those above mentioned but in the form and colour of their Cross and was approved by Pope Celestin III. Afterwards when Ierusalem was taken by Saladin those Knights betook themselves to Ptolemais from whence the Emperor Frederick II. sent them back into Germany and employed them against the Prussians and Livonians who at that time were still Pagans but by the valour and piety of those Knights their souls were brought into subjection to Christ and their bodies to the Order which began that War in the year 1220. A little while after those Knights found themselves Masters of a Countrey of very large extent which obeyed the Order till the year 1525. at which time Sigismond King of Poland gave the Investiture of Prussia unto Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg In the year 1563. the Great Master became Secular again and took a part of the lands subject to the Order with the name of Duke of Curland And Livonia having been the subject and Theatre of many Wars between the Polanders Muscovites and Swedes these last did at length become Masters of it and have it in possession still So there is no more remaining of the Teutonick Order but some Commanderies scattered here and there in Germany and the Great Master hath the seat of his residence at Manenchal or Morkenthal He is at present the Archduke Leopold William only brother to the Emperor Ferdinand III. P. All things here below being subject to change I do not wonder that the zeal of those first Knights should grow cold and that they like the Templers abused their riches Tell me something of the Abbot of Fulda and the Grand Prior of Germany G. This Abbey is one of the richest and most celebrious in Europe It was founded upon the river of Fulda between the Countreys of Hesse Franconia and Wetteravia by Charlemagne and Pepin Kings of France in the year 744. This Abbot is first of the Empire he is Arch-Chancellor to the Empress calls himself Primate of Gallia and disputes precedence with the greatest Lords They say that heretofore he could raise 60000. men and though there were a Cypher too much in the account he would be yet be too potent for an Abbot who should have no other care but to direct the Monks in the path of vertue by his doctrine and example The Grand Prior of the Order of Malta in Germany is at this time Frederick Landgrave of Hesse brother to him of Darmstadt who was created Cardinal within these few years and when from being a Lutheran he turned Catholick in the year 1636. he was made one of the Great Crosses of Malta by Vrban VIII and a little after being General of the Galleys of that Order for an Essay of his prowess he entred with five Galleys into the Port of Carthage at Goletta and came out again in spite of the Turkish Canon which continued playing upon him as thick as hail each of his Galleys towing one of Caragoges the great Pirates Ships at her Stern the biggest whereof carried forty pieces of Ordinance and as many Murderers That action got this young Prince a great deal of honour amongst the Knights of his Order two hundred whereof were partners in his fortune and admirers of his resolution P. The Landgraves never do any dishonourable thing and if this Prince had pursued his point and continued in the warlike profession he had cut out work for the common Enemy of Christians Let us see the rest if you please G. The Abbey of Murbach whereunto that of Luders is united because they have both suffered the injury of the times was once so potent that it could maintain 1260. Horse It was founded in the mountains of Alsatia by Eberhard Duke of Almaine now called Swaben to the honour of St. Landegat one of his Ancestors These two Abbeys are at this time in the possession of the Archduke Leopold William The Provost of Elvang is usually chosen out of the body of the Chapter of the Provostship the Canons whereof are Gentlemen He is rich and well lodged in a Castle situate upon a high ground near the City of Elvang Corbay is an Abbey in Saxony so called because St. Adelar Cousin to Charlemagne Abbot of Corbie in Picardy was the Founder thereof in the year 822. and since that time it hath produced great personages Prum had the honour within its own walls to see Lotharius son to the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire change a Crown for a Monks Cowl And Stabel is an Abbey in the Bishoprick of Liege All these Prelates go before the Secular Princes P. I think there are some Prelates that come behind the Secular Princes and though they sit in the Assemblies have no voice there but in Body as the Counts have G. Those Prelates are three and twenty in number and fourteen Abbesses to wit of Quedlimbourg Essen Hermord Nidez and Obermunster at Ratisbon of Lindau Herenroda Buchau upon the Lake Federsic Rotemmunster near Rottevil Hagbaen Guttenzel Beind Dandelan and Gunderthem These Ladies have right to sit in the Assemblies but for the decorum of their Sex they are excused from coming thither in person and yet are obliged to