Customes that are paid in the Haven Towns the Chief whereof in Sweden are Caymare Lodhuys and Stockholme where at some times four hundred Ships of Burden lye at Anchor Also Auge Revel Riga Parnovia and the Narve But these Customes are much improved since the Confirmation of his Acquists in Germany by the Munster Treaty 1648. by which he had the Upper Pomerania the Inheritance of the Marquess of Brandenburg with the City of Wismar in the Dutchy of Mecklenbury and Isle of Rugia with the Bishopricks of Bremen and Verden c. bordering along the other side of the Baltique Sea by which he hath a wide inlet into Germany given him in recompence of those Places he had Conquered in the more inward Parts so that this great addition of Territory hath made him a far more considerable Prince than ever he was and the Dane by sad Experience found as much in that War he managed against him in 1658. when by the Conjunction and Contiguity of those German Provinces he speeded without Obstruction out of Poland to stop the Progress of the Danish Armes and with speedy success reduced that King by the Agreement at Rosckeild to a very petty and pittant Soveraignty for thereby as good as one half of his Kingdom was passed over to the Swede the Principal Member whereof was Schoneland one of the fruitfullest Provinces but formerly belonging to Sweden with some other Places particularly the great Bayliwick of Drontheim in Norway which would have dis-membred that Kingdom and rendred the Dane but a precarious Prince of the rest But this and divers other former Concessions by that Treaty were annihilated or retrenched by the succeeding Agreement in the Swedes Leageur before Copenhagen after their Defeat in the Assault of that Town by the Mediation and Guaranty of the English Dutch and French Ambassadors in May 1660. nevertheless Schoneland remained to the Swede with some of the Baltique Islands and other Places not to be particularized in this Discourse All which Estates being laid and joyned together in some manner it were supposable at first view that he might easily render himself Master of the Baltique Sea but when it is again considered of what strength the Dane the Hanse Towns are as Lubeck Hamborough Dantzick together with the Interest of the Dutch in the Trade therein it will seem a tougher matter and too big for his Naval strength which yet of it self is very considerable No doubt the Swede hath chawed deliciously upon the Design but could never digest it it sufficeth him at present that his Ships are Toll free as they pass the Sound and that he enjoyeth other Priviledges which the Violence of his Armes have purchased him of the Princes his Neighbours As to the Force of this Kingdom it hath been perceived of what Effect and Puissance it is by that War it carried on under the late King Charles Gustavus against the Pole the Dane and the Muscovite at one and the same time But truly I cannot tell whether I may ascribe those Numbers of Men with which they have enterprised so much lately either to the Production of their own Country or their Fortune which hath drawn so many Foreigners into their service in which there is a certainty of Pay and general good respect had to them if they prove men of desert It is certain that in the late Danish War he had above sixty thousand men in Pay which is a number that few Princes can long maintain together and yet such is the good luck of these Martial Princes that they have been served faithfully without any Pay for many Months together as certain of Satisfaction somewhere either by the Swede or from the Enemy who is looked upon as very good Security in all the Undertakings of this Prince As to the Policy of this Kingdom having touched before that the Government is Monarchical we will briefly describe the menage of it Matters of Peace and War of Embassyes and Alliances are proposed by the King to the Senate for their Resolution which the Senators deliver with an entire Liberty and most Voices carry it but if it happen that the Vote be contrary to the Kings purposes he will assemble the States General to obtain of them what he cannot of the Senate These Estates are composed of the Nobility of the Clergy of Merchants and of the Peasants of the King that is to say Peasants that serve not Gentlemen in English Yeomen but subsist of themselves The Nobles that sit in such Parliaments or Estates General are of the eldest of their Families the Church sends two Priests of every Community or Diocess the Cities two Merchants and every Shire two of its Inhabitants These four Bodies consider of the Kings Will and Demand and by the major Voice determine of it if their Voices be equal the King makes the Election himself and gives the casting Voice for his own Designes and Interest All other Matters are referred to one of these seven Councills viz. The Council of Justice where presides the Lord Chief Justice assisted by four Senators six Gentlemen and six Doctors 2. The Council of War where presides the Constable assisted by four Senators Marshalls 3. The Council of the Admiralty where presides the High Admiral with four Senators Vice-Admiralls 4. The Chancery where presides the High Chancellour assisted with four Senators and the Secretaries of State 5. The Council of the Revenue where presides the High Treasurer assisted by four Senators These five Officers are called the five great Lords and are Tutors of the King and govern the Kingdom absolutely during his Minority being now in the 8th year of his age 6. The Council of Trade where a Senator is President assisted by four more of the same rank and order 7. The Council of the Mountains as we have of the Marshes where sit the same number and quality of Persons as in the Council of Trade The whole Kingdom into which are reckoned the late Acquists is divided into five Governments General viz. Of Finland of Ingermanland of Liefland of Pomerania and Schonen and obeys four great Presidents of Justice He of Finland holds Judicatory at Obo He of Ingermanland and Schonen at Norkopin the third of Liefland at Dort and of Pomerania at Wismar and acknowledges twenty nine Lieutenant Generalls Governours of Provinces for the King The Interest of Sweden is to keep and maintain Peace with the Muscovite to alarum equally and to divide Poland and Denmark not to quarrel by any means with the Hollander and to esteem and highly respect their strict Confaederacy with France and to seek all occasions of a War in Germany to be therein assisted with the French Money and Supplies not to neglect the friendship of the King of England who can when he pleaseth interest himself in any Difference in the Baltique Sea by a potent Umpirage Touching the Turk they are not over-forward in that service as expecting nothing but blows for other mens sakes nevertheless
Discourse to these modern times Of Horse besides 12. Comets of Foreigners he had in Pay 240. Troops Cavaliers of his own Nation which in all amounted to above 30. thousand Of Foot he had 210. Regiments some few of them of 30. Companies and consisting of 90. Men in a Company not reckoning in the Switzers who make 6. or 7000. besides some Scots Irish Italians and Luyckers At Sea he had 30. Ships of War and 25. Gallyes and the number is now increased and their Lord Great Admiral the Duke of Vendosme which was before a meer Titulado with great Profit and Revenue become an Officer de facto and of great service in that Kingdom The Duke of Beaufort his Son commanding the Fleet before Algier The King hath four Guards the first of French Gentlemen in Place and Attendance like our Gentlemen Pensioners they are 200. in number their Pay 20. Crowns a Month. The second consists of Scots and they Gentlemen some attending on the Kings Person others appointed to other Offices in the Court and go alwayes armed either with the Halberd or Harquebuze those which attend on the Kings Person are 24. and receive yearly 400. Franks apiece the residue 300. and a Livery The third sort is of inferiour French and their Employment is such as the service of the Yeomen and the Guard in England The fourth consisteth of Switzers and they wait at the Court Gate in warlike manner This King retaineth the Switzers more to dis-engage them from their Respects to the House of Austria and that Families service than for any other reason though the long Correspondence maintained with those Cantons hath abated of that jealousie Now notwithstanding for the number of the Gentry which is infinite almost the greatness of the Offices goodliness of Towns and multitudes of Forces and store of Ammunition this Kingdom may seem to challenge Precedence before any Court in Europe yet for Majesty of the Prince Order of the Court Provision of the Courtiers and Entertainment of Strangers it may no way compare with that of England and this is not mine but a Foreigners judgement of them Both. As to the Government it is Monarchical to Excess as it was said of Caesar Voluntas Caesaris pro Lege habebatur so it is as true of the French Kings Their Will is the Law For though they have now nine Parliaments in the Kingdom and that of Pau in Bern added by Lewis the 13th yet are they no more such a Constitution as Ours than Our Late High Courts of Justice which were Persons pick'd for the Usurpers purpose The main work of these Parliaments is to ratifie the Kings Edicts which are sent to them with a Command that such is Our Pleasure Nor doth this Ratification when done signifie any thing to the Validity of the Kings Acts but is meerly for shew and to personate that Authority which was in the former Parliaments even till the time of Lewis the 13th By which means the King imposeth upon his Subjects what he lists and supplyes that want of Patrimony which is mostly aliened and is the great Blemish of this Crown which commands so fair and spacious a Territory and yet hath very few Mannours or Houses of its own except about Paris And for the better support of this way of Government the Nobility are most of them employed in Offices and Commands the whole Kingdom being divided into 12. Lieutenancies as Imperious altogether as our late Major Generalls and who enjoying the sweets of their Arbitrary Power help to awe the People to a stupid Acquiescence under their Oppression And these Governours continue during life and are sometime Haereditary so that not seldom they have disputed it with the King and stood upon their Terms The Interest of this Crown is of late very perplexed and very closely carried the late League with Spain seems to be zealously regarded and many good words are given the Emperour of Assistance and Friendship Greater Respect was never given nor higher Professions of Amity ever expressed towards the Crown of England The Pope and He seem to be reconciled and the Confirmation of the Friendship between them is now in Actu by the Popes Performance of the Conclusion made at Pisa for that Cardinal Chigi the Popes Legate for the greater solemnity of this Affair is on his way with the Satisfaction agreed on The Duke Crequy is ready to return to Rome where the Pyramis is erected in memory of the Fact of the Corsi and Don Mario the Popes Nephew upon his departure But when all this is done no man conceives the Christian World more assured or freed from those jealousies which it hath long conceived of the Potency of this King He hath lately made a motion in Germany about Colmar and Slecksladt and it is suspected they are the light Trepidations of some greater Rupture thereabouts for that the French have long aimed upon the Imperial Dignity is obvious to every eye and this Prince is supposed to be more ambitiously bent upon that design than any of his Predecessors He hath to the purpose baffled and terrified the Pope the Emperours left hand and scared him before hand and for his right hand the King of Spain besides the Peace between them he will not be remiss in fomenting the War with Portugal The Princes of the Empire therefore give him fair words and will oblige him by performing his Demands about those Towns He is sure of the Duke of Savoy so long as he enterpriseth not upon Italy for then he would become a Morsel between his Grinders As to the Princes of Italy they do not care to see him there but love him well enough in France We neither suspect nor dread this Riddle of Fate nor shall want a Sword to solve it if with the Dutch and any body else he could make a threefold Cord of it and so we leave him to the Revolution of Time His Kingdom of Navarre lying in Spain we shall mention it there SPAIN SPAIN is defended towards France on the North with Confines strengthened both by Nature and Art viz. by the Natural Height of the Pyrenean Mountains which separate the one Country from the other and by the Artificial Forts of Scialon Parpignian and Pampalone the Metropolis of Navarre on all other sides it is encompass'd with the Atlantick Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea Its Empire is divided into four Parts or Members but we shall mention one only here viz. 1. The Kingdomes of Spain 2. The States of Italy Sicily c. And 3. Flanders And 4. The Dominions of India Spain is by the Spaniards for the greater grace divided into 15. Kingdomes namely Castile Aragon Murcia Granada Gallicia Guypuscoa Biscay Oviedo Leon Corduba Toledo Navarre Catalonia Majorca Valentia and lastly Portugal but it being wrested from the Spanish Dominions as it was formerly and now is a distinct Soverainty we will treat of the other 14. together and of that by it self The Country it self is very
Discourse we will begin with the retrograde course from North to the Westward and so Eastward the Point and main Entendment of this Perambulation and in order thereunto begin with Poland though lying Eastward also but now faced to the Northward and hath wholly unconcerned it self in the War in Hungary and so of less moment to this Treatise which directs chiefly to that sole Affair POLAND POLAND is bounded on the East with Muscovia and Tartaria and part of Moldavia on the South with Hungary on the West with Germany and on the North with the Baltique Sea The Air is most extraordinarily pure and the Soyl so excellent that it is almost impossible to suppose the quantity of Corn which is hence transported into foreign Countries It is a champian plain Country interlaced with Lakes and Rivers and beautified with many little Woods but this Character chiefly respects the Greater Poland which lies between Dantzick and Cracovia and all Lituania wherein notwithstanding are very massy Woods The Lesser Poland which contains the rest even to the Frontiers of Hungary is not less fruitful although it be not so uniform where it is divided from Prussia with little Hills rather than Mountains In it are many Mines of Salt and Silver with Wines infinite quantities of Honey and Wax found in their VVoods and other excellent Fruits The Air hereof is so temperate that it is commonly called the Entrance of Italy that is to say the Gate and Portal of all Delights and Pleasures imaginable It containeth as it s now in Circuit 120. German Miles from the uttermost bounds of Livonia or Liefland to the borders of Hungary and from the borders of Silesia East and VVest to Muscovia as many It comprehends many goodly and large Provinces as the two Polands Massovia Podolia Prussia Russia-Nigra Volinia Livonia and Lituania Poland was the Proper Seat of the Polonians but Prussia part of Pomerania Podolia Volinia Massovia and Livonia were gained by Armes Lithuania and Symogythia once Provinces of Russia were the Inheritance of the House of Jagello who in the year 1380. taking to VVife the Princess Hedwiga the youngest Daughter of Lewis King of Poland and Hungary was in her right upon his Conversion to Christianity accepted for King of Poland since which time that Dutchy hath been united to the Crown the last Heir of this Family was Sigismond Augustus after whose decease the Lithuanians dreading the power of the Muscovite agreed to the way of Election of a King with the other Provinces of the Kingdom As to Prussia the other great Limb of this Kingdom it did belong to the Dutch Knights their great Master residing herein who being weakned by many combats at last yielded himself Feudatory to King Casimir Since which time Albert of Brandenburg their great Master becoming a Protestant changed his Title and was created Duke of Prussia by King Sigismond and the Country divided into two parts the one Regal immediately holden of the Crown and the other Ducal In the former stand Marienburg Thorn Elbing Culma Varnia and Dantzick enjoying the Priviledge and Title of the second Hanse Town In the latter the chiefest place is Conincksburg a Port of traffique where the Duke sometime keepeth his Court. As to Livonia it came to be reckoned into the Poles Dominions on this manner in the year 1558. these People being spoyled of the greatest part of their Territory by the great Duke of Muscovia and the great Master of the