. his Soverain because he would not suffer the Duke to walk equal by his side absented himself from Court and the Kings servants foreseeing what danger there might be to let a person go away discontented that had so great an estate and authority in a Kingdom full of bad humours entreated his Majesty to satisfie him before he returned from Castile The King commanded he should be brought to him the Duke came and being at Court the King with an extraordinary sweetness said to him Pedid duque Ask what you would have my Lord the Duke whose heart was swelled up with his riches answered Senor los mayores de vnestra Majestad que tanbien han sido los mios hizierontantas mercedes a mi casa que no me queda nada que pedir Sir your Majesties Ancestors who were mine
same opinion but the contrary is often seen in Germany as well as elsewhere Passau and Strasbourg are in the hands of the Archduke Leopold William who is no Priest but administers them by Vicars General Eichsted is a Member of the Circle of Franconia the Bishoprick was founded by Willibald son to Richard King of England who dyed Iuly 7. A. D. 781. This Prelate is one of the most considerable for power in the Empire whether you look upon his Revenue or the Lords and Gentlemen that depend on him Neither he nor the Bishop of Wirsbourg are Directors of the said Circle but the Bishop of Bamberg when the Circle is assembled about Ecclesiastical affairs and the Marquis of Culembach when it is called together about matters purely Secular P. You make a distinction here which is not used in other places for the Bishop of Constance and the Duke of Wirtemberg are Directors of the Circle of Swaben and preside in the Assemblies whether the business under debate be Ecclesiastical or no. G. Most of the Circles have one Ecclesiastical and one Secular Director who call Assemblies together and preside therein without distinction of the matters to be treated on In the Electoral Circle the Electors of Mentz and the Palatine have that right in that of the Rhine the Bishop of Wormes and the Palatine of Simeren in whose room the Landgrave of Darmstadt was substituted during the last war In the Circle of the Upper Saxony that Elector alone hath the presidence of the Assembly in that of the Lower the Archbishop of Magdebourg and the Duke of Brunswick had formerly that right but now the King of Sweden as Duke of Bremen takes turns with that Archbishop without prejudice to the Con-direction of the Duke of Brunswick In the Circle of Westphalia the Bishop of Munster and the Duke of Iuliers have that right in that of Swaben the Bishop of Constance and the Duke of Wirtemberg In the Circle of Bavaria the Archbishop of Saltzbourg and that Duke are Presidents in that of Franconia there having been a great difference between the Bishop of Bamberg and the Marquis of Brandenbourg residing at Culembach it was resolved â—hat if matters purely Ecclesiastical be the occaâ—â—on of assembling the Circle the Bishop of Bamberg alone should have power to convoke it and then he presides there without controul but when the Province is to be called together upon business purely Political the Marquis of Culembach hath the sole right to do it and to preside in the Assembly And this agreement is punctually observed P. Though we be run into another Theam I am glad I have learnt who are the Heads and Directors of the Circles of the Empire And if it be not troublesom to you do me the favour to tell me who presides in the Circles of Austria and Burgundy and then continue your discourse of the Bishopricks G. The Princes of the House of Austria having exalted themselves to a degree above admitting any Peer will have no Companion in the Direction of their Circles and so the Archdukes alone are Directors of the Circle of Austria and the King of Spain of that of Burgundy This Prince since the war he had with the Hollanders hath sent no more Deputies as Charles V. promised to do when the Low Countreys were put under the protection of the Empire Now to pursue our discourse concerning the Bishopricks you shall take notice before we go forward that four Protestant Princes have Canonryes at Strasbourg to wit the Dukes of Brunswick Meklebourg and Wirtemberg and the Marquis of Dourlach P. I am informed that those Benefices are but little worth G. Those Princes value the Canonryes more because upon that account they are Members of the Chapter of Strasbourg then for the Revenue they yield which in truth is hardly sufficient to maintain a servant Augsbourg is famous throughout the World for the beauty of the City for the great number of Goldsmiths and other Artisans that make a thousand curiosities and because in the year 1530. the Protestant Princes did there present their Confession of Faith to the Emperor Charles V. Constance is known throughout all Christendom by reason of the Council held there by order whereof John Hus and Hierome of Prague were burnt without any respect had to the Safe-Conduct of the Emperor Sigismond P. They say Catholiques believe that faith ought not to be kept with Heretiques G. The most rational Catholiques abhor that maxime which if allowed destroyes Commerce ruines Treaties foments Wars sowes Discord quenches Charity and disannuls Religion A Prince should esteem nothing more precious then his word nothing more venerable then his faith nor more sacred then his promise King Francis I. said that if faith were utterly vanisht out of the World it should be found in his word And Charles V. having given his to Doctor Luther observed it religiously It is true indeed that the Spaniards not willing that Luthers Reformation should be charged upon that incomparable Emperor say that he kept his faith because Doctor Luther had already written much and that it would have been more prejudicial to the Church to put him to death then to let him live But that cannot be affirmed without too much diminution to the Glory of that great Prince Be careful then of promising a thing the observing whereof may be of damage to you but make good your promise what ever it cost you and though you should have past your word to a Turk do what you have undertaken P. It is generally said that a man should keep his promise but doth that rule admit of no exception G. Those things that cannot be promised with good reason do with as little reason bind to their observation For example If any one had promised to kill to betray to sell his Master or any other such like thing he would not be obliged to make good his promise for as much as he that promiseth those unlawful things promiseth that whereunto he neither hath nor can have any right And a promise takes its strength from the right which the promiser hath over the thing promised P. Is it not as unlawful to give an Heretique his life which he employes in seducing the People as to kill or beat another man G. Those things are not of the same nature A man cannot be beaten or killed without a violation of all Lawes but by keeping faith with Heretiques none at all are infringed All well-governed Nations have thought it just and necessary to keep their word where it was engaged When Croton a notorious robber presented himself Augustus commanded that sum to be delivered to him which he had promised to the person that should bring in the Bandites head And Pompey gave Pirates both their lives and means to live quietly only because he would not falsifie his promise But certainly there is no less obligation to keep faith with an Heretique then with a Highway-man and a Free-booter unless one believe
very ancient but remarkable for vertue and for their priviledge of Soverain Justice upon their Lands The Barons or Counts of Rapolstein who are otherwise called Ribaupierre were Dukes of Spoleto and having lived many ages with splendor and appeared at several Turnaments are now reduced to John Iames to whom I wish issue male for the preservation of his illustrious House which will otherwise end in him All the rest are unknown to me P. It is something to be Baron of the Empire in regard of the place they have in the Assemblies otherwise I think there is but little difference between one Baron and another G. They that bear the same title are not alwayes of the same condition One who hath been declared Doctor in an University where no man is received but he that hath given proof of his learning is to be preferred before him who hath gotten Letters in another University for a piece of money And so it is in this matter They that are Barons by merit and are allyed to great Families for many generations are and ought to be preferred before those that have not the like advantages Otherwise I do not think that for having place in the Diets one is much to be preferred before another that is equal in vertue merit and antiquity P. I am of your opinion But from whence comes the word Baron G. I think it was derived from the Latin Vir for as Baron signifies a personage illustrious for virtue and birth so also the Latin word Vir signifies a man separate and distinct from the vulgar by his Virtue Now this title hath been diversly taken according to the diversity of times and places By the Barons were anciently understood in France all the Subjects that held immediately of the King and so the word comprehended Dukes Counts and other Lords indifferently This opinion may be verified out of Aymonius and some other Historians who sometimes bring in the King speakto the Lords his followers and when he would exhort them to some generous action begining with these words My Barons The Spaniards speaking of some illustrious persons call them Varones or Barones And therefore Lewis de Camoes in his description of the Conquest of the Indies by the Portugneses begins his Poem in this manner As armas e os Varâ—nes assinalados The Italians only do sometimes take the word Baron for a beggarly fellow P. Have not the Italians Barons also amongst them G. Yes more then Baronies and it may be they are beggars because there are so many of them However it be Barons are every where reckoned above the lowest rate and rank of Nobility except by abuse some one have been raised to that degree who was not a Gentleman before In which case I think the ancient Nobility ought not to give him place nor he to pretend to it because the Letters Patent which a Secretary of the Emperor puts into a piece of Parchment are not of such validity as to make those worthy of that rank who are obnoxious to such notable defects And though the Emperor himself should have commanded his Letters to be dispatched yet were it not to be presumed that he intended to raise an Upstart above him that brought the right of precedence from his mothers womb P. There is not the meanest Baron but thinks himself more then the highest Gentleman G. Usually men flatter themselves and set a greater value upon themselves then they really deserve Even Philosophers take their own measures amiss and the greatest Saints had need to pray earnestly and say from their heart Lord make me to know both my self and Thee that knowing my self I may be humble and knowing Thee I may magnifie thy Name Grant that we may all know our selves banish out of our hearts that common vain pretense to place and precedence teach us to neglect that honour which shines not but in the smoke of vanity Certainly it troubles Germany more then any other Countrey in Europe The end of the Seventh Dialogue Dialogue VIII Of the Knights the Gentlemen the Turnaments and the Cities of the Empire P. TO see the title of this Dialogue one would judge that you put a difference between the Knight and the Gentleman and yet throughout all Germany the Nobility goes under the name of Knighthood and the Gentlemen writing in Latin style themselves Equites that is Knights G. Though German Gentlemen be called Equites in Latin yet it is certain there is difference between the Knight and the Gentleman For first the Knight hath been alwayes more priviledged then the Gentleman 2. The chance of birth makes the Gentleman without his contributing any thing to it but worth and valour raises the Knight to that degree of honour 3. Princes and Lords do not seek for the title of a Gentleman as they do very earnestly for that of a Knight And 4. the Gentleman is born so the Knight comes to be so that is a Gentleman begets a Gentleman but a Knight begets not a Knight P. I have heard say that the sons of great Princes are Knights from their cradle which if it be so it may be said that a Knight begets a Knight G. I know the French say that the sons of their Kings are Knights in the very moment of their birth Nevertheless Lewis XI received the Order of Knighthood by the hand of Philip Duke of Burgundy the day of his Inauguration the 16. August 1461. Francis I. before the Bettel of Marignan September 17. 1515. received the same honour from Peter Bayard a Gentleman of Dauphine who for his valour was surnamed the Knight without reproach And when William Count of Holland was chosen King of the Romans he would be created Knight before he received the Crown Whereby it appears that some great Princes thought they were not born Knights And though I should allow that the sons of Kings are so from their Cradle it is certain that others are not so seeing Princes themselves do not assume that quality if they have not solemnly received that honour P. I know that commonly they that are called Knights are associated into some Order Regular or Secular but I do not know the difference between those Orders G. The Regular Orders have been approved by the Pope under some Rule and the Secular have been instituted by some other Prince The former oblige their Knights to the vows of poverty chastity and obedience the other only to endeavour and procure the honour and advantage of the Head of their Order Now as men are received into the number of Knights for their merit or for the hope which he that bestows that honour hath that the person admitted will do worthy actions so a Knight forfeits and becomes deprived of the same honour for the enormous crimes he commits contrary to the expectation of him that received him into the Fellowship of the Order P. All Knights are not received after the same manner nor degraded for the same offence G.
1607. at which time the Burgers endeavouring to hinder the Catholiques from burying a Corps with the ceremonies of the Church of Rome it incurred the Imperial Ban or Proscription which was executed by the Duke of Bavaria who brought it into subjection and holds it still under his Laws Dunkelspiel hath been so often taken and re-taken in the last Wars that it will carry the marks thereof a great while Eslinguen is a pretty Town upon the Neckar within the Dutchy and under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg to whom it sends every first day of the year a hundred Florins of gold in a green velvet purse for the honour he doth them in being their Protector P. If I be not mistaken this City hath been honoured with the celebration of some Turnament G Not with a Turnament only but also with an Imperial Diet And produces great store of excellent Wine Francfort which was anciently called Tentoburgum and Hellenopolis signifies the passage or Ford of the Franks and was so termed because it served them for a retreat when they went into and came back from Gaule This City is renowned for its Fairs for the Article of the Golden Bull which ordains that the King of the Romans should be chosen there for its Fortress and for the river of Mein which parts it into two Towns whereof one retains the old name and the other is called Saxenhausen P. You have told me elsewhere that that clause of the Golden Bull is not observed and that many Kings of the Romans have been elected in other places G. That is true but yet the Town is very considerable for all that The Religion professed there is of two sorts and the Jews drive a great Trade amongst them Fridberg a very small City in Wetteravia had not above 60. Burgers when I passed that way but it hath great priviledges There is a Castle near it the Lords whereof are called Burgraves Guemunde which seems to signifie Gaudia Mundi the joys of the world in regard of the Turnaments or other pastimes which the Lords of Swaben have heretofore given their friends there is entirely Catholique and an Imperial City since the death of Conradine who was beheaded at Naples Gostar a City of Hircynia was fortified in the year 1207. The Castle is called the Imperial Palace and the Town the Royal City because the Kings of Germany were wont to make their aboad there and some Emperors have honoured it with their residence Guelnehausen after the same manner as Fridberg hath City and Castle and place in the Assemblies though the Electors Palatine use their utter most endeavour to bring it under their subjection P. I wonder how these petty places are able to maintain their liberty G. They are supported by others and the Emperor would not willingly see Princes make themselves Masters of them Haguenau a City of Alsatiâ— is Head of a Bailywick that comprehends the Imperial Cities of Colmar Selestad Weissembourg Landau Oberhenheim Rosherim Munster in the valley of St. Gregory Keichersberg and Turgkeim This Bailywick was given to the most Christian King with its appurtenances and the right which the House of Austria had to it heretofore This City was very much a favourite to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who caused it to be walled about after he had built a house there for himself and six for the principal Gentlemen belonging to his Hunting which the Lords of Flekenstein Durcheim and some others do still hold in Fee of the Empire P. I think the Lords of Durcheim are your kinsmen G. Margaret of Rottembourg a Gentlewoman of a very ancient family in Lower Alsatia was married to John Albert of Anweil of which marriage came Anne Margaret of Anweil my wife by whose means I find my self allied to the Houses of Anweil Rottembourg Scheling Welward Spest Durcheim Stursel Dalbourg Bernehausen Flekenstein Stein and many others But this is besides our purpose Hambourg situate upon the Elbe where the reflux of the Sea makes a good Port is one of the richest Cities in Germany the greatest in Vandalia and the best fortified in Europe It doth ordinarily maintain a thousand Souldiers and for a time of necessity it hath 15000. Burgers listed in fifty Companies Trade is exceeding quick there by reason of the river which joyns it to the Sea and a multitude of Portuguese Jews who have liberty of conscience there This City hath been subject to several Lords but at last it is become free notwithstanding all that the Duke of Holstein could do or the King of Denmark who hath built Glugstadt and a Fort in the river to annoy and incommodate the City of Hambourg P. The neighbourhood of the Swedes may entrench much upon their liberty G. The Crown of Sweden hath the possession of Stade near the river of Elbe and the King of Denmark hath Glugstadt on the other side of the same river So that if those two Kings should conspire to ruine Hambourg it would be in great danger but it is sheltered under the jealousie that is between those two Crowns Although this City be indeed so prodigiously rich that if the Kings should agree together it is probable the Senat would be able to guard themselves and preserve their liberty by the expense of their Treasure And questionless if Hambourg make good use of its own strength and the friendship of those that are concerned for its preservation it hath no cause to fear For the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein apprehending the Swedes will be always glad to fortifie themselves by the good affection and forces of Hambourg and Lubeck which are as so many Bulwarks to their States P. Is Lubeck also in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese G. These Cities are not far distant from one another They have the same interest and are powerful Hambourg upon the Ocean and Lubeck upon the Balthique Sea in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese which contains the Dutchies of Holstein Schleswick Stormar and Dithmarsh with the Countrey of Jutland The City of Lubeck was built by Adolph Count of Holstein in the time of the Emperor Conrade III. and a little after it was taken by Henry Leo Duke of Bavaria and Saxony who founded a Bishoprick there as I have read over the Gates of the Castle of Eutin the place where the Bishop resides After the death of that Henry it returned to its first Master and passed from him into the power of Canute King of Denmark but the Danes being overcome in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. it became an Imperial City and enjoys that priviledge to this day When it began it was of no great consequence but now it is large fair and potent by land and by water too the river Drave encreasing its Trade and giving it opportunity to put great store of shipping to Sea P. If the King of Denmark had the command of these two Cities it would enable him to attempt upon his neighbours
Charles V. 291. 292. Kingdom of Bohemia made hereditary to the House of Austria by the Peace of Munster 340. Schemia erected into a Kingdom 38. King of Bohemia the first secular Elector 46. hath neither voice nor place in the general Assemblies of the Empire and why 51. How Sigismond of Luxembourg King of Bohemia named himself to be Emperor 51. Why the Bohemians revolted from the Emperor and chose a new King 321. What Books are fit for a Princes reading 24.25 Extent of the Elector of Brandenbourgs lands 93. Religion of his Subjects 94. Origin of the House of Brandenbourg 97. How it got title to the inheritance of Pomerania 98. How the Lords of Brandenbourg attained to the honours and Lands they possess ibid. What the House of Brandenbourg hath in lieu of Pomerania which was taken from it by the Peace of Munster 99. What disadvantages it receives by the loss of Lower Pomerania ibid. In what quality the Elector of Brandenbourg hath voices in the Assemblies of the Empire ibid. He alternates with the King of Sweden in the Direction of Lower Saxony 100. Differences between the Houses of Brandenbourg and Newbourg concerning the Dutchies of Juliers Cleve and Berg 101. 102. Brandenbourg the last but one of the Electors 102. The number of the present Princes of Brandenbourg and their children 103. Forces and Forts of the Elector of Brandenbourg and of his Cousins of Culembach and Anspach 104. Why the Elector of Brandenbourg is not yet put into possession of the Dutchy of Magdebourg 100. Origin of the Counts of Breda 228. The taking of Brisac 327. Brix a Bishoprick 190. Brunswick a free City 111. Estates of the Dukes of Brunswick Lunebourg wherein considerable ibid. The Princes alliances Origin and Religion of the Branches of Brâ—nswick and Limebourg 113 Golden Bull what it contains when published and why so called 342. The inscription upon the seal of the Golden Bull 344. Whether the Golden Bull may be abrogated and what alterations have been made in it 344. 345. Burgrave what and from whence so called 210. Who bear the title of Burgrave in Germany 214. C. Calvinist Princes in Germany who 208. Archbishop of Cambray his titles and whether he have place in the Assemblies of the Empire 175. 176. Canonries of Strasbourg belonging to Protestant Princes 184. How Hugh Capet born in France but originally a Saâ—on came to be King 16. Catholick Princes in Germany who 208. The power of the Imperial Chambers depends on the Emperor 68. How long the Imperial Chamber was ambulatory when made sedentary and where 67. What the Imperial Chamber takes cognizance of 68. No Appeal from the Judgement of that Chamber 69. Charlemagne a German by extraction 14. When and why proclaimed Emperor by the Pope ibid. Why the Empire and the Kingdom of France continued so short a time in the race of Charlemagne 15. How it made room for the Saxons in Germany and the Capetians in France ibid. Charles V. his voyages by sea and land his voluntary leaving the Government and his death 47. seq Why Charles Duke of Lorraine Uncle to Lewis V. was declared unworthy to succeed unto the Crown of France 15. Circles of Germany and their several Directors 182. Circles of Sawben Franconia and the Rhine divided into quarters a kind of Commonwealth 253. Cities of Germany 263. seq their beauty and magnificence 265. Classes of Assemblies in the Diets their division and order 304. 305. Elector of Collen third Ecclesiastical Elector 46. Collen why called Colonia Agrippina 269. Form of Homage which the Burgers of Collen make to their Bishop ibid. The Bishops confirmation of their priviledges 270. Colmar ibid. Peter Colonna from whom descended 97. Mixture of Conditions detested in Germany 249. Constance a Citty for what remarkable 184. What every Elector bears at the Coronation of the Emperor what Elector crowns him 60. Counts anciently no more then Judges of Cities and Provinces 210. How the Counts Palatine appropriated their several Provinces 211. Counts of Office Counts of Dignity 218. Whether Counts were greater then Dukes ibid. seq How Counts became Proprietors of their Lands and made them hereditary 222. The present Counts what place they have in the Assemblies and how they give their voices there 223. Immediate Counts and their prerogatives 225. Counts of Schwartzbourg Waldek Salme and Morange of what Princes they hold 226. Courage and prudence seldome meet 326. The Lombard and Roman Crowns not essential to the Imperial Dignity 14.15 Crowns of the Emperor and where he receives them 60. Marquisses of Culembach 103. D. Landgraves of Darmstadt and Hesse-Cassel their Religion differences and alliances 132. seq Counts of Delmenhorst extinguished in Antony Gunther and who inherited his Lands 233. 234. Genealogie of the Kings of Denmark and Dukes of Holstein 151. When and how the Kingdom of Denmark was severed from that of Sweden 149. Assemblies of Deputation who have place voice there 309. The Emperors Diademe what anciently and what now 60. Diets called by the Emperor but with consent of the Electors 294. Time necessity and place of Diets 295. Not to be appointed out of Germany 296. First Diet after the Election of an Emperor where held 295. What persons the Emperor calls to the Diets 296. The office and power of the Vice-Marshal at the Diets 297. Cities and Abbesses appear in the Diets by their deputies 299. Order observed in the Diets 300. seq How they proceed upon debates in the Diets 305. seq What matters are treated on in the Diets 307. How conclusions are made in the Diets 308. Directors of each Circle 182. 183. The Ecclesiastical Discipline of Protestant Lords within their Territories 205. 206. Donavert how it became subject to the Duke of Bavaria 270. Lands and alliances of the Marquisses of Dourlach 144 145. Religion of the Branches of Dourlach and Baden their voices and places in the Assemblies 146. Duke of the Grisons the ancientest Duke 216. Why Dukes were sent to the Frontiers ibid. German Dukes all Princes and more considerable then those of France and Spain ibid. How Dukes became so great etymology of the name 217. The Princes of Poland Hungary and Bohemia anciently Dukes 219. Title of Duke anciently equal to that of King 220. E. Counts of East-Friseland 170. seq Ecclesiastical Princes not Bishops that sit in the Diets of the Empire 191. How the Ecclesiâ—sticks grew so rich 196. What Ecclesiastical Government among the Protestants in Germany 205. Counts of Egmont subject to the Duke of Burgundy 226. Eichstedt a Bishoprick in Franconia by whom founded 181. The Electors three Ecclesiastiques and five Seculars with their respective Offices 39. Electors have right to choose and depose an Emperor 40. The number of Electors why seven 50. Why they are Eight now 44. Dignity of Electors as to precedence 44. The Ecclesiastical Electors precede the Seculars 46. The Electors Palatine and of Saxony are Vicars of the Empire during