send their Deputies The Prelates do all bear the quality of Abbot Provost or Bailiff and are so rich and powerful that if their Revenue were well employed they might justly strike a terror into all those that would meddle with them P. I know the power of the Churchmen in Germany is too too boundless and it may be their riches gave occasion to the Princes to make themselves Masters of a part of the good things which they abused G. Although the errors which were crept into the Church and the depraved conversations of Churchmen were the first motive of those changes that hapned in the last age nevertheless it is certain that if that had not been some other cause would have been found out to abate the Revenues of Priests which were every day encreased by ways unjust and violent P. How did the Churchmen come to be so prodigiously wealthy G. The piety of the ancient Christians began that which the avarice of the Priests hath accomplished and to speak more clearly Christians of every condition seeing men of the Church afflicted beaten and martyred for the Gospels sake gave them both in their life-time and left them after their deaths a part of their Estates either upon money lent out for their use or upon lands set at a perpetual rent or upon other goods After which Priests went on even to excess and by Legacies in Wills and Testaments got Dutchies Counties Baronies Fiefs Castles Rent-charges as well as Services and Fee-farm-rents and Houses both in City and Countrey by which means Successions fell to them on every side and so they purchased exchanged negotiated with the Revenue of their Benefices employing the profits thereof to compass other estates which being in their hands became exempt and free of all charge It was that vast enriching of Church-men which made
Bull which hangs at the Parchment book which we last mentioned is a great round seal of pure gold fastened unto small cords of yellow and red silk on one side whereof there is the Portraiture of the Emperor Charles IV. seated upon his Throne with the Crown on his head the Sceptre in one hand and the Ball in the other having at his right hand the Imperial Arms and those of Bohemia at his left with this Inscription round about the Bull Carolus quartus Divinâ favente clementiâ Romanorum Imperator semper Augustus Bohemiae Rex On the other side of the Bull there is a Castle with two Towers at the bottom and middle whereof there is seen a Gate with these words Aurea Roma and these in the Circumference Roma caput mundi regit Orbis froena rotundi P. Those Laws are fortified with a Seal that declares their importance and I am confident the Emperor will derogate as little from them as he can G. Usually Laws cannot be abrogated but by those that made them and for that reason I believe though the Emperor should be desirous to annul the Golden Bull he would not be permitted so to do because it was published by the advice and with the consent of the Electors and many other Princes and Estates of the Empire who are to concur to its abrogation But the Bull is so advantagious to the Electors that they have no reason to desire the suppression of it nor so much as give way that any thing in it should be changed or altered P. I do not think the Laws contained in the Golden Bull should be totally abolished yet on the other side I do not doubt but something of them may be changed if the necessity of the Empire require it G. It is certain that those Laws will never be wholly abrogated unless the face of the Empire be changed by becoming Hereditary in which case they would all fall of themselves As to particularities it is as certain that something in those Laws may be changed since the Legislators have often derogated from them and even in a matter of great importance the Septenary number of the Electors having been altered into another less convenient by the last Treaty of Peace Besides we have elsewhere seen that although the Election of the King of the Romans ought to be made at Francfort by vertue of that Bull yet Ferdinand I. received that honour at Wormes and other Emperors since at other Cities That Bull doth also ordain that all the Electors should assist at the Mass of the Holy Ghost before they begin the Act of the Election and yet the Protestant Electors are not obliged to be at Church while the Ceremony of the Mass lasts From whence it may be concluded that some of the Laws of the Golden Bull may be altered and dispensed with But I believe I have entertained you long enough upon things that concern the Empire and therefore I shall proceed no further but make an end of this Treatise praying the Almighty that by his grace he would enable you to learn from hence how to serve your Country well me to give you as good an account of the other principal parts of Europe as I have done of Germany THE END A Table of the particular matters contained in this Book A. AAlen 269. Aix why called Aquisgranum and the Royal City and why so much indulged by Charlemagne 266. Dukes of Altembourg from whom descended 85. Alternation what and the five Houses in Germany that take precedency by turns 147. Princes of Anhalt their origin 161. When they lost the Electorship and why 97. Government of the Estate of the Princes of Anhalt 164. Religion and titles of the Princes of Anhalt and Lawembourg 166 Situation of the principality of Anhalt ibid. Marquisses of Anspach younger brethren of the House of Brandenbourg 102. How many Archbishopricks anciently in Germany and how many now that have place in the Assemblies of the Empire 174. How many Archbishopricks and Bishopricks made Secular by the Peace of Munster ibid. Title of Archduke no where but in Austâ—ia and why those Princes took it 214. 