Order no longer able to maintain them nor his own Dominions therein the Country being wholly his submitted to Sigismond King of Poland who took them into his protection and maintained them under it maugre all the force of the Russians At present there is a third Proprietor namely the Swede who hath a good and the chiefest part in it being possessed of Riga the principal City of trade with many other considerable places as Revel Narve Pernow c. which was besieged in 1658. by the Russian Emperour in person when the King of Sweden was engaged in Denmark but as the Town was brought to extremity some dismay or despair seized the unwitting Assailants and made them abandon a very hopeful Enterprize The Town is now better fortified and provided and dreads not the power of the Pole or Muscovite This Province as also Prussia for the nearness of the Sea Concourse to the Havens many of them of good worth and commodiousness of the Rivers hath fairer Cities goodlier Buildings and by traffique greater plenty of Riches than any of the rest but Poland is better and more generally peopled Samogythia being a more Northern Country is more rude and barbarous than any of them and Podolia more barren the fault whereof is not in the soyl reported by Dr. Heylins Author to be miraculously fertile but in the barbarous and unmerciful depopulations of the Tartars every year commonly but of late it hath pretty well recovered it self Having thus discoursed of the Provinces it will be requisite to describe in brief manner some of the principal Cities thereof which do concern this discourse Dantzick is the first Dantzick Described seated upon the Weysel and accosting the Baltique Sea It is particular State of it self in the manner of a Republique or Free State once reckoned an Imperial City under the protection of the King of Poland who appoints annually the chief Burgo-Master but He is to be taken out of the body of the Citizens It is as well and as proudly built as most of the Cities of Germany but beyond all in Poland and as regularly fortified It is the Magazine of Poland for hither is brought all the Corn that grows there and there exchanged for all foreign Commodities as Cloth Spices which the Polanders mainly use VVine c. And indeed Grain is the chiefest Riches of the Country and supplies most parts of Europe The Haven is very advantagiously sited and defended by four Fortresses each of which is able to sustain the impression and effort of a powerful Navy Next is a most magnificent Arsenal excellently furnished and provided The Church of our Lady is a Fabrick of great and beautiful Dimensions The Lutherans have here the precedence and preheminence the Catholiques next the Calvinists are third and the Anabaptists last of all under a general Toleration and Liberty of Conscience Their Language is partly Polonish and High-Dutch 2. Thorn is one of the Principal Cities of Prussia its buildings and Guild-Hall are very splendid nor is Elbing much inferiour these two places fell in the power of the Swede in 1656. and somewhat after but are now in statu quo subject to the Crown of Poland Warsovia 3. Warsovia is the Regal Seat and Residence and lies in the Province of Poland the Greater built upon the Weysel of little extent but full of people there is considerable in it the great Place the Pyramid the Arsenal the Palace the Castle and the Royal Garden the two chief Churches are the Jesuites
hath been one chief Policy to win them the better it seemeth reasonable that they should equally partake with them in defraying the Charge The Interest of this Kingdom requires that a good Understanding and Correspondence be maintained betwixt the King and the Nobility not to quarrel with the Turk to preserve Friendship with the Swede to make Alliance with the Persians and to keep the Tartars at home to ruine the Muscovite to have an eye upon the House of Austria and to respect France as that which can put a stop to the Imperial Armes if they should enterprize upon that Kingdom CURLAND BEfore we dismiss this Kingdom we must mention the Dutchy of Curland being one third part of Livonia the other two being called Eastland and Lettenland and a Soveraignty of it self but held in Fee of the Crown of Poland upon this account Gothardus Ketler a Noble Dane the last of the Dutch great Masters in Livonia having surrendred the Province to Sigismond Augustus in 1562 conditioned for his Investiture in this Dutchy to him and his Heirs but to be holden of that Crown Since which time the Nobility having accepted him as their Haereditary Prince the succeeding Princes have continued Feudatories unto Poland but are not reckoned as Parts or Members of the Body thereof for they come not to the Diets nor have any Voice in the Election of the King nor are lyable to any Taxes but are accounted as indeed they are Strangers and not natural Lords or Peers of that Kingdom The present Prince of the same Family of the Ketlers is neer allyed to the Marquess of Brandenburg whose Sister is his Mother so that for want of Issue all those great Estates of the Elector in the Ducall Prussia Germany and Cleve c. will come to this Duke as his next Heir During the late Danish War in 1658. the Swede expecting some Invasions of this Duke as being so interested in both his Enemies Cause and Quarrel ordered General Dowglas to secure him who surprized him in his Residence at Mittaw by some Boats full of Souldiers pretending for the Pole and carried him and his Dutchess away Prisoners in which condition they contiued till the Peace was made and concluded between all Parties so that he hath no great affection to that Nation He is a Prince of little Power as his Subjects of Trade although his Country border upon the Sea but it affords no convenient Harbour for Traffique any where in his Coast Yet so much must be said for his Honour that he supplyed our late Soveraign Charles the 1st with two Ships loading of Armes upon his own account during those unnatural Wars in England and was ready to do him any further Offices of Respect and Friendship I should next speak of the Europaean Tartars and the Circassians as confining to the Eastern parts of Poland but I will reserve the discourse of them to the succeeding Chapter of the Russians with whom they will best sute and agree RUSSIA THis spacious Empire is bounded on the East by Tartary on the West with Livonia and Finland from which divided by great Mountains and the River Poln on the North by the frozen Ocean and some part of Lapland and on the South by Lituania and the Tartars and Circassions inhabiting the Lake Maeotis and the Euxine Sea It is partly seated in Asia and Europe distinguished by the River Tanais the common Boundary of those Parts of the World It stretcheth in length 3660 English Miles from Cola in the North to Astrachan in the Caspian Sea and in breadth 3300. which is 4400. Versts to adjust which to English Miles we deduct one fourth part From the Narve in Livonia West to the Province of Severia East a vast Extent but nothing so populous as spacious especally since it was drained of so many Men by the continual Wars of Vasilowich the Great Tyrant and his Predecessor the Great Duke John who took the great Dutchyes of Severia and Smolensko Nielchess Plescovia Novogorod Jaroslaw most part or indeed all Livonia with the Kingdoms of Casan and Astrachan from the Tartars as the other from the Polanders but for want of supplyes to reinforce their Armies lost them all again except some few Places and the two Asian Kingdoms which yet they maintain The Tartars have formerly as much nay more plagued this Country than the Christian Enemies thereof for by their frequent Conquest and Invasions they made the Great Duke their Tributary with this kind of service to be performed by him to the Emperour of the Praecopenses or the Great Chrim Tartar that is to say every year the Russian on foot fed the Chrim's Horse he sitting thereon with Oats out of his Fur Cap 1140. in his Castle of Musco for commonly every year the Tartar bordering nearer to him than seven dayes journey at which distance he now stands progressed thither as in State whereas of late times he comes every other year likely like a sudden Tempest and having wasted and ruined the Country and made up the number of his Captives departs as hastily unless the Sultan in person make it an Expedition Royal or when the business comes to battel where if the Russian prevails the War and Ravage is carried as far into the Tartars Country But to prevent this danger the Russian doth all he can to be at Peace with him both by Bribes and Presents And it will not be unworthy the relation as I my self in 1654. have been particularly informed in that Country from the Deputy Governour of the Castle of Archangel how the Tartar came to lose that Claim his Hold and Soveraignty in this Kingdom which the Russians ascribe to a certain Boyar in the Reign of Basilius some a 100. years since or Nobleman intrusted with a strong Castle of the Great Dukes which the Tartar upon the last reduction and subjugation of Russia having compelled the Great Duke to sign an Instrument of Vassalage and Fealty to him his supreme Lord in his return besieged no other Place then standing out against him This Fortress he therefore strenuously attempted withall intimating to the Governour when he saw Force would not presently do that his Master had himself yielded and submitted and that it was to no purpose for him to resist unless he had a mind to draw upon himself the Punishment of Treason and to this purpose he had such a Writing c. to produce To this the prudent noble Governour made present answer that if such a thing were real and he might see it for his Justification to his Prince upon the surrender it should bind and conclude him which the unpractised Tartar had no sooner sent into the Castle but the Governour caused it presently to be torn into pieces before the Messengers face whom he returned with a more resolute defiance than at first And in fine so long delayed him and so wasted his Army that the Great Duke resuming his Spirit was making to his relief when the
as the King is a Prince of the Empire He is also a Prince and Member of the Circle of the Rhine made so by the aforesaid Treaty at Munster he is obliged and hath accordingly sent away his Aides into Hungary but so unwelcome is the Nation to the Germans that they had like to have been engaged and set upon in their passage near Erford by those whom they came to assist so that they have little encouragement to that service Besides He is in League or some rude manner of Friendship with the Tartar who merited of him well in the Polish War and he himself is so great an Invader and Souldier of Fortune that Religion or its Interest weighs little with him however our Puritans cried up the Great Gustavus for a Zealot All therefore that will be done by him in this Affair will be more out of necessity and the Laws and Decree of the Empire and the Example of other Princes than his own Choice and Generosity And so we pass to his Neighbour the Dane DENMARK DENMARK is bounded on the East and South with the Baltique Sea On the North with Norwey bounded on the West and North with the German and Frozen Sea and Sweden and on the West the said German Ocean The entire Body of this Kingdom was made up principally in form of three Parts The First is the Realm of Denmark containing both the Jutlands part of Scandia adjoyning upon the Swedes Country as Halland and Schonen which is now in the Swedes possession and the Islands of the Baltique Sea 2. Norwey To which must be added the Islands of Iceland and Freezeland in the Northern Ocean where such abundance of Cod is taken by the Dutch the Danes and Us of large extent but of little benefit to this Crown 3. The Dukedome of Holstein containing 4. Provinces but now exempt from the Kingdom and other Jurisdictions added to the said Dukedom which are likewise aliened from Denmark of which more hereafter The Kingdom of Denmark lyeth partly in the Cimbrick Chersoness adjoyned to the Dukedom of Holstein as both the Jutlands out of which some part is newly borrowed to adde to the said Dutchy divided into several Districts and partly in Scandia but principally in the Islands As for the Dutchy of Holstein it hath of late years been unfortunate to the Danes being over-run by the Imperialists in 1628. in the Reign of Christiern the 4th but honestly restored by the Emperour upon easie Conditions Then it was harrassed by the Swede in 1643. and 4. and now finally freed by them from the Crown of Denmark only the best part of Jutland remaines in its pristine obedience In Scandia Schonen being gone Halland and Blecking is all he holds there and indeed they are fine Provinces but the unkind separation of their Sister of Schonen which signifies Beautiful renders them a little unpleasant to the Kings view and prospect So that his chiefest strength of his Dominions lies in the Islands in number 35. two of which Zeland and Fuenen or Fionia are most considerable and made more eminently famous by the late Swedish War the Latter for the Passage of the King of Sweden over to it upon the Sea on the Ice with Horse Foot and his great Artillery with the loss only of two Troops and the Defeat of his Forces there afterwards by the Confaederate Armies The Other for the Castle of Cronenburg that guards the Sound and Copenhagen the Royal Residence of the Kings of Denmark and which for almost two years space withstood a most perrillous Siege and finally beat off the Swedes with great loss and thereby overthrew all their Designes which proved in effect the death of that King It is a low Town ordinarily built and hath nothing of Magnificence in it but the Spirit of the Inhabitants the Kings Palace being no extraordinary Building save that its covered with Copper The Kingdom of Norway toward the North is separated from Lapland by high and craggy Rocks and the Eastern and Western Parts are hard to travel for the same reason The Land is not very fruitful of Corn and therefore the Inhabitants the meaner sort eat Stockfish which transported into other Parts is exchanged for Corn. The Inhabitants are naturally honest and not a Thief among them and very Civil to Strangers and formerly very Martial for these People were first called Normans and were Ancestors to our Conquerours but such is the hard Condition under which they are kept by the Danes though in appearance Fellow Subjects ever since the Union of the two Kingdomes by the Marriage of Aquinus in 1359. with Margaret the Daughter and Heir of Waldemar the 3d. of Denmark the Issue of which Marriage died and left this Kingdom to the Usurpation of his Mother Margaret whose Successors have continued it to this day that the Norwegians have wholly lost their Courage and former Valour not being suffered to go out of the Kingdom to traffique their own Commodities which besides Fish are rich Furrs Tallow Butter Tann'd Leather Train Oyl Pitch Clap-board Masts Deal-boards and Fire-wood from the Custom whereof ariseth the Kings greatest Profits being received for him at Bergen and Wardhouse but this Revenue is very inconsiderable The whole Realm is divided into five Lieutenancies or Governments which in this uncultivated remote Country will not concern us in any particulars no more than the appendixed Islands above mentioned Having thus summarily discoursed of the Parts of this Kingdom we will briefly mention the Government which having been placed in an Haereditary Monarchy from the Foundation of this Estate was challenged as Elective by the Usurped Power of the Nobles and People by their Deposing of Ericus about 1420. and Electing his Cosen Christopher Count Palatine of the Rhine who dying without Issue they again chose Adolph Duke of Holstein who excusing himself by reason of his age by his advice they chose his Nephew Christiern Earl of Oldenburg who brought both those Estates to this Crown Since when they continued the fashion of an Election but never passed by the next Heir until the year 1660. when in consideration of this Kings extraordinary Care Valour and Vigilance in defence of his People against the Swedes they resolved to restore what they had so long detained by returning the Government into the old Channel and making it again Haereditary in the Family of this Prince although with much reluctancy and discontent of many of the Grandees By which change so lately made there can no perfect account be given of the present administration being solely at the Kings disposal as it is with other absolute Monarchs As to the Nobles they are reputed the most antient of all Europe and the Gentry the like and to preserve and maintain that honourable Esteem they never match into Plebeian Families but keep their Blood unmix'd and pure in its first Current The Gentry are neither so fierce nor so subtle as their Neighbours and are very generous