desire that he may obtain them the most Religious pray God to give him them the most couragious grumble and the most seditious losing all respect talk of putting another into his place The unfortunate life and death of Henry the Third King of France are unquestionable evidences of this truth P. How should one do to gain authority and reputation G. Authority depends upon reputation for the people believing that their Prince is valiant liberal and prudent doth readily obey his will and receive his Commands with respect honour and reverence Now to gain the reputation of a prudent Prince he should be very careful that his servants and Ministers be friends to the publick good affable modest and generous To be esteemed valiant it is sufficient that he shew a constant resolution to maintain his People in their ancient Splendor even at the expence of his life that adversity cast him not down nor prosperity make him insolent And to give a fairer lustre to his liberality he should take care that the little he bestowes arise not out of the oppression of his People If it be thus indeed then without being present every day at Councel without drawing his sword or giving much his Subjects his Friends and his Enemies too will esteem him valiant liberal and prudent and all of them fearing to offend him will pay him the duties of Subjects Friends and Neighbours P. A Prince that carries true piety in his heart and all Christian virtues in his soul needs not doubt but God will dissipate and disappoint all the evil designs of his mutinous Subjects and ambitious Neighbours But what Countrey-man was Pepin G. It is generally said that he was originally a German nay many think that Charlemagne his son was born near the Rhine John de Serres in his Inventary of the History of France Tom. 1. pag. 315. says he was born at Wormes crowned at Spire and buried at Aix and in pag. 324. of the same Tome he says he was buried at Aix where he was born How ever it be they were both of them Kings of France and the latter won so much renown by preserving the Church of Rome and defending the Pope who was unjustly assailed by Desiderius King of Lombardy that the Pope the Senate and people of Rome proclaimed him Emperor in the year of our Lord 800. P. I thought it was Pope Leo III. only that divided the Empire and gave the Western part with the name of Emperor to Charlemagne when he made him Advocate of the Holy See G. The Popes labour to perswade us so and would have it believed that the Crowns of Lombardy and Rome are essential to the Imperial dignity saying that the Emperor becomes King of Germany by the election which the Princes make of his person but acquires the name of Emperor Cesar and Augustus by the consecration and approbation which he receives from the Pope But this opinion of the Popes and of some writers their Votaries is ridiculous otherwise the Heathen Emperors would not have been lawful Emperors and those professing Christianity who resided at Constantinople since Constantine the Great until Constantine Paleologus nay those of Germany since Ferdinand the First till this very day would have been Usurpers having been Crowned neither at Milan nor Rome which cannot be said without the guilt of High Treason From whence you ought to conclude that the Emperors are so by the Grace of God without being any way beholden for it to the See of Rome P. Did the posterity of Charlemagne keep possession of the Empire and the Kingdom of France for any long time G. It held the Empire and France together not very long for the children of Lewis the Debonaire sharing their Fathers Estates that division weakned the House occasioned Wars between the brethren and was the cause that his Grandchildren lost the Empire in the year 912. and the Kingdom of France in the year 987. at which time Hugh Capet made Charles Duke of Lorraine Unckle by the Fathers side to Lewis the Fifth to be declared unworthy to succeed to the Crown of his Progenitors because he had done homage to Germany for his Dutchy So the race of Charles the Great to whom all Christendom doth owe so much fell totally from their greatness and made room in Germany for the Saxons and in France for the Capetians who set up the Empire and France again in their first lustre P. Was Hugh Capet a Frenchman G. He was born in France but a Saxon by extraction for Charlemagne coming to an agreement with Witikind of Saxony after a long and bloody War took one of Witikinds sons into France with him and did so much for him that his successors raised themselves with ease to the highest Offices of State and at length Hugh Capet put the Crown upon his own head and transmitted it to his descendents who enjoy it still with more happiness and authority then their predecessors did P. I learn by what you tell me that all the Kings who have reigned in France since Pharamond came out of Germany and I am glad to understand so much because it is an honor for our Nation to have given Kings unto so considerable a part of Europe But methinks this discourse draws us much off of our mark and being to speak of Languages and of the place where they should be learnt we allow that subject the least share of our thoughts G. It is true indeed that we make long digressions but they bring us nearer to the end we aim at for the best way to learn Languages is to speak and discourse with those that have the reputation of speaking well P. Do not all Frenchmen and Italians speak their own native Language well G. There are Provinces in France and Italy where you meet with few persons that speak French or Italian purely and never a one where the vulgar hath not some terms out of use and rejected by the learned So that those who travel to learn languages should take care to make their stay in places where the common people have the best accent and the least barbarous phrases P. Where should Italian be learnt G. You know that the inundation of people who to show the Romans that they were not invincible came at several times out of Gaul and Germany so corrupted the Latine in Italy that it degenerated into a language exceedingly mingled Since that time the great wits as Petrarch Boccace Ariosto Tasso Bembo and many others have so cultivated it that their writings do in no wise give place to the elegancy of the Greeks and Latines Now as Cities are some more or less ingenious then others the inhabitants of Sienna have surpassed them all in the sweetness and politeness of the Italian tongue and the Court of Rome which is composed of all the rest hath brought it to its perfection P. That being so I will stay longer at Sienna and Rome then in other places G. So I advise you and
few of them who set not a greater value upon it then upon their study P. I confess the sway of my inclination is absolutely bent to it and I could more willingly endure the pains of Hunting a whole day then of study but two hours Yet because you think it fit I will hunt as seldom as I can that I may keep the promise I made to you to follow your counsel in all things G. It is no small comfort to me to hear that you prefer my advice before your pleasure but I am sorry that you call and esteem that a Labour which is nothing but pure delight Study would be a sensual pleasure if the mind were capable of any They that have once tasted it can never take themselves off again and oftentimes it engages those who are born for action to give themselves over to contemplation in such manner that thereby they become despiseable and indeed altogether despised drawing upon themselves the point of those Lances which they have neglected and the venom of those Pens which they too kindly embrace P. As therefore all kind of studies are not proper for all kind of persons so neither is it lawful for every one to spend so much time in them as he would G. You say right for as Alexanders dog thought any creature of less strength and courage then a Lyon to be unworthy of his anger and would not vouchsafe to stir if he did not see an object equal to his valour so men ought to make choice of such studies as are proportionable to their conditions And forasmuch as by Gods Providence you are born such a one as will one day have occasion to render him an account of a Principality you must of necessity learn to govern it well without amusing your self upon knowledges more curious then useful and which would better become a Professor in Philosophy than the General of an Army P. I know that men do not use to send for Shoe-makers to make their clothes nor to Taylors to make their boots Nevertheless many Princes enter upon the Government before they have past an Apprentiship for it and take the least care of that which concerns them the most But that I may not be one of that number I conjure you to instruct me in all that I ought to know to be able to govern G. The method of good Government is not to be learnt but from the mouth or actions of Kings and Princes Therefore I beseech you to give diligent heed to all you shall read in the Books of the Kings the Chronicles and the Wisdom of Solomon in the Sacred Story in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which James VI. King of Scotland and first of that name of England composed for the instruction of his Son in Guevara in the life of Marcus Aurelius in the Romulus Tarquin and David persecuted written by Malvezzi in the lives of Philip II. King of Spain and Henry IV. King of France and every where else where profane History takes notice of the vices and virtues of great men that so you may day by day grow to be an honester man and a more excellent Prince P. I have already read some part of that which you prescribe to me and should punctually observe this rule if I were not hindred by my ignorance in the Languages wherein they are written G. That defect would occasion many others to you and if you did not learn to understand Authors in their own Language you would recieve but little satisfaction for ordinarily translations have less grace and ornament then the Originals For which reason I have given order to your Master to use the easiest method for you and the greatest diligence he can that you may be a good Proficient in forain Languages I beseech you to second his laborious endeavours and help to make them fruitful P. Your will hath alwayes had the authority of a Law with me and I find it good for me to have learnt what you judged to be for my advantage Having therefore heard you say that Italian is easily obtainable by those that speak Latin and French I shall endeavour to get these two in perfection before I undertake the third G. I like your design and dare assure you that you will learn Italian with ease by the help of French for the knowledge of the one smooths the difficulties which occur in the other especially if one begin with French P. Which of these two do you esteem the finest Language and the most useful G. Your question doth somewhat perplex me for my part I think them both equally good and graceful but not equally useful for to know the utility of a Language it should be considered in what part of the world a man inhabits what persons he frequents and with whom he hath to do Italian is in high esteem and exceedingly useful in the Emperors Court and upon all the Coasts of the Mediterranean Sea They that trade in Asia Africk and Europe with the Turks Greeks Arabians Candians Rhodians Cyprians and other Levantine people may commodiously make use of it French is in greater vogue towards the North and is marvellously well entertained in Germany England Denmark Sweden and Poland where all the Kings Princes and Lords speak it exactly except the Emperor who neither loves the French nor their Language yet it is so much in fashion that the chiefest Italians nay even the Spaniards of his Court and all others that I have known in Germany speak it or clip it P. Then would it not be better for a German Prince to learn French perfectly and practise it continually then to amuse himself upon many Languages and become master of never a one of them G. Every man should take a just measure of his own strength and not grasp at more than he can hold But seeing you have a natural disposition to learn Languages and the honour to be a Prince which gives you the hope and almost the assurance of being employed in variety of business and in divers Countreys I lay it as a charge upon you to love French and not neglect Italian The end of the first Dialogue Dialogue II. Of the State of the Empire in general P. I Understand French indifferent well already and I think if I made a voyage through France I might easily attain to the perfection of it And therefore I earnestly entreat you to use the power and credit you have with my parents that by their good leave I may begin to travel and see what Europe affords worthy of my observation G. I know that travelling is a proper means to accomplish what you have begun but I cannot allow that you should imitate those who make it their study day and night to learn what was done at Rome 2000. years since without taking any thought to know how men live in Germany at the present They that study in such a manner are like those imprudent busie-bodies who having their eyes open to
P. Parents do not love their children with more tenderness nor children their parents with more reverence then I love the Empire and for that cause you can tell me nothing that affects me comparably to the relation of its greatness Continue therefore and as you have touched something of the Majesty of the Head give me some account also of the Members G. The principal Members of the Empire are the Electors which at this present are three Ecclesiasticks and five Seculars They of Mentz Tryers and Collen are Arch-Bishops and Arch-Chancellors the first in Germany the second in France and in the Kingdom of Arles and the third in Italy The Seculars are the King of Bohemia who is great Cup-bearer the Duke of Bavaria who is great Steward the Duke of Saxony who is great Marshal or Constable the Marquis of Brandenburg who is great Chamberlain and the Prince Palatine of the Rhine who is great Treasurer of the Empire P Are those offices which you now mentioned the principal function of each Elector G. There is nothing that makes the Electoral dignity so eminent as the right they have to elect the Emperor and to depose him when by his enormous crimes or by an unmanly idleness he neglects the honour of the Empire the publick good and the duty of his place P. Was the Empire alwayes Elective G. Charlemagne having gotten the Imperial diginty transmitted it to his posterity by way of Succession and that right continued in his House as long as his descendents retained any thing of the generosity of that incomparable Heroical person But when his virtue became totally extinguished in his Successors the Empire was offered to Otho of Saxony who refused it and advised them to confer that honour upon Conrade Duke of Franconia After Conrade Henry Son to Otho of Saxony who had refused the Empire was chosen into his place and his Son Otho the I. succeeded him And that way of succession from Father to Son was observed till the time of Henry IV. who coming to that Dignity while he was under age and ruling badly enough when he was of years to do better the Lords of the Empire began to undervalue his authority and Pope Gregory VII taking occasion by the fore-top declared him unfit to Reign excommunicated him and commanded that the Imperial Scepter should be given to another Then the Germans made a Law whereby they abolished the right of succession and assumed to themselves that of choosing the Emperors P. It seems to me that the Empire was elective sooner then the time you specifie G. Some would have it that the Electors were instituted after the death of the Emperor Otho III. and others only in the time of Rodolph of Habspurg so that there is no certainty to be known in this matter and it is free for every man to follow the opinion he thinks most probable P. When the right of succession from Father to Son was abolished was the power of choosing the Emperors given to the Princes that bear the title of Electors at this day G. When the Empire became Elective all the Princes as well Secular as Ecclesiastical the Lords Prelates and Cities in one word all the Estates of the Empire got the power of creating the Emperors Afterwards in process of time the less considerable were debarred of that right and at length the confusion which grew from that great number of Electors made it be thought convenient to reduce them to a few Then they that held the highest Offices in the Imperial Court excluded all others from them and the Emperor Charles IV. confirmed them in the possession of that right by a regulation which he made thereupon in an Ordinance called The Golden Bull. P. Until what time did that great number of Princes and Lords concur to the election of the Emperors G. It may be made appear to those that will be satisfied with reason that many had a voice in the Election of Emperors until the time of Frederick II. For Otho Frisingensis assures us that Henry II. was chosen Emperor by all the Lords of the Empire and when he was dead Conrade Duke of Franconia was advanced into his place by the consent of all Henry III. son to Conrade was also chosen but there is no mention made of the Electors The Abbot of Vrsperg writes that Henry IV. was raised to the Imperial dignity by the Bishops and Princes of Germany The same Author says that Henry V. was chosen by all that Lotharius II. was made Emperor by two Archbishops eight Bishops many Abbots and Lords of the Imperial Court that Conrade III. was placed upon the Throne the Duke of Saxony not being called to the Election and the See of Mentz being then vacant that Frederick Barbarossa was chosen by all the German princes that Philip came to the Empire by an Election which the Suevians Bavarians and Saxons made of him that Otho IV. received the Scepter from those of Collen Strasbourg and some other Cities The same Abbot of Vrsperg says that the Emperor Otho IV. was excommunicated and that the Princes of Germany to wit the King of Bohemia the Dukes of Austria and Bavaria the Landgrave of Thuringia and many other Princes chose Frederick King of Sicily to whom they had formerly sworn Allegiance even while he was yet in his cradle This is that Frederick until whose time as you see the number of the Electors was uncertain P. There seems to me to be a contradiction in what you say that the Empire was successive until Henry IV. and a little after you affirm that Henry II. Conrade Henry III. and IV. were Elected G. I had taken notice before that the Authors who write upon this subject are at variance among themselves for which reason I alledge those that speak of those Elections And it is sufficient for me to shew you it is the opinion of Writers that the number of Electors was not reduced to Seven till after the time of Frederick II. And here you may observe that the Eighth was not heard of till the last peace of Germany P. Why was the number of them increased at the Treaty of peace concluded at Munster and Osnabrug in the year 1648. G. In the year 1623. the Emperor Ferdinand II. transferred the Electoral dignity from Frederick V. Count Palatine to Maximilian Duke of Bavaria This translation of dignity and many other acts of Soverainty which the Empire remarked in Ferdinand with a jealous eye as the taking upon himself alone to decide matters which cannot be determined but by the judgement of all the Estates of the Empire the resuming of Church-lands possessed by Protestants and giving them to Religious Orders together with a fear of worse proceedings obliged the Princes to joyn in a League and to call strangers to their assistance The War was long and so bloody that it swept away more then half the people of Germany At last both sides being weary an Assembly was held at Munster to
conclude a Peace and the Ambassadors there found themselves in a great strait how to satisfie the two principal branches of that House Each of them pretended to the Electorate the first having had possession thereof for many ages required the restitution of it and the second alledging the signal services he had done the Empire by which he merited that recompense would not consent to the Peace unless it were provided that he should still enjoy that honor In conclusion as Maximilian had many friends so Charles Lewis did not want his supports Whereupon they came to this agreement That Maximilian Duke of Bavaria should have the first Electorship to him and his posterity and an eighth place should be new-erected for Charles Lewis Prince Palatine of the Rhine upon this condition that if the Gulielmine branch hapned to fail before the Rodolphine these latter should re-enter into their ancient Electorship and the other newly created should be wholly abolished P. I do not wonder that these Princes did so earnestly desire the one to recover and the other to keep the Electorate in his Branch since it is believed that this dignity makes the possessors thereof not inferior to Kings G. The Electoral dignity is very great and they that are endued with it are in a more eminent degree then other Potentates of the Empire because they have power to make the Emperor But I do not think they may be equalled to Kings Nay I remember I have read that the last Duke of Burgundy of the blood Royal of France demanded precedence before the Electors at the Council of Basil and obtained his pretence P. I know that Duke alledging his high descent and the many Dutchies Counties and other Lordships in his possession obtained a declaration from the Council of Basil that in regard of his condition and his great Estates he should precede the Secular Electors But you also know that the Electors have taken place of Kings upon some occasions G. The King of Bohemia gives place to many others except when he is in the Diet for the Election of an Emperor and in the like case the Elector of Brandenburg hath disputed the precedence with Rodolph II. King of Hungary Nevertheless it is out of controversie that the Electoral dignity is inferior to the Royal And it may be proved by the order which the Electors themselves observe for the Elector of Bohemia when he was but Duke had the lowest place but having obtained the title of King he began to go before his Collegues only because it was not thought reasonable that a Royal person Crowned and Anointed should give way to those that were but barely Electors P. Though this dignity do not stand upon equal terms with that of Kings it is nevertheless very great but who is the chiefest among the Electors G. None of them disputes the precedencie with him of Mentz who is Dean of the Electoral Colledge appoints the day and place of the Election when the Emperor is dead or when it is necessary to choose a King of the Romans The second is the Elector of Tryer the third of Collen Thus the Ecclesiasticks take place of the Secular Princes of whom the King of Bohemia is the first the Duke of Bavaria the second the Duke of Saxony the third the Marquiss of Brandenbourg the fourth and the Count Palatine the last Notwithstanding which order I must think the Electors of the Rhine and Saxony to be above all the rest because during the vacancy of the Empire they are Vicars thereof and can do all that is in the Emperors power except giving Investiture to those that hold great Territories or Lordships in Fee of the Empire without being subject to give an account of their administration P. When is it that they choose an Emperor G. The Empire being destitute of a Head by the natural death of the Emperor by his own spontaneous demission or by his demerit when for his unworthiness he is deprived of it they proceed to the election of another P. Methinks it is very strange that they can dispossess an Emperor and much more that there should be any who would voluntarily resign their Crown G. Both the one and the other have been seen more then once and that we may not go too far back to seek for examples very remote from our time it shall be sufficient for me to tell you that Wenceslaus son to Charles IV. being become unfit for the Imperial Crown was forced to surrender it unto Robert the Elector Palatine in the year 1400. And when Charles V. had surpassed all his predecessors in merit and shown by nine voyages which he made into Germany six into Spain seven into Italy four into France ten into the Low-Countreys two into England as many into Africa and by passing the Ocean and Mediterranean Seas eleven times that nothing was impossible to a Prince of his resolution he would further manifest that he knew how to conquer himself and having called his son Philip into the Netherlands he put the Scepter of Spain with all its dependancies into his hands and by William of Nassau Prince of Orange sent the Imperial Crown to his brother who was already King of the Romans After which he retired himself to a quiet solitude in the year 1556. where he lived two more in the contemplation of heavenly joys and went to receive them the 21. of September 1558. P. It is a wonder that a Prince so inclined to honor the holy See did not resign his Scepter into the hands of the Pope G. That incomparable Monarch loved to have the See of Rome flourish but was not willing the glory thereof should be illustrated by the eclipse of the Empire He knew what he ought to the Church and what to Germany He was not ignorant that the Constitutions of Popes aim at the weakning of the Empire and the diminution of its authority but he knew also how to put a difference betwixt just and unjust And by that action he maintained the right of the Empire and yet did wrong to no body P. May a King of the Romans be chosen while the Emperor is living G. There are that think it ought not to be done because it is as much as to give occasion to one to wish the death of another Yet experience which is more to be considered then the speculative fancies of Doctors teaches us that Charles IV. Wenceslaus Maximilian I. and II. Rodolph II. Ferdinand III. and IV. were chosen in the life-time of their predecessors We have not any example that a King of the Romans hath been made against the Emperors will but I think it out of question that they who can depose an Emperor may also appoint him a Successor without his consent P. Some say that when they create a King of the Romans while the Emperor is living they set two Heads upon the Empire and two Masters over Germany G. So long as the Emperor lives the King of the