215. Counts of Aremberg how advanced and become Princes of Barbanson 169.170 Four sorts of particular Assemblies in Germany 293. Assemblies called Dayes of Election what ibid. Assemblies of Deputation what ibid. Assemblies of Visitations what ibid. Assemblies of the Circles three manner of wayes and how 294. Assemblies of the Diets what they are who takes suffrages there and after what manner 294. seq Augsbourg wherein considerable and for what famous whence and why so called 268. Titles of Augustus and Cesar found no where but in Germany 30. Austregues priviledges what 65. House of Austria its origin 70. Archdukes of Austria and Kings of France of the third Race sprung from the same Root ibid. How the House of Austria became great 71. 72. The lands Estates which it got by marriages ibid. How long it hath been in possession of the Empire 73. Graces and priviledges which the Princes of Austria have received from God Nature and Emperors ibid. Number of Emperors Kings Cardinals Dukes and Archdukes come out of that House ibid. The losses and advantages the house of Austria received by the peace of Munster 340. How the Princes of that House take their place in the Assemblies 74. Daughters of Austria succeed when the Males fail ibid. Princes of Austria their priviledge in case of Duell ibid. How many Princes of Austria there be at this present ibid. The Branch of Austria hath right to succeed that of Burgundy when it fails 75. Why the House of Austria bears the Arms of Wirtemberg 129. Authority of a Prince the soul of Government 12. 13. B. Origin of the Marquisses of Baden 141. Princes of Baden and Hochberg both of the same House 142. Baden and Dourlach principal Branches of the Marquisses of Baden at this time 143. Their alliances and several Estates 143. 144. Bamberg the first Bishoprick of the Empire and its priviledges 178. Prince of Barbanson of the House of Aremberg 170. Alliances of the Counts of Barby 233. What Barons are Estates of the Empire 238. Number of the Barons of the Empire ibid. Difference of Barons one from another 239. Basile a Bishoprick 190. Seven pitcht Battels and other bloody engagements in Germany from the King of Swedens coming in till the Peace 322. Battel of Leipsick ibid. another at Leipsick 324. Battel of Lutzen 323. of Hamelen ibid. of Noâ—tlingâ—en 323. 324. of Wistock 324. of Jancou in Bohemia 325. Baâ—aria possessed at this day by the descendents of the Count of Schieren and by whom before 110. Benefices requiring residence not to be multiplied upon one person 189. Biberac 269. The Bishops of Mets Toul and Verdun take the style of Princes of the Empire 176. Catholick Bishops that sit in the Assemblies of the Empire 177. Bishops by whom anciently chosen 198. seq Bishops Archbishops deposed by
1607. at which time the Burgers endeavouring to hinder the Catholiques from burying a Corps with the ceremonies of the Church of Rome it incurred the Imperial Ban or Proscription which was executed by the Duke of Bavaria who brought it into subjection and holds it still under his Laws Dunkelspiel hath been so often taken and re-taken in the last Wars that it will carry the marks thereof a great while Eslinguen is a pretty Town upon the Neckar within the Dutchy and under the protection of the Duke of Wirtemberg to whom it sends every first day of the year a hundred Florins of gold in a green velvet purse for the honour he doth them in being their Protector P. If I be not mistaken this City hath been honoured with the celebration of some Turnament G Not with a Turnament only but also with an Imperial Diet And produces great store of excellent Wine Francfort which was anciently called Tentoburgum and Hellenopolis signifies the passage or Ford of the Franks and was so termed because it served them for a retreat when they went into and came back from Gaule This City is renowned for its Fairs for the Article of the Golden Bull which ordains that the King of the Romans should be chosen there for its Fortress and for the river of Mein which parts it into two Towns whereof one retains the old name and the other is called Saxenhausen P. You have told me elsewhere that that clause of the Golden Bull is not observed and that many Kings of the Romans have been elected in other places G. That is