and hospitable to Strangers The People generally thrifty and diligent in their Callings and of very good converse and civility The Religion is altogether Lutheran but the Bishops have more Authority and better Maintenance here than in Sweden but I know not what they do for a Metropolitan since the Archi-Episcopal See of Londen in Schonen which was the Primacy of Denmark was assigned to the Swede In elder times this Church depended upon the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen and then the eldest Son of the King of Denmark which was in use till the Treaty of Munster was stiled the Arch-Bishop of Bremen but that dependance was removed to London above 500. years since and whether it will be removed now is uncertain The Strength of this Kingdom is mostly Naval the Danes proving better Water than Land Souldiers and more affecting the Employment yet of modern times they have dared also by Land their Conquest of Sweden was not above 300. years agoe not to mention their old Conquests with Us in 1628. they enterprised upon the Emperour in behalf of the Liberty of Germany of which as Duke of Holstein he was a free Prince although unfortunately Nevertheless the Enemy could not but acknowledge the Gallantry of King Christiern and dealt with him accordingly Since which time they were willing to be at quiet till the opportunity of the Polish War invited this King Frederick the 3d. to revenge the injurious Violence done to his Country of Holstein by the Swedes in 1643. and 4. which was acted partly by the instigation of the Dutch who perceiving the Dane screwed up the Rate of the Toll Money in the Sound for which by an old Treaty those Netherlands were to pay but a Rose-Noble for every Ship without searching or visiting and this was paid because of the Lights Tuns and Marks at Sea kept and maintained by the King of Denmark which Payment from the time of their separation from Spain he had raised at his own pleasure searching the Ships and seizing the Goods under pretence of Contrebanda or prohibited Merchandise By a League made in 1640. with the Swede they insinuated this Grievance which also offended that Queens Subjects so that in conclusion the Dane betwixt the Swedes Land Forces and the appearance of the Dutch Fleet was forced to a new Agreement with the Hollander at a set easie rate for the Toll which afterwards in 1650. having made the like defensive League with the Dane they Farmed at 140000. Peices of 8. per annum for some term with a Proviso and Caution of not being searched for any Goods the Master only declaring what they were To return to an account of his Forces they may be thus computed First Such as the Nobility and Gentry are bound to raise for the publique service which are a considerable number And Secondly What the People furnish upon such occasions and these have formerly amounted to great Armies But the strength of the Kingdom is now exhausted and it is yet able to do little The preceding discourse leads me to consider of this Kings Revenue which chiefly consists in his Toll upon Ships aforesaid for he makes little of his own Customes Fish being his greatest Commodity and no great Port of Trade in all his Realm which hath fallen much since his late Agreement with the Dutch who have the sole Trade here almost and more by the Northern Passage to Russia found out many years since He had also a Toll of 50000. Oxen which went yearly out of North Jutland into Germany by Holstein but the Duke now receives that at his Toll-house erected at his Residence of Gottorp There are also some Crown Lands but they do not amount to any considerable Revenue The Interest of Denmark is by no means to dis-oblige the Emperour as his surest Friend against the Swede nor the Hollander unless upon insolent Encroachments against which he hath the King of England his nearest Ally to a sure Friend and Defence to watch and keep fair with the Swede his constant and natural Enemy and to that purpose to keep the Russian alwayes enjealousied of their Greatness to be at League with all the German Princes and make his Interest as strong with them as is possible to be perpetually Confaederated with the Pole Offensively and Defensively and so to cherish the French Kings Friendship as to keep him a Neuter betwixt the Swede and himself Lastly to love and respect the Crown of England above all other Friendships whatsoever With other Princes than these he hath no Concern only a civil Correspondence with Spain and Portugal in point of Trade and Commerce What he can do against the Turk or what Supply he can give the Emperour may appear by the preceding Discourse the late Wars having utterly disabled him so that besides his good will and his Prayers he can no way advantage the Christian Cause without much despoyling and injuring himself which that Occasion cannot expect and perchance will not need And it is most certain that the Turk took his Resolution of the late Invasion from the Embarassement and Difference between these two Northern Kings in which the Emperour the Pole and the Marquess of Brandenburg were so far engaged so that having suffered sufficiently and he being the only loser upon that account he may well be excused And so we pass to the Dutchy of Holstein HOLSTEIN THis Dutchy of Holstein ought to have been referred to the Survey of Germany of which this Duke is a Prince although he never comes to the Imperial Diets nor is subject to any impositions or Taxes laid upon the Empire only in case of Appeal some Causes have been carried to the Rix-Chamber at Spiers which are now discontinued because of its former dependance to the Crown of Denmark to which it was annexed some Ages since by the Election of Christopher Count of Oldenburgh Heir to Adolph last Duke hereof and hath remained as the Title and posseson of the eldest Son or the younger brothers of the said Crown we will not dis-joyn it from this entire view of both together It is seated in the Southern part of the Cimbrick Chersoness or the Peninsula made by the Baltique Sea on the German shore and is divided from the Danish Provinces of Jutland by the River Eydore It contains four Provinces viz. Heagerland in west near the Sea and the fall of two Rivers Lubeck is seated a famous Hanse Town neatly built and well traded but of more estimation in former times 2ly Stormarsh whereupon the Elbe stands Hamburgh another Hanse Town and of late more famed than Lubeck by reason of the English Staple of Cloath for its greatness of commerce 3ly Ditmarsh and 4ly Holstein properly so called The whole Peninsula is but 75 miles in length and 60 in breadth with the 2 Jutlands belonging to the King of Denmark so that this Dutchy can be reputed of little force although it consist of a great number of walled Cities and Towns and is very
barren if we consider each part thereof by it self alone but all being reduced together it aboundeth and is suffiently stored with all Necessaries and is particularly furnished with Minerals It is not very Populous both by reason the Spanish Man is not apt for Generation being more hot than virile in his Lust and the Women are Mothers so young and early that Nature is decayed in them before the half of their Teeming And 2. Because such vast numbers have been drawn thence continually to serve in the Wars and to re-inforce Garrisons as also for that many of his Subjects do excercise Navigation especially in great numbers to the Indies which is peopled what it is with Spaniards only and the Natives for they will not trust other people on shore they are so jealous of their wealth nevertheless the Country is by this means rid of all slothful home-livers Most of those Kingdoms above mentioned were conquered and won from the Moors and the Atchievement made by Ferdinand and Isabel Kings of Castile and Aragon which two Kingdomes with Leon became united by their Marriage at this same time And for Navarre it was seized by the Policy and Valour of this Ferdinand as we shall speak more at large of it because it is the Title of the French King and the House of Bourbon NAVARRE is bounded on the East with the Principality of Bearn in the Kingdom of France and acknowledging the same Soveraignty on the West with the River Iberus which divides it from Castile on the North by the Cantabrian Mountains which part it from Guypuscoa and on the South with Aragon It taketh up some parts of both sides the Pyrences but the sixth part of it lyeth on the French side and is very steril it is called the Base or Low Navarre which Lewis the 13th united with Bearn to the French Crown the other being called the High Navarre lyeth on the Spanish side and is fertile and adorned with Trees In the Reign of John of Albret who had married Catherine Sister and Heir of Francis the last of the House of Foix Kings of Navarre Ferdinand the most Catholique King who had Conquered the Kingdom of Granada from the Moors and united the two Potent Kingdomes of Castile and Aragon to which all the other but this and Portugal were one way or other incorporated resolved to add this also and to compleat the Monarchy of Spain Hereupon in the year 1512. pretending a final and utter Extirpation of the Moors he raised an Army and of a sudden marched towards Navarre demanding of them passage for his Army into France Lewis the 12th the King whereof with all his Subjects were then under Excommunication the Executioner of which Ferdinand undertook to be as his Successors have done ever since which being waved by K ng John and his Queen he immediately en red the Country and without the striking of a blow reduced it the French King being backward to the relief of it then but afterwards endeavouring with all his Power to recover it when it was too late being fortified and secured by the Conquerour Not long after in 1556. by Joan the Daughter and Heir of Henry of Albret this Title with the sixth part mentioned before came to Anthony of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme Father of Henry the 4th of France but the design of regaining this his paternal Inheritance by reason of his tedious War for the French Crown was to him also unfeasible but had he survived that fatal stroke given him by Ravilliac no doubt he would have bid fair for this his just Right to which his Successors have such an appetite as Patrimony is a great Magnetick that in all Treaties with Spain since they insert a salvo jure a saving of their Claim Right and Title to Navarre to be lawful for them to prosecute in an ordinary Course of Justice but that Justice hath no Courts nor have Princes Patience or Hope in the Brawles of Lawyers or those Decrees which cannot give Seizin and Delivery A lucky opportunity for a re-surprize is only worthy of their expectation The other Kingdomes taking up too much room and time in their Limitation and Description we will mention and comprize together giving the Reader to understand that Castile and Aragon are the most noble as who have made all those Acquisitions of the Spanish Greatness and their distinct Titles were these to Arragon belonged Sicily Sardinia Majorca Valentia Catalonia Navarre and Naples To Castile belonged Leon Gallicia Toledo Murcia Biscay Granada and America because Queen Isabel furnished Columbus Nor was Navarre when under its former Princes far behind them in such Atchievements on the French side Note we also that the County of Rossilluon formerly a Member of the Kingdom of Majorca is by the late general Treaty together with the Viguery of Conflans and part of the County of Cerdana as is situate in the Pyrenean Mountains towards France and not belonging to Catalonia assigned by the Spaniard to the French for ever to whom it was long since pawned for 300000. Crowns but remitted by Charles the 8th of France to Ferdinand the Catholique upon condition he should not hinder him in the Conquest of Naples By the same Treaty the French surrendred all his Garrisons and Places he had taken in Catalonia excepting such as should be found to belong to the County of Cerdana aforesaid These 14. Kingdomes are governed by the same Court or Imperial Laws intermix'd with some Customes of the Goths and some additional Constitutions of their Kings and the Government conserved by Justice impartially here executed and the Inquisition in Ecclesiastical Affairs so that there is never like to be a War upon pretence of Reformation in this Kingdom To give the People their due whether it is that that Inquisition hath awed them to it they are very devout and zealous and most Loyal to their Prince whom they will spare no blood nor treasure to aggrandize and of whom they never speak without great reverence and honour and in his service no men can possibly be more patient or endure more misery and hardness than will they even to the utmost and worst of Extremity and as faithful and true they are to him there having been few Traytors of all his Subjects nor any Command or Trust betrayed by any of them Generally of themselves they are very grave and serious in all their Actions and yet notwithstanding so addicted to Pride that they think all the World pittiful Fellows and Fools in comparison of themselves In summ they have effected great and noble things viz. their Conquest over the Moors and the New World together with Philip the Second's Conquest or Possession of Portugal and they have failed of as great viz. their Design upon England in 88. and in their Grand Project of an Universal Empire which hath almost broke the Heart of this Monarchy The Government is Absolute and Royal Matters of several qualities are handled in several Councils
and the praeferring to Benefices The whole Revenues of the Clergy are valued at six Millions of Gold yearly Rent there being 34. Cathedral Churches all richly endowed some whereof having 50. some a 100. and some 200. Millions of yearly Revenue and in particular the Metropolitan Arch-Bishop of Toledo hath more than 300. Millions Neither do the Kings of Spain care to parcel these Churches to a greater number although over-grown with their plenty for then they should with more difficulty make use of the Revenues and Notes thereof when occasion required which is very often upon any disastrous Event As he likewise layes extraordinary Taxes upon the Laity in the like Occurrence for in the Kingdom of Castile alone Philip the 2d had nigh 8. Millions of Gold in one year reckonning hereto also the Profits which his Orders of Knighthood yield him viz. 200. Millions of Crowns so that here is Revenue more than enough were it not for the Canker of Interest at the Bank of Genoa nor are the Merchants of Antwerp without their share in the partition thereof and now the Amsterdammers also This Princes Coyn notwithstanding is the best in Europe since all their Neighbours make a gain of them as a Piece of Reals or 8. Six-Pences in our Money goeth in France for 4 s. 6 6. a Doublin in Gold that which is a Pistolet with them being 13. Shillings is in France and other Places 29. Reals which is 14 s. 6 d. of our Money Most of the Coyn that passeth for Wine Bread Fruit c. is of Brass which they call Quartas and Quartillas of their Maravedies 20. make three-pence but sometime the King enhanceth the Price of this Brass Money of a sudden and with a great deal of profit to himself brings a great loss upon Trade All their Meat Fruit and Bread are sold by the Pound and not except before an Officer which they call Alcalda so that no Stranger can be deceived in price or weight As to the Interest of these Princes it hath been evidently seen what it hath been but since the French mated them under Francis the First and held them to it till Lewis the 14th was too powerful for them since the Dutch baffled them and We triumphed over them they have been put to defend their own instead of over-running others Their Designes are now to secure their Estates and to draw from them that Revenue into their Coffers which was squandred away in the War without any account and yet to be as gentle a Soveraign as possible For all the late League the Spaniard nor French will ever joyn Interests or agree together more than they do in their Humours or Fashions In fine they really hate one another but more revengefully the Spaniard frets at the French as he that first put a stop to his Career of Ambition and therefore there 's nothing but Jealousie and Suspition between them however smoothed and oyled over with Court Artifices alike understood for such on both sides nor have their late frequent Consanguinities and Marriages any influences to draw them nearer to any amicable understanding With the Dutch he firmly keeps a good Correspondence as his very good Friends since Fate would needs have it so and useth them very respectfully as his good Neighbours and as security to his Estates in Flanders for the Dutch as was said do not love the Frenchmens vicinity For the King of England he cherisheth a more than usual respect testified by those publique Honours done his Ambassador Sr. Richard Fanshaw in that Kingdom