add further that persons of low degree are elected who become insolent upon it and leave no stone unturned to make the Crown Hereditary to their Family and which is still worse sometimes the Electors being at variance instead of one Head set many over the Common-wealth But all these reasons are good and allowable in those States where Succession hath had place for many ages The Germans had rather have their Emperors by choice and to prevent those inconveniences they many times elect a Successor to the Empire while the Emperor is living And though that course be not taken yet the Empire is not in danger to fall into Anarchy or any disorder seeing the Electors Palatine and of Saxony are Vicars of the Emperor and Administrators of the Empire during the Interregnum And so the ship is never without a Pilot in Germany where to abate the desire which the Emperors may have to agrandize their children by weakning the Monarchy they usually make choice of the nearest of Kin to the Reigning Prince and they do not transfer the Crown to another House but when they find never a Head worthy of it in that Family that hath it in possession This way of continuing the Imperial Dignity in one House doth also hinder the inconvenience of advancing men of low degree to the Throne and of giving two Heads at a time to one single Common-wealth For which cause I think it not fit to innovate any thing in a State and that every Nation should persevere in their ancient customes forasmuch as all changes in a State are dangerous P. God be thanked we do not see so many murders and seditions in Germany during the Interregnum as there are at Rome but there hath been no means found out to prevent alienating the demesns of the Empire The Emperor hath almost nothing left in Italy and the best Cities of Germany being enfranchiz'd the sinew of the State hath lost much of its strength which could never have been if the Empire had alwayes been Successive G. There is nothing complete and entire in this World and it is as hard to find a perfect form of Government as a Common-wealth a King an Orator a Captain a Courtier an Ambassador with the qualities which Plato Xenophon Cicero Onosander Castalio and Tasso Fancy and desire When a Kingdom is Successive the people is often forced to obey a child or rather those who abusing his authority do oppress and exhaust his Subjects during his Minority When it is Elective they are divers times put to no small trouble to find out a good King and when they think they have chosen an Augustus a Trajan or an Antonine it proves too often that they have pitched upon a William a Henry VII or a Wenceslaus We must look for perfection in Heaven and not think to meet with it here below P. Seeing we are in Germany where Election hath place we ought to prefer it before Succession and to speak truth considering the State of the Empire at present it seems to be preferable But of what age should a Prince be to be capable of being placed upon the Imperial Throne G. It were to be wished that he were one who had beforehand given some proofs of his vertue and made his name glorious by his Military actions nevertheless though by the Law no man can be raised to eminent honours before the age of 25. years yet the Electors do not alwayes tie themselves strictly to those rules For they chose Otho III. in his infancy Henry III. at twelve Henry IV. at eight Frederick II. and William at twenty Wenceslaus at fifteen and Charles V. at nineteen years of age P. I would willingly know what difference there is between the Emperor and the King of the Romans G. You will meet with some Writers who mean the Emperor when they are speaking of the King of the Romans and yet they are distinct persons For no man can be Vicar to himself and the King of the Romans is the Emperors perpetual Vicar when the Emperor is absent or taken up with other affairs he administers the Empire and the Emperor being dead he succeeds without dispute The King of the Romans bears for his Arms the Eagle with one head the Emperor with two he is styled Augustus and the Emperor semper Augustus The Emperor writing to him useth the term of Liebten in Dutch which signifies Dilection but he writing or speaking to the Emperor gives him that of Majesty To conclude he acknowledges the Emperor for his Superior and though in his absence he exercise the same power the Emperor did it is but by concession for he hath no authority of his own within the Empire so long as the Emperor is living And therefore if he take place of other Kings it is only because he exerciseth the same Jurisdiction which the Emperor doth P. Is the King of the Romans the only Vicar of the Empire G. Heretofore there were 3. Deputies in the East as many in the West one in Africa and another in Spain At present there are but two for all to wit the Electors of the Rhine and of Saxony whose dignity is derived from the office of great Steward which they had under the Emperors of Charlemagne's Race By virtue of that dignity when the Emperor dyes and before a Successor be chosen the first governs the Rhine Franconia Swaben and Bavaria as far as the Alpes the other all that Countrey where the Saxon Laws are observed But if there be a King of the Romans that right ceases because he is Emperor that very moment wherein the other deceaseth So that it may be said when there is a King of the Romans he is the only Vicar of the Empire and when there is not one the Electors of the Rhine and Saxony alone are the Vicars P. We have hitherto spoken sufficiently of the Emperor of his Vicars and of the Electors Nevertheless before we proceed any further I would know whether the Emperor take the name of Cesar before his Coronation and how he is served when he eats in State G. Immediately after the Emperor is chosen he takes the name of Emperor of Cesar and of Augustus and if he pleases gives priviledges and does all other acts of Soverainty Afterwards when he will display the Splendor of his Majesty he dines in Ceremony and then the Ecclesiastical Electors say Grace and hold the Seals the Elector of Brandenburg gives him water to wash the Saxon executes the Office of Marshal the Palsgrave presents him the first dish of meat and the King of Bohemia the first glass of Wine But he wears not the Crown upon his head unless he will himself And if any Elector be absent his Deputy performs his Office and not his Ambassador now the Lieutenants or Deputies of the Electors are the Lords and Counts of Limbourg of Walpourg of Papentheim and of Hohenzolleren for the four ancient Seculars I do not know who is the Count Palatines
have voice and seat in the Assemblies G. All the Estates of the Empire who are the Electors the Princes the Prelates the Counts the Barons and the Imperial Cities And besides the place and voice they have in general and particular Assemblies they have also a certain right of Regality and the priviledge of the Austregues that is a right not to be convented or brought before any but peculiar Judges P. I thought that the Emperor alone had the right of Regality that this right and Majesty were one and the same thing and that but few Counts and Barons had place and voice in the Assemblies G. By the Counts and Barons which I told you had seat and suffrage in the Assemblies you should understand those that are Estates of the Empire and abstract all others even those Lords to whom the Emperor gives the title of Prince in his Hereditary Countreys who are in no small number the abuse being grown to that height that few or none are content with the title of Gentleman As to the other part of your supposition you should take notice that Soverainty and Regalities are different things Soverainty is that which essentially constitute the Emperor that is which makes him to be Emperor and Regalities are the Adjuncts of Soverainty and the Rights which flow from it as rivulets from their spring P. I beseech you explain your self a little more G. For the better understanding of what I have even now said you must note that the word Regality is diversly taken to wit 1. for great Lordships held in Fee of the Crown 2. for Churches extraordinarily rich 3. for the right of giving great Benefices 4. for the Royal Ensigns which are carried before Kings and put upon their heads and into their hands and 5. for the Rights which have been given to Emperors for marks of a Soverain eminence Regalities may be also distinguished into the greater and the lesser The greater are Regalities of Dignity which relate to the Emperor person the lesser are Regalities of Vtility which regard his Treasure The great one are incommunicable the lesser are communicable and communicated to Princes Lords and Cities to one more to another less according to the good pleasure of the Emperors P. I do not yet fully understand which be the Regalities of Dignity I pray speak a little more at large of them G. The Regalities of Dignity are the immense power which the Emperor hath to give the title of King Elector Archduke Duke c. to make Laws to administer Justice and other such like things P. I think the Emperor hath communicated the right of administring Justice unto the Imperial Chambers of his Court and of Spire G. That is true but the power of the Chambers is no argument why the Emperor alone should not be said to have the Soverain Right of administring Justice For the Judge of those Chambers bears the Imperial Sceptre to show that he exercises the Emperors jurisdiction there all judgements are pronounced there in his Majesties name and sealed with his Arms Which makes it clear that all is done by his authority and in his name P. Was Justice always administred by the Soverain Chambers which his Majesty hath established the one in his Court and the other at Spire G. The Chamber of Justice or Parliament of the Empire was ambulatory till the time of Maximilian I. who taking pity of the parties that were necessitated to follow the Court and seek for Justice there at great expenses at the request of Berchtold Count of Henneberg who was then Elector of Mentz established a Sedentary Chamber at Wormes in the year 1495. from whence it was soon after removed to Spire but cannot be withdrawn from that place without the consent of all the Estates P. Doubtless the Emperor hath given an extraordinary jurisdiction to that Chamber for I have heard say that it hath concurrence of jurisdiction with his Majesty G. The Chamber of Spire can have no concurrent jurisdiction with the Emperor unless it be that his Majesty may concur with himself for the jurisdiction of the Chamber is nothing else but the Emperors jurisdiction Besides the Emperor hath not established the Chamber to concur with him but to administer Justice in his name For in transferring thither all the jurisdiction universally for so much as concerns Civil causes he hath ordered that nothing shall be dispatched but in his name and under his Seal Whereby it is easie to judge that there is a dependence and not a concurrence of the Chamber of Spire with the Emperor who also causeth the Assessors to be punished when they transgress and swerve from their duty P. Seeing the Emperor hath transmitted all his jurisdiction unto that Chamber certainly it passeth judgement upon all things without appeal G. Except Ecclesiastical and Spiritual matters as the crimes of Heresie Adultery and other such like the cognizance whereof belongs to the Church that Chamber Judges finally and absolutely of every thing So that an appeal cannot be made unto the Emperor and much less to the Pope even in a cause of a pious nature And there is a Decree to be seen of the 20. February 1512. whereby one that appealed to the Pope was fined a hundred Marks of Gold But this Chamber takes no knowledge in the first instance but of the causes which concern some Immediate person that is immediately depending upon the Emperor P. Are all Immediate persons Estates of the Empire G. The Gentlemen of Swaben Franconia the Rhine and the lower Alsatia are not Estates of the Empire though they be immediately subject to the Emperor P. Let us begin to speak of the Estates of the Empire and tell me if you please what was the original of the House of Austria how long it hath worn the Imperial Crown into how many branches it is divided by what means it became so potent and what are its priviledges G. You ask too many things at once yet I will answer them But that we may avoid confusion I will speak severally of that which you have proposed conjunctly And as to your first question I say that flatterers think they can never raise the beginning of this Most August House high enough unless they fetch it from the Trojan horse and tracing the Fables of the old Romans invent a fine Genealogy from near 500. years before the birth of Jesus Christ Others would have it to descend from Charlemagne in a direct masculine line The most common opinion is that the Counts of Habspourg who wear the Imperial Crown at this present are a branch of the Dukes of Zeringuen from whom also the Marquisses of Baden are descended and the Dukes of Teck whose lands are passed by marriage into the House of Wirtemberg P. That which you say is not out of controversie for a modern Author affirms confidently that the Archdukes of Austria and the Kings of France come both out of one and the same stock But because we desire
King of Bohemia And the younger brethren of the Palatine House who have place in the Assemblies take it immediately after the Secular Electors as the Archdukes do after the Ecclesiasticks Now all the Princes of this House are descended from two Emperors whose Nephews make two principal Branches both very Potent and Illustrious but of different Religions and perchance no very great friends since they that are sprung from Lewis of Bavaria wear the Electoral Cap which belonged to the descendents of the Emperor Robert And that change came to pass because Frederick V. Elector of the Rhine not regarding the Election that was made of Ferdinand of Austria accepted the Crown of Bohemia whereby he kindled those fires and forged those irons that have wasted our Countrey for above 30. years P. I have already heard say that the Bohemians drew upon themselves and us the mischiefs of the last War by the Election they made of two Kings when they had but one Kingdom to bestow Let us therefore pass by those causes of our evils and according to your accustomed method tell me something of the Original of the priviledges of the greatness and of the alliances of this House G. Many Writers fetch the Original of these Princes out of the loines of Charlemagne and follow the Genealogie down from him to those that are living at this day For my part I know not what to think of it and therefore refer my self to real evidence Yet I dare confidently affirm that the House is very ancient and that since the year 1253. in which Otho Witelpachius Count of Shiern married Agnes heiress of the Palatinate and Bavaria this House hath possessed those two great Principalities with the quality of Elector and great Steward of the Empire It hath given two Emperors to Germany one King to Denmark Sweden and Norway joyntly and another to Sweden alone Without counting I know not how many Generals who have commanded armies in Italy Hungary France and England P. At what time did those Princes reign in Germany Denmark and Sweden G. Lewis of Bavaria was chosen Emperor the 18. of October 1314 and having Reigned gloriously 23. years made room for Charles of Luxembourg the IV. of that name who left Wenceslaus his Successor and he by his intolerable negligence forced the Electors to put Robert Elector Palatine into his place a man low of Stature but of so great courage that the Empire could have wished him endued with immortality if that were to be found here below But he dyed the 18. of May 1410. having Reigned ten years And Christopher his granchild was chosen King of Denmark Sweden and Norway in the year 1430. and dyed without heirs 1448. But Charles Gustavus son of John Casimir a younger brother to the Duke of Zweybruck or Deux-ponts Reigns at this present in Sweden with as much glory as any one of his predecessors and hath a son of Hedwig Eleonor daughter to Frederick Duke of Holstein P. This House descending from two Emperors very renowned in History and having so many and such brave Princes at present worth to be Emperors I wish them those Crown they deserve to wear and desire you to toâ— me whether it enjoys more priviledges theâ— the other Electoral Houses G. The Electors have very great priviledges and the Golden Bull otdains for them allâ— general and every one in particular thaâ— no man appeal from their Justice to any otheâ— whatsoever Yet none of them have preserveâ— this Right entire to them but the Electors oâ— Saxony Brandenburg and of the Rhine Theâ— can all together choose an Emperor and depose him when he is lazy and negligent They have right to prescribe a Capitulation to the Emperor when they have chosen him and to oblige him to swear to the observation thereof Moreover they can meet together once every year without asking leave of any one and consult in that Assembly concerning the publick and their own private affairs Besides this Right which relates to the whole Electoral Colledge the Palatine and the Saxon are Vicars of the Empire and as such they can legitimate Bastards as well of great men as of inferior persons create Notaries and Tabellions confer the Benefices which are in the Emperors nomination give Investiture of lands held in Fee except of Dukedoms and of the Principalities which in Germany are called Fansleben because when the Emperor gives them he puts a standard into the hand of him that receives them and which is most considerable the Elector Palatine can redeem what the Emperor hath sold or engaged at the same value for which it was sold or engaged and which is yet more the Emperor may be convented for Debt before this Elector P. The ancient Emperors gave demonstration of a meekness without example in submiting themselves to the justice of one that is a Subject of the Empire G. No man would deal with Soverains if they did not oblige themselves in Civil matters to some way of Justice and in this case the Emperors have been willing that the Elector Palatine should be their Judge But if the Emperor be accused of Mal-administration the judgement thereupon belongs to all the Electoral Colledge in which case the Elector Palatine is Director of the Process and not he of Mentz though he be Dean of the Electoral Colledge P. Certainly this is no small honour to the Palatine House but wherein consists its greatness G. If these Princes did all aim at the benefit advancement and glory of the whole House in generall and if there were no hatred between the Branches Bavaria the upper lower Palatinate the Landgraveship of Leuchtemberg the Lordships of Simmeren of Deux-Ponts of Weldents the Dutchy of Juliers the Archbishopricâ— of Collen the Bishopricks of Liege Hildesheim and Freisinguen which this House possessseth at this time would make it formidable to all its Enemies as well by reason of its vast forces as because it hath three voices in the Electoral Colledge and at the least eight or ten in that of the Princes P. I know that the Elector of Bavaria in the quality of Duke hath the first voice among the Secular Princes that Duke Albert his Unkle hath one as Landgrave of Leuchtemberg that the Palatine of Simmeren hath another and he of Newbourg too and it may be some other younger brethren of the House have voices also for Deux-ponts in like manner as for the Bishopricks of Hildesheim Liege and Freisinguen But tell me something of the alliances of this House G. It is allied to all the great Families not only of the Empire but of Europe The Emperor Ferdinand II. married in the first year of the Century current Mary Anne daughter to William Duke of Bavaria by whom he had issue Mary Anne wife to Maximilian Duke of Bavaria Cecily wife to Vladislaus IV. King of Poland Ferdinand III. Emperor who had for his first wife Mary Infanta of Spain and by her Mary Anne wife to Philip IV. King of
Spain On the other side Maximilian Duke of Bavaria son of William and of Renata of Lorraine left a son who in the year 1650. married Adelaïs daughter to Victor Amedeus Duke of Savoy and to Christina of France who is allied by consanguinity to all the greatest Kings and Princes in Christendom P. These are indeed very great Alliances G. But this is not all Frederick V. Elector Palatine in the year 1613. married Elizabeth daughter of James King of great Britain and by reason of her the House became allied to the Kings of England and Denmark Philip Lewis his brother in the year 1631. married Mary Eleonor daughter to Joachim Frederick Elector of Brandenbourg and his sister Elizabeth Charlotta was given in marriage to George William Elector of Brandenbourg July 14. 1626. Philip William Duke of Newbourg his first wife was Anne Catherine daughter to Sigismond King of Poland and John Casimir was the worthy husband of Catherine daughter to Charles and mother to Charles Gustavus King of Sweden From whence it may easily be seen that few Houses in Europe are better allied then this which besides what we have newly mentioned is of kin to the Houses of Hesse Gonzaga Bourbon Nassau Saxony Juliers Wirtemberg Rohan and many others P. Is not this Elector Palatine Charles Lewis married G. I forgot to tell you that this Prince who at least equals if he doth not go beyond all his Ancestors in Prudence and Magnaniâ—â—ty hath taken to wife Charlotta the worth daughter of the incomparable Amelia Elizabeth Landgravess of Hess which is sufficienâ— to say that he could not have made a betteâ— choice Edward this Electors brother marâ—â—ed Anne daughter to Charles Duke of Mantâ— and Neuers and Henrietta their sister dye a little after she was married to the Princeâ— Transylvania His other brethren and sisteâ— are yet to marry Robert and Maurice havâ— given proof of their ability and courage upoâ— occasions almost without number and thâ— Princesses Elizabeth Loüyse and Sophia havâ— made skilful masters confess that the Sciencâ— have nothing so sublime nor Picture-drawiâ—â— any thing so marvellous but the wit and hauâ— of these Ladies have been able to reach it P. I hope you will make me a long reciâ—â— of the Genealogies of great persons and theâ— you will not omit these Alliances and these â—â—lustrious Princes and Ladies But that it may bâ— done with the less trouble I shall be conteâ—â— to hear you discourse it at your leisure Leâ— us pass if you please into Saxony and do 〈◊〉 the favour to tell me what you know of theâ—â— Electoral House G. There is not any House in Europe moâ—â— glorious then that of Saxony It restored the honour of the Empire after the race of Charlemagne had lost its first vigour and under oâ—â— Henry and three Otho's it confirmed the Imperial dignity unto Germany it conquered many enemies gave Princes to Savoy and if it be true that Hugh Capet was descended from this House it hath likewise furnished France with their Kings P. Do not the Kings of Denmark also come from Witikind of Saxony G. It is said that the Counts of Oldenbourg are a branch of this great Stock and it is most certain that after the death of Christopher III. the Danes would have chosen Adolph Duke of Schleswick who would not accept of the Crown in regard of his great age declaring that such an honour would be better placed upon the person of Christian Count of Oldenbourg his grandchild and heir apparent The Danes taking this counsel and admiring the generosity of him that gave it chose Christian the first of that name whose posterity Reigns at this day in Denmark Norway Schleswick Holstein Stormar and Dithmarsh P. We will take another time to speak of the Kings of France and Denmark and of the Dukes of Savoy It will be sufficient for the present to inform me when the Electoral Cap was first brought into this House into how many branches it is divided how many voices it hath in the Diets and what are its principal forces and alliances G. The Emperor Sigismond knowing the merit of Frederick the Warlike Marquiss oâ— Misnia and the obligation that the Empire had to his Predecessors charged Eric V. of the House of Saxon-Lawembourg for having lapsâ—â— his due time of demanding the Investiture of the Electorship which his Ancestors had possessed ever since the year 1180. and transfored the same upon the forenamed Frederick oâ— Twelfth-day 1423. Since that time this House hath without interruption possessed the Electoral dignity with the Dutchy of Saxony thâ— Marquisate of Misnia the Landgraveship oâ— Thuringia And by a further accumulation oâ— good fortune it inherited the Principality oâ— Henneberg nay since the last War of Boheâ—â— the Emperor gave the upper and lower Lusaiâ— to Iohn George Elector of this House who diâ—ed the 8. of October 1656. and was interred thâ— 4. of February 1657. with more then Regâ—â—pomp there being 3500. persons in mourâ—ing and 24. Horses of State covered with black and the Electoral Escutcheon embroidered thereon every one of them led by two Gentlemen P. In a late discourse concerning the valiant actions of Duke Bernard Weymar it was sail that he loved not the House of Austria because it took the Electoral dignity from thâ—â— branch G. It is true that Iohn Frederick furnamed the Magnanimous having taken arms for the liberty of Religion was deprived of his dignity by the Emperor Charles V. who took him prisoner near Wirtemberg and gave the Electorate to Maurice in the year 1547. Thus passed this dignity into another branch and the elder became younger brethren For this cause there was but little confidence and kindness between the Princes of this House But as there is no grief which is not diminished by length of time even so the bitterness between these Princes hath been sweetned and they seem to be entirely reconciled For Frederick William Duke of Altembourg took for his second wife Magdalen Sibylla daughter to Iohn George the Elector last deceased and Maurice son to the same Elector hath married Dorothy Mary daughter to William Duke Weymar eldest son of that matchless Bernard whose praises you have heard P. For so much as I perceive this House is divided into many branches G. Not counting the Kings of France and Denmark and the Dukes of Savoy who are the illustrious Ciens that sprung out of this great Tree the Electoral House of Saxony is divided into two principal branches in each whereof there have been six Electors The last of the first branch lost the Electoral dignity because he was unsuccesful in making War for the liberty of Germany against Charles V. and the first of the second branch left the Electoral Cap unto his brother and his posterity for having happily taken and born arms in favour of his Countrey against the same Emperor P. I pray make this business out a little clearer to me G. Frederick III. of that name Elector