true but yet the Town is very considerable for all that The Religion professed there is of two sorts and the Jews drive a great Trade amongst them Fridberg a very small City in Wetteravia had not above 60. Burgers when I passed that way but it hath great priviledges There is a Castle near it the Lords whereof are called Burgraves Guemunde which seems to signifie Gaudia Mundi the joys of the world in regard of the Turnaments or other pastimes which the Lords of Swaben have heretofore given their friends there is entirely Catholique and an Imperial City since the death of Conradine who was beheaded at Naples Gostar a City of Hircynia was fortified in the year 1207. The Castle is called the Imperial Palace and the Town the Royal City because the Kings of Germany were wont to make their aboad there and some Emperors have honoured it with their residence Guelnehausen after the same manner as Fridberg hath City and Castle and place in the Assemblies though the Electors Palatine use their utter most endeavour to bring it under their subjection P. I wonder how these petty places are able to maintain their liberty G. They are supported by others and the Emperor would not willingly see Princes make themselves Masters of them Haguenau a City of Alsatiâ— is Head of a Bailywick that comprehends the Imperial Cities of Colmar Selestad Weissembourg Landau Oberhenheim Rosherim Munster in the valley of St. Gregory Keichersberg and Turgkeim This Bailywick was given to the most Christian King with its appurtenances and the right which the House of Austria had to it heretofore This City was very much a favourite to the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who caused it to be walled about after he had built a house there for himself and six for the principal Gentlemen belonging to his Hunting which the Lords of Flekenstein Durcheim and some others do still hold in Fee of the Empire P. I think the Lords of Durcheim are your kinsmen G. Margaret of Rottembourg a Gentlewoman of a very ancient family in Lower Alsatia was married to John Albert of Anweil of which marriage came Anne Margaret of Anweil my wife by whose means I find my self allied to the Houses of Anweil Rottembourg Scheling Welward Spest Durcheim Stursel Dalbourg Bernehausen Flekenstein Stein and many others But this is besides our purpose Hambourg situate upon the Elbe where the reflux of the Sea makes a good Port is one of the richest Cities in Germany the greatest in Vandalia and the best fortified in Europe It doth ordinarily maintain a thousand Souldiers and for a time of necessity it hath 15000. Burgers listed in fifty Companies Trade is exceeding quick there by reason of the river which joyns it to the Sea and a multitude of Portuguese Jews who have liberty of conscience there This City hath been subject to several Lords but at last it is become free notwithstanding all that the Duke of Holstein could do or the King of Denmark who hath built Glugstadt and a Fort in the river to annoy and incommodate the City of Hambourg P. The neighbourhood of the Swedes may entrench much upon their liberty G. The Crown of Sweden hath the possession of Stade near the river of Elbe and the King of Denmark hath Glugstadt on the other side of the same river So that if those two Kings should conspire to ruine Hambourg it would be in great danger but it is sheltered under the jealousie that is between those two Crowns Although this City be indeed so prodigiously rich that if the Kings should agree together it is probable the Senat would be able to guard themselves and preserve their liberty by the expense of their Treasure And questionless if Hambourg make good use of its own strength and the friendship of those that are concerned for its preservation it hath no cause to fear For the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein apprehending the Swedes will be always glad to fortifie themselves by the good affection and forces of Hambourg and Lubeck which are as so many Bulwarks to their States P. Is Lubeck also in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese G. These Cities are not far distant from one another They have the same interest and are powerful Hambourg upon the Ocean and Lubeck upon the Balthique Sea in the entrance of the Cimbrique Chersonese which contains the Dutchies of Holstein Schleswick Stormar and Dithmarsh with the Countrey of Jutland The City of Lubeck was built by Adolph Count of Holstein in the time of the Emperor Conrade III. and a little after it was taken by Henry Leo Duke of Bavaria and Saxony who founded a Bishoprick there as I have read over the Gates of the Castle of Eutin the place where the Bishop resides After the death of that Henry it returned to its first Master and passed from him into the power of Canute King of Denmark but the Danes being overcome in the time of the Emperor Frederick II. it became an Imperial City and enjoys that priviledge to this day When it began it was of no great consequence but now it is large fair and potent by land and by water too the river Drave encreasing its Trade and giving it opportunity to put great store of shipping to Sea P. If the King of Denmark had the command of these two Cities it would enable him to attempt upon his neighbours