and inviolably observeth the Peace betwixt us With the Duke of Savoy he is newly reconciled and certainly that Duke who hath the Citadel of Verceil restored him by this King by vertue of the late Treaty hath no great Antipathy against Him for he hath suffered twice more from the French than from the Spaniard who is as well able to Defend Him as he is conveniently scited to Offend him upon every displeasure The Duke of Parma is allyed to him and so sure to his Interest The Florentine is stiff but is aequal between the French and Him The Mantuan will be Neutral and the Pope his secret Friend The Prince of Modena will hardly engage any more against Him for in a manner he is the Umpire of all Quarrells between those Princes He is Patron also to the Common-Wealth of Luca. And for the States of Venice ever since the Dutchy of Millain came to the possession of this Crown they have set them down with great quietness rather looking to the strengthening of their own than attempting his and good reason too for our Ancestors have seen the Spanish favouring the Venetians when their Estate was dangerously hazarded by the Turk chearfully to have entred into the Actions of Cephalonia and Lepanto when nevertheless at the same instant they had at their own Doors Algier Tunis and other African Ports their dangerous Enemies The State of Genoa must favour the King of Spain and stand by him for he is their Protector and owes them vast summs which by any partiality of their side will be wholly lost With all the Catholique Princes of Germany he is in perfect Correspondence and how great a relation and necessity of mutual adhaerence there is between the Emperour and Him no man is ignorant confirmed now and more intimately contracted by the late Marriage of the Infanta With the King of Fez and Morocco his Catholique Majesty is in League but it is of no use or availment to him Of the Religion of Malta the King taketh a particular protection as that in like sort depends wholly upon his pleasure and doth readily execute his Royal Commandements serving him often in keeping the Coasts of Spain and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicily from Incursions of Pyrates and that without one penny cost or charges to the King As to the Turk he maintains no intercourse nor useth any Trade with him and yet he hath neither Peace nor War with him Peace he pretends he ought not to have and the other he careth not for and the Turk is as unwilling to quarrel as he remembring what he suffered from him at Lepanto So that pivate Damages are privately made good and the Algier men do take upon themselves the Rupture if any louder Mischief happen of which the Spaniard will not complain It is thought that this King is Superiour to the Turk in Naval Furniture and Provision and the Courage and Ability of Seamen for his Biskayners and Catalonians are hardly to be paralleled for enduring of Winter weather and Tempests and the Turk is alwayes moared at home from October to March besides the convenience of his Coast for building of Ships and Gallies of which he hath a 100. in readiness and the Turk hath but two Places all along his African Coast viz. Algier and Tunis where he can build a Vessel Upon this account it was that Philip the 2d was advised to seize upon the Morea and
Greece those People being willing to embrace a Christian Defender against that unsupportable slavery which they suffer from the Turk but he considering his Fathers ill success in Africa though ascribable more to Tempest than to any other Cause would never cast his eye upon that Enterprize being bent upon far worse to the disturbance of Christendom so that it appears he is the only Prince that is able to give him a Potent Diversion were not his Fleets otherwise employed But withall this King at present is so exhausted that he is not in a Capacity to undertake such an Expedition without the assistance of other Christian Princes which the Venetians have a long while in vain implored and he cannot hope to expect it till the danger is more eminent and then hee 'l find wayes to defend himself This may be certainly concluded on he will do what in him lyeth to keep the Turk from swallowing the Haereditary Countries of the Emperour in which he hath an Expectation and Reversion and will spare him such Supplies however he pincheth for it as shall testifie his Zeal Affection and Care for the Imperial Family And so having finished this survey of Spain we will next take a short view of Portugall PORTUGALL INto this Kingdom of Portugall are reckoned as in Spain two other Kingdomes so teeming are these little Soveraignties of other Principalities namely the Kingdom of Algarve and that of the Isles of the Azores or the Terceras Portugall is bounded on the North with two Rivers which part it from Gallicia on the South with Algarve on the West with the Atlantique Ocean and on the East with the new and old Castile Extended on the Sea Coast from North to South reckoning in the Kingdom of Algarve 400. Miles in breadth not exceeding a 100. and in some places not 80. and 60. The Country is very destitute and unprovided of Corn but that supplyed by Wine Oyl Figgs and other Fruits as for Cattel they have no store nor have they much use of them as in Spain the People being naturally hot and dry and delighting in Fruits and Sallads as cooling and satisfying also This Kingdom is now governed by Alphonso the 6th who hath a Brother a very hopeful Gentleman named Don Pedro of the House of Braganza whose Claim against Philip the 2d descended of Mary fifth Daughter of Emanuel King of Portugal but immediate surviving Heir to Henry her Brother third Son of Emanuel Cardinal and King of Portugall was judged lost when the Crown came into his Fathers Possession for that his Ancestor had married Katherine the Daughter of Prince Edward fourth Son of Emanuel who dyed indeed before his Brother the Cardinal King Henry It is true the Prince of Parma had married Mary her elder Sister but against that the Civilians alleged that the Crown by a peculiar Law of that Kingdom passed in such Cases to such Heirs as were Natives of the Realm However the Title was the People were resolved the House of Braganza should have the Crown which was wonderfully accomplish'd in 1640. and of which we will discourse no further This Crown hath had wonderful Successes both in the East and West-Indies where they have wrested Brasile from the Hollanders and at Home also for though they be but a handful of People yet by immuring themselves in such strong Places as they took by Shipping and Naval Sieges from the Indians and venturing in all weathers to relieve one another to the disappointment of their Enemies who thought by Sieges at Land to recover the Places they had lost by the opportunity of such tempestuous seasons they have fixed themselves so in those Indies that they command a great part thereof and the best also till by our Assistance some forty Years agoe the Persian recovered Ormus the notedst Place of Trade then in the East and in defence whereof they defeated two Navies of the Turks who hath his City and Port of Aden in the same Sea but now the Turk and they have done and the Persian is in their room At Home he is engaged against the Spaniard but the War hath proved so fortunate to him that he hath rather got than lost by it however it is hoped it will be composed by a Peace although there are several Interests which do with-hold it all they can The French deserted them by the late general Treaty but it is conceived they would stick as close to them now The Dutch do no way care that the Portugalls should have Peace at home for their fingers itch at Brasile and they have been long quarrelling about it for Damages but they are in fear of Seconds besides that they are now in prosecution of a War in the East-Indies where also they have had some Successes It concerns Us that the King of Portugall our chief Ally should be advanced to a Condition of Prosperity and Grandeur and no wayes will be omitted conducing thereunto With other Princes and States this Kingdom hath not to do save with the Pope who hath at last promised the Confirmation of all Ecclesiastical Preferments and the Bishops other Clergy in that Kingdom Unless with some of the African Potentates which Affair is devolved upon our Shoulders by our Possession of Tangier as we are likewise of some Places in the Kingdom of Goa in the East-Indies By all which it may be guessed what a great loss happened to the King of Spain when this Kingdom and all its Dominions at the same day revolted from him The Force of this Kingdom is not very great the Commanders finding much adoe to bring 20000. Effectif Men into the Field against the Spaniard nor are those well provided or harnessed but such hath been their resolution and animosity against their old Enemy the Castilians that they have generally carried away the Victory and what Wings We have added to Her Fame hath already told the World As the Force but the Fortune of this Kingdom is little considerable so is the Revenue saving that the Patrimony of this Prince is of great value and yearly Intrado for as Duke of Braganza he possesseth more than one third of the Kingdom and there is a little belonging to the Crown The rest of his Revenues come by his Customes with this he maintains several Store-houses all along the Country a dayes march commonly from one another for the subsistence of the marching Army and the relief of the sick or travelling Souldiers with Passes as he doth Ships of War for security of his Trade that of Sugar bringing him in exceeding great Profit As to the Turk he hath no leisure to look towards him nor is he accommodated with Ships or Naval Apparel to engage him His Navy consisting chiefly of great and slow Gallions built for Burden and Defence and against swelling Seas and for other Coasts and the great deep Ocean so that they would soon perish in the windings of the Mediterranean and therefore we cannot consider him as any Help against
say of the Hungarians then called Pannonians antiently That they were so unconstant that there was no governing them but by Cittadels so unruly that they knew no other Kings but their Landlords that they understood no Duty but towards a General and that they owned no Religion but Liberty And I may add of Hungary what they say of Scotland That as long as the People hang so much on the Nobility and the Priesthood neither Nobility nor Priesthood will stick to the King Since they are so subtile and proud it 's well they are so voluptuous and that their wit and malice is softned by their pleasures It 's some security that a Faction is deboished especially here where none comes to undoe the Common-wealth but a Sober Man it being an Hermit that first taught Hungary that dangerous way of Marrying Noblemens Children as soon as born and entring them in a Combination as soon as they are matriculated Christians It 's a wonder the Emperour cannot as well be rid of the Palatine of Hungary as the King of Spain is of the Justice of Arragon both whom pretending a Power between King and People usurped an Authority over both not easily checked unless as Albertus Arch-Duke of Austria got the Title to the Kingdom by marrying the King's Daughter 1431. so his Successors may keep Possession by marrying the Palatine's The Hungarians and the Welshmen agreeing in this that they would willingly be governed by none but their own Natives But rather than insist on these Niceties it becomes these desolate People 1. To fix upon some Principles that may unite these divided States 2. That they promote the general Peace of Christendom 3. That they provide good Shipping upon the Danube 4. That they Victual and Garrison the Frontier Towns already erected and erect more 5. That they set up the Profession of Religion in so decent a way as may work upon their Neighbour Turks a Reverence at least of if not a Respect for it 6. That they observe those Dissentions that grow among the Infidels and make use of their Discontents to weaken their Power A Lesson they might well learn from the very Turks themselves who have invaded Hungary now 8. times upon no other Encouragement than the Contests that they have had among themselves about Religion and the Quarrels with their Liege Lords about Liberty 7. That they prosecute the Mines that yield the Emperour 162000 l. and employ 10000. idle men that might be worse busied And encourage Tillage where Wheat is higher than a man's head Vines over-top the Trees Grass groweth up to the Knees and the Woods threaten the Clouds And 8. That they train their Foot to as much Expertness as they do their Horse that the Bandi may be as eminent amongst them as their Heyduchs to which purpose a veterane Army of 3000. Horse and Foot such as t ey raised Anno 1561. were not amiss since the Emperour holds but one Part of this Country and the Great Turnk two BOHEMIA BOHEMIA lyeth open to the same Dangers with Hungary from Greece alwayes obnoxious to Invasions and from Germany alwayes lyable to Pressures only it receives not less advantage from Calvinism than the Neighbour Countries have done from Lutheranism For the Emperour had been absolute e're this and all the Privileges contended for here and elsewhere swallowed up had not the Reformers put in a new stickling Principle into the People and made those who were ready to forgoe their Liberties stand fast for their Religion The Italians saith a Statesman who are very clear-sighted in Matters of State have perceived this long since And Bocalini when he brings in Apollo making answer to Sir Thomas More That all People will be Catholiques when the King of Spain will be content with Castile and the Emperour with the County of Hasburgh Makes it evident That Religion is the Bulwark of their Liberty and that which upholdeth all other States secures this It was a great weakness in the Bohemians to cast off the Emperour whose Power raised them to a Kingdom and whose Hereditary Estates surrounds them And it were a greater now to dispute with him since it lyeth so open to the Mahumetan by the way of Moravia lying on the West of it and to the Swede by the way of Silesia lying on the North. In which Places were Olmualz on the River Mark Brin on the River Schwatz Swaein on the Teia on the one stand Glatz with Noiste on a River of that name Breslaw and Glogaw on the River Odera well guarded with Forts Redoubts and Lines of Communication the 200000. Foot and the 32000. Horse that Dubravi saith the Emperour could raise here taking only a tenth man might make such an impression upon the debauched and divided State of the Turk as might alter the present settlement and fear of the World Only the Cavalry here are not so excellent by reason of the generous freedom allowed their Gentlemen as the Foot are unserviceable by reason of the despicable dejectedness impressed on their common People Otherwise this King of Bohemia might bid for the Eastern Empire as fairly as Sigismond of Luxemburgh another King thereof did for the Western of whom it 's said that being in the Diet for the Choice of an Emperour after the Death of Robert of Bavaria spoke the first according to the Custom and saying That he knew no man more worthy of the Empire than he was named himself whereupon the rest of the Electors his Colleagues admiring his freedom and generosity unanimously gave him their Voices An Interest as easily made had this Emperour three Lay-Counsellours and three Clergy-men of his Council Bohemians by Birth as that had who might give such safe Counsells in the grand Points of Religion and Liberty as might accommodate all the Pretences of both kinds those Bohemians made against the Emperour Mathias Provided alwayes That that Emperours mistake be avoided and than no Person there be advanced so farr that he hath nothing more to be ambitious of save his Power that advanced him For I shall never forget how Theodosius Duke of Braganza and the richest Lord in Portugal being displeased with Philip the 3d. his Liege Lord because he was not permitted to walk side by side with him withdrew from Court and how the Courtiers fore-seeing the danger of so great a Person 's discontent in so unsetled a Kingdom intreating his Majesty to satisfie him before he went home the King sent for him and upon his approach with an extraordinary sweetness said to him Pedid Duque Ask what you would have my Lord The Duke swelled with his Grandeur answered Senor los Mayores de vuestru Majestad que tanbien han sido los mios hizieron tautas mercedes a mâ—â—â—sa que no me queda nada que pedir Sir Your Majesties Ancestours who were mine also have bestowed so many favours and bounties upon my House that there remains nothing for me to ask Whereat the whole Court was surprized and after