to me and I believe as you do that Religion and the State do mutually support one the other But do not forget to tell me something of the beginning progress priviledges immunities and alliances of the House of Brandenbourg of which you have begun to speak already G. All they that discourse of this House make it the Head or a Member of the Colonna's of Rome As for me who cannot be perswaded that the great Houses of Germany came out of Italy but on the contrary following the judgement of Thomas Lansius hold it for certain that many great Families of Italy came out of Germany since the time of Charles the great I am of their opinion who would make Peter Colonna that built the strong Castle of Zolleren from which the first Counts of this Family took their name to descend from the ancient Guelphes that is from the Dukes of Brunswick which being so this House gives place to never a one in the Empire for greatness of Origin P. They that pretend to honor our Houses of Germany by fetching them either out of the Trojan horse or the ruines of Rome do not know that the Ancient Germans are of more worth then the fugitive Trojans and the effeminate Romans But I am of your opinion and desire only to be informed how these Lords acquired the honors and estates which they possess G. The Emperor Rodolph of Habspourg being desirous to give some testimony of the value he put upon his nephew Frederick Count of Hohenzolleren made him Burgrave of Nuremberg in the year 1273. and 156. years after upon the 18. of April the Emperor Sigismond raised Frederick V. Burgrave of Nuremberg to the Electoral dignity to recompense him for the acceptable services he had done in the War of Behemia and Hungary So the Princes of Anhalt who had obtained that Electorship by the favor of the Emperor Conrade the III. of that name in the year 1152. lost it by incurring the displeasure of the Emperor Sigismond Some while after certain differâ—ces arising between the Houses of Brandenbâ—â—â— and Pomerania they fell to open hostility aâ—â— at last to an agreement expresly declaring Thâ—â— in case the House of Pomerania hapned to 〈◊〉 the Marquisses of Brandenbourg should possâ—â— the Principalities that belonged to it and â—â—bert of Brandenbourg from great Master of 〈◊〉 Knights Marianites as he was making himself absolute Prince of Prassia received the â—â—vestiture thereof from the King of Polâ—â— The Dutchies of Iuliers Cleve and Berg wâ—â—â— the Counties of the Mark and Ravensbourg were divided between the Elector Iohn Sigâ—â—mond and Wolfgang William Duke of Newbourg some time after the War which thoâ— Principalities occasioned in the year 1610. As for that which this House possesses in Franâ—â—nia it is their ancient patrimony P. Why did not the Elector of Brandenboâ—â—â— take possession of Pomerania as soon as thâ—â— House was totally extinct G. The Elector neglected not his Right aâ—â— would willingly have taken possession of thâ—â— great Principality if it had not been in the hands of the Swedes But the Crown of Sâ—â—den being victorious in Germany and desirouâ— to keep sooting there would not hearken 〈◊〉 any peace but upon condition of leaving this Maritime Province to them it lying very conveniently for them Therefore as Conqueroâ—â— use to give the Law the Swedes kept the choicest of this Province and left the doctrine of Calvin with a part of Pomerania unto this Elector who by way of recompense for his loss obtained the Bishopricks of Halberstad and Minden and the expectance or reversion of the Archbishoprick of Magdebourg converted into Principalities P. I wonder why they should give this Elector three Principalities for the moyety of one and why the Archbishoprick of Magdebourg was not delivered into his hands immediately after the Peace as well as those two other Bishopricks G. I do not think the Lower Pomerania which the Elector hath quitted to the Swedes yields so good a revenue as the Principalities of Magdebourg Halberstad and Minden Nevertheless I am perswaded this Elector would rather have had that part of Pomerania then the three Principalities which he received in lieu of it by reason of the Sea-force he had thereby gotten and the inconvenience of having a potent Neighbour that keeps him in perpetual jealousie And therefore the States of the Empire having regard to those considerations have given him voices in the Assemblie as Duke of Pomerania and of Magdebourg and as Prince of Halberstad and of Minden Now because heretofore the Archbishops of Magdebourg and Bremen took their turns in the Direction of the Circle of Lower Saxony this Elector doth in like manner alternate at this day with the King of Sweden in the same quality As to your other scruple why the Dutchy of Madgebourg was not presently put into his hands you ought to remember that Augustus youngest son of the Elector of Saxony being in possession of it it was not thought meet to dispossess him thereof so long as he lived P. The Gazette hath often made mention of the difference between the Houses of Brandenbourg and Newbourg for the Dutchies of Juliers Cleve and Berg yet I could never learn the ground of it Do me the favour to tell me from whence that contest proceeds G. You are entring into a Labyrinth out of which Ariadne's clew will not bring us back if we pass further on Let it content you then if you please to know that all the Dukes of Saxony many Princes Palatine and amongst others the King of Sweden bear the name and Armes of those Principalities and that it is to be feared they may one day kindle a flame to consume a good part of the Empire Franskiâ—â— Chancellor of Gotta hath made a long narration of this matter in his Treatise of diverse Resolutions to whom I refer you It is sufficient for you at the present to learn that if the Fief follow the Males and that the daughters neither can nor ought to inherit the same the Dukes of Saxony have a better right to it then any other person because they obtained the survivorship of the House of Juliers in recompense of the services which Albert the Couragious did the Emperor and the Empire against Matthias Corvin King of Hungary who molested Austria and against Charles the Brave Duke of Burgundy who had laid siege to Neus and laboured to bring all the Archbishoprick of Collen under his Jurisdiction This grant was made to Albert by the Emperor Frederick III. June 16. 1483. and afterwards confirmed and amplified in the person and posterity of Ernest Duke of Saxony by Maximilian King of the Romans September 18. 1486. and by him again after he was Emperor in the year 1495. But in case it be supposed that Females may inherit those Fiefs it will be then demanded whether this Priviledge which was granted to Mary only daughter to William Duke of Juliers ought to be extended unto Mary Eleonor her daughter and to
their tranquillity depends upon the equal counterpoise of those two Kings and therefore use their endeavours to hinder the one from bringing the other too much under but I dare not affirm that either of them have such high thoughts True it is that every one ought to fear it and that the wisest Princes seeing the balance too heavy on one side help to make weight on the other The King of Sweden who is prudent in Counsel and valiant in fight will not be the last to apply a remedy when he sees the danger And if he should forget his own and the Empires Interest the Venetians Hollanders and Swisses would employ their money and power for the preservation of theirs and our Liberty P. Europe breeds a people so ingenuous knowing valiant and so opposite to servitude that it seems impossible for it ever to come under the obedience of one only person Let us then leave the Ambitious to rack and torture their minds with imaginary conquests and let us look upon the House of the Guelphes which heretofore possest a great part of Germany And if you will oblige me speak as distinctly of it as possibly you can G. This House which without dispute held the first rank after the Electors before the Archbishopricks of Magdebourg and Bremen were converted into Secular Dignities is put back those two degrees Nevertheless it comes not behind any one in antiquity and had its Territories all along the Elbe in the Countrey of Saxony when it followed the fortune of Albovin King of the Lombards first into Pannonia and afterwards into Italy where these people fixt their seat having driven the Goths out of it and gave their name to the Province anciently called Gallia Cisalpina about 200. years before the time of Charlemagne Then it was that this family acquired the Dutchy of Modena which it possesseth even at this day P. Do you think then that the House of Este which still holds the Dutchy of Modena and lost that of Ferrara in the time of Pope Clement VIII after the death of Duke Alphonso is a branch of this of Brunswick G. I make no doubt of it and when the Kingdom of the Lombards was destroyed in Italy by the arms of Charlemagne some Princes of this House came back into their own Countrey where they had still so large an estate and authority that the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire married Iudith a Princess of that family and had by her Charles the Bald who was King of France and Emperor This Empress had a brother named Henry to whom Lewis his Son-in-law son to Lewis Germanicus gave those lands which are now called Bavaria P. These indeed are fair and advantagious alliances which having made those Princes Brothers-in-law and Fathers-in-law to Kings brought them so considerable a Principality G. The Descendents of Henry did not long possess this Countrey for his line failing in Guelphe IV. his Nephews son the Emperor Henry IV. gave his inheritance to Guelphe V. son to the Duke of Ferrara who as we have said was of the same House And in process of time Henry the Proud Duke of Bavaria descended from Guelphe V. married Gertrude daughter to the Emperor Lotharius II. who brought him the Dutchy of Saxony for her Dowry The issue of that marriage was Henry Leo who together with Bavaria and Saxony possessed many great Principalities lying upon the Elbe and elsewhere P. How comes it then to pass that the Successors of Henry Leo have their Estate confined within the Dutchies of Brunswick and Luntbourg G. That Prince being of a high spirrit and not able to comply with the Emperor Frederick Barbarossâ— his Unkle was proscribed and expelled the Empire and when he was thâ—s driven out of his Estates he made his retreat into England to King Henry II. who gave him his daughter Matildis or Mawd to wife and procured his reconciliation with the Emperoâ— But because he had in the mean time disposed of the Dutchy of Bavaria in favor of the Count of Schieren whose posterity enjoys it at this day Henry Leo was restored to no more then the Dutchy of Saxony which Principality past a little after into the House of Saxon-Lawembourg by the marriage of Helen daughter to the Emperor Otho IV. and grandchild to Henry Leo with Albert I. of that name Elector of Saxony At that time Frederick II. gave the title of Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg to Otho a prince of that House P. The misfortune of Henry Leo should serve for a lesson to Great ones and make all men see that it is necessary to honor Superiors and not to provoke ones Masters G. Many great Princes desiring to shake off the yoke of their due obedience have forfeited their right and lost that which they would not acknowledge to hold of their Soverain That was the quarrel against the King of England who was devested of the Provinces of Normandy and Guyenne by Charles VII King of France And if the Guelphes had husbanded their strength better and paid the Emperor the respect they ought him they had still been the most potent Princes in Germany P. They are far less at present then they were in the time of Henry Leo and yet they seem to be very considerable by their own forces and by their alliances G. All the Houses that have admitted the right of Primogeniture are better kept up then others This having a large Estate and four voices in the Assemblies is divided but into two principal branches which are equal in dignity but the elder in years of the two Chiefs precedes the other in the general and particular Assemblies They all bear the same title and if one branch happen to fail the other shall succeed it They have both of them good Fortresses Wolfenbottel Cel Hanover Lunebourg and Giffhorne are strong places under the command of these Princes Brunswick hath never submitted to their power still enjoying the right of a Free City though the Duke hath often used skill as well as force to bring it under his obedience These Princes can raise and maintain great numbers of Souldiers within their Territories And the neighborhood of Denmark and Sweden may yet make them more considerable the Emperor being always willing to gratifie them to keep them to him and strangers to gain them to their side P. It is certain that a Prince whose lands border upon a Forain State may easily make himself more valuable then if they lay in the heart of the Empire but there is a great deal of prudence to be used in such cases G. The Dukes of Lorraine and Savoye have always been very much considered for the situation of their Estates and the need that neighboring Monarchs had of their assistance For which cause Bocalini having brought them to be weighed at Laurence de Medicis his Scales finds them as heavy as Kings Yet if these Princes be not very quick and expert as well as valiant and resolute they may hazard the
loss of all Emanuel Duke of Savoye who had no equal in courage and but few in prudence having a little slackned the Maximes of his accustomed Politicks saw himself almost totally ruined and Duke Charles of Lorraine is still out of his Countrey for having justled against that party that was able to fall foulest upon him So that Frontier Provinces stand in need of Princes endued with an extraordinary vertue and an unparalleled vigilance otherwise they rather bring bring harm then advantage P. The present Princes of Brunswick and Lunebourg are so great personages that I make no question but they use a Policy worthy of themselves Tell me something of their Alliances G. All the Houses of Germany have great relations but one shall find few of them like this that hath had in marriage seven daughters of Kings one of an Emperor and four Electoral Princesses It hath also bestowed three of its Princesses upon Kings one upon an Archduke many upon Electors and far more upon other Princes of the Empire It hath likewise had in marriage Palatine Princesses Dutchesses of Brabant Saxony Cleve Pomerania Meklebourg Wirtemberg Saxon-Lawembourg and Berg Marchionesses of Brandenbourg Landgravesses of Hesse and in a word daughters of all the illustrious Houses of the Empire P. I think this whole Family is of the Protestant Religion G. When Duke Julius took the government upon him he spent three years in the Reformation of his Countrey and being assisted by the care and knowledge of Doctor James Andrew Chancellor of the University of Tubing brought his design to such perfection in the year 1570. that it continues in vigour to this day and learning in the highest ascendent by the diligence of the Professors which these Princes maintain in their University of Helmestad All this Family follows the doctrine of Luther except Iohn Frederick who was born April 25. 1625. and embracing the Roman-Catholick Religion in the year 1650. solaces himself at this time in Italy P. Hath this Prince many brethren G. The whole branch of Luntbourg consists of four young Lords of whom Ernest Augustus is designed for the Bishoprick of Osnabruâ— Iohn Frederick may arrive to eminent preferment in the Church if he engage not in marriage George William shall be setled at Haâ—vick and Christian Lewis their eldest brother hath married Dorothy daughter to Philip Duke of Holstein This Prince who resides at Cel is obliged to pay to each of his younger brethren 12000. Rix-dollars yearly and much more to the youngest Sophia Amelia their sister is married to Frederick III. King of Denmark and their Mother Anne Eleonor daughter to Lewis Landgrave of Darmstadt is yet living P. Pass on if you please to the branch of Brunswick G. The Head of this branch is Augustus the most knowing Prince of Europe He hath but three sons of whom Rodolph Augustus the eldest hath married Christina Countess of Barby as Antony Vlrick hath done Iuliana Dutchess of Holstein but Ferdinand Albert is a Batchelor So that these two Houses are almost equal in number of Princes as well as in extent of Territory P. I have oftentimes heard mention of the marvellous knowledge of that Duke Augustus and of the Books he hath published and the judgement which I have heard made thereupon obliges me to ask you whether it be necessary that a Prince be learned G. There is no doubt to be made but that Sciences do enhance and adorn the Titles and Souls of Princes as diadems do their heads and jewels their Crowns And although this quality be very rare yet it is necessary to those that would rule happily and gloriously Solomon Alexander the Great Ptolomee Iulius Cesar Augustus the two Antonines and Charlemagne had never attained to so great renown if they had not associated Letters with the sword and learning with valour Wisdom and Knowledge are such Royal endowments that the greatest men do not think any State happy if the Prince be not Wise and Knowing P. Since we are occasionally fallen upon this discourse tell me what Science Princes ought to learn G. The first and most necessary Philosophy of a Prince is to know how to do justice to his People and defend them from their enemies And to that end I think he should study to understand those persons that are able to serve him well and not to neglect the Mathematicks which teach him both to besiege and fortifie places as he ought to form Battalions and batteries to entrench a Camp and to take his advantage As to other things I do not desire that a Prince should spend his time upon Logical notions nor that he should like a Pedant be evermore bringing out some verse of Horace It is sufficient that he be ready in Sacred and Prophane History that he take a delight in Books and consult the dead to learn of them what none of the living dare tell him P. Then you do not believe it requisite for a Prince to be as skilful in Natural Philosophy as Bajazet in Astronomy as Alphonsus King of Aragon nor in Languages as the Emperor Frederick II. was G. It is as great a fault to aim at knowing too much as to learn nothing at all The Prince that hath studied too much despiseth his Counsellors and will fetch all his counsels out of his own head and he that hath learnt nothing is not capable to make choice of the best advices He that would oblige a great Lord to make himself as perfect in the Sciences as they that make it their profession deserves no less blame then if he should forbid him to learn above three words of Latine Learn then to express your mind in good terms read such books as may teach you to know the condition of your friends and of your adversaries be well instructed in truly Christian Politicks let it be your care distinctly to know those that love the publick Interest honor them with such offices as they deserve and leave the rest to your servants P. This subject leads us out of our way I pray let us recover it And since we have said something already of the Dukes of Pomerania that take their turns with the Houses of Meklebourg Wirtemberg Hesse and Baden let us take a view of these four one after the other G. The House of Meklebourg is derived from the Vandal Princes who joyning with the Goths struck terror heretofore into the Roman Eagles and bore their victorious arms in Italy Gaule and Spain P. Do not you believe that Bucephalus his head which they carry in their Escutcheon is not a sure mark that they are descended of one of Alexander the Greats Generals G. Genealogies that are so far fetcht relish more of the Romance then of History and Writers that insist upon such Fables do injury to ancient Houses For my part I think it better to confess my self ignorant from whence a Family draws its beginning then to make even the most credulous to question what is said of it
and freely acknowledging that I do not know whether these Princes be descended from a General of that incomparable Conqueror of Asia I do know that they are of the most Illustrious and most Ancient personages in Germany P. If I be not mistaken the Emperor Charles IV. admitted Albert and John Dukes of Meklebourg sons to Henry Leo Prince of the Vandals amongst the Princes of the Empire G. Charles IV. receiving those Lords into the number of the Estates of the Empire did not give them the quality of Prince which they had before but only brought them under the protection of the Empire by making them Members thereof upon condition they should be subject to its Laws and contribute to its necessities and so enjoy the same priviledges which other Lords of their degree and quality did P. In the time of the last Wars the Emperor made those Princes feel the weight of his indignation giving their lands to Wallestein a Gentleman of Silesia who by a strange ingratitude and a devillish ambition endeavouring to seat himself upon the Throne of Bohemia and dispossess his Master of it came to a miserable end G. The lamentable death of the Duke of Fridland gives us to understand that Kings have long arms and that no man ought to abuse their favors nor follow the motions which an undaunted courage and an inordinate ambition inspires The Duke of Biron and the Earl of Essex had such like designs and as Tragical Catastrophes As to the Dukes of Meklebourg I am to tell you that the greatest part of the Potentates in Germany have felt the smart of Mars his rods and these Princes as much as any other having seen a great Captain indeed and a renowned Souldier but unworthy of their degree bear the name and Arms of their Principality Nevertheless they re-entred into it by the vertue of the Great Gustavus their Cousin-German and though the conclusion of the Peace took Wismar from them yet it gave them in exchange the Bishopricks of Ratzebourg and Suerin turned into Principalities So as they have lost nothing if they do not prefer the convenience of that Haven and its Fort before twice its Revenue P. I did not know that these Princes were so near of kin to the late King of Sweden G. The Great Gustavus and these Dukes were sons of two sisters daughters to Adolph Duke of Holstein which proximity of blood moved that Heroical Prince to embrace their interest So after the Battel of Leipsick he turned his victorious arms towards the Dutchy of Meklebourg and re-placed these Princes there June 25. 1631. Three years after these Lords were reconciled to the Emperor and at this time live in peace divided into two branches the Chiefs whereof make their residence at Suerin and at Gustron P. Have these two Branches equal shares of the Estate G. They have each of them a moyety of the Dutchy and in regard thereof a seat and voice in the Assemblies But Adolph Frederick hath eight sons and six daughters and Gustavus Adolph who is Head of the other Branch had no body to participate with him being aâ— only son This latter who resides at Gustron iâ— of great spirit knowing courteous affable and generous He married Magdalen Sibyll daughter to Frederick the present Duke of Holstein and hath one son by her The children of Adolph Frederick who resides at Sâ—â—nin are all well made and qualified both in body and mind Christian the eldest hath married his Cousin Christina Margaret daughter to Iohn Albert Duke of Meklebourg And Anne Mary youngest of the daughters is the worthy Consort of Augustus Duke of Saxony son to the Elector Iohn George I. All the rest are still to be married and all worthy of Kings as well for their inward as their outward beauty These Princes have all conjunctly one University at Rostoch which was established there in the year 1419 by Iohn and Albert first Dukes of this House P. I should willingly desire a more particular recital of the Alliances of this House but fearing to be too troublesome to you I shall forbear that and intreat you to tell me something concerning that of Wirtemberg G. I shall not proceed any further till I have acquainted you that the House of Meklebourg hath had in marriage six daughters of Kings and five of Electors within less then 200 years As for that of Wirtemberg which after it had for many ages born the quality of Count was raised to the Ducal Dignity by the consent of all the Estates of the Empire in a Diet held at Wormes 1495 it comes behind never a Family in Revenue alliances piety magnificence and priviledges It hath a Countrey where the Mountains abound in Mines Wines and Woods the Forests are well stored with Timber-trees Game and Venison of all kinds the Valleys are a continuation of Meadows covered with Cattle and watered with Brooks full of Fish the Plains are thick set with Gardens and the Gardens like those of the Hesperides or rather like earthly Paradises There is in no place to be seen fairer rows of Orange-trees Grotta's better contrived and beautified Fountains more artificial nor Fruits more pleasant to the sight and taste then at Stutgardt Few Princes have a house of Pleasure and a Heronry within their Garden as this Duke hath neither is there any one in the Empire that hath a greater care of the Sciences and of Learned persons They that have been at Tubing know how many Princes Counts Lords Barons and Gentlemen have been bred in the noble Colledge which Duke Lewis caused to be built and which his Successors do splendidly maintain there P. Since we are entred upon this discourse make me if you please a more particular description of that Colledge G. It would require a more copious and eloquent tongue then mine to make you comprehend the benefit which the Empire receives by this Athenaeum Princes learn there to fear God to honor the Emperor to serve their Countrey to judge of the sincerity of their Confederates and to cherish their friends Counts Barons and Gentlemen do there learn the ways of winning and keeping the favour of Great men a sweetness of carriage necessary for the maintaining of a perfect friendship amongst equals and an infinity of vertues which are the same thing in their Souls that the Soul is in the body the eye in the head precious stones in gold and flowers in meadows P. I suppose that in this illustrious Colledge the exercises of the body are no more neglected then those of the mind G. One may there learn with little charge and pains that which men go to seek for in Italy and France at the expense of their health and soundness both in body and soul Florence hath nothing for riding the great horse nor Rome and Paris for fencing and dancing Schools which may not be gotten without going out of Tubing where the University and Colledge have excellent Professors in all faculties and principally in those