have voice and seat in the Assemblies G. All the Estates of the Empire who are the Electors the Princes the Prelates the Counts the Barons and the Imperial Cities And besides the place and voice they have in general and particular Assemblies they have also a certain right of Regality and the priviledge of the Austregues that is a right not to be convented or brought before any but peculiar Judges P. I thought that the Emperor alone had the right of Regality that this right and Majesty were one and the same thing and that but few Counts and Barons had place and voice in the Assemblies G. By the Counts and Barons which I told you had seat and suffrage in the Assemblies you should understand those that are Estates of the Empire and abstract all others even those Lords to whom the Emperor gives the title of Prince in his Hereditary Countreys who are in no small number the abuse being grown to that height that few or none are content with the title of Gentleman As to the other part of your supposition you should take notice that Soverainty and Regalities are different things Soverainty is that which essentially constitute the Emperor that is which makes him to be Emperor and Regalities are the Adjuncts of Soverainty and the Rights which flow from it as rivulets from their spring P. I beseech you explain your self a little more G. For the better understanding of what I have even now said you must note that the word Regality is diversly taken to wit 1. for great Lordships held in Fee of the Crown 2. for Churches extraordinarily rich 3. for the right of giving great Benefices 4. for the Royal Ensigns which are carried before Kings and put upon their heads and into their hands and 5. for the Rights which have been given to Emperors for marks of a Soverain eminence Regalities may be also distinguished into the greater and the lesser The greater are Regalities of Dignity which relate to the Emperor person the lesser are Regalities of Vtility which regard his Treasure The great one are incommunicable the lesser are communicable and communicated to Princes Lords and Cities to one more to another less according to the good pleasure of the Emperors P. I do not yet fully understand which be the Regalities of Dignity I pray speak a little more at large of them G. The Regalities of Dignity are the immense power which the Emperor hath to give the title of King Elector Archduke Duke c. to make Laws to administer Justice and other such like things P. I think the Emperor hath communicated the right of administring Justice unto the Imperial Chambers of his Court and of Spire G. That is true but the power of the Chambers is no argument why the Emperor alone should not be said to have the Soverain Right of administring Justice For the Judge of those Chambers bears the Imperial Sceptre to show that he exercises the Emperors jurisdiction there all judgements are pronounced there in his Majesties name and sealed with his Arms Which makes it clear that all is done by his authority and in his name P. Was Justice always administred by the Soverain Chambers which his Majesty hath established the one in his Court and the other at Spire G. The Chamber of Justice or Parliament of the Empire was ambulatory till the time of Maximilian I. who taking pity of the parties that were necessitated to follow the Court and seek for Justice there at great expenses at the request of Berchtold Count of Henneberg who was then Elector of Mentz established a Sedentary Chamber at Wormes in the year 1495. from whence it was soon after removed to Spire but cannot be withdrawn from that place without the consent of all the Estates P. Doubtless the Emperor hath given an extraordinary jurisdiction to that Chamber for I have heard say that it hath concurrence of jurisdiction with his Majesty G. The Chamber of Spire can have no concurrent jurisdiction with the Emperor unless it be that his Majesty may concur with himself for the jurisdiction of the Chamber is nothing else but the Emperors jurisdiction Besides the Emperor hath not established the Chamber to concur with him but to administer Justice in his name For in transferring thither all the jurisdiction universally for so much as concerns Civil causes he hath ordered that nothing shall be dispatched but in his name and under his Seal Whereby it is easie to judge that there is a dependence and not a concurrence of the Chamber of Spire with the Emperor who also causeth the Assessors to be punished when they transgress and swerve from their duty P. Seeing the Emperor hath transmitted all his jurisdiction unto that Chamber certainly it passeth judgement upon all things without appeal G. Except Ecclesiastical and Spiritual matters as the crimes of