now of the Turkey thereof Having surveighed our own State and what we may hope take we a view of the Mahumetans and what we may fear whose Dominion is placed most conveniently for the Universal Monarchy he aimed at being evenly situated between Europe and Asia as some think on the Center of the habitable World whereby he is ready on all Occasions to stretch his Conquest every way being able to conveigh Recruits Supplyes and Armies into either Coast His own Seat Constantinople the boundary of both Parts of the World lying on the shore of the Seas of either the Euxine and the Mediterranean which command the Plenty of each Region to the very Walls of the Seraglio and then conveigh the Power of that mighty Place to both those Countries As 1. To Europe and there 1. to Sclavonia lying so obnoxious Eastward to Macedon and Epirus whence their great Lord pours forth over the River Drinus his numberless Slaves upon all Occasions when either Germany threatneth them Westward by the way of Carniola Venice by the way of Histria or Hungary by the way of BOSNIA Formerly united to that Kingdom till Mahomet the Great having taken Constantinople and with it most part of Greece in the Year One thousand four hundred sixty and four seized it and its new King whom he stead alive annexing his Kingdom to his own Empire and setling a Bashaw over it with order to alter the Constitution of that Place as the North of Dalmatia along the Adriatique where the Venetians pay Custom to the Grand Seigniour for all their Merchandize wherewith to conjure him to Peace setling the People of Bosnia in the Garrisons of Dalmatia and those of Dalmatia in the Strong Holds of Bosnia which is bound to send 1500. young Ladds a year into the Seraglio as a token of their subjection and a security for their good behaviour Besides that no Inhabitant must be a Field Officer without a special Licence of the Grand Vizier within an hundred Mile of his Native Country save at Ragusa a Place the Turk keeps from the Usurpation of the Venetians and the Venetians keep from the Oppressions of the Turk as the little Republique of Geneva is kept by the Duke of Savoy from Spain and by Spain from France and by France from both the former And in the Isles Curzola Zara and Coreym Places too remote for this great Potentate to pass and yet too near to trust especially since the Republique of Venice possesseth the greatest part of the Islands and all the Sea-coasts from the River Arisia to the Bay of Calthaw And the Emperour as King of Hungary the Inland parts of Windischland and Croatia He himself having only Bosnia some Cities in Windischland and among the Croates with a little share of Dalmatia only from the Bay of Calthaw to Albania which would be quickly lost had not Solyman in the unseasonable Dissentions between Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria and John Sepusio Vayvod of Transylvania seized with other Towns which seizure is now so farr improved by the possession of Newhausell and divers other Places which the Turk keeps upon the last Peace so farr that no eminent Places save Presburgh Gomorrah Raab and Tockay are reserved to the House of Austriae the whole Country besides lying open to the Power of that mighty Monarch not to be checked but by new Fortresses upon the Borders and Frontiers of that Kingdom especially towards Belgrade a strong Place upon the Confluence of the Dravus and Danow by the former whereof it is walled in Northward and Eastward by the later formerly the Bulwark of Christendom lost for want of succours to Solyman the Magnificent and now the Strong Hold of Turkey especially since it is re-inforced by Gran Newhausell and Novigrad DACIA And the stronger for the absolute Power and Command the great Sultan hath in Dacia on the East of Hungary which contains not only Transylvania of which at large before but Moldavia Wallachia Rascia on the North side of the Danow together with Servia and Bulgaria on the South MOLDAVIA Guarded by the dangerous and miscalled Euxine Sea Eastward with unsetled Transylvania Westward with the turbulent Niiestru and the more turbulent Podolia Northward and with Wallachia Southward More plentiful in Provision than in People and more abundant in People than in Habitations for them and in more Habitations for Men than the thousand heads of Cattel that run for want of Owners from the fat Pastures of this untilled Country to the better peopled Parts towards Crakow on the one hand and Constantinople on the other So rich a Country but for the sad Neighbourhood of the depopulating Tartars and Cossacks that the Turk dares not trust it to its own People for fear of a Revolt nor to the Neighbourhood for fear of a War but keeps it for 300. Miles round as broken in its Constitution as it is in its Religion the one being but the Image of Government allowed at Constantinople and the other but the Shape of Religion professed in the Greek Church He that gives most Money at the Seraglio hath the tributary Vayvodship of this Place and he that drives most Cattel hath the most Money One whereof was so Potent I mean John who was Vayvod 1570. that assisted by Peter his Neighbour of Wallachia he shaked off the Turshish Yoak As did likewise Aaron another Vayvod confederate with the Prince of Transylvania and sheltered by the King of Poland and the Emperour till all these weary of the daily Incursions of the Turks rendred it up a Prey to their fury 1622. Since which Year it submits peaceably to its great Masters and attends their service most dutifully in all their Wars so that they never marched into or traversed over this miserable Coast which wants nothing but a resolved number of Inhabitants such as over-stocked Europe would easily afford backed by the Pole and Muscovite who might be this way better employed than they are at present to garrison fortifie and husband it in order to that Freedom to which the Turkish Dissetledments give no little Opportunities especially to a Place utterly unaccessible to the Ottoman Army which never durst attempt any farther than its Borders where it rather Frighted than Conquered it to that Vassalage that is unworthy of Humane Nature either to Impose or Submit to A Vassalage no part of the World groans under but this and its next Neighbour WALLACHIA Distinguished from it only by a ridge of Mountains otherwise so near a kin in barbarism and misery that they went under one sad Name of Moldavia till their last Devastation more merciful on this side that Place than on the other That there should be a Country in so civil a Place as Europe five hundred Miles in length an hundred and twenty in bredth so plentifull as to be the Granary of the wasted Confines of Asia and to give as much Reputation to the River Ister as it borroweth Fertility from it That admits neither a
do well Favours are derived to merit and Preferments to worth and a man may be as good as he will and as great as he deserveth The Honour of Religion and its Clergy is asserted the Levity and Petulancy of the Populacy is restrained and every one knoweth his own place where they serve one God in one Faith by one Baptism in one Spirit in one hope of one common Salvation Its Fourth Interest is Unity the Head whereof is an excellent Prince made up of power and sweetness who is feared and loved whose Veins swell with all the Royal Blood of this Kingdom and whose Soul is thronged with all the Virtues of its Kings so that his Right is as undoubted as his Possession and his Merit as his Right And the awe upon all men arising from the three Wonders of his Escape 1651. His Restauration 1660. and his Success ever since Great is our happiness in him multiplyed it is in Relations Uno avulso non deficit alter Aureus On his Throne he sits with a Gracious Queen on his right hand his Excellent Mother before him his Royal Brother on his left hand his Grave and Honourable Council at his Feet his Reverend Bishops about his Throne his Loyal Nobility near his Person his Unanimous Gentry attending his Pleasure and that August Council called a Parliament made up of all these as one man reconciling his Prerogative and his Peoples Liberties to the Envy of most Neighbours and the Amazement of all Look we into their Debates they are dutiful into their Counsells they are rational loyal and resolute into their Expedients they are seasonable into their Supplyes they are honourable and into their Unanimity and as one man they are resolved to live and dye with their dear and dread Soveraign If we return to the Court it 's full thrifty wary and strict If to the Exchequer it 's full with a Revenue double that of former Kings 1200000 l. per Annum besides the Resolution of the People to spend their Lives and Fortunes for the defence and honour of the King and in him of the Kingdom and themselves If to the Courts of Justice they are filled with most reverend and famous Men. If to the Church it 's full of venerable learned and prudent Churchmen If to the Officers of State they are honourable and experienced If to the Cabals there was never Prince or Council since the Constitution of Empires a safer Preserver of secrets and yet none whose secrecy and silence we less may fear where the chief Prelates cast Reverence and the chief Nobility of both Kingdoms Dignity and all knowing in Forein Affairs abroad and Domestique Constitutions at home If into the Church Disputations are silenced Pulpits are modest Presses are regulated Learning is encouraged Debauchery is discountenanced Faction is suppressed and Schism is made ridiculous If into the City the Lord Mayor and Major General are active and vigilant the Aldermen and Common Council are liberal and free 200000 l. at at time the Companies Officers and Vestries are setled If into the Country the Forts Strong Holds and Havens are secure the Militia is setled and reduced to excellent Rules for the ease and service of the Country the Lords Lieutenants and their Deputies are powerful and honest made up of the choicest Gentry the Sheriffs that command the Power of the Country faithful and well affected the Justices of Peace Men of Estates Wisdom Interest Repute and known Integrity who execute Justice regulate Disorders discover Plots disperse Conventicles promote the honour and security of the Kingdom and these hold some their Estates others their Places and all their Honour of his Majesty under whom Tillage and Husbandry prospereth Manufactures are encouraged Native Commodities are promoted all People are employed in the Necessities or Conveniencies of the Kingdom every man under his own Vine every one under his own Figtree If we look back upon the Pretences Methods or Principles of the former Rebellion they are cut off by Acts of Parliament If forward on the Opportunities for a future Disturbance they are all vacated by Acts of State If men pretend Religion for Disturbance England knoweth it's Hypocrisie If Liberty our People is too sensible it is Licentiousness If Propriety we have been taught that the meaning of that is Taxes Plunder and Free-quarter If Conscience English Men have learned to Obey and not Disobey for Conscience sake If Oppression none to that of Disorder Universal Liberty and a standing Army If Looseness in Manners every man among us saith It cannot be so bad as when there is no King in Israel and every man may do what is good in his own Eyes If the Errours of a Statesman we see men aim at the Kings head through the Statesmens sides No colour for Disturbance among us and all reason for Peace in a Nation to the Government whereof the grave learned and prudent Persons of all sides submit wherein no man doth or suffereth but what he consenteth to himself We hear indeed of War upon the Borders of the Empire but we have Peace in our Borders being walled in first with the Ocean and that Ocean secured by as strong a Navy as is this day in Christendom We read of mutual Challenges of Right between Spain and Portugal but we are the People to whose Land none so much as pretendeth Right save our dread Soveraign We observe others failing in their Designs upon forein Parts we great in our own Possessions maintain our own Right to the full and forbear others equally famous for our Justice and our Power They talk of Kingdoms like to expire in their dying Princes when we are secured in a Royal Family not more a Blessing to us that it is good than that it is numerous If Neighbour States have provoked the World we pity them for we are at Peace with it If other Princes throw away their People with vain and ambitious Attempts we are onely employed to secure our own Borders to promote our own Interests and Honour Some Republiques have the miserable choice of either an intollerable War or an unworthy Peace we give the Law to Africa and Europe in utrumque parati a prosperous War or an honourable Peace We stand to no Nations Courtesie having made our Friendship and our Enmity the most Considerable this day in the World Our Kingdom is Populous our Ground Fertile our Gentry Expert our Yeomen Trained our Scholars Learned our Noblemen Active our Magazines Full our Money Ready our Court Vnanimaus our Genius Warlike and in a word every Particular amongst us sensible of the Concerns of the Whole Prayeth for His most Excellent Majesty the Breath of our Nostrils that his Counsels may prosper his just Cause may succeed his Enemies may be ashamed and upon his Head his Crown may Flourish All that love their King and Country saying AMEN FINIS
of the peaceful and saving Gospel by the ineffectual operation whereof we are not only like to become a Prey but are already the scorn and reproach of Turks and Infidels Me thinks I hear that of Lucan in his elegant flattery to Nero given as true counsel and advice in the Courts of some Princes and States Librati pondera Coeli Orbe tene medio To get so high that they may govern and ballance the World and overlook the Affairs of the Universe which Elevation to so ticklish a point of Grandeur and Felicity as it hath been fancied by some is so incapable of persistency that the Fate of Phaeton hath attended their ambitious Designs and cast their Dominions into Flame and Combustion Not to deny but that a just Temperature of a formidable power and greatness ought to be nicely regarded when the vicinity of so many united Dominions and Soveraignties unequally distributed may give suspicion of Encroachment but when such Discourses are like the story of 88. antiquated and very unpracticable and the very Umbrages of those things disappear and are vanished for that the Spanish Monarchy and the House of Austria whose great accessions of Territory gave rise to those Observations on which the Policy of the last Age was founded are concluded to be consumptive and to stand meerly on the defensive part the present divisions of Europe in this unhappy Juncture cannot be palliated or covered with this fig-leaf As if the Toss of Ambition be in the other Bucket which in counterpoize of the formers aspiring glories hath strugled through a War of almost a 100. years duration but hath now interchanged Aimes and Designes by Conversion intending the self-same advantages of a Purse and Puissance the said Differences are more enviously calamitous and are so far from Colour of Excuse that they give the World to see that they do not act by the Rule of what they ought but what they may or can do and that the longest Sword hath no measure but its Scabbard to which once drawn it seldom returns Such as these may be the occult cause of our Differences not imputing it to the present War between the Muscovite and the Pole which is an Haereditary and National Quarrell about the Lands of their Dominions conterminate and confining upon one another or to some small mis-understandings in Germany not considerable but for this Juncture of both which we shall treat in its place more amply but there is a kind of Evil which hath attended every grand and happy Revolution in Christendom that is assignable as the principal and general Motion to these present Troubles Fortune was never yet so respectful and officiously kind but that her Train was very chargeable nor doth she in her greatest Indulgence but faenerate and commute her Favours The late general Peace was not given Gratis nor those Palladian Semblances of Accommodation without armed force in the womb of those concealed Designes which yet amuse Christendom and it is most true that the Pope his Holiness who in the beginning of his Papacy laid about him so much for the Reconciliation of the two Crowns was not over-pleased when he saw it was finished and yet not out of any pique with the Cardinal Mazarine who attributed to himself the glory of the Affair by timing it to his own Notes as hath been supposed but because he prudently foresaw that the over-grown power of that King would be dangerous to the Ecclesiastical State So that Peace and War are like Generation and Corruption they follow one another naturally and commonly the greater the pacification is and the more things seem to be stilled and composed the more vehement and violent the rupture for War is like an Earthquake presaged by a serene Sky