of Aremberg Princess of Barbanson but at present he is General of an Army for the King of France Frederick was Major General with great reputation in the Army of Hesse He is at this time married to Clara Augusta Dutchess of Brunswick These Princes have two sisters who whilest the War lasted thinking they could not spend their time better Antonietta learnt the Hebrew and Latin and Anne Jane the Mathematicks in perfection And that I may forget nothing that may serve to illustrate the glory of this House you shall observe if you please that Eberhard Count of Wirtemberg the third of that name who dyed May 16. 1417. had usually at his Court six Princes seven Counts five Barons and threescore and ten Gentlemen P. I never heard that a Count had Princes in his Court But tell me why doth the House of Austria bear the name and Arms of that of Wirtemberg G. When Duke Vlrick was driven out of his Estates in the year 1519. his Enemies sold that Dutchy to the Emperor Charles V. and Vlrick continued in exile till the year 1534. at which time being assisted by the money of Francis I. King of France and the Sword of Philip Landgrave of Hesse he returned into his Countrey and sent his Son Duke Christopher to Ferdinand King of the Romans who agreed with him at Cade June 24. in the same year that the House of Wirtemberg should enjoy that Dutchy holding it in Fee of the House of Austria Which was accordingly done till the year 1599. when by a transaction made at Prague between the Emperor Rodolph II. and Frederick I. Duke of Wirtemberg this Dutchy was reduced unto its first condition the House of Austria only reserving to it self the name and Arms and the right of Succession in case it survive all the Males of Wirtemberg P. Let us step into the Countrey of Hesse and tell me something of a House to which generosity seems to be natural G. I know never a Family in Germany more illustrious then that of Hesse whether you consider its antiquity or the number of Heroical personages it hath produced or lastly its Alliances The Landgrave George hath heretofore told me that his House is descended from Charlemagne and a little after when I was at Cassel the late Landgravess of Hesse shewed me a Genealogical Table that deriv'd it from a Collateral branch of that great Emperor but by the way of Females I can hardly forbear to explicate the same to you at large and would do it if I were not afraid to â—e troublesom P. I know you could shew me that Gerboâ—â— daughter to Charles of Lorraine Unkle by the Fathers side to Lewis V. King of France who came in a direct Male line from Lewis the Debonaire was married to Lambert II. Count of Lovain from whom the present Landgrave are descended by the way of Henry V. who was the first of this Family that had the title of Landgrave of Hesse But because I do not question that at all declare to me how Henry got this Landgraveship how his posterity kept it who were the most illustrious Princes of this House and into how many Branches it is divided at this present G. You free me from a great deal of pains which yet would not have been unpleasant to me for the respect I bear to that House To begin then to answer your question I say that Henry of Brabant whose predecessors had Born the name of Counts of Lovain Hainault Rhetel and Yvoy and of Dukes of Mâ—selle Lorraine and Brabant married Sophis Landgravess of Thuringia who also descended from Charlemagne by the way of Lewis Germanicus second son to Lewis the Debonain This Henry made war nine years together upon Henry the Illustrious Marquis of Misniâ— who pretended as the other did to the Principalities of Thuringia and Hesse And at last they came to this agreement that the one should have Hesse and the other Thuringia upon condition that the surviving Family should inherit both and this agreement is still in force between the Dukes of Saxony who are Landgraves of Thuringia and our Landgraves of Hesse P. Wars between kinsmen are usually cruel and long At what time did this happen G. Henry of Brabant first Landgrave of Hesse lived 63. years and dyed in that of our Lord 1308. He left the succession to his son Otho who was father to Lewis grandfather to Herman and great-grandfather to Lewis the peaceable second of that name and first of his Family that was qualified Count of Zigneâ—heim and Nidda This Prince may serve for an example of moderation to posterity for when the Imperial Dignity was offered him and he chosen according to the Laws of the Empire in the year 1442. he refused that which many seek after with much hazard labour and anxiety P. The title of Peaceable which this Prince bore makes me think he feared the power of Frederick of Habspourg who took the Scepter which Lewis would not accept and I am perswaded that Lewis the Couragious son to the Peaceable would rather have canvassed to proture the Imperial Crown then modestly refused it G. It is very likely the Son would not have done as the Father did and in all probabily if that House had accepted the Crown then I would have held it even to this day For eveâ— since that time all the princes of Hesse the have reigned were worthy to reign Williâ—â— the younger son to Lewis and Matildis oâ— Wirtemberg had no less courage nor prudence then his Father Philip the Magnanimous being no more but Landgrave of Hesse gave much trouble and no less apprehension to the greatest of our Emperors William the beleved son of Philip shewing himself the worthy son of so great a Father deserved the surname of Wise Maurice was equal to or greater then any one of his Ancestors William the Constant was a pattern of valour and vertue and William his son cannot but prove a great personage having had for his Mother and â—â—tress the most Heroical Lady of this age P. The Ancients by representing Occasion bald behind would teach us to use prudence and not to let slip a present advantage as Lewis Landgrave of Hesse and Frederick III. Elector of Saxony who refused the Empire and repented it too late But go on I pray G. You must know that Philip the Magnanimous had three sons who were all married and Chiefs of several Branches Lewis and George had less of their Fathers estate then William their eldest brother yet that division weakened the House and a little after the inheritance of Lewis untyed the knot of kindness and sowed discord between the two other Branches P. I would willingly have a more particular account of that misunderstanding G. The Landgrave Lewis son to Philip dyed without issue in the year 1604. and appointed his Nephews Maurice and Lewis to inherit his estate by equal portions Now because one of those heirs was of a different Religion from that professed
it translating all the books that they count worthy of their pains P. There are some that undervalue Translations and endeavour to cast an imputation upon them as pernicious to the Common-wealth being causes of lazyness and negligence G. I know there be some learned men are sorry that an entrance is opened into the Temple of wisdom through an easier door then Greek and Latin But notwithstanding their opinion it is certain that Great men should not be debarred of the knowledge necessary for them under the specious pretenses that the Latin and Greek Tongues will be lost in Germany if men may find Learning in their native Language P. If Prince Lewis hath been fortunate in this commendable enterprize his Countrey is greatly obliged to him For these translations do not forbid any man to look into the Originals being only for such as have not time to learn the Languages which furnish us with books But of what Religion are the Princes of these two Houses G. Duke Francis Herman and Iulius Henry his Father who are at this time the eldest and ruling Princes of Saxon-Lawembourg are turned Catholiques the brethren of the forenamed Iulius Henry are Protestants as also the Prince of Anhalt residing at Zerbst All the rest are of the Reformed Religion and very zealous in it The first sort of these Princes take the title of Dukes of Saxony Hungary and Westphalia the other Princes of Anhalt assume that of Counts of Ascania Lords of Berembourg and Zerbst Lawembourg is a fine place upon the Elbe but the Castle is ruined and the Duke lives at Ratzebourg though he have nothing there but the Castle the City belonging to the Duke of Meklebourg The River of Sala crosses the Principality of Anhalt which makes it no less beautiful then fruitful But the Countrey is very little and the Princes stand in need of a greater estate to exercise the liberality to which they have so strong an inclination P. Liberality is the proper vertue of Princes and I think it were better for a great Lord to be profuse then avaritious G. Every man should take a true measure of his ability and give no more then he can well bear Prodigality hath a semblance of something more noble then avarice hath and really it is less odious nay they that gain by it make it pass for a vertue but perchance it is more prejudicial to posterity and no less dangerous then the other extreme Though a King should give away his whole Kingdom he would not satisfie all that ask no nor all that think they deserve much of him It is then more convenient to give with reason never to draw so near the bottom but that Great men may alwayes have wherewithal to gratifie persons of merit and above all they should take special care that their liberality be exercised without the oppression of the People to avoid murmuring which may produce Rebellion P. There is no need of making Laws against giving too much Princes are not so free and there are not many of them that want a Tutor or Overseer in that kind Let us go forward if you please to that which remains concerning the Princes of the Empire G. Seeing we reserve the Dukes of Savoy and Lorraine and the Princes of Orange for another place we have no more to speak of but the Princes of Montbeliard Henneberg Zolleren Aremberg and East-Frizeland P. Did you not say enough of the Princes of Montbeliard when you were discoursing of the Duke of Wirtemberg G. It is true indeed that the Principality of Montbeliard belongs to the House of Wirtemberg ever since the year 1397. at which time Eberhard the younger married Henrietta heiress of that fair Territory Yet it is good for you to know that the present Prince is son to Lewis Frederick grandchild to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg who having had many sons gave to his youngest the Counties of Montheliard and Horbourg the Soverainty of Ericourt the Lordships of Blamont Clairval Passevant and Richeville with the Barony of Grangeâ— This Prince hath Salt-pits and Iron-works that yield him great profit and a voice in the Assemblies but hath never a child His younger brother keeps his residence at Horbourg and is married to Anne of Coligny by whom he hath children P. It is said that the Prince of Montbeliard had heretofore a hundred thousand Rix-dollars yearly Rent Pass we on to those of Henneberg G. These Lords have not long had the quality of Prince Their Family was utterly extinguished in the year 1583. and their Principality past into the power of the Dukes of Saxony by vertue of a Confraternity The seat of the old Race was at Eslesunguen where their Sepulchres are yet to be seen and many â—pitaphs that evidence the grandeur of that illustrious House which was in great credit in the time of Charlemagne P. There are few Genealogies to be seen wherein the Counts of Henneberg have not a place But since they are all gone I had rather you should give me an account of those of Hohenzolleren G. The House of Hohenzolleren is a Branch of that of Brandenbourg and so this Prince is Vicar to the great Chamberlain of the Empire and gives the Emperor water to wash when he eats in Ceremony if the Elector of Brandenbourg be not present Ertel Frederick Count of Hohenzolleren was made Prince at the Diet of Ratisbon in the year 1623. and all the eldest brethren of his House bear the same quality The present Prince married the daughter and heiress of the Count Henry of Berg his youngest brother is Gentleman of the Chamber to the Emperor and the middlemost Canon of Collen These Lords have estate enough and might be rich yet they are in bad condition for want of order and good husbandry P. The Princes of Hohenzolleren are of very high extraction and have a very noble habitation at Echingnen where the Castle is magnificent and Hohenzolleren is seated upon the brow of a high hill I would willingly know how those of Aremberg were made Princes of the Empire G. These Princes having performed great services to the House of Austria and specially to the King of Spain were advanced to the highest Commands in the Low Countreys where they were often honoured with the Collar of the Golden Fleece and at last obtained a place among the Princes of the Empire by the favour of the Emperor Maximilian II. Duke Albert son to Robert Duke of Aremberg and Claudina Countess of the Rhine married Mary daughter and heiress to Everard Prince of Barbanson by whom he hath left Octavius who at this day bears the quality of Prince of Aremberg and Isabel married to Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg This Princess is of incomparable beauty and prudence and the Prince her brother extremely courteous P. Being this House hath its lands and habitations upon the King of Spains Territories you may discourse of it more at large in another place Let us now see that of East-Friseland
and tell me when it obtained the quality of Count and lastly of Prince G. The Counts of East-Friseland and those of Oldenbourg did always maintain great feuds and emulations between one another till the year 1656. At which time Antony Gunther dying without issue lawfully begotten left the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein for his Successors And I believe the cause of that mis-understanding might proceed from hence That Mary of Jeuer being married to Eno Count of East-Friseland and having children by him did yet make John Count of Oldenbourg her heir and again that the Counts of East-Friseland being less ancient then those of Oldenbourg are as rich as well or better allied then they and do also exercise Soverain Justice over their Subjects P. I know the Counts of Oldenbourg are the ancienter But when did those of East-Friseland begin G. Vlrick Sirxena Lord of Gietziel and other lands was made Count of East-Friseland by the Emperor Frederick III. A. D. 1454. That Lord married Folca who brought him in Dowry the Lordships of Escui and Stetendorf Of that marriage came Edzar l. of that name Father of Eno who married Mary of Ieuer by whom he had Edzar II. That Count aspired higher then his Predecessors and took to wife Catherine daughter to Gustavus I. King of Sweden of whom he begat Iohn from whom the Counts of Ritberg are descended and Eno II. who married Anne daughter to Adolph Duke of Holstein by whom he had Vlrick husband to Iuliana daughter to Lewis Landgrave of Hesse Darmstadt This Princess remains a Widow and makes it her business to bring up her children well of whom Edzar Ferdinand is still travelling abroad George Christian is at home with her and Eno Lewis her eldest son having continued some time at the Imperial Court was there made Counsellor to the Emperor and Gentleman of his Chamber Afterward in the year 1653 he was raised unto the rank and dignity of Prince by the Emperor Ferdinand III. at the Diet of Ratisbon This Prince was contracted to Henrittta daughter to Frederick Henry of Nassau Prince of Orange while they were both children but the parties not liking one another the Artitles of marriage were broken and Eno Lewis married Iustina Sophia Countess of Barly November 7. 1656. I am told for certain that this Prince hath 150000. Crowns Revenue and thereby is well enabled to maintain the quality he bears which is annext to the eldest alone the other being no more then Counts and having no part in the Countrey P. We are at length arrived to the end of this journey Let us rest a while and afterwards we will take a view of the Ecclesiastical Princes G. I am content and shall in the mean time prepare my self to tell you how the Ecclesiastical Princes live in Germany how many they are what order of place they observe in the Assemblies by whom and how they were raised to their dignity to what Jurisdiction they are subject and all other necessary things that shall come into my head The end of the Fifth Dialogue Dialogue VI. Of the Ecclesiastical Princes of the Empire P. THe Princes Ecclesiastical hold the first rank in the Empire and you place them after the Seculars but it matters not much since it is neither for want of respect nor of knowing their due place Well then let us see whether the Empire be as venerable by the Mitres of its Prelates as it is formidable by the Sword of its Souldiers G. There is never a Countrey in Christendom where Prelates have so much power as in Germany They are almost all Great Princes and as absolute over the Temporalty of their Benefices as a Secular Elector is over his Lands These riches are now and then misapplied to bad uses and the debauches made by Church-men their great Train the dogs the horses they maintain the Jesters they keep for their pleasure and their dissolute life obliged our Predecessors to upbraid them with it and allow us to believe that they gave occasion to Doctor Luther to preach against their Doctrine as well as their evil conversation Yet still it is often seen that the same Prelate possesseth two three nay a greater number of huge Benefices of the Empire and spends the Revenue thereof without any scruple of conscience in worldly pomp continual debauches and other things unworthy of their rank and profession P. These Princes give themselves but little if at all to their studies misusing their riches and think it beneath their greatness to preach the word of God and do other Ecclesiastical functions But they do not all live alike G. Whatever is spoken against ungodly persons doth nothing concern the truly religious There are Prelates of sundry conditions and different humors some are voluptuous and others chast some love nothing but dogs and bouffons others make much of worthy persons Heretofore besides the three Ecclesiastical Electors there were five Archbishops and thirty Bishops that had seat and voice in the Assemblies of the Empire At this time there are not so many because the Archbishopricks of Magdebourg Bremen and Riga and the Bishopricks of Halberstad Minden and Verden have been changed into Secular Principalities as those also of Besanson Verdun Mets and Toul were dismembred from the Empire and inseparably united to the Lands of Spain and France by the last Treaty of Peace And those of Valesia Losanna and Chur have been abolished by the Suisses So that at present there is none but Saltzbourg that holds the rank of Archbishop in the Colledge of the Princes and about twenty Bishops P. The German Church must without question have lost very much by the last Treaty of Peace where three Archbishopricks and six Bishopricks were Secularized G. Riga was cut off from the Empire before and all those other Benefices were in the power of the Lutherans who had no mind to let them slip out of their fingers And so methinks the generality of the Protestant Princes hath lost more by this Treaty then the German Church seeing the Princes have now no more means to provide for their younger brethren as they had before For in real truth the Elector of Saxony had Magdebourg the King of Denmark Bremen and some other Lords the Bishopricks whereof we have last made mention P. The King of Spain having the Archbishopricks of Besanson and Cambray in his possession there is little likelyhood that those Archbishops should come to the Diets of the Empire G. I do not know whether those Prelates have lost the right they had to sit in the Assemblies of the Empire but it is certain that Cambray doth not challenge the place of an Archbishoprick there though it have gotten that name amongst the Prelates of the Low Countreys by the augmentation of Bishopricks in Flanders which King Philip II. made in the beginning of his Reign That Prelate keeps his ancient title and always qualifies himself Duke of Cambray Count of Cambresis and Prince of the
that a Christian is less bound to make good his word then a Heathen or that keeping faith should be thought convenient among all other Nations and inconvenient to those that profess the Faith as if the People that are enlightned by the brightness of the Gospel ought to be less just then those that are immerst and mudded in the darkness of error and idolatry P. You conclude then that it is requisite to keep faith even with Infidels and Heretiques and I am of the same opinion And in very truth a Prince that should have Subjects of a Religion which would teach the contrary could have no confidence in them no more then they in him if he had no regard to keep his word with them upon pretense that he believed them Heretiques But let us turn into our Road again G. Constance having shewn us the inconstancy of humane promises hath drawn us a little out of our way yet it is no hard matter to strike into it again Ferdinand Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and Elector of Collen held the Bishopricks of Hildesheim Paderborne Verden Munster and Liege all together by means whereof he might have given himself much ease and enjoyed his pleasure if the War had not engaged him in great disquiet and excessive expenses The Jesuits have heretofore told me that the two first of these Bishopricks had a miraculous foundation after this manner while Lewis the Debouaire was at Hildesheim it snowed so much all night that on the morrow the snow was a foot deep every where except in the place where the Cathedral Church was afterwards built And Charlemagne desiring to encamp on that ground where Paderborne stands wherein there was want of water the first pin that was struck into the earth to fasten his Pavillion gave issue to a plentiful spring that drives some water-mills Upon which source the Emperor caused the Church to be built and endowed it with a Revenue necessary for the maintenance of a Bishop Liege is known to all those that have read the History of Charles the Brave Duke of Burgundy who lay very heavy upon it at divers times and upon sundry occasions This Bishoprick and that of Hildesheim are still in the possession of the Elector of Collen but Verden and Minden were Secularized P. I knew before that those two Bishopricks were given to the King of Sweden and the Elector of Brandenbourg Tell me something of Munster G. That City is of special note because its Bishop is the Head of the Circle of Westphalia and because it was the place of the Assembly wherein many Bishopricks altered their property but much more for having been the seat of John of Leyden that petty King and seditious Anabaptist who for some years carried the Sceptre and Ball for marks of his Royalty At last he was besieged taken and put on the top of a Steeple in an iron Cage where he was eaten up by flyes and wasps together with two of his companions who were placed a little lower after they had been carried in triumph and mockery unto several Princes That punishment fit for their Rebellion and other crimes of theirs was inflicted upon them A. D. 1536. P. You said ere whiles that Ferdinand Archbishop of Collen held many Bishopricks together and I would willingly know whether the Church of Rome permit one single person to have so many Benefices every one requiring residence G. The Canon Law is directly against plurality of Benefices and according to the doctrine of the Casuists just as Christians are forbidden to have many wives at one time so are Priests to have many such Benefices together For where the Scripture ordains that a Bishop should be the husband of one wife they say it is meant of one Bishoprick But the Pope doth easily dispense when the Bishop is of high extraction and at this time there are some great Lords that hold more then two of the best Bishopricks in Germany P. I wonder Dispensations are granted in that case seeing by how much the Prelate is of greater condition by so much is he the better enabled to support his Dignity with the estate of his House But the Pope is to answer for those Dispensations and it may be he that is subject to no Law here will find himself much to seek when he is to give an account of his actions before the Tribunal of a Judge that hath no respect to Mitres and shows no more favour to the great then to the little to the rich then to the poor Let us go on to the Bishopricks that remain G. Being I have no intention to speak of those that lye within the Hereditary Countreys of the House of Austria because they sit not in the Diets of the Empire it remains only that we say something concerning those of Frisinguen Brix Basile and Trent The first is possessed by Albert Sigismond son to Albert brother to the late Maximilian Elector of Bavaria The second is so ancient that they say it hath had Bishops ever since the year of Our Lord 360. The third hath no power over the City and the Bishop hath his seat and residence at Poirentrus The last is known throughout all Christendom by reason of the Council which was held there under five Popes and brought to an end under Pius IV. A. D. 1563. In that Council some conclusions passed which strike at the Liberties and Priviledges of the most Christian King the Spaniards also disputed the precedence with him which the Kings of France had enjoyed till that time without contest and enjoy it still in despite of their adversary You may here remark that Gabriel Bucelin a Monk of Weingart having said that Henry of Bourbon is Bishop of Metz makes a great exclamation thereupon that France hath bestowed a Bishoprick upon a Natural son of King Henry IV. yet speaks not a word of the abuses committed in other places only as I think because the French King hath the nomination of the great Benefices of his Kingdom but that Monk doth not take notice that there be more learned and pious Prelates in France then in all Christendom besides P. Is there never an Ecclesiastical Prince in Germany that is not a Bishop G. The Great Master of the Teutonick Order the Abbots of Fulda Hirsesfeld Murbach Kempten Corbay Prum Stabel and Luders the Grand Prior of Malta the Provosts of Eluang and Beressolagaden are Princes and have place in the Diets of the Empire the first immediately after the Archbishop of Saltzbourg and the rest after the Bishops P. Tell me what you know of these Princes G. The Knights Templers and of St. John having fought prosperously against the Infidels raised an emulation in some German Gentlemen who waited upon the Emperor Frederick I. in his expedition to the Holy Land to take the Croisado and because they were installed in the Church and Hospital of St. Mary at Ierusalem they were called Marianites Their Order differed nothing from
those above mentioned but in the form and colour of their Cross and was approved by Pope Celestin III. Afterwards when Ierusalem was taken by Saladin those Knights betook themselves to Ptolemais from whence the Emperor Frederick II. sent them back into Germany and employed them against the Prussians and Livonians who at that time were still Pagans but by the valour and piety of those Knights their souls were brought into subjection to Christ and their bodies to the Order which began that War in the year 1220. A little while after those Knights found themselves Masters of a Countrey of very large extent which obeyed the Order till the year 1525. at which time Sigismond King of Poland gave the Investiture of Prussia unto Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg In the year 1563. the Great Master became Secular again and took a part of the lands subject to the Order with the name of Duke of Curland And Livonia having been the subject and Theatre of many Wars between the Polanders Muscovites and Swedes these last did at length become Masters of it and have it in possession still So there is no more remaining of the Teutonick Order but some Commanderies scattered here and there in Germany and the Great Master hath the seat of his residence at Manenchal or Morkenthal He is at present the Archduke Leopold William only brother to the Emperor Ferdinand III. P. All things here below being subject to change I do not wonder that the zeal of those first Knights should grow cold and that they like the Templers abused their riches Tell me something of the Abbot of Fulda and the Grand Prior of Germany G. This Abbey is one of the richest and most celebrious in Europe It was founded upon the river of Fulda between the Countreys of Hesse Franconia and Wetteravia by Charlemagne and Pepin Kings of France in the year 744. This Abbot is first of the Empire he is Arch-Chancellor to the Empress calls himself Primate of Gallia and disputes precedence with the greatest Lords They say that heretofore he could raise 60000. men and though there were a Cypher too much in the account he would be yet be too potent for an Abbot who should have no other care but to direct the Monks in the path of vertue by his doctrine and example The Grand Prior of the Order of Malta in Germany is at this time Frederick Landgrave of Hesse brother to him of Darmstadt who was created Cardinal within these few years and when from being a Lutheran he turned Catholick in the year 1636. he was made one of the Great Crosses of Malta by Vrban VIII and a little after being General of the Galleys of that Order for an Essay of his prowess he entred with five Galleys into the Port of Carthage at Goletta and came out again in spite of the Turkish Canon which continued playing upon him as thick as hail each of his Galleys towing one of Caragoges the great Pirates Ships at her Stern the biggest whereof carried forty pieces of Ordinance and as many Murderers That action got this young Prince a great deal of honour amongst the Knights of his Order two hundred whereof were partners in his fortune and admirers of his resolution P. The Landgraves never do any dishonourable thing and if this Prince had pursued his point and continued in the warlike profession he had cut out work for the common Enemy of Christians Let us see the rest if you please G. The Abbey of Murbach whereunto that of Luders is united because they have both suffered the injury of the times was once so potent that it could maintain 1260. Horse It was founded in the mountains of Alsatia by Eberhard Duke of Almaine now called Swaben to the honour of St. Landegat one of his Ancestors These two Abbeys are at this time in the possession of the Archduke Leopold William The Provost of Elvang is usually chosen out of the body of the Chapter of the Provostship the Canons whereof are Gentlemen He is rich and well lodged in a Castle situate upon a high ground near the City of Elvang Corbay is an Abbey in Saxony so called because St. Adelar Cousin to Charlemagne Abbot of Corbie in Picardy was the Founder thereof in the year 822. and since that time it hath produced great personages Prum had the honour within its own walls to see Lotharius son to the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire change a Crown for a Monks Cowl And Stabel is an Abbey in the Bishoprick of Liege All these Prelates go before the Secular Princes P. I think there are some Prelates that come behind the Secular Princes and though they sit in the Assemblies have no voice there but in Body as the Counts have G. Those Prelates are three and twenty in number and fourteen Abbesses to wit of Quedlimbourg Essen Hermord Nidez and Obermunster at Ratisbon of Lindau Herenroda Buchau upon the Lake Federsic Rotemmunster near Rottevil Hagbaen Guttenzel Beind Dandelan and Gunderthem These Ladies have right to sit in the Assemblies but for the decorum of their Sex they are excused from coming thither in person and yet are obliged to send their Deputies The Prelates do all bear the quality of Abbot Provost or Bailiff and are so rich and powerful that if their Revenue were well employed they might justly strike a terror into all those that would meddle with them P. I know the power of the Churchmen in Germany is too too boundless and it may be their riches gave occasion to the Princes to make themselves Masters of a part of the good things which they abused G. Although the errors which were crept into the Church and the depraved conversations of Churchmen were the first motive of those changes that hapned in the last age nevertheless it is certain that if that had not been some other cause would have been found out to abate the Revenues of Priests which were every day encreased by ways unjust and violent P. How did the Churchmen come to be so prodigiously wealthy G. The piety of the ancient Christians began that which the avarice of the Priests hath accomplished and to speak more clearly Christians of every condition seeing men of the Church afflicted beaten and martyred for the Gospels sake gave them both in their life-time and left them after their deaths a part of their Estates either upon money lent out for their use or upon lands set at a perpetual rent or upon other goods After which Priests went on even to excess and by Legacies in Wills and Testaments got Dutchies Counties Baronies Fiefs Castles Rent-charges as well as Services and Fee-farm-rents and Houses both in City and Countrey by which means Successions fell to them on every side and so they purchased exchanged negotiated with the Revenue of their Benefices employing the profits thereof to compass other estates which being in their hands became exempt and free of all charge It was that vast enriching of Church-men which made