Heresie Adultery and other such like the cognizance whereof belongs to the Church that Chamber Judges finally and absolutely of every thing So that an appeal cannot be made unto the Emperor and much less to the Pope even in a cause of a pious nature And there is a Decree to be seen of the 20. February 1512. whereby one that appealed to the Pope was fined a hundred Marks of Gold But this Chamber takes no knowledge in the first instance but of the causes which concern some Immediate person that is immediately depending upon the Emperor P. Are all Immediate persons Estates of the Empire G. The Gentlemen of Swaben Franconia the Rhine and the lower Alsatia are not Estates of the Empire though they be immediately subject to the Emperor P. Let us begin to speak of the Estates of the Empire and tell me if you please what was the original of the House of Austria how long it hath worn the Imperial Crown into how many branches it is divided by what means it became so potent and what are its priviledges G. You ask too many things at once yet I will answer them But that we may avoid confusion I will speak severally of that which you have proposed conjunctly And as to your first question I say that flatterers think they can never raise the beginning of this Most August House high enough unless they fetch it from the Trojan horse and tracing the Fables of the old Romans invent a fine Genealogy from near 500. years before the birth of Jesus Christ Others would have it to descend from Charlemagne in a direct masculine line The most common opinion is that the Counts of Habspourg who wear the Imperial Crown at this present are a branch of the Dukes of Zeringuen from whom also the Marquisses of Baden are descended and the Dukes of Teck whose lands are passed by marriage into the House of Wirtemberg P. That which you say is not out of controversie for a modern Author affirms confidently that the Archdukes of Austria and the Kings of France come both out of one and the same stock But because we desire
their tranquillity depends upon the equal counterpoise of those two Kings and therefore use their endeavours to hinder the one from bringing the other too much under but I dare not affirm that either of them have such high thoughts True it is that every one ought to fear it and that the wisest Princes seeing the balance too heavy on one side help to make weight on the other The King of Sweden who is prudent in Counsel and valiant in fight will not be the last to apply a remedy when he sees the danger And if he should forget his own and the Empires Interest the Venetians Hollanders and Swisses would employ their money and power for the preservation of theirs and our Liberty P. Europe breeds a people so ingenuous knowing valiant and so opposite to servitude that it seems impossible for it ever to come under the obedience of one only person Let us then leave the Ambitious to rack and torture their minds with imaginary conquests and let us look upon the House of the Guelphes which heretofore possest a great part of Germany And if you will oblige me speak as distinctly of it as possibly you can G. This House which without dispute held the first rank after the Electors before the Archbishopricks of Magdebourg and Bremen were converted into Secular Dignities is put back those two degrees Nevertheless it comes not behind any one in antiquity and had its Territories all along the Elbe in the Countrey of Saxony when it followed the fortune of Albovin King of the Lombards first into Pannonia and afterwards into Italy where these people fixt their seat having driven the Goths out of it and gave their name to the Province anciently called Gallia Cisalpina about 200. years before the time of Charlemagne Then it was that this family acquired the Dutchy of Modena which it possesseth even at this day P. Do you think then that the House of Este which still holds the Dutchy of Modena and lost that of Ferrara in the time of Pope Clement VIII after the death of Duke Alphonso is a branch of this of Brunswick G. I make no doubt of it and when the Kingdom of the Lombards was destroyed in Italy by the arms of Charlemagne some Princes of this House came back into their own Countrey where they had still so large an estate and authority that the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire married Iudith a Princess of that family and had by her Charles the Bald who was King of France and Emperor This Empress had a brother named Henry to whom Lewis his Son-in-law son to Lewis Germanicus gave those lands which are now called Bavaria P. These indeed are fair and advantagious alliances which having made those Princes Brothers-in-law and Fathers-in-law to Kings brought them so considerable a Principality G. The Descendents of Henry did not long possess this Countrey for his line failing in Guelphe IV. his Nephews son the Emperor Henry IV. gave his inheritance to Guelphe V. son to the Duke of Ferrara who as we have said was of the same House And in