and a quiet gentle Air sooner than by any other prognostick or sign whatsoever And so much less sufficient is the state of Christendom to provide against the suddenness of such a calamity for that the scale of Politiques as was hinted before is quite altered and of a different and various administration the power being circulated to another Corner and with the Wind may blow where it list while the Eastern Torrent or Inundation carries all before it Having thus glanced at these Causes which have embroyled Europe we come now to the Effects in the description and account thereof for the plain and perfect Elucidation of the premises and first we consider Europe in General where we content our selves with the survey of its Extent and Definition Of Europe in General IT is reputed one and the chief Quarters of the World though far less than any of the other three whom it as far exceedeth in Magnificence Nobleness Number of People Armes Arts Prudence and Prowess and the result of all these Fame and Renown It is bounded on the North with the North Ocean or Deucalidon Sea on the South with the Mediterranean on the East with the River Tanais and a Line drawn from thence to the Scythian or Frozen Sea which hath been unknown to our modern Geographers who supposed the Tanais to be of a longer and further derived Current than in truth it is and on the West with the Western or American Seas It containeth 28. Kingdoms reckoning those petty Royalties of Spain and the Hereditary Dominions of the Empire The Principal Provinces are Germany France Spain Belgium Italy Slavonia Greece Hungary Poland Lituania Moscovia and that large Territory towards the North called Scandia being its general name but divided into the Kingdoms of Norway Denmark and Sweden with their Provinces of Jutland Finland Lapland c. The Islands are Great Brittain containing the Kingdoms of England and Scotland Ireland and Zeland Holland Engroveland in the Northern Ocean In the Mediterranean are Sicily Candy Corsica Sardinia Majorca Minorica Nicropont Malta Corfu and many other in the Archipelago The Air is excellently good wholesom and Temperate and the Soyl Fertile which qualities appear in the Constitution and good Temper of the Natives by which they have excelled all other Nations in Courage Arts sharpness of Wit and all other Gifts of Nature to the perfection whereof it is stored with many famous and learned Universities the peculiar Dignity and Advantage of this quarter of the World In former and more antient times it commanded Asia and Africk under the Greek and Roman Empires the last obscured in the House of Austria and the other as much if not more renowned in the Ottoman Family whose present Armes are the Terrour of the Whole It is also solely famous for Navigation and the great acquisitions made thereby upon vaster Regions of the unknown World So that it may be reckoned the Mother of one of the biggest and largest quarters of the Universe to wit America Having thus briefly described the whole we come to a particular view of the distinct Regions their Site Advantages Government and present Interest and that we may take the Round the more commodiously for the purpose of this
named St. John and St. Mark 4. Cracovia in Lesser Poland once the Court of the Kings of Poland a wealthy and well-peopled City sited likewise upon the Weysel In it is remarkable an Academy of great Renown founded by King Casimir the First and supplyed at first with Professors from the Sorbonne of Paris 2. The Castle built upon the banks of the River of a great compass and of great state and magnificence although outwardly it appear rough and disproportioned the Cathedral is enclosed within it This City by way of Excellence is called the Rome of Poland and its University the Daughter of that at Paris The City of Casimir is built on the other side the water and will hardly forget the Swedish Arms. The Jews City which is Neighbour to it may for honours sake be called the principal and first Street of Hell it is so filthy c. Not to mention Vilna in Lithuania and Koningburgh in Prussia both Universities Dantzick and Cracow making up four in this Kingdom As for the other Towns as Grandentz Newamburg Culmen and the like they are meer Names of Cities and nothing else Pauperum Tabernae quatuor aut septem si sit latissima villa Seven or Eight Houses make a large Town As to the People and their Manners the Gentlemen are extraordinary large and strong of body and will skilfully manage a Shabel or Scymiter are well skill'd in foreign Languages are liberal Givers good Cavaliers and good Catholiques On the contrary and the reverse of the Medal they are much brutal superstitious fierce and proud and sacrifice to their own approbation of things and acknowledge no Soverain but their Liberty From whence have proceeded those Mischiefs which they have often suffered more mediately from the Tartars and Muscovites and by which means the late King of Sweden brought them to the utmost degree of Extremity followed with no more than 40. thousand men when as the Pole is able to bring a 100000. Horse into the Field This happened by that small power and authority which is allowed the King and that little good intelligence that was maintained between their Generalls and the divisions and revolts of their Troops An Apprentice a Novice will be thought a Master and a simple Gentleman who never saw a Battel The King of Polands Chiefest Praerogative but in picture will not want of confidence and presumption to believe of him self because he is born a Gentleman that he is able at the first Essay to manage and conduct the Forces of an Empire And in effect private Gentlemen are so frequently raised to Places of the greatest Office and Command which is the fairest flower of this Kings Prerogative and is legally vested in him as the Fountain of Honour that every man thinks himself of merit and capacity enough for the greatest Employments Besides they hold themselves all equal in blood and have the same Voices in their Diets and Assemblies the same Priviledges Rights and Franchises their Riches only distinguish them one from the other These Gentlemen for the defence of the Kingdom are bound to serve at their own charge which they do generally on Horseback gallantly furnished and attired in Cassocks and garnished with gold and silver and variety of other Colours they also adorn themselves with Eagles Plumes the Skins of Leopards and Bears with many Banners and parti-coloured Ensignes which distinguish them from the ordinary sort and strike terrour but sometimes covetous desires into their Enemies and most an end they carry like the Philosopher all they have about them It is reckoned that Poland after this manner can raise a 100. Lithuania 70. thousand Horse but not so good as the Poles whose best are very small yet nimble and far more couragious than the Dutch In this Cavalry consisting of Gentlemen and their Servants with their Auxiliaries as the Circassion the Cossacks they are so confident that they slight all Fortifications unless Frontiers And for the Country being all Champian is most and only fit for that service the Foot they have are borrowed of the Hungarians and Germans and for Camp Drudgery as Pioneers c. they use Tartars their Slaves Of Priests there is great store in this Country and they held in good esteem and veneration Of Merchants there are very few scarce worth mentioning But of all men the Boors and Pesants are the most miserable for they possess nor enjoy a Farthing and are meer Vassalls to their Lords which treat and use them with all the rigour and tyranny in the world A Gentleman in a slight matter among his Domestiques and Clowns hath and doth exercise the power of life and death The Government representeth rather an Aristocracy than a Monarchy and is a kind of medium betwixt both or both together It is Monarchical in that it acknowledges one Supremacy and King it is Aristocratical because the King is not an absolute Prince to do what he pleaseth and because the Nobility who have also the greatest Authority in the Diets do Elect Him They have neither Law nor Statute nor Form of Government written but it is all by Tradition as by meer Custom from the Death of one Prince to the Election of another the supreme Authority resides in the Arch-Bishop of Gesne who is alwayes President of the Council appointeth the Diet ruleth the Senate and proclaimeth the new Elected King Before King Stephen's time who erected new Bishops Palatines and Castellanes in Livonia there were but 14. Bishops 28. Palatines and 70. of the chiefest Castellanes that had Voices in the Election of a King who is Rector Senatus sed Regnantis Ruler of a raigning Senate Whereby he is obliged to comport with them in these things following In any Affair of Importance the King by his Chancellour sends Letters to the Arch-Bishops Bishops and Palatines which are called Instruction is Literae Letters of Instruction because they contain the account of that Business which His Majesty will propose to them at the Diet and therein appoints them the time of their meeting These Letters being received every Senator examines the particular quality nature and consequences of the Proposition to which he hath free liberty to answer negatively or affirmatively and as he judgeth best either for the publick good or his particular advantage The King also sends his Letters to the respective Palatinates the Nobility whereof presently assemble together to chuse a Nuncio as they call it that is a Person of merit and sufficiency to be their Speaker and the manner of that Palatinate is to bring things to an universal consent and accommodation For if it should happen that any single Gentleman should dissent from what this Assembly hath concluded there is no further proceeding to be had the Nuncio must not depart to the Diet nor that Province have any Voice or Interest amongst the States General When the Provincial Assemblies are finished by the time appointed by the Kings Majesty the Senators and the Nuncio's come
Dux fuit aut pars magna post insignes supra Fidem Victorias post summos infra meritum Honores tandem Bello Anglico tantum non Victor invictus certe 20. Aug. Anno 1654. Aetatis suae 56. Vivere ac Vincere desiit Faederati Belgij Patres Heroi optime merito Monumentum hoc ponunt With this gallant Persons Death the Dutch resolution of Fighting changed into milder humbler thoughts but sad was the face of this Country upon the return of their Fleet so maimed and unmanned nor did they forbear to deplore this lamentable loss and to demand openly a sudden Peace with the English with whom if they were Friends they would defie the World And now their Governours were blamed for commencing such a destructive Enterprise and the English Merchants and others highly carressed who some while before had changed transferred their Staple from Rotterdam to Dort and they terribly threatned if it were not quickly set an end to and composed by any manner of Agreement And yet as soon as it was concluded they fell presently to their old Depraedations in the East-Indies and have continued them there and elsewhere ever since So natural it is for these People to take all advantages for gain and such the dilatory proceedings of their Courts of Justice and removal from one Chamber of the East-India Company which are six in all viz. Of Amsterdam Delf Rotterdam Middleburgh c. to another that it is a worse vexation to prosecute the recovery than is the loss of our Goods as might be instanced in the Case of those interessed in Squire Courtens Ships who lost not only the Ships and Goods but his Factories also the best and richest in all the Indies and ever since 1643. possessed by that means by the Dutch for that Squire Courten was thereby wholly deprived of any means to supply them and this one thing hath proved as great a Damage to the English Nation as any Action of theirs since Amboyna We have been thus liberal in discoursing of their Trade because it is the Soul nay the best part of the Body of this little vast Republique and is the only considerable thing For alass what are those puny Provinces they till and manure and make Pasture of and much of that torn from their better Parent the Sea to be compared with those vast Regions they possess abroad So that Holland seems to be the Hive but the sweet Flowers from whence the Honey is gathered and with which they sustain themselves are planted in more blessed Countries It hath been said and it is true that the Bank of Venice gives Law and Rule to the Exchange of Money in Europe and hereafter it may be said if the Dutch Trade go on thus it will give Law to all Trade throughout the World if it presume not also to the Sword And as they are thus careful and industrious for their profit and glory in the East-Indies where they aspire to an universal Soveraignty and have already intitled themselves to the Southern Seas so do they as diligently mind their near Concern in the Baltique Sea and the Trade about the Northern Cape to Russia of which we had experience in their stickling so between the two Northern Kings And although they were adventrously engaged in that Business by the Brandenburger their old Confaederate and Ally by the House of Orange who afterwards left them to their own Councils yet did they at last come off handsomely with the King of Sweden by the Treaty of Elbing 1657. though with great loss of Money and afterwards more gloriously with him when by their assistance given the King of Denmark 1659. they made the Swede to understand that He could not be Master of the Sound without their leave As for the Emperour of Russia they carry fair with him and cheat him sufficiently but yet they find good respect from him and a kind Correspondence so that he will be no Enemy to them unless upon an English account which he highly prefers And incredible is the Profit which ariseth by their Trade out of those Countries by Corn which they disperse into Europe Hemp Tarr Cordage Masts Deal-boards Clap-boards c. which they have in Exchange for their Spices from India so that 600. Sayl have gone together out of the Texel for the Baltique Sea Nor is their Herring Fishing less considerable of which they make three Millions Sterling yearly and of Cod-fish little less beside their Whale Fishing so that they do not trade and barter for less than forty Millions yearly Now to encourage People to settle themselves with them and to carry on their Navigation they give great and equal Priviledges to all Commers nor are the Duties upon Goods Exported or Imported any way so considerable as in other Kingdomes Besides they will not suffer any Corporations or the Enclosure of any Trade but it shall be free for all men either to Voyage whither they please or to adventure their Money on the joynt Stock that menageth that Employment without any distinction or difference whatsoever which courses with their Toleration of all Religions have made them so thrive in this manner and to be so Populous as they are at this day We come now to speak of their Forces and their present Posture which is chiefly Naval as may be concluded from the fore-going discourse and that Naval Power supposed to be greater and better now than e're it was so that they can arm and man 200. Ships of War built for service in a very short time and upon a sudden alarum but we will leave that to time Certainly they are well provided but it is as much certain they care not for a War especially with the Englsh it being so contrary to their Interest that every Cabbin Boy will not endure to hear of it He that reads their Books Printed upon this subject will perceive as much together with what fine Artifices they have contrived to flur their Misdemeanours and compound them under-hand by Friends and this is avowedly laid down as a method to Satisfaction beyond all Comparison And then their Temporizing and peremptory Promises is another Shift which may chance to help them to better Opportunities At this present they assure the King of giving him Content and have promised him to call a General Assembly of the Estates to that purpose And by an express Envoy have intreated his Majesty to take off the Quarantayn or Demoorage upon their Ships by reason of the Plague but there 's more stiffness in the wind As to their Land Forces they alwayes keep up a standing Militia both for fear of the Spaniard their near Neighbour and for all Emergencies at home but of late they have reduced it to a less number than formerly notwithstanding it is sufficient for Defence and for any sudden Employment and if they want upon any Rupture their Money will raise them Souldiers but the great Armies they maintained under the Princes of
Comines with the Forts of St. Amour Bleverans and Joux the Towns of Rocroy Catelet and Linchamp which is a small Restitution for the Acquists the French have made by this Treaty As to the Forces of these Provinces it is and hath appeared to be very redoubted the Walloons being excellent Souldiers both for Horse and Foot as they have approved themselves both at Home and Abroad nor are they less numerous besides the Gentry are very ready to the service of their Prince and Country and are most accomplish'd Persons speaking promptly six or seven Languages of which Latine very readily but this reputed to the continuance of the War which brought a Conflux of all Nations into those Parts As to maritime Affairs their Dunkirk Navigations sufficiently tell the World what they were able to do at Sea but now they have but two Port Towns Newport and Ostend and neither of a convenient Station or Harbour for Shipping being very narrow and difficult to come out of with some Winds notwithstanding they will serve well enough for Pyratical Conveniencies but to Fleets let Flanders bid adieu The Revenue of these Provinces was considerable were it not for the constant Charge which the King is at in maintaining them so that they have been said to be the Correlative of the West Indies during the late Wars when they spent and consumed all that Treasure and bankrupted the King of Spain besides And sure it will be a long time and there must be as long a Tract of Peace before their Incomes will ballance the Account and make the King of Spain a Saver However at present he is in hopes of being no further Loser and of reducing his Revenue to some settlement which the late times so perplexed and squandered and the Care and Frugality of the present Governour the Marquess Caracence hath made a fair progress therein already In former times these People would not be content without a Prince of the Blood to be their Governour which made King Philip the 2d send his Daughter Isabella Clara and afterwards invested her and her Husband Albert the Arch-Duke with the Soveraignty and since the Cardinal Infanta the Arch-Duke Leopold and Don John of Austria but such is the present acquiescence under this fair and amicable Government of the Marquess besides such is the paucity of the Princes of the Blood both of Spain and Austria that they willingly accept of soever the King sends but such is his aequality and evenness with the People that the States are interested in the Administration more than ever any Prince would in former times allow but now they are grown up into a mutual Confidence and right Understanding one of another The Marquess of Caracena is supposed to be upon his departure and the Marquess Castel Rodengo is appointed to succeed him As to their Interest it being conjoyned and depending upon that of Spain further than what the Ecclesiasticks will do voluntarily of themselves in this Grand Cause of Religion against the Turks Besides that this People and Clergy especially are mainly devoted to the Imperial Family we will consider it when we come to treat of the Kingdom of Spain FRANCE THe Kingdom of France hath on the East the River Aa the Alps which divide it from Italy the Rhosne which parts it from Savoy Sagona which separates it from Lorrain and the Dutchy of Luxemburg On the South the Mediterranean Sea and Pyrenean Mountains On the West the Atlantick Ocean And on the North the English Ocean The nearer to the North the narrower it is and narrowest of all near Calice The Figure thereof between round and square and therefore bigger than a man would take it It containeth many large Provinces as Picardy Normandy Britain Aquitayn Gascoyn by which Names the two last are better known to Us than by the modern Divisions of them by the French the Isle of France Champayn Auvergn the Dutchy of Burgundy Daulphia Province Languedoc c. The two last lying toward the Mediteranean Sea bringeth forth all sorts of Fruits like that of Italy whereas Picardy Brittain and Normandy bringeth forth little or no Wine and the rest aboundeth with it and other Fruits so that it is under great diversity and various temperature of Air. It containeth in length 520. Miles from the Alps to the Atlantique or West Ocean and in breadth 584. from Marseilles to Calice The whole Land of France is fruitful and fertile and though the Apennine Hills spreading over almost all the South of Italy are barren yet in the Mountains of Auvergue which are the only of note and few else in France stand many good Towns richly seated where Cloathing is exercuted and a good part of the Kingdom served with Butter and Flesh of excellent relish the rest of the Kingdom is almost plain here and there garnished with fruitful Hills and green Valleys whose plenty doth contend with variety fertility with delicacy commodiousness of situation with the beautiful Fabricks and Structures of Cities And herein without controversie Italy giveth place to France for although some one Corner thereof affordeth exquisite Pleasure and delightful Prospects with happy Conveniences of Situation as Rovera d' Sala Campania the Territory of Croton Tarent and some other Cities of Calabria yet those are singular and few in Italy common and frequent in Fra ce especially in Burgundy Brie the Isle of France Turen Anjou Xaintong and Languedoc In each of which Provinces it seemeth that Nature hath set apart and as it were dedicated by allotment some Places to Ceres some to Bacchus some to Pomona and some to Pallas Yea it happeneth very often that the Western or North-west Wind arising from the Sea bringeth the Spring-tide before the Winter be fully expired so decking the Fields with Flowers and the Gardens with Herbs that the Inhabitants of Poitou Bourdeaux the Isle of France c. enjoy as forward a Spring as those of Jago d' Garda in Italy which is reckoned one of the most praecoce Frutages in Europe But there is nothing in France more worthy the noting than the number and pleasure of the Navigable Rivers whereof some as it were gird in the whole Realm as Sagona Rhosne and Mosel some other cut through the middle as the Sequan or Seyn Layre and Garon Into these Streams fall so many other Rivers some from the utmost bounds some from the inmost Parts of the Realm that it maketh the whole Country commodious for Traffique and Exchange of each others Wants Insomuch that by this facility of carriage and intercourse of Merchants all things may be said to be in common to the whole Kingdom In Anjou alone are forty Rivers great and small whereupon Q. Katherin de Medicis was wont to say That this Kingdom contained more Rivers than all Europe besides This indeed was an Hyperbolical Speech yet something of affinity to truth And we see that this easie and ready conveyance with the goodness and luxuriance of the Soyl hath been
the original of so many great Cities and good Towns in this Kingdom and those most commonly seated upon the Banks of Rivers And although it have many goodly Havens yet the Up-land Towns are fairer and richer than those that stand near the Sea Marseilles excepted which argueth their wealth to be their own and not brought from foreign Countries for there the Sea Towns excell those of the Land as Genoa Venice Ragula but where the prosperity of Cities dependeth wholly upon the Land there it is otherwise as in Millain Nurenberg and most of the Towns of Germany Flanders and Hungary All this notwithstanding although almost like goodness of Soyl be proper to the whole Realm of France as likewise the situation of the Rivers commodious yet Paris excepted whose largeness proceedeth from the Kings Court the Parliament and the University the Towns there are for the most part but small and mean yet beautiful commodious and very populous so that in a Description of the Number of this People written in the Reign of Charles the 9th it is asserted that the Number of the Inhabitants exceeded 15. Millions And as the Cities and Towns in France may boast of their Rivers so the Castles and Villages of Noblemen are no less pleasured and favoured with the pleasure and strength of Lakes and Marishes which although they may not be compared to those of Italy and Switzerland yet are they so many and so fall of excellent Fish that the numbers of the one may aequal the largeness of the other The same may be spoken of Woods not so well as thick grown out of those Woods in times past the Kings Revenue did arise and the Noblemen do make great profit by selling great quantities thereof for fire-wood but greater by sales of Timber Trees which they use for want of Stone in the greatest part of their Buildings In regard of the commodious situation and current of these Rivers serving so fitly for the transportation of Victuals from one place to another this Kingdom is so abundantly furnished with all plenty of Provision that it is able to nourish an Army in the Field how multitudinous soever When Charles the 5th entred France first by Provence and afterwards by Champaign it maintained One hundred and fifty thousand Souldiers besides the ord nary Garrisons In the Reign of Charles the 9th and since that in the time of the League a greater number there were maintained in this Kingdom 20000. Horse 30000. Footmen Strangers and of French 25000. Horse and 100000. Foot Besides this plenty there is enough to spare being four wayes or Loadstones to draw Riches from foreign Nations 1. Corn carried into Spain and Portugall 2. Wines transported into England Scotland the Low Countries and the Inhabitants of the Baltique Sea Together with Salt wherewith the whole Kingdom and the bordering Nations are plentifully stored This Salt s made in Provence of the salt water of the Mediterranean Sea and at Brouage in Xaintong where the heat of the Sun ceaseth his vertue of making getting and boyling Salt of Sea water not daring to yield so great a favour any farther Northward I mean of Sea water because further North there is Salt found also but made either of some special Spring water as in Lorrain or compound of some Mineralls mix'd with fresh waters as in Poland England Germany or else taken forth of some Salt Mines as were once in Sweveland but of this Merchandise of Salt something more shall be said hereafter The 4. and last Commodity is Canvass and Linnen Cloth whereof what profit ariseth is hardly credible to those who have not made an inspection into it what abundance thereof is carried into Spain and Portugal and England and Holland also to make Sayls for the furnishing of Shipping There groweth also Woad Saffron and other Merchandise of smaller value which though they arise not to aequalize the above-said Commodities yet they arise to a competent summ so that the Emperour Maximillian used to say That France was a continual flourishing Medow which the King did mow as oft as he listed And Foreigners from the mouth of Maximillian the Emperour who Charactered the several Princes and Subjects of Europe call him Rex asinorum for the continual Burdens and Pressures he layes upon his People so that in Normandy the Peasants wear wooden Shooes and neither eat nor drink Flesh Wine or Beer throughout the year Having intimated before that we should not travel this Country for that it is so generally known we will survey only those places that are of modern concernment Omitting therefore the names of some eminent places which have given title to the Kings of France as Valois Bourbon which aspect the History but are far deducible and supposed to be generally known here also to pass by the Sabique Law which admits no female to a Scepter under pretence whereof our Edward the 3d. was put from his title to France by Philip the first King of the House of Valois we will mention only three places which of all the Members and Provinces of France keep themselves yet distinct and absolute Soveraignties notwithstanding that the French Kings in all times endeavoured the Union of the like parcels to the Crown witness the Dutchy of Britany of some late Ages and now the Principality of Aurange the County of Venascine or the Papal Jurisdiction of Avignon and lastly the Dutchy of Nivernois all which are totally exempt from any dependance on the Crown The Principality of Orange did belong to the County of Provence as did Avignion being Tributaries thereto and made 2 parts of 3 the other being for many years in the Kings possession by the resignation of the last Earl of Provence who died issue-less and is governed by a Parliament held at Aix This Principality was once in the Possession of the noble family of Chaalons who had it in marriage with an Heir General and obtained the absolute Soveraignty thereof from the Earl of Province with the Priviledge of Coyning and all other Royalties added to the Title of Prince of Orange by the Grace of God To this Family succeeded the House of Nassaw by their marriage of the Heir General likewise about the year 1500. in which House it hath ever since continued without any disturbance until the year 1660. In the beginning whereof the Cardinal Mazarine seeing the Restitution of our Government resolved to seize it into the French Kings hands before any stop might be put to his proceedings by our Kings Intervention and accordingly by menaces to the Count of Dhona the Governour and other artifices upon pretence of misdemeanours and outrages committed by those Protestant People upon their Catholique Neighbours to the endangering the Peace by a Treaty managed by Monsieur Jure Millet the Kings Commissioner possessed himself of the Town Castle and Principality upon Condition to render it with all the stores c. to the Prince at his Majority or in case of his decease to the
Family of Brandenburgh but what the performance will be is not determinable though he hath not scrupled to detain the like intrusive Guardianships in lesser places as we have mentioned in Wittenberg and Alsatia As to the Revenue of this Principality it is computed worth some 35000 Crowns a year amounting to 10000 sterling but the force of this Province no way available for that it is every way encompassed with French Provinces and Avignion so that in effect it is a distinct Soveraignty but as long as that King pleaseth Concerning the County of Avignion It is seated to the Southward of Orange and bordereth upon the Mediterranean as Neighbouring Marseilles and was given in fee to the Popes of Rome who had a right of Possession before and had also had an actual Possession for some time by Queen Joan of Naples the rightfull Proprietor of this whole County of Province for the defence and assistance she had from Clement the 5th in restating her in the Kingdom of Naples whence she had been expelled by Lewis King of Hungary for her murtherous hanging of his Brother Andrew her Husband Not long after the same Pope removed the Papal Chair thither where it continued for 20 years while Italy was grown into so many factions and the Romans and they so disgusted against the Pope that Pope Gregory found it high time to return in the year 1377. since when it hath been governed by Vice-Legates till the year 1663. when the King of France took possession of it the manner whereof having been already published 't will be superfluous here to repeat But the Difference between the Pope and the French King concerning the affront given the Duke of Creque his Ambassadour at Rome being composed and reconciled by the agreement at Pisa But the French King hath a Governour there yet the said Town and County by vertue thereof was forthwith returned into the Popes hands as the French found it and there it remains The Dutchy of NEVERS or NEVERNOIS hath beyond memory continued absolute though in several Families although it be the smallest Province in France not to deduce the Princes or Dukes thereof from long antiquity we will look no longer than the last Century when in 1563. Henrietta the Daughter of Francis the 4th and Sister to Francis the 5th the last Duke hereof being the Heir General to this Estate married with Lewis second Son of Frederick Genzaga Duke of Mantua who in her right was invested in this Estate their Son Charles chose to succeed in Nevers and gave Mantua to his Cosen German Vincent whose Line failing it reverted to this House of Nevers placed there by the potent Armes of Lewis the 13th although then busied in several other Wars so that both Dutchyes were now united untill of very late Cardinal Mazarine to instate his Family in the Splendour of France purchased Nevers for his Nephew Mancini at a very considerable rate the Particulars whereof are extant in that Cardinals Will lately Englished by my self to which the curious Reader is referred In the same Soveraign condition stood Bearn till the time of Lewis the 13th an Estate governed distinctly by H. 4. their Soveraign as united to the Crown of Navarre some Descents before who with his Armes and his Presence reduced them under his Obedience and imposed a Parliament upon them of his own Nomination whose Residence is at Pau leaving them notwithstanding the exercise of their Religion as he did all the Protestant Towns and Cautionary Places viz. Rochel Montalban Saincterre c. who since their Calvinists Armes have been taken from them and their Forts dismantled enjoy their Conscience a great deal more securely and as priviledgely from the King as when they took upon them the quality of Free States and would all have been Sister Genevas We have next to consider the Revenue of this mighty Monarchy mighty for its Populousness and Chivalry mighty for its large and compact Territory as for its Fertility and convenience of Conveyance from Province to Province and for the In-land Fortresses and of late suspectful also for their Maritime Advancements while other Princes slept or regarded not that growing Mischief more potent also by many additions of Conquest of late years since Fortune hath turned her ballance and rejected the Spaniard so that the French King is absolutely the greatest Prince in the Continent of Europe And he aspires also now to the Sea by his late Projects of making Guilds and Companies for the East-India Trade where scarce a Ship of his hath been ever seen Trading But to return to his Revenue In the year 1643. the Taxes and Tallages alone amounted to five Millions Sterling The Impost of Salt amounts yearly to two Millions of Pounds Sterling which is an insuportable Burden upon the poor People who are forced to take such quantities yearly more than they can use at the Kings excessive Rates It is true that Henry the 4th had once designed to buy all the Salt Pits in Poitou and Brittany that were in particular mens hands and to have fold the Salt at those Places to the Merchants at a Price he should set and they to sell it over the Kingdom as Corn is in the Market without any Compulsion or Impost by which means twenty thousand Officers would be spared all which are paid at the Charge of the King and the poor Subject should have it four times cheaper than it is now sold and the King also put more Money in his Pocket with-not any trouble His next Revenue consists in his Customes of all Merchandises exported and imported which arose in the year 1648. as by Computation was found to the summ of ten Millions Sterling and his Customes do not grow less but greater every day but of all this Revenue scarce the tenth part comes and remains in the Kings Treasury Thus large is the Intrado or Income and the Issue is but little narrower The Kings Table stands him in 500000 l. yearly besides the Daulphins and the Queens Expences of Court The King hath every day nine Suits of Cloaths appointed to be made him but the Money designed thereto comes into the Lord Chamberlains Pocket this King not affecting too frequent shift Then in Pensions and yearly Interest there is paid seven Millions more And for many years together numerous Armies have been maintained although in such Cases the King extends his Prerogative and takes what he pleaseth Not to mention his Sale of Offices which amounts to very vast summs the Office of the Great Master of Artillery being worth 500000 l. Sterling nor his disposal of Ecclesiastical Benefices the right whereof is solely his without the Popes intermedling in the least and the Clergy possess there no less than 30. Millions Sterling of yearly Rent And because we have here instanced his Armies and touched before something of the Force of this Kingdom we will give a summary account of those Forces he had on foot in 1662. to bring down the
reckoned as a part of the fifth Circle of the Rhine and as a Feudatory thereof stickled hard in the late War for the Emperour to the loss of his Country and his almost undoing but by the Treaty of the general Peace he was restored to a great part of it It is bounded and circumscribed between the lower Palatinate Alsats Triers the Dutchy of Bar Burgundy and Luxemburg all of them fine Provinces nor is Lorrain inferiour to the most of them were it not for some dark and thick Forrests which intersperse the Country There were in it formerly some Imperial Towns as Metz Verdun and Thoul but Henry the 2d of France reduced them under his obedience and erected a Parliament there to make it a perpetual Province of France as it hath since proved Of late it hath lost some Ducal Towns and Provinces as the whole Dutchy of Bar taken from him by Lewis the 13th and County of Clermont viz. Moyenvic Stenay Dun and Jametz these three last belonging formerly to the Prince of Conde and restored to him by this Treaty and the Provost-ship of Merville Besides the Duke is at all times to give passage to the French Forces into Germany and to renounce all Leagues Alliances and Intelligences with any forein States or Princes to the prejudice of that Kingdom withall he was bound up to an acquiescence in whatsoever had passed by judicial proceeding gift or disposal of the Kings of France or Spain untill the date of the Treaty by which these Conditions were also agreed to be ratified by the Emperour This was a bad bargain but more could not be obtained so that the said Duke feeing himself thus exposed to the Armes of the French King and any sudden surprize upon pretence of passage besides many other Retrenchments of his Soveraignty did offer by a Treaty to surrender the same wholly into the hands of the King upon Condition his Family to be admitted as Princes of the Blood and to the succession of the Crown after those of Bourbon with some Provision of Money and Pension for the support of his Dignity and Family and this was highly talked of and near a Conclusion but it is not yet confirmed and accomplished As to his Interest we may guess how narrow it is and how he is pent up as to any Concern of his in Europe by that comprehensive Clause That he shall not hold Intelligence with any Prince to the prejudice of France which will be construed so if he send but a Complement to any of them The French King hath had a longing envious eye upon his Country as dis-joyning his Conquests from his other Countries and therefore he lives here but precariously and as a Tenant at will As to the Turks he concludes there are no such Infidels as the French Ministers of State who laid all wayes to entrap him and finally forced him to take Armes against France as a desperate remedy Besides he is extremely poor although his Revenue is said to amount to 700000. Crowns a good part whereof ariseth from his Salt made here which the French King hath bargained to be afforded to Metz and Alsatia c. a price current and cannot lend a Stiver nor raise a Hand against them in his present Condition the result of his barbarous plunderings in which his Forces exceeded those very Tartars and Turks and like to like was seldom opposed We proceed next to Alsatia 6 Alsatia or Elsas whose boundaties are these briefly On the East the Rhine with Baden on the North the Palatinate on the South part of Switzerland and on the West Lorrain divided by the Mountain Voyesus a fine and pleasant Country d vided into three parts the Lower and the Higher and the third called Zuricgaw bordering upon Switzerland the two last Divisions by the Treaty of Munster being assigned over to the French King in the name of the whole on Condition only of paying 30000 l. Sterling to the Arch-duke of Inspruck the Province before belonging to the Imperial Family for his Expences in the preceding War of the Lower Alsatia The Bishop of Strasburg or Argentina the chief City seated therein is yet Lord and Governour There are in it besides many Imperial Cities free from the Jurisdiction of the French so that he hath little more than the modern Strengths and Command of the Country and yet so much in that by his free passage into Germany that he is well recompenced for troubling it having Philipsburg a most strong Town in the Palatinate and the County and Town of Brisac added to the bargain There is some Difference arisen by some pretences of the French to admit the Governours of the two Imperial Cities of Colmar and Slechstadt both antient and strong Towns and this Duke Mazarini demands by his right as the Governour of the Province and the King intends to effect by force which makes many men think there are some Designes that way upon this quarrelling Punctilio but the free Cities will assuredly not suffer any such intrusion or violence upon their Privileges and the Princes will brook it as little Considering this and other the like Piques in other places in this Juncture it seems as if there were a Conspiration of those little Mischiefs like the appearance of the small Cloud that will condensate and overspread Christendom at last and shower it with abundance of blood and misery What this Country signifies against the Turk is easily resolvable for hinc Dolor hinc Lachrymae here was the fatal Jealousie lodged that rendred the Emperour so impotent and feeble against the Barbarians This if any thing is one of the great Remoras that retarded the quick work which would have been made with that Enemy by the German Princes and therefore we will put down this Province for a Cypher if it be not already reckoned with some large numeral Figure by the other side The Palatinate lyes next to this with which it is bounded on the South 7. Palat. on the East with the Dukedom of Wittenberg and some part of Franconia and on the West with Triers And because this Country somewhat concerns us by the alliance of this Prince Elector to the Crown of England we will be a little larger for full satisfaction and information of the Reader in the whole series of the late Affairs of that Family than we have hitherto been but according to proportion the Lower Palatinate which is all the Dominion of this Prince being in bredth but 90. Miles and in length 72. It is one of the most pleasant Countries of Germany and affords the best Rhenish Wires the Princes alwayes till this late misfortune reputed the wisest as who had enlarged their Estates and from the beginning raised it from nothing being meer Courtiers or great Officers at first although else acknowledged to be the Descendents of Charlemaign In this Grandeur these Princes continued till the Year 1620. when the Family seemed to have received the greatest accession and
Scholar a Book nor a Letter into its Borders upon pain of death were a Wonder but that a mans second thoughts inform him this ignorance contributes so much to the Mahumetan Government that the banishment of Learning is no less a part of its Constitution than the forbidding of Wine Since their suing for Protection in Hungary had almost ruined it since their resignation of themselves into the hands of their several Neighbour Princes as the necessity and occasion of War required proved successless to themselves and fatal to those Neighbours and since the Great Turk finding the entire Conquest of the Country so difficult by reason of the defence Nature had provided with its Rocks Mountains and Precipices cunningly some 30. Years agoe declined any further Enterprize of War undertaking those more subtil of Peace whereby he managed the Intestine Divisions of the Brethren Wladus and Dracula with suggestions and supplyes on either side to such a degree of Devastation and Ruine that his own Auxiliaries there were able to make him acknowledged Lord of the Country under Conditions and Limitations to his absolute Authority as the nearness of a continual Aid from the Christian World adjoyning induced him to Thereunto allow I say the nearness of the Christian Succours which Ragotzi had effectually raised to assist the late Vayvod but that the Fate of Germany had rather undergoe a general Calamity than assist those particular Undertakings as if it were more Eligible to have these Limbs of Europe unnaturally turned against its self than prudently strengthened against its most dreadful and irreconcilable Adversary who I am confident must quit his hold here as soon as ever it pleaseth God to recover the antient and lively Impressions of Christianity which if not defaced would ennoble its Professors with thoughts above their present condition especially if some more civil People were invited thither by their Gold and Silver Mines which they will not yet discover to secure Golatz on the Pruth and Danube surprize the strong Castle of Pralaiba the Inlet into this Coast and furnish Zorza re-incompassed by an Arm of the Danube in which when Sigismund of Transylvania took he found 39. great Ordinances with Armes and Ammunitions enough to furnish a Kingdom Only the mischief of it is RASCIA Which is their Neighbour Country on the East as it is the Hungarians on the West the Transylvanians on the North and the Danubes on the South which indeed with Temes coasts it on three sides is made so desperate by the Oppressions of Servia first and since by the Desolations of Turkey that they care not what they attempt upon this Place by the Authority of their Master the Grand Seigniour under whom they are in better case in times of War than in those of Peace The People hereof being so miserable that they have quitted and forgot their very Names not a man of quality surviving the general depression and escaping the common barbarism Often did they link themselves to their respective Neighbours of Servia and Wallachia with whom they tasted the same fortune but now they own no body but their tyrannical Master to whom they perform excellent service when their natural Courage which like Brutes they retain is emulously provoked by other as barbarous People Yea likewise so farr do they retain their primitive hatred against the Musulmans their cruel Masters that upon all Occasions they have been ready to shew their inclination but to very little purpose more than to shew their more Noble Extract and Ancestry though they have not Colonies to plant there the Mahumetans being not so numerous notwithstanding their Polygamy as they are accounted and their often miscarriages the Country being so desolate that a man cannot find an Inn or an Harbour in a dayes riding having discouraged all Expeditions thither on purpose so that the wretched Inhabitants with a little backing might withdraw their necks from the Mahumetan Yoak and save the 200000 Chequins or 45000 l. Sterling besides the Fees and Presents of the respective Tributaries paid constantly to the Port which is most concerned in the two Kingdoms or Despotical Provinces on the Southern shore of the Danube Servia and Bulgaria 1. SERVIA Which being so happily situated between Bulgaria which lyeth on the East of it Bosnia which boundeth it on the West the Danow that limiteth it on the North and Greece on the South is so rich in Corn and Mines as could not escape the Conquest of the Turks who mastered all those adjacent Regions at first nor their Colonies since The People themselves being so rude that they seem born for servitude and good for nothing but to be commanded abroad and so drunken that it was absolutely impossible they should hold out against the Impressions of so sober a People as the Turks whose abstinence from Wine is as much their Policy as their Religion Though as rude as they were they might have held longer against the Infidels Had not Fate included them within that desperate Folly of Princes to undertake an unjust though advantagious Design upon others while there is a superiour Enemy thereby invited to Umpirage the Quarrel As there was when the ambitious Designes of the Despot of Servia upon Rascias Freedom was punished with their own Slavery which was yet hastened by an Accident as fatal viz. Peter John and Martin the Despot Lazarus his Children flying to the Hungarian Protection and his Brothers taking sanctuary at the Port untill the mighty Power of the Turk swallowed up both their Rights with dread and terrour breaking the stubborn Natives whereof Mahomet the Great Impaled some Gaunched others and Flead a third sort so that they were quickly tamed and made the second Province of the Eastern or Greek Europe Past all recovery since Nyssa the Key of the Country is so strongly garrisoned and fortified and the Frontier Town Novigrad is so impregnable And indeed all the Passages into that Country are inaccessible 1500. being able to keep out Uladislaus with 39000. 1564. And Hunniades had much adoe to pass through the weak Despot complying with the Turk who only reserved him to his last Conquest into 2. BULGARIA Which lyeth Eastward on the Euxine Sea Axinos ille foret Westward towards Servia Northward on the Danow or Ister Under the Turks Dominions ever since the last cowardly Prince Saimenos prostrated himself in a winding before the insolent Tyrant Amurath the First who set in three of the most eminent Provinces viz. Nicopolis Sophia and Silistria three Sanjacks or Major Generals under the command of the Begleberg or Vice-Roy of Greece The Wood of these Provinces affords Constantinople Fuel the Sea Shipping Besides that it is esteemed a very good Defence against any sudden Irruption into the more inward part of Romania as where the Christians under Hunniades had the greatest Loss ever known in the World An Argument urged against the Invasion of the Turk though holding only for Caution which way best to invade him That it