and those Lords prefer it before all other titles P. I do not think there be many Landgraves G. There is none but the House of Hesse that takes its chief title from thence The Landgraveship of Alsatia was transferred to the King of France by the Treaty of Munster that of Leuchtemberg to the House of Bavaria by the marriage of Duke Albert with Matildis heiress of that Principality that of Thuringia belongs to the Duke of Saxony that of Sausemberg to the Marquiss of Baden and that of Nollembourg to the House of Austria Besides these Landgraveships the Counts of Furstemberg take upon them the quality of Landgraves of Stillinguen and Bath and those of Sultz are styled Landgraves of Klegeu But these two last prefer the title of Count before that of Landgrave from whence you may judge that the Landgraves are not all Princes P. I conceive there is no Landgrave nor Burgrave but in Germany and strangers know not those names in their own Countreys G. Certainly there is no Landgraveship out of Germany but some think that Burgrave is that which Forainers call Viscounts or Viguiers I refer my self to the truth in this case and shall only tell you that they who fansie and take delight in Quaternions say there be four of them in Germany to wit of Nuremberg Magdebourg Strombourg and Reinek The two last whereof are no longer acknowledged for such For Strombourg is a Castle situate between Simeren and Creisenach which belongs to the Elector Palatine and Reinek is fallen to the inheritance of the Counts of Issembourg The Elector of Brandenbourg doth still bear the title of Burgrave of Nuremberg though Frederick V. of that name who was made Elector on St. Johns Eve A. D. 1417. sold unto the Burgers of Nuremberg the Castle which he had in that City and some Villages and Forests with the right of the Schultets or Aldermen for 240000. Florins reserving to himself the name and some rights That of Magdebourg belongs to the Elector of Saxony who bears the title thereof and the Arms which are a Demy-Eagle Argent in a Field Gules There are some other Burgraves as those of Kirchemberg Donau and Fridberg but they are not equal to the former P. Are the Archdukes ancient G. That name was unknown before the time of Frederick III. and I think Maximiliaâ— of Austria was the first that bore it And all the world affords no Archdukes but those of Austria As to the cause for which those Princes took up that glorious title I judge that the Emperors of that House seeing their Family arrived to the highest degree of power and dignity were desirous that it should have a peculiar name to it self and for that reason they would never communicate it to any one else though they have been entreated so to do very often and very earnestly Now the word signifies Prince or chief of Dukes as that of Archbishop signifies Prince or chief of Bishops But I do not see that the Archdukes have any Suffragan Dukes as the Archbishops who have Bishops under them P. I do not believe that the Archdukes pretend to have any Dukes their Suffragans but only to shew by that title that there is as much difference between them and other Dukes as there is between an Archbishop and a Bishop Tell me something of the Dukes G. The title of Duke is very ancient but it hath not alwayes been so considerable as it is now The Romans honoured their chief Officers of war with that name because they led on the souldiers to the battel After that and in process of time the state of affairs obliging the Emperors to have Officers of quality and long experience in war to guard the Frontier Provinces they sent some of their Dukes thither P. The Emperors did not appoint Dukes only for the Government of Frontier provinces seeing those that ly in the midst of the Empire are honoured also with the title of Dukedom G. The first Governor that bore the quality of Duke was he of the Marches of Rhetia a Countrey betwixt Germany and Italy which at this time we call the Grisons To that Province the Emperors sent a Duke to withstand the Germans who oftentimes endeavoured to make irruptions into Italy through that passage since which several Governors as well of other Provinces in the Empire as those on the Borders have had the same honour because it was thought necessary to send garrisons into those parts to keep the People in obedience and also by that means to provide an honourable entertainment for those Lords that had served well in the wars But as nothing is enough for ambition those Governors in the end made themselves masters of the Provinces which they had in charge And so the Dukes grew great by the diminution and enfeebling of their Head as the Marquisses Landgraves Burgraves and Counts in like manner did The word Duke is borrowed from the Latin Ducere as Hertzog in Dutch from words that signify a Conductor of an Army P. Are all Dukes of the same condition G. There is not one in Germany but is a prince and allied to Kings those of other Countreys are not so And whether you consider their antiquity or cast your eye upon their estates Alliances and manner of living they ought certainly to be preferred before those of Spain France and England and to be ranked equally with the greatest of Italy P. I know that in France the ancient Dukedoms have been united to the Crown that in Spain the proud Morisco humour gave the title of a Kingdom to the lands that are not worth a good County and that in England there is never an ancient Duke But before we enter upon a particular consideration of the Counts of the Empire I pray tell me whether the Dukes were alwayes greater and more illustrious then the Counts C We have seen already that the ancients called them Duces that led on souldiers to the battel and Comites those that were taken out of the Emperors Court to administer Justice to the Subjects of the Empire A little after the nature of those employments were altered and the Dukes became Generals of Armies or Governors of Provinces and the Counts chief Justices in the Cities and Provinces of the Empire And both of them made themselves Masters of the lands whereof they were Judges or Governors All those Lords assisted the Emperor in the beginning some at the Councel-board and others in the field all of them performing useful and beneficial service to the State Nay I believe without regarding the title either of Duke or Count the Emperors employed those Lords indifferently in the Palace or in the Armies so that it is hard to judge whether title was the more honourable Yet it is to be observed that there were some Counts by Office and others by Dignity that the former sort were raised to places of authority without regard had to their birth and the others were equal or very little
inferior to the Dukes P. There are some that presume to say that heretofore Counts were greater then Dukes G. Gariban a diligent Spanish Historiographer following the opinion of Vasco affirms that Counts were greater then Dukes and endeavours to prove it from that which is found in the Councils held at Toledo where some that subscribed them styled themselves Comites Proceres and Comites Duces And the reason whereupon they ground that assertion is because all those that have many titles set the greatest in the first place Which nevertheless is not alwayes true for the Cardinals of the Church of Rome when they sign any thing write Deacon Cardinal Priest Cardinal or Bishop Cardinal not to perswade us that the dignity of Deacon Priest or Bishop is above that of Cardinal but to inform us that they are not barely Deacons or Priests but Deacon Cardinals that is the most eminent Princes of the Church And so it was with the Lords that subscribed those Councils they styled themselves Counts and for a distinction from others they added Duke as the more eminent P. You will confess that the sons and brethren of Kings and the greatest Officers of the Imperial and Royal Houses have anciently contented themselves with the title of Count and if the Ducal dignity had been greater they would without question have desired sought for and obtained it G. The titles which Kings have formerly given to their children as also those of Count of the Palace Comes Stabuli or Constable and others which satisfied the principal Officers of the Imperial Court do in no wise derogate from the quality of Duke For at last those Princes better bethought themselves and acknowledging that the name of Duke was alwayes a higher quality then that of Count they desired to be honoured with the same I know very well that the Counties of Castille Portugal Flanders Tyrol Tolouse Provence and Wirtemberg were very illustrious but I know also that the Countreys of Burgundy Bavaria and Lorraine did anciently bear sometimes the title of Kingdom sometimes of Dukedom and that the latter imported no less authority then the other The Princes of Poland Hungary and Bohemia who are at this time great Kings did for many ages bear no more then the quality of Duke Nay some Provinces in Spain were governed by Dukes a thousand years before the birth of Christ and when that Countrey was assaulted by the Carthaginians and afterwards by the Romans it was vigorously defended by the same Dukes who were Soverain and independent From whence you may judge that the title of Duke was almost equal to that of King before ever there were any Counts and so conclude that albeit in certain Countreys and times the title of Duke hath been somewhat abased yet it was never inferior to that of Count but alwayes greater P. The Counts Palatine and the Marquisses of Brandenburg are nevertheless as much or more then the greatest Dukes in Germany G. I agree with you but that derogates nothing from the title of Duke in general forasmuch as those Princes are not barely Counts but Counts Palatine Margraves and Electors and as such placed amongst the first Princes of the Empire P. I am satisfied and having seen that a Duke is and alwayes was greater then a Count I beseech you declare unto me those of the Empire But before we go any further tell me whether you think that true which some Writers affirm that a Duke should have four Counts under him G. I have just now demonstrated unto you that a Count was alwayes less then a Duke But I esteem it a mere dream and a folly below a discoursing soul to resolve that an Emperor should have under him four Kingdoms a King four Dutchies a Duke four Counties a Count four Baronies a Baron four Castellanies and a Castellan four Fiefs Those maxims of Quaternions should be expelled out of your thoughts as ridiculous Otherwise all they that have four Kingdoms would be Emperors and the Emperor losing one of those four which he had would cease to be Emperor Besides all Kingdoms are not equal and it would require a great many such Kingdoms as Valencia Murcia Grenada Algarvia Majorca Minorca Ivica and Yuetot to make one great King And on the other side if any one could have three Kingdoms equal to that of France in richness of soil abundance of People and number of Nobility he might equalize the greatest Emperors and the Count of Champagne to whom seven other Counts did homage would almost double the proportion of a Duke P. Having seen in your former discourse the force of the Latin word Comes and the Dutch Grave together with all its compounds and other things which I desired to know concerning the Counts in general you will oblige me now to come in particular to the Counts of the Empire and tell me what was their original what their power is at present and what their dignity G. Stephanus Paschalis a famous searcher of Antiquity saith there were as many nay more Counts then Cities in Gaule when the French made themselves masters of it and that the Conquerors desiring to use their new Kingdom favourably and give a subdued People no cause of complaint kept up all the offices and commands which the Romans had introduced amongst them The Laws of Charlemagne and of his son Lewis the Debonaire are full of the order which the Counts were to observe in the administration of justice From whence you may gather that the Counts of those times were not raised to such a height of Dignity as they are now P. If the Counts were but Judges who usually are such no longer then their Prince pleaseth how came it to pass that they made themselves masters of the lands which were under their Jurisdiction G. Though the Emperors had power to deprive the Counts of their Offices yet for the most part they let them enjoy them during their lives and if they had any sons capable to succeed them they were preferred before any other And that they might be the better enabled to attend upon the administration of Justice and defend the People when need should require the Emperors granted them Fiefs within the Territory of their Jurisdiction which Fiefs gave them opportunity to make themselves Masters of all the rest and to transmit the same unto their heirs P. Is it long since the Counts made their Counties hereditary G. It is hard to say under what Emperor that remarkable change hapned in the Empire but it is probable that it was under the Descendants of Charlemagne in the time when Charles the Bald and his son Lewis the Stammerer made their residence in France and were at variance with the sons of Lewis Germanicus their kinsmen who said the Imperial dignity belonged to them P. By what you have hitherto said I can sufficiently comprehend what was the power of the ancient Counts Do me the kindness to tell me what that is they have at present G.
of Nassan Bredâ— and Dilembourg who are great in number and consideration P. I know that House hath produced Heroical spirits that have made the world understand the King of Spain was not invincible and that William Maurice and Frederick Henry of Nassau stopt his Chariot when he was driving apace to the Universal Monarchy Tell not something of their Alliances G. There are few Houses in Europe which are not allyed to that of Nassau Otho married the heiress of Guelderland and brought that County into his House as that of Zutphen also in the year 1079. Another Otho was husband to Adelais who brought him the County of Viande and the Baronies of St. Vit and Grumberg about the year 1350. Enguilbert grandchild to Otho took to wife the heiress of Breda John married Anne Countess of Catzenelleboguen by whom he was Count of Dietz and Henry son to John married Claudina of Chaalâ—â—s upon whom he begat Renatus the universal heir to Philibert of Chaalons Prince of Orange Now Renatus leaving no children by Anne daughter to Antony Duke of Lorraine had for the Successor of his whole estate William of Nassau who was Founder of the Commonwealth of Holland That Prince had four wives Anne of Egmont Countess of Barc Anne daughter to Maurice Duke of Saxony Charlotta of Bourbon Dutchess of Montpensier and Loüyse of Coligni His daughters were married to William Lewis Count of Nassau Emanuel son to Antony King of Portugal Philip Count of Hohenlohe Frederick IV. Elector Palatine Henry de la Tour Duke of Bouillon Claude de la Trimouille Duke of Toüars and Philip Count of Hanau P. I did not think that House was so well allied G. Philip William eldest son to the said William married a sister of the Prince of Conde And William son to Frederick Henry his youngest son while he was in minority was married unto Mary eldest daughter to Charles I. King of Great Britain John brother to William had three Wives and amongst them Cunegonde daughter to Frederick III. Elector Palatine John who was husband to Margaret Dutchess of Holstein and Ernest Casimir to Sophia Dutchess of Brunswick The Counts of Nassau are also very highly allied Lewis married Anne Amelia and John Sibyll Magdalen both daughters to George Frederick Marquiss of Baden From whence you may easily see that there be few Princes so well allied as those of Nassau Lastly those of Sarbrug do still bear the title of Count and all the rest that of Prince P. That which you have told me of the House of Nassau encreases the desire I have to know the other Counts Give some particulars concerning those of Hohenzolleren G. We said something of them when we were speaking of the Princes to which I now adde that Eitel Frederick who was living in the year 1202. married Elizabeth daughter to Adelbert Count of Habspourg the Emperor Rodolph I. his own sister from whom the Electors of Brandenbourg and the Counts of Hehenzolleren are descended Frederick the Blad is very famous for his military exploits and Justus Nicolas for re-edifying the Fort of Hohenzolleren which had been ruined by Henrietta Countess of Wirtemberg and Montbeliard That action was the more illustrious because Philip Duke of Burgundy Albert Elector of Brandenbourg Albert Duke of Austria and Charles Marquiss of Baden laid the first stone of it using a Tray a Trowel and a Mallet all of Silver about the year 1480. The Lords of that House are Hereditary Chamberlains to the Emperor since the time of Maximilian I. who to recompense the services of Eitel Frederick VII of that name honoured him with that Office to him and his Successors P. The House of Furstemberg is very renowned in History I would gladly know something of it G. Those Lords were grown very illustrious in the time of Henry the Fowler to whom Lewis Count of Freibourg and Furstemberg performed great services maintaining at his own charge threescore men at arms against the Huns and he was a party in the Turnament held at Magdebourg in the year 935. He was son to Frederick and to Agnes daughter to a King of Scotland and from him are descended all those that at this time bear the name and arms of Furstemberg Conrade son to Egon and to Agnes Dutchess of Zeringuen being Bishop of Losanna and Cardinal of the title of St. Ruffina was chosen Pope and refused it P. There are more to be found that sollicite for the Popedom then that reject it when it is offered G. Egon brother to Conrade added to his other titles that of Count of Aurach and his Successors enjoyed it till about the year 1443. at which time that County past into the House of Wirtemberg Henry V. accompanied the Emperor Frederick III. when he went to be Crowned at Rome Henry his son dyed at Tournay in the service of the Emperor Maximilian 1. And William son to Courade is celebrated in the History of France for having served and disserved King Francis I. To conclude all those that are living at present are descended from Frederick and Anne Countess of Heclehemberg who left two sons Christopher and Joachim From the first come Elizabeth the worthy Spouse of Frederick Marquiss of Baden Dourlach Eleonor married to Jâ—hu Eusebius Fugger Count of Kirksberg John Maximilian Frebemus Maria John Martin and Frances a young Lady still and of extraordinary beauty From Joachim are descended Francis Egon Canon of Collen and Strasbourg great Steward great Chamberlain and Counsellor of State to the Elector of Collen Herman Egon and William Egon both Church-men Mary Frances widow to William Palatine and Duke of Newbourg and Ferdinand Frederick Egon Counsellor Chamberlain and Captain of the Halberdiers Guard to the Emperor Ferdinand III. This Count was born February 6. 1623. and communicated his Genealogy to me upon the ending of the year 1654. P. I should be glad that you would run through all the Houses of the Counts of the Empire that I might know them well but seeing that is impossible I shall content my self with what you will be pleased to tell me of them G. I will tell you what I know but that will be no great matter The Counts of Barby are allied to the Dukes of Brunswick and to the Princes of Anhalt and East-Friseland they use the title of Noble Lords Those of Castel are as ancient as the Empire in Germany they are of the chiefest persons of Franconia fruitful in vertue great in merit happy in alliance soverain in their Justice and might raise envy in many though they had none but Wolfgang George President of the Councel of State and great Steward of the Court of Wirtemberg a most excellent pattern of piety justice and integrity The Counts of Oldenbourg and of Delmenhorst are totally extinguished by the death of Antony Gunther who having made his name known amongst all the greatest Princes and secured his lands by the great number of Horses which he gave away to save himself from losing 1200. breeding
Into the greatest part of Regular Orders they admit Gentlemen that have attained to the age of 18. years and consequently before they have given any proof of their merit and they are degraded for murders basely committed by lying in ambush or other crimes unworthy of such persons But Kings admit none into their Orders but those that have performed good and considerable services and for that cause a man is oftentimes well in years before he can obtain that honour of which also he cannot be deprived but for High Treason Divine or Humane or for notorious cowardize as having run away from his Colours and forsaken his Chief P. If it be so there is less honour in being admitted into a Regular then into a Secular Order G. I do really think so because for the obtaining of the latter it is requisite that a man joyn his own vertue unto that of his Ancestors And the Order which makes him that is admitted into it Companion of a Soverain and familiar with his King hath doubtless something more eminent in it then that which only makes him brother and Companion of certain Gentlemen P. I would willingly know why so many Orders of Knighthood have been instituted G. Necessity was the first and principal cause of all those Orders The Regulars began after Godfrey of Boullion had taken Ierusalem when some valiant Gentlemen having voluntarily undertaken the defence of the oppressed the maintenance of Hospitals the care of Pilgrims and the securing of the ways Popes gave them priviledges and bestowed honours upon them to draw on others to the same profession Which is honourable to the Church of Rome as well for the zeal which Catholiques show in visiting the Holy places as because all the Nobility also that embraces a Rule becomes subject to the Pope P. Had Kings the same design G. Conquerors made Souldiers willing to follow them by sharing the fruit of their Conquests with them and when their Successors had not estate enough to reward all the glorious actions and eminent services which Gentlemen did for them being perswaded that a man of courage values nothing comparably to honours which distinguish him from other men they invented those Orders which without exhausting their Treasure would gain them the Flower of their Subjects and enflame all others with an extreme desire to make themselves worthy of the same honour I think it was for that reason that anciently they created Knights just before the Battel to make them engage more resolutely or presently after it to recompense those that had the greatest hand in the victory P. I would know whether there be many Knights in Germany G. There be Knights of four sorts who ought to be Princes Lords or Gentlemen The Emperor dubs some by touching them lightly upon the shoulder with a naked sword and saying to them Esto miles Dei Sancti Stephani Be a Souldier of God and of St. Stephen and those wear no Collar or other mark to distinguish them from other Gentlemen The Kings of Spain England and Denmark do also send their Order to such Lords as they set most value upon The first wear the Golden Fleece the second the Garter and the third the Elephant enamelled with white and enchased with a Cross of five great Diamonds All the other Knights are of the Military Orders of Prussia or Malta The former have the Black Cross and are named Teutoniques the latter wear a white one and are called Knights Hospitallers of St. Iohn of Ierusalem Heretofore all of the last Order were Catholiques but there are some of them now that are not so and possess the Commanderies which the Protestant Princes have not incorporated into their Demesnes But if you happen to see any German Suisse or Hollander wearing the Collar of the Order of St. Michael you may take notice that the most Christian King sometimes confers the honour of that Order upon those that have done him some acceptable service P. Do all Emperors and Kings of the Romans make Knights G. If they do not at least they may all do so And at the Coronation of Charles V. there was such an abuse that all those that would have that honour received it although they were not Gentlemen In our days it hath not been so abused For when the last Ferdinand was crowned at Ratisbon he created 28. Knights the greatest part of them very illustrious both by their birth and merit P. Now I see what difference there is between a Knight and a Cavalier I pray discourse something of the Nobility G. There are Countreys in Europe where the Nobility is distinguished into Princes Lords and Gentlemen who all together make one part of the State and are the Kings right arm the support of his Crown and the prop of his authority It is not so in Germany where the Princes nay the poorest Lords would take it for an affront to be called Gentlemen Who as we have seen before are absolutely separated from the Body of the Nobility and have their interest apart P. I know already that the Princes are Estates of the Empire and have no communion with the Nobility But I would willingly know whether all the Gentlemen of Germany make one Body whether they be equal in priviledges and whether they mutually assist one another in their necessities G. The Nobility of Germany is of two sorts One Immediate acknowledging none but the Emperor the other Mediate that acknowledges the Emperor as Head of the Empire yet without being exempt from the jurisdiction of another Prince This latter hath not so much liberty as the former but is for all that excellent in its degree there being never a Gentleman in Germany that doth not prefer a poor Gentlewoman before a rich Burgers daughter and wonders at the mixture of different qualities used in other places But this Body being united only by the ligaments of name and condition there is little or no help to be expected from one to another P. Is the Nobility that depends upon Princes equally priviledged through all the Empire G. Nobility being a quality acquired by vertuous actions and eminent services which some Houses have performed to the Prince and State it is impossible but that there should be some Houses more Noble and better priviledged then others And although fortune should have more influence then merit upon the dispensing of those qualities yet the same judgement were still to be made because Soverains are subject to their passions rewarding more bountifully and raising higher some of their servants then others It happens also that one Prince hath occasion to make use of his Nobility more often then another and receiving more considerable services from them he doth also recompense them with greater and more signal benefits P. There is no doubt but merit or favour hath made the difference which is found between those Houses that hold in Fee of a particular Prince But I am perswaded that all the Nobility immediately subject
For I have heard say that Hambourg hath a vast Revenue and that these two Cities can set out above 200. Ships G. No man hath every thing that he desires and few Countreys have all that they stand in need of one wants Corn another Wine a third Salt or something else But now we speak of Salt Hall in Swaben hath three Salt-pits where they make a great quantity Haïlbrun is an Imperial City and yet pays the Tenth of its Wine and Grain to the Duke of Wirtemberg Kaufbegeren was so called because it bought its liberty for 15000. Livres of the Emperor Conrade II. Landau seated near the mountain Vogesus on the French side of the Rhine was mortgaged by the Emperor Lewis of Bavaria and afterwards redeemed and enfranchised by Maximilian I. Lindau was heretofore a Convent then a Village and at last a City subject at first to the Lady Abbesse afterwards to the Duke of Swaben and finally to the Emperor who hath given it the priviledge of coyning money This City stands upon an Island in the Lake of Constance and is joyned to the firm-land by a bridge 290. paces long P. This place is exceeding strong being so remote from land G. I believe it is and indeed the Swedes hovered thereabout in vain watching to have surprised it Meminguen is very ancient and at this time well known for the Almanacks of Schoret Mulhausen is abundant in Gardinage and Mills become famous also for the folly of Thomas Muncerus who preached there exciting the Countrey people to rebellion which occasioned the ruine of many For that Impostor holding forth that all things ought to be common had drawn an infinite number of people from their labour and husbandry P. I have observed in Sleidan that many false Prophets arose about the time that Doctor Luther undertook the Reformation of the Church and that this Muncerus was one of the most seditious G. His folly cost him his head with the lives of Pfeifer his companion and a great many poor wretches more But let us continue to reckon up the Cities amongst which you may take notice that Nuremberg is one of the fairest most priviledged richest and best governed in Europe The Patricians are the chiefest men there and of 42. persons of whom the Senate is composed there are but eight taken out of the Plebeians The new chosen Emperor ought to hold his first Diet there This City keeps many of the ornaments used at the Coronation of the Emperors and there is to be seen the Royal Crown about which there is a Mitre enriched with numberless Diamonds Rubies Emeralds and Pearls and on the forepart thereof a Cross of Diamonds of very great value the Dalmatique Gown of Charlemagne embroidered with huge Pearls the Imperial Cloak set all over with Eagles embroidered the border whereof is full of great Emeralds Diamonds Sapphires and Chrysolites the Buskins covered with plates of gold the Gloves embroidered with precious stones the Ball golden Sceptre and Sword which the Electors bear in Ceremony But there is evermore some jealousie between the Marquisses of Brandenbourg and this City the Burgers whereof have the power to imprison their children and to cast them alive into the river P. That is a strange priviledge indeed and which ought to keep children in the respect they owe their parents G. Nortlinguen is neither so big nor so wealthy but it is peopled with inhabitants perfectly martial and its name is known every where because of the Battel which the Swedes lost there September 6. 1634. Northausen hath often had Imperial Assemblies held in it and Henry Landgrave of Thuringia kept a Turnament there Ratisbon which the Latines anciently called Augusta Tiberia is famous for having as many Churches as there are days in a year and five Estates of the Empire within her walls but more because Diets are often held there and because while the Empire was assembled there General Bannier went thither to make a Bravado in the year 1632. P. It was an act of great confidence but he got very little by it G. Generals do some actions now and then that show more gallantry then judgement and sometimes they meet with a bound and check to their victories before a weak place In the year 1643. the French lost before Rotwil Mareschal Guebriant whose person was more worth to France then the taking of twenty such Towns It is the seat of a Presidial Court and served for a retreat to the Cimbri after they had been beaten by the Romans Reutlinguen is not great but exceedingly priviledged It received Luthers Resormation from the time he began to preach and as Eslinguen it is under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg Rottembourg upon the Tauber was put into the number of Imperial Cities after the Reign of Frederick I. Selestadt is one of the Cities within the Bailywick of Haguenau Schweinfort is a fair and strong City and was in the hands of the Swedes when the Peace was made in the year 1648. P. Methinks you forget Spire G. I do not forget it but leave it out in this place because we shall speak of it when we come to treat of the Justice of the Empire Vberlinguen was honoured with the residence of the Dukes of Swaben and is situate upon the Lake of Constance Vlme belonged formerly to the Abbey of Reichenau of which it bought its liberty It is a strong and rich City Vauguis is a small Town of Swaben where there grown excellent red Wine Veissembourg received great priviledges from Dagobert King of France Vecler is a little hole rather then a City the inbitants whereof are good Souldiers and the only Catholiques in the Dutchy of Wirtemberg Veinshein was founded by Vindegast General to Pharamond King of France A.D. 425. Wormes was destroyed by Attila and re-edified by Clovis King of France And Winfelan signifying as much the German word Weibspria because there the Huns committed unheard of cruelties upon that Sex stands within the Dutchy of Wirtemberg upon the Neckar where April 17. 1622. fortune triumphed over valour and Magnus Duke of Wirtemberg died in the Battel wherein also George Frederick Marquiss of Dourlach taught us by his defeat that forces and resolution are not sufficient to gain the victory if God do not give a blessing to them P. Will you not tell me whether there be any difference between the Cities you now mentioned and the Hanse-towns G. Bodin writes that the Hanseatique Cities are Imperial but the greatest part of them are not so Those Cities are 64.80 or 83. which for the good of Trade entred into a Consederation in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. and setled one Staple at London in the year 1250. another at Bruges which a little afterwards was transferred to Antwerp A.D. 1262. The third was established at Novograd a rich City in Russia then at Revel in Livonia and lastly at Nerva and the fourth at Berg in Norway Heretofore the Confederates met once a year
that are in possession of the Government and in places where the Principalities are divided into equal shares he calls all that have priviledge to sit in Diets as for example the Dukes of Weimar Altembourg and Gotta who have all voices for their particular Principalities But if all the divided Estates of Princes have but one voice as the Principality of Anhalt all the Lords together appoint one Deputy The Emperor doth also call thither some persons that have not right of Session as Count Papenheim who is always present there to execute the Office of Vice-Marshal And Charles V. caused Doctor Luther to be at the Diet of Wormes in the year 1521. And Rodolph II. called the Assessors of Spire to that of Ratisbon to give an account of their Judgements and Decrees in the year 1608. P. What is the Office of Marshal Papenheim at the Diets G. The Office of Vice-Marshal is 1. To choose Lodgings mark them and set them out for the Princes the most commodiously that possibly may be 2. To take care that all things necessary for the Assembly be brought thither and distributed at a just price weight and measure 3. To survey the Hall or room where the Assembly is to be held and to see it be adorned and fitted suitable to the Dignity of the persons that are to assist there 4. To have a special eye and regard to the publick safety 5. To signifie unto the Princes and other Estates the day and hour when they are to be present at the propounding of affairs and at debates and consultations where he also gatherâ— the voices and lastly he hath Jurisdiction over strangers that come to that place to sell and retail any commodity and the women of pleasure that come thither are obliged to present themselves before him to have their names registred P. As far as I perceive Count Papenheims Office bears a great resemblance with that of Grand Provost of the Household to the King of France But are all the Estates of the Empire obliged to appear in these Assemblies G. The Jurisdiction of the Grand Provost of the King of France his Household extends five Leagues compass about the place where the King resides he puts a price upon all that is sold for the use and entertainment of the Court and in that as in many other things he equals or exceeds the authority of Papenheim But that wherein he surpasses him indeed is that it brings him in 20000. Crowns yearly As to your question you must know that all the Princes of the House of Austria and the Duke of Lorraine are called to the Diets yet go not but when they please P. Are all the other Estates to assist there in person G. All other Lords and Estates as well Ecclesiastical as Secular having right of Session ought to go thither in person unless they be excused by age sickness or other such impediments in which case they are permitted to send their Ambassadors Now when I say All I do not in that generality comprehend the Abbesses who cannot appear with decency to their Sex nor the Cities which cannot be transported It is sufficient then for the Abbesses and the Cities to send their Deputies to the Diets The Estates that go thither in person present themselves to the Emperor when he is present and to his Commissioners when he is absent and they acquaint the Chancellor of Mentz and the Vice-Marshal with their arrival that they may receive advertisement of the day and hour when the Councel is to be held The Ambassadors and the Deputies do not present themselves to the Emperor but to the Elector of Mentz into whose hands they put the Commission or Power by which they are authorized to come P. I am sufficiently informed touching the persons that ought to appear at the Diets Oblige me now to tell me the Order that is observed there G. The Emperor usually goes thither first to the end it may be taken notice of that all other Princes repair to him On the day appointed for opening the Diet the Electors Princes and Ambassadors come to the Emperors Lodging and when the Emperor comes forth to go to the place where the Assembly is to be held all the Ambassadors of absent persons march before in good order two and two or three and three after the Princes the Elector of Trier walks alone and directly after him the Elector of Saxony carrying the Sword naked with the Electors of Bavaria and Brandenbourg at each side the first bearing the Imperial Ball and the other the Golden Sceptre Those Electors are immediately followed by the Emperor who hath on his right hand the Elector of Mentz and on his left him of Collen After the Emperor the King of Bohemia goes alone and after him the Empress when she is in place and her Majesty is followed by all the Ecclesiastical Princes who observe the same Order that the Seculars did P. I believe it is a very fine sight But when they are come to the room which Count Papenheim hath caused to be furnished as richly as can be how do they sit G. Being entred thereinto the Emperor seats himself on a Throne raised upon a scaffold covered with rich Tapistry The Electors sit a degree lower in this order the Archbishop of Mentz followed by him of Collen and he by the Duke of Bavaria take place on the right hand the King of Bohemia when he is present which happens very seldom the Duke of Saxony the Marquis of Brandenbourg and the Count Palatine sit on the left and the Elector of Trier directly over against the Emperor Some say that when there is a King of the Romans the Elector of Trier sits where I said the King of Bohemia was to take his place and the King of the Romans in that place which the Golden Bull assigned to the Elector of Trier Others would have the Elector of Mentz King of Bohemia and Count Palatine to sit on the right hand those of Collen Saxony and Brandenbourg on the left and he of Trier right opposite to the Emperor The other Princes Prelates Counts and Barons are a degree lower then the Electors the Ecclesiastiques taking the right hand and the Seculars the left P. There is nothing to be seen so illustrious as those Assemblies and I fancy that he who hath the honour to speak at the first opening of them sayes very handsom things G. When every one hath taken his place one of the Emperors Counsellors or a Prince on whom that charge is imposed rises up salutes the Company and in an excellent discourse gives thanks to all the Assembly for that in compliance with the Emperors order all those Princes and Lords have freely and cheerfully resorted to that place After which his Majesty continuing the Speech desires the Assembly in few words that they would contribute with all their might so as their Countrey may receive the fruit expected from them That being done a Secretary reads the
wait upon the Emperor to his Lodging P. Are all these formalities absolutely necessary G. They are all so necessary that without them the Recesse or Act would not have the power of a Law nor oblige any one to the observation of it But I should have told you that two Originals are drawn Signed and Sealed in the same manner one of which is laid up in the Chancery of the Empire whereof the Elector of Mentz hath the custody and the other in the Chancery of the Emperor There is also a Copy sent to the Chamber of Spirt Here you must take notice that these Acts are framed and written in the German Tongue to the end that all the Subjects of the Empire may understand them neither can they be in any other Language by an Edict which the Emperor Rodolph made to that purpose in the year 1274. The end of the Ninth Dialogue Dialogue X. In what condition the Empire was when the peace was concluded at Munster 1648. And of the Golden Bull. P. WHen the unwelcome news of the Emperor Ferdinand III. his deplorable death had sounded in the ears of all Germany it struck a sensible sorrow upon the hearts of all those that love peace which he had procured for us and fear the disorders which usually happen in the time of an Interregnum I am one of that number and that fear carrying my thoughts back to the sad and calamitous times of his Reign I desire you to tell me something of it G. Ferdinand III. Son to Ferdinand II. Nephew to Charles Archduke of Gratz and great Nephew to the Emperor Ferdinand I. being born the 13. of July 1608. was placed upon the Throne of Hungary in the year 1625. and two years after upon that of Bohemia Then having given proof of his valour prudence and piety he was chosen King of the Romans at Ratisbon in the year 1636. and on the 9. of July 1637. when his Father dyed he took the Reins of the Empire into his hand and was effectually Emperor though his Enemies refused to give him the title till the beginning of the Treaty of Peace which was concluded at Munster the 24. of October 1648. That Prince having enjoyed but little health and less quietness upon earth entred into the fruition of Eternal rest in Heaven the second of April in the year 1657. which was the 20. of his Reign and the 49. of his Age. P. The decease of that pious Prince was the innocent cause of the dispute which is at this day between the Electors of Bavaria and Palatine the first pretending that the Vicarship of the Empire is inseparably annext to his Electorship and the other to the possession of the Lower Palatinate And I remember I have heard you say that Frederick V. Father of this Palatine accepted the Crown of Bohemia which Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy Bethlelem Gabor Prince of Transylvania John George Elector of Saxony and Maximilian Duke of Bavaria had justly refused when the Bohemians desirous of novelty rejected their King out of which temerarious engagement grew that War which hath afflicted Our Countrey for a long time Now being I hold it more necessary to know the condition wherein Germany was at the beginning and end of our troubles then to learn in what state Rome was at the time when Julius Cesar broke and dissolved the Triumvirate I pray tell me what you know of it G. It is good to know ancient Histories but much better not to be ignorant in the modern I therefore commend your curiosity and for the satisfaction thereof shall tell you it is worth your observation that the peace of many years had filled Germany with riches debauchery and evil humours which could not let Great men be quiet in the enjoyment of their superabundant happiness I do not know whether it be that our nature is always longing for new things or that God usually punishes our excesses even in this life But so it was that the Head and principal Members of the Empire entred into a misunderstanding and distrust of one another while the first endeavouring to enlarge his authority found himself in danger to lose it and the latter desiring to preserve their priviledges filled their states with misery desolation and infinite mortalities P. Some think that the House of Austria being arrived to a formidable greatness projected designs proportioned to its strength and would have made it self absolute as well in Germany as in its Estates of Spain and Italy the apprehension whereof possessing our Nation made it resolve upon the dangeroufest way of preserving it self which is to call in Strangers G. As in eating one bit whets the stomach for another so it is in rule and Government where every addition creates a desire of enlargement Yet I do not believe the House of Austria which is naturally pious and just had ever a design to enrich it self out of the spoils of another but the affection it bears to the Religion of Rome doth easily perswade me that it would willingly have leaped over any other consideration to see the Protestants under the yoke of the Pope P. Do you think that the zeal of Religion which is remarked in those Princes was the cause of our Civil Wars G. It is not impossible but that zeal might have carried the pious disposition of Ferdinand II. upon some enterprize which might clash with that liberty of Religion which was tolerated by the Edicts of his Predecessors and if you adde thereunto with what ease he dissipated the dreadful Forces which Frederick V. Elector Palatine Bethlehem Gabor and his other Confederates had drawn together you will make no further doubt but that his good success inflamed and heightned that zeal of his and that the same great Prince believing his victories to be visible evidences that God called him to humble and bring down every thing that did not acknowledge the See of Rome would have endeavoured to force consciences and make Rome to be reverenced in every place where his Sceptre was obeyed P. Malvezzi pretending to show that the House of Austria took up Arms only in its own defence says that the greatest part of the world conspired its ruine in the year 1625. G. That Marquiss desiring to raise beyond all comparison the merit of Don Gaspar de Gusman Count of Olivares and Duke of Saint Lucar favourite to Philip IV. King of Spain says that by vertue of a League made at Avignon Europe and Africa laid their heads and joyned their hands together against the House of Austria and that the felicity and prudence of that Favourite was such that the King his Master remained victorious every where For says he when it was resolved that the Hollanders should set upon Brasile the Armies of France and Savoy should assault Genoa the King of England should send a Fleet to Cadiz the King of Denmark with the Protestants of Germany should trouble the Empire Venice should assist the Duke of Savoy with
money and the Grisons with money and ammunition to enable them to enter into the Valteline that means should be used to make peace between the Turk and the Persian to the end the first should invade Germany through Hungary and Bethlehem Gabor through Transylvania that the Hollanders should furnish Canon and Canoneers to the Moores of Africa to besiege Mamora and Larache Yet that whirlwind was scattered by the breath of God by the prudence of the Catholique King and by the counsel of the Conde Duke for that Lord sent a Fleet to Brasile which recovered the Bay of Todos los Santos that the Hollanders had taken Genoa and the Valteline were relieved by two Armies which rescued the first when it was brought to the last gasp and preserved the Catholique Religion in the second the English were forced to let Cadiz be quiet after they had lost 5000. men there the Hollanders lost Breda the Africans were repelled from Mamora and Larache with notable loss and after the King of Denmark was beaten at the Battel of Lutter and many other encounters he was finally shut up into a corner within his Isles P. It is true that Christian IV. King of Denmark did his business but ill in Germany and that after the defeat of Frederick V. Elector Palatine of Charles Count of Mansfeld of Christian of Brunswick Bishop of Halberstadt of George Frederick Marquiss of Dourlach and of that King the Emperor was at a high point of prosperity and power G. After all those victories the greatest part of the World thought Ferdinand II. unconquerable as well as he had been unconquered before Now all Europe looking with an evil eye upon the too flourishing condition of the House of Austria and the Emperor endeavouring to re-plant the Monks in their Cloysters from which they had been long excluded and it may be to force all the Members of the Empire to go to Mass Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden animated with the desire or at least with the pretense of maintaining the Protestant Religion and Lewis XIII King of France fearing that the oppression of Germany might bring both the Empire and Europe into slavery they confederated with the Stares of Holland and some German Princes So the Emperor had his hands full on one side with the valiantest Prince that ever wore sword for many years past and on the other the wisest Cardinal that ever was honoured with the Purple And then Ferdinand knew that be had not fastened and secured the instability of Fortunes wheel P. Hercules had not been strong enough to resist so many powerful enemies then it is no marvel if both the counsel and courage of the Emperor were shaken G. The Emperor was not alone to bear that shock For having honoured Maximilian Duke of Bavaria with the Dignity of Frederick V. Elector Palatine he found him ready to follow his fortune and serve him with all the strength of his mind body and estates Ferdinand Elector of Collen brother to Maximilian did the same and the Duke of Lorraine forgeting his own Interest embraced that of the House of Austria the Prelates and some other Princes of the Empire did the like and entred into a Confederacy for that purpose P. Those were strong parties indeed especially being amongst Nations that do not easily take Arms and when they are once taken do more hardly lay them down G. When the Forces of two Enemies are equal if piety employ them to preserve liberty of Conscience or vain-glory to get more Crowns they produce sad and dismal effects and bring destruction upon many Provinces And so it hapned here where love to Religion having united the Protestants of Germany to the King of Sweden the current of his prosperities was so great and so sudden that if death had not put a stop to his victories without doubt his best friends would have had cause to entertain both jealousie and fear of him But when that Mars had shot like thunder from the four corners and through the midst of the Empire so that neither powerful Armies deep Rivers thick Forests nor impregnable Forts could stop the Torrent of his good success he was slain at last the sixth of November 1632. That death did somewhat slacken those unparalleled prosperities but a little after the Generals that succeeded him being assisted with the counsel and good instructions of Cardinal Richelieu and with the Treasure of France laid the foundations of a longer and bloodier War Which obliged the Elector of Saxony and some other Princes to change Interest and endeavour to keep up the greatness of the House of Austria So the Emperor being supported by the Catholique King some Electors and other Potentates of Germany and Italy and the Swedes assisted by the Forces of France Holland and some Protestant Princes the match became so equal that the War held on sometimes with gain sometimes with loss from the year 1630. till 1648. P. It is said that the last War of Germany continued 30. years without intermission G. It is true that the Bohemians being perswaded that the Emperor Matthias derogated from their priviledges and the liberty of their Religion when he gave judgement for the Catholiques in the case concerning some Churches which the Protestants had built at Brunaw and Clostergrab conceived strange designs of revenge and trusting to their own Forces and those of their Confederates they threw the principal Officers of the Realm headlong down from a Tower created a new King and took the field so suddenly that Ferdinand II. their lawful King and new Emperor had cause to say that Crowns have as much sharpness from their thorns as lustre from their precious stones But all that the Elector Palatine the Counts de la Tour and Mansfeld the Marquiss of Dourlach and the King of Denmark attempted did but serve to augment and improve the Forces glory and confidence of the Emperor I count here only from the King of Swedens entring into Germany till the Peace in which time there were fought within the Empire seven pitcht Battels fourteen exceeding bloody Fights and divers others of less note which have reduced our Countrey unto so miserable a condition that one can hardly find a whole unruined house in the Campania nor one Province throughout all the Empire that hath half so much people in it as it had before the last troubles P. Famine and Plague those usual attendants of War came also into play and rifled a world of people But since the relation of past evils is pleasant to those that have gone through them it will not be troublesome to you to tell me at what time in what place and by whom those Battels and Combats were fought and who had the better or the worse in them G. The first Battel was given at Leipsick in Misnia between Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden of glorious memory on the one part and the Imperialists with their Confederates under the command of Count Tilly on the other
wherein the Swedes got the victory September 7. 1631. The second was fought at Lutzen not far from Leipsick November 6. 1632. between the Swedes having their King for Generalissimo and the Imperial Army commanded by Albert Wallestein Duke of Fridland In that Battel the Swedes had the victory by the resolution of Bernard Duke of Saxony and their other Generals but it cost them their King who was the Cesar of our age and the Emperor on his side lost the flower of his Souldiers and the Achilles of Germany I mean the incomparable Godfrey Count of Papenheim P. That King whose valour was beyond all example ought not to dye but triumphing and Papenheim could not fall but in the company of so great a Prince But it is a thing very extraordinary that an Army should remain victorious where the Commander in chief was slain in the very beginning of the Fight and we hear but of few Princes that have triumphed in their death Pass we on to the other Battels G. The third was at Hamelen July 28. 1663. between the Swedes Hessians and Lunebourgers commanded by George Duke of Lunebourg General of the Circle of Lower Saxony and the Imperialists under the conduct of the Counts of Merode and Grandsfeld where the latter were worsted The fourth which was the first wherein the Emperor had the victory and was one of the bloodiest that had been seen in 30. years before dyed with generous blood the Plains of Nortlinguen an Imperial City of Swaben September 6. 1634. Ferdinand King of Hungary who afterwards was Emperor commanded his Fathers Army and being seconded by the Troops and person of Ferdinand Infante of Spain and of Charles Duke of Lorraine he assaulted and vanquisht Bernard Duke of Weymar and Gustavus Horn Marshal of Sweden who commanded the Swedish Troops That victory was so great that the Swedish party had apparently fallen to nothing if the most Christian King had not contributed his cares and forces to set them up again P. After that Battel John de Werdt took and stript above 50. Gentlemen or Gentlewomen at the Castle of Neuberg G. I have reason to remember that misfortune for though I were at a great distance from thence yet I lost very much there The Fifth made Wistock in the Marquisate of Brandenbourg much spoken of It was there that John George I. of that name Elector of Saxony who had embraced the Imperial Party and was assisted by General Hatzfeld was beaten by John Bannier that Heroical Swede September 24. 1636. The sixth was fought at Leipsick in the same place where the first was without any alteration but that the Imperialists took that ground which the Swedes had before but though they changed their place they did not change their fortune for Torstenson overcame the Archduke Leopold William and Octavio Picolomini Duke of Amalfi renowned Generals of the Imperial Army P. The Catholiques have hitherto won but one of the six Battels wherein they engaged with their enemies Who got the last victory G. The Swedes that were entred into Bohemia under the command of Leonard Torstenson did there at a place called Jancou set upon Count Hatzfeld General of the Imperial Forces and utterly routed him Feb. 24. 1645. These two last Battels together with many combats and taking of Towns gained an immortal name to that Swedish General who was forced to leave the exercise of Souldiery before he was forty years old the Gout having taken away the use of all his Limbs except his Tongue which I have heard him use in accusing of fortune for having too early deprived him of the means of gaining Crowns of Laurel That great personage having thus made himself illustrious by Military actions Christina Queen of Sweden gave him the name with the County of Ortila and History bearing the marks of his eminent vertue will always give him this testimony that he was equal to the greatest Captains of ancient times P. If the gallant men that commanded and dyed in those Battels had been employed against the Turk I am perswaded he had been brought to bow down to the Cross and yield obedience to the Christians G. I think so too and it is a wonder that so much blood being run out of the veins of our Germany hath not brought her even to her grave Yet this is not all she hath lost more valiant persons in the Fights which I am going to relate then in the pitcht Battels The first was that of the King of Sweden who set upon the Imperial Army entrenched and commanded by Wallestein at Furts upon the Old Mountain August 24. 1632. and was forced to retreat with very great loss giving a remarkable example that Great men commit great errors and that the courage of the Lion doth rarely cohabit with the subtilty of the Fox because in some that heat of the heart which is requisite to make a man undaunted dissipates and quickens the coldness of the brain in others that predominant temper of the brain communicates such a faint and languishing quality to the heart as obstructs and fetters its activity The second was fought by the Electors of Saxony and Brandenbourg when they were confederated with the Swedes against the Imperialists who were worsted near Lignitz in Silesia May 3. 1634. The third was that of Rheimfeld where Bernard Duke of Weymar beat the Duke of Savelli and John de Werdt who commanded the Imperial and Bavarian Troops in several encounters from the 18. till the 21. of February 1638. The fourth was given at Wittenvoyer in Brisgou where the same Duke of Saxon-Weymar did again beat the Imperialists and Bavarians commanded by the Count of Gotzen and the Duke of Savelli July 30. 1638. Then that Prince crowned all his former actions when he sent some Generals prisoners to Paris and obliged all Europe to confess that few things were impossible for him to do since notwithstanding all the power of his Enemies used to the contrary he forced the Virgin City of Brisac to submit her self unto his will P. If I be not mistaken Marquiss Virgilio Malvezzi speaking of the Duke Bernard in a little Treatise which he made and intituled Of the successes of the Monarchy of Spain which hapned in the year 1639. says that Prince was more often vanquished then victorious and you say that he obtained two great victories in one year G. I never said he was invincible but I dare confidently affirm that he was never beaten for want of courage or conduct And Malvezzi himself acknowledging that he won more then he lost doth also confess that the design which he had to keep in a Body by himself and to exchange the places he held in Burgundy for those of Colmar Selestadt and Benfeld thereby to make himself master of Strasbourg and by the means of that great and wealthy City to maintain a high reputation as long as the War lasted and to enter upon a Peace with advantage were great thoughts but nothing
for the money they disbursed in that War and besides such a considerable summe Pomerania which is more worth then Alsatia is left in their hands G. They have not only received that summe and Pomerania but Wismar also a Port of the Baltique Sea the Fortress of Walfisch the Bailiwick of Poel and Neucloster which heretofore belonged to the House of Meklebourg and which is yet more the Archbishoprick of Bremen and Bishoprick of Verden converted into Dutchies together with the City and Bailywick of Wilshausen In all which lands and Principalities the Swedes have Soverain Justice right to erect an University and to set Imposts upon all commodities that enter into go out of or grow within the Countrey by them conquered and possessed So by that Peace the King of Sweden hath gotten the names and titles of Duke of Bremen Verden and Pomerania Prince of Rugia and Lord of Wismar P. You told me before that during the last War the Swedes had more Forces in Germany then the French and I see now they have reaped much more profit make me understand what satisfaction the Heroical Lady of Hesse received G. That Princess which reigned in the hearts of all those that have had the honour to speak with her had too well served the victorious Party to remain without satisfaction It was therefore accorded unto her for her self her son William and their Successors for ever that besides the general clause of the Article Tandent omnes they should enjoy the Abbey of Hirchfeld with all its appurtenances as well Ecclesiastical as Secular as well without as within the Territory of the said Abbey and the right Lordships and demesnes of the Cities and Bailywicks of Schaumbourg Bukembourg Saxenhaguen and Stathaguen which heretofore belonged to the Bishoprick of Minden and 600000. Crowns in money payable at Cassel within nine moneths after the publication of the Peace And for an accomplishment and full measure of satisfaction the Assembly of Munster ratified the transaction between the two Branches of Cassel and Darmstadt made by the mediation of Ernest Duke of Saxon-Gotta April 14. 1649. and the right of Primogeniture in those two Branches P. Those satisfactions were without question of very hard digestion to the contrary party but a good Peace cannot be bought too dear G. The Emperor lost nothing for by giving up his right in Alsatia he made the Kingdom of Bohemia Hereditary to his House But the Spaniards will not easily be able to comfort themselves for that loss because if Alsatia and Lorraine remain in the hands of the French it will be impossible for them to joyn their Forces of Italy with those of the Low Countreys unless they transport them by Sea with great expense and greater danger or through the Territories of others which cannot be done without buying the friendship of those that are not willing to see the formidable forces of Spain united And from hence grows a great advantage to the French by that Treaty P. Methinks I am now sufficiently instructed in that which concerns our Germany But having heard nothing hitherto of the Golden Bull except some words which you have scattered here and there I would gladly hear you discourse more amply of it G. That Bull is the Diamond Nail which holds together these remainders of the Empire and keeps them from dissolution by the wholesome Ordinances which it contains touching the time the place and the persons which ought to concur to the Election of the Emperor the number immunities and preheminences of the Electors the integrity candor and probity which they ought to use in choosing the first Prince of Christendom the order they ought to keep in their Assemblies as well while they accompany the Emperor as in their seats and places and to cut off all occasion of dispute between the Princes of the Electoral Houses the Emperor by that Edict sets down and prescribes the order they are to observe in their successions who ought to be Tutor and Guardian of their sons during their Minority and at what age they are to come out of Wardship Now because Elective Estates have no symptom more dangerous then while they lie under an Interregnum the Bull provides a remedy for that inconvenience ordaining that the Electors Palatine and of Saxony shall be his Majesties perpetual Vicars and shall have the same power after his death or in his absence that the Emperor had while he was living and present Lastly that Bull contains the office of every Elector at the Coronations Processions and publick Feasts of the Emperor P. Methinks in that Bull the Emperor Charles IV. hath had more care of the Electors then of all the Empire besides G. The Electors are the principal Pillars of our State and the Emperor thinking the destruction of the Empire might follow upon their dissension his special aim was to keep them united together by his Ordinance and to provide for the time to come that there should be no disorder in the Election of the Emperors nor in the Succession of the Princes Electors that the septenary number should continue for ever as most proper for an action of so great importance P. Is that Bull of any bigness G. It is a little book the Original whereof bing written in parchment containes 24. leaves and 30. Chapters of which the 23. first were published at Nuremberg the 10. of Ianuary 1356. and the other seven at Mets on Christmas day in the same year by the full power of his Majesty in the presence and with the consent of the most part of the Princes Lords and other Estates of the Empire the Emperor wearing the Imperial Cloak and having the Crown upon his head the Scepter in one hand and the Ball of the Empire in the other P. Why is that little book called The Golden Bull G. The Letters Patents of Emperors Popes and some other great Princes are called Bulls by reason of the seal which gives them their strength and validity Those Bulls or Seals are not alwayes of the same matter nor of the same bigness but according to the importance of the Letters the Seal is greater or less and of different wax or metal The ordinary Letters are sealed with an impression made upon wax the colour and bigness whereof encreaseth either the respect to or the honour of those persons to whom they are directed and those that contain Edicts are sealed with lead silver or gold according to the importance of the Laws which the Prince publishes From hence it was that this perpetual and irrevocable Edict containing the fundamental Laws of the Empire ought to be sealed with his Majesties great seal and not upon wax lead or silver but upon gold to show that as that metal is incorruptible the most excellent of all so the matters contained in that Bull being the principal Laws of the Empire should be preserved there without alteration P. Tell me more particularly of what fashion that Bull is G. The
Gentlemen admitted there 123. Laws and customes of the University of Tubing 124. What persons were admitted unto Turnaments 258. Who brought the use of Turnaments into Germany 259. Principal Turnaments held there ibid. What persons excluded from appearing at Turnaments 261. Laws and formalities observed at Turnaments 262. V. Vauguin 280. Vberlingue 279. Vecler 280. Verden a Bishoprick Secularized 188. How many Vicars of the Empire anciently and how many now 58. Who are the Vicars or Deputies of the Electors 59. Power of the Vicars of the Empire 78. Vniversities of Germany 282. seq A Prince hath as many Voices in the Assemblies as he holds Immediate Principalities 306. The Voices of every Order in the Diets and how they are taken 305 seq Plurality of Voices prevails in the Assemblies except in matter of Religion 307.308 W. Weinshein 280. Weissembourg ibid. From whence the Dukes of of Weymar are descended 88. Duke Bernard Weymar his actions in the war 326. 327. Winfelan 280. Wirsbourg a Bishoprick and its Castle 179 Bishop of Wirsbourg styled Duke of Franconia 180. Counts of Wirtemberg when made Dukes 121. Description of the Duke of Wirtembergs Countrey ibid. His Forces and Fortresses 125. Alliances of the house of Wirtemberg 125. seq Eberhard Count of Wirtemberg his Court and magnificence 128. Principality of Wirtemberg divided into six Dioceses 207. Wormes 280. Bishop of Wormes part-Director of the Circle of the Rhine 180. Z. Dukes of Zeringuen of the same stock with the Marquisses of Baden 70.141.142 The most considerable misprintings or mistakes you may be pleased to correct thus Page Lin.  21. 14. for us read you 80. 14. for too read two 93. 11. read lesse potent then those 161 1. for or read Or. 162. 14. read to the authority of Kings 207. 12. for Montgarat read Stutgardt 240. 17. read speaking 272. 19. for Germany read Almaine 286. 18. for those read that 305. 16. for Branches read Benches 328. 12. read of Collen near St. Antony where The rest it is hoped are so little as they may easily escape by your connivence or oversight Books and Sermons written by J. Taylor D. D. Lord Bishop of Down and Connor And sold by R. Royston Book-seller to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Course of Sermons for all the Sundayes of the year together with a discourse of the Divine Institution necessity Sacredness and Separation of the Office Ministerial in fol. 2. The History of the Life and Death of the Ever-blessed Jesus Christ the third Edition in fol. 3. The Rule and Exercises of holy Living in 8. 4. The Rule and Exercises of holy dying in 8. 5. The Golden Grove or A Manual of daily Prayers fitted to the dayes of the week together with a short Method of Peace and Holiness in 12. 6. A Collection of Polemical and Moral discourses in fol. newly reprinted 7. A Discourse of the Nature Offices and Measure of Friendship in 12. new 8. A Collection of Offices or forms of prayer fitred to the needs of all Christians taken out of the Scriptures and Ancient Liturgies of several Churches especially the Greek together with the Psalter or psalms of David after the Kings Translation in a large octavo newly pub 9. Ductor Dubitantium or the Rule of Conscience fol. in two volumes 10. The Doctrine and practice of Repentance describing the necessities of a Strict a Holy and a Christian Life Serving as a necessary Supplement unto the Rule of Conscience 11. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Supplement to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or course of Sermons for the whole year All that have been preached and published since the Restauration to which is adjoyned his Advice to the Clergy of his Diocese 12. The Worthy Communicant or a Discourse of the Nature Effects and Blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper printed for J. Martin 13. A Discourse of Confirmation in 8. new 14. A Dissuasive from popery in 8 new Books lately Printed and Sold by Richard Royston at the Angel in Ivie-lane ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚ'Α The Works of King Charles I. with his Life and Martyrdom printed in a large Folio with Figures COENA quasi COINH or the common Right to the Lords Supper asserted wherein that Question is fully stated By Sir William Morice Knight one of His Majesties most Honorable privy Council and principal Secretary of State fol The Tears Sighs Complaints and prayers of the Church of England setting forth her former constitution compared with her present condition Written in the late times of Rebellion and Usurpation by John Gauden D. D. Bishop of Worcester fol. Dr. Hammonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or degrees of Ardency in Christs prayer defended from the impertinent cavils of Mr Jeanes by William Creed D. D. Regius professor of Divinity in the University of Oxon. Certain Considerations of present Concernment touching the Reformed Church of England with a Discourse upon the case touching the Division between the English and Romish Churches upon the Reformation by H. Ferne D. D. late Bishop of Chester A brief Survey of Antiquity for the Tryal of the Romish Doctrine especially in these points 1. Of the worship of Saints and Angels 2. Of the Invocation of Saints and Angels 3. Of the worship of Images 4. Of Justification by Works 5. Of the Merit of good Works 6. of purgatory 7. Of Real presence 8. Of Communion under one kinde By the said Lord Bishop of Chester New The Calvinists Cabinet unlock'd By Tilenus Junior New The Syracusan Tyrant Or the Life of Agathocles with some Reflexions on the practices of Cromwell New De Confirmatione sive Benedictione post Battismum sollenni per Imposi ionem Manuum Episcopi celebrata Authore H. Hammond The Merit of the Old English Clergy asserted and the Demerit of the New Clergy discovered By Anonymus New 8. The Right Rebel A Treatise written to prevent a new Rebellion by the Fanatick parties of these times New 8. Memoranda Touching the Ex Officio and the alteration of some Old and making some New Lawes Written by Sir Edw. Lake Baronet Chancellor of Lincolne The Catechism of the Church of England Paraphrased By R. Sherlock D. D. Rector of Winwick The fifth Edition The Refin'd Courtier or a Correction of several indecencies crept into Civil Conversation in 12. New Lex Legum or the Law of Lawes shewing the excellencie of the Civil Law above all other Lawes whatsoever by Sir Robert Wiseman Knight in 4. Rex Theologus The preachers guard and Guide in the Didactical part of his duty or vindication shewing that the Kings Majesties Letter to the late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury is most conformable to the Judgement and practice of Antiquity
which are worthy of illustrious persons P. Doth it cost his Highness of Wirtemberg much to maintain the Professors and Masters of exercises which you now mentioned G. More then you think but that expense is not considerable in comparison of the glory which redounds from thence This Colledge and this University are the Pearls which do wonderfully set off the Crown of this Duke For although he be exceedingly at his ease though he have whatsoever he can wish though the delight of Hunting never fail him though every day present him some new delicacies made or growing upon his own Territories yet he would be much less spoken of in Forain Countreys if Eberhard the Wise had not founded that University if Christopher the Prudent had not projected this Colledge if Lewis the Pious had not built it if Frederick the Magnanimous had not endowed it if John Frederick the Peaceable had not preserved it and if Eberhard the Constant had not raised it to a higher point for the good of the Princes Lords and Gentlemen of the Empire P. Are none admitted into this Colledge but persons of quality G. This Colledge would not be illustrious if all sorts might be promiscuously received into it And these Princes having erected it for the education of persons of noble extraction they have thought it convenient to exclude those that are not Gentlemen born to the end that whilest there is none there but such as are obliged to aspire unto an eminent vertue and that have worthy Predecessors to imitate there may be nothing seen but such examples as may give furtherance to young Lords in the purfâ—â— of that mark they aim at Nevertheless it is sufficient qualification for the Masters and Governors of Great men to be modest knowing and pious P. I would gladly know in what manner they live in this Colledge G. Order being the essential principle of all Societies Laws have been made that appoint every one what he is to do and what he is to avoid These Rules are read unto such as enter into the Colledge to remain there and they all promise and engage before the President of the Colledge to observe them except great Lords who are not bound to those Laws but so far forth as decency and the command of their Parents enjoyns them to obey their Governors who are responsible for them and are themselves subject to the Laws which are extreme easie and require nothing of any man but what he cannot well omit without running counter to honour and honesty P. This Institution is worthy of such Princes But is the Dutchy of Wirtemberg so great that it can maintain this Colledge and the University of Tubing without incommodating the Prince G. This Countrey is not so considerable for the extent as for the goodness of the Soil and number of Lordships in which they reckon 63. Cities 158. great Towns 645. Villages 537. Water-mills and 14. Abbeys of large Revenue Before the War this Duke could have brought together 24000. men in 24. hours and at this time he hath a fair Militia afwell of Horse as Foot and many Fortresses whereof Schocenderf Habsperg Anach and Neïf are indifferent good and Hoheuvilz one of the best in Germany P. Do me the favour to acquaint me further with the Priviledges and Alliances of this Prince G. There is no Prince in Germany that hath more noble priviledges then this Duke Not one of his subjects can appeal from his Justice And for that purpose he hath a Presidial Court at Tubing composed of five Gentlemen four Doctors and as many Burgers who give definitive judgement upon all controversies that happen between his Highness Subjects both in Civil and Criminal causes also a Consistory formed of certain Divines and other grave persons who are skilful in matters Ecclesiastical and such as have any relation to the Spiritual as Marriages and Adulteries He hath other Councels also for affairs of State and of the Exchequor As to your demand touching the Alliances of this House I find that anciently the Males married Marchionesses of Brigan Dutchesses of Lernigen daughters of Kings of Poland and of Emperors Dutchesses of Bavaria Milan Savâ—y and Cleve Since they were Dukes Eberhard I. married Barbarâ— of Gonzage Eberhard II. Elizabeth Marchioness of Brandenbourg Vlrick Sabius daughter to Albert the Wise Duke of Bavaria Christopher Anne Mary Marchioness of Brasdenbourg Lewis Dorothy Vrsula Marchioness of Baden and Vrsula Princess Palstine Frederick had Sibyll Princess of Anhalt for the conservatress of his House John Frederick took Barbara Sophia Princess Electoral of Brandenbourg for an assistant and admirer of his Magnificence and Eberhard III. had Anne Catherine Rhingravess for the comfortress of his displeasures in the time of the War and Mary Dorothy Sophia Countess of Ottinguen for a partner of his felicity in the time of peace with whom he lived in such perfect union and harmony that it seemed as it were a taste upon earth of the life hereafter in Heaven P. Hath this Prince no children G. He had 14. by his first wife and hath still nine of them very sweet lovely persons The five Princesses speak French and dance as if they had been bred at Paris The eldest son John Frederick is excellent for horsemanship and at his Weapon William Lewis Frederick Charles and Charles Maximilian are but young but they carry in their countenances such characters of generosity as easily perswade me they will one day make the vertues of their bravest Ancestors live again P. Methinks you are very much addicted to this House and yet you do not tell me that one of the younger sons of Frederick the Magnanimous had Weiltingen and Brents and the youngest of all Monbeliard Ericourt Granges Horbourg Richeville and their appurtenances which give him a voice in the Diets of the Empire and almost all the Nobility in the Franche-County and Burgundy hold of him in Fee Also that this Princes Lands depending upon the Empire enjoy the same right that the Dutchy of Wirtemberg doth and that the eldest Son had the Dutchy entire and left it undivided to his eldest Son G. I have elsewhere said that the right of Primogenitute takes place in this House And since you are not satisfied with what I have told you hitherto you ought to know that the four daughters of Frederick the Magnanimous were married to John George I. Elector of Saxony John George Marquis of Zeguerendorf Frederick Marquis of Baden and Francis Julius Duke of Lower Saxony which are high Alliances The sons of Lewis Frederick Prince of Monbeliard are married the eldest to Sibyll Dutchess of Wirtemberg and the younger to Anne of Coligny Dutchess of Chastillon The younger son of Julius Frederick married a Countess of Aldembourg and the eldest a Dutchess of Mansterberg who brought him is dowry the Principality of Ols in Silesia Vlrick a younger son of the present Duke was General of the Forain Horse for the Spaniard in Flanders where he took to Wife Isabell