process of time Henry the Proud Duke of Bavaria descended from Guelphe V. married Gertrude daughter to the Emperor Lotharius II. who brought him the Dutchy of Saxony for her Dowry The issue of that marriage was Henry Leo who together with Bavaria and Saxony possessed many great Principalities lying upon the Elbe and elsewhere P. How comes it then to pass that the Successors of Henry Leo have their Estate confined within the Dutchies of Brunswick and Luntbourg G. That Prince being of a high spirrit and not able to comply with the Emperor Frederick Barbarossâ— his Unkle was proscribed and expelled the Empire and when he was thâ—s driven out of his Estates he made his retreat into England to King Henry II. who gave him his daughter Matildis or Mawd to wife and procured his reconciliation with the Emperoâ— But because he had in the mean time disposed of the Dutchy of Bavaria in favor of the Count of Schieren whose posterity enjoys it at this day Henry Leo was restored to no more then the Dutchy of Saxony which Principality past a little after into the House of Saxon-Lawembourg by the marriage of Helen daughter to the Emperor Otho IV. and grandchild to Henry Leo with Albert I. of that name Elector of Saxony At that time Frederick II. gave the title of Duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg to Otho a prince of that House P. The misfortune of Henry Leo should serve for a lesson to Great ones and make all men see that it is necessary to honor Superiors and not to provoke ones Masters G. Many great Princes desiring to shake off the yoke of their due obedience have forfeited their right and lost that which they would not acknowledge to hold of their Soverain That was the quarrel against the King of England who was devested of the Provinces of Normandy and Guyenne by Charles VII King of France And if the Guelphes had husbanded their strength better and paid the Emperor the respect they ought him they had still been the most potent Princes in Germany P. They are far less at present then they were in the time of Henry Leo and yet they seem to be very considerable by their own forces and by their alliances G. All the Houses that have admitted the right of Primogeniture are better kept up then others This having a large Estate and four voices in the Assemblies is divided but into two principal branches which are equal in dignity but the elder in years of the two Chiefs precedes the other in the general and particular Assemblies They all bear the same title and if one branch happen to fail the other shall succeed it They have both of them good Fortresses Wolfenbottel Cel Hanover Lunebourg and Giffhorne are strong places under the command of these Princes Brunswick hath never submitted to their power still enjoying the right of a Free City though the Duke hath often used skill as well as force to bring it under his obedience These Princes can raise and maintain great numbers of Souldiers within their Territories And the neighborhood of Denmark and Sweden may yet make them more considerable the Emperor being always willing to gratifie them to keep them to him and strangers to gain them to their side P. It is certain that a Prince whose lands border upon a Forain State may easily make himself more valuable then if they lay in the heart of the Empire but there is a great deal of prudence to be used in such cases G. The Dukes of Lorraine and Savoye have always been very much considered for the situation of their Estates and the need that neighboring Monarchs had of their assistance For which cause Bocalini having brought them to be weighed at Laurence de Medicis his Scales finds them as heavy as Kings Yet if these Princes be not very quick and expert as well as valiant and resolute they may hazard the
and freely acknowledging that I do not know whether these Princes be descended from a General of that incomparable Conqueror of Asia I do know that they are of the most Illustrious and most Ancient personages in Germany P. If I be not mistaken the Emperor Charles IV. admitted Albert and John Dukes of Meklebourg sons to Henry Leo Prince of the Vandals amongst the Princes of the Empire G. Charles IV. receiving those Lords into the number of the Estates of the Empire did not give them the quality of Prince which they had before but only brought them under the protection of the Empire by making them Members thereof upon condition they should be subject to its Laws and contribute to its necessities and so enjoy the same priviledges which other Lords of their degree and quality did P. In the time of the last Wars the Emperor made those Princes feel the weight of his indignation giving their lands to Wallestein a Gentleman of Silesia who by a strange ingratitude and a devillish ambition endeavouring to seat himself upon the Throne of Bohemia and dispossess his Master of it came to a miserable end G. The lamentable death of the Duke of Fridland gives us to understand that Kings have long arms and that no man ought to abuse their favors nor follow the motions which an undaunted courage and an inordinate ambition inspires The Duke of Biron and the Earl of Essex had such like designs and as Tragical Catastrophes As to the Dukes of Meklebourg I am to tell you that the greatest part of the Potentates in Germany have felt the smart of Mars his rods and these Princes as much as any other having seen a great Captain indeed and a renowned Souldier but unworthy of their degree bear the name and Arms of their Principality Nevertheless they re-entred into it by the vertue of the Great Gustavus their Cousin-German and though the conclusion of the Peace took Wismar from them yet it gave them in exchange the Bishopricks of Ratzebourg and Suerin turned into Principalities So as they have lost nothing if they do not prefer the convenience of that Haven and its Fort before twice its Revenue P. I did not know that these Princes were so near of kin to the late King of Sweden G. The Great Gustavus and these Dukes were sons of two sisters daughters to Adolph Duke of Holstein which proximity of blood moved that Heroical Prince to embrace their interest So after the Battel of Leipsick he turned his victorious arms towards the Dutchy of Meklebourg and re-placed these Princes there June 25. 1631. Three years after these Lords were reconciled to the Emperor and at this time live in peace divided into two branches the Chiefs whereof make their residence at Suerin and at Gustron P. Have these two Branches equal shares of the Estate G. They have each of them a moyety of the Dutchy and in regard thereof a seat and voice in the Assemblies But Adolph Frederick hath eight sons and six daughters and Gustavus Adolph who is Head of the other Branch had no body to participate with him being aâ— only son This latter who resides at Gustron iâ— of great spirit knowing courteous affable and generous He married Magdalen Sibyll daughter to Frederick the present Duke of Holstein and hath one son by her The children of Adolph Frederick who resides at Sâ—â—nin are all well made and qualified both in body and mind Christian the eldest hath married his Cousin Christina Margaret daughter to Iohn Albert Duke of Meklebourg And Anne Mary youngest of the daughters is the worthy Consort of Augustus Duke of Saxony son to the Elector Iohn George I. All the rest are still to be married and all worthy of Kings as well for their inward as their outward beauty These Princes have all conjunctly one University at Rostoch which was established there in the year 1419 by Iohn and Albert first Dukes of this House P. I should willingly desire a more particular recital of the Alliances of this House but fearing to be too troublesome to you I shall forbear that and intreat you to tell me something concerning that of Wirtemberg G. I shall not proceed any further till I have acquainted you that the House of Meklebourg hath had in marriage six daughters of Kings and five of Electors within less then 200 years As for that of Wirtemberg which after it had for many ages born the quality of Count was raised to the Ducal Dignity by the consent of all the Estates of the Empire in a Diet held at Wormes 1495 it comes behind never a Family in Revenue alliances piety magnificence and priviledges It hath a Countrey where the Mountains abound in Mines Wines and Woods the Forests are well stored with Timber-trees Game and Venison of all kinds the Valleys are a continuation of Meadows covered with Cattle and watered with Brooks full of Fish the Plains are thick set with Gardens and the Gardens like those of the Hesperides or rather like earthly Paradises There is in no place to be seen fairer rows of Orange-trees Grotta's better contrived and beautified Fountains more artificial nor Fruits more pleasant to the sight and taste then at Stutgardt Few Princes have a house of Pleasure and a Heronry within their Garden as this Duke hath neither is there any one in the Empire that hath a greater care of the Sciences and of Learned persons They that have been at Tubing know how many Princes Counts Lords Barons and Gentlemen have been bred in the noble Colledge which Duke Lewis caused to be built and which his Successors do splendidly maintain there P. Since we are entred upon this discourse make me if you please a more particular description of that Colledge G. It would require a more copious and eloquent tongue then mine to make you comprehend the benefit which the Empire receives by this Athenaeum Princes learn there to fear God to honor the Emperor to serve their Countrey to judge of the sincerity of their Confederates and to cherish their friends Counts Barons and Gentlemen do there learn the ways of winning and keeping the favour of Great men a sweetness of carriage necessary for the maintaining of a perfect friendship amongst equals and an infinity of vertues which are the same thing in their Souls that the Soul is in the body the eye in the head precious stones in gold and flowers in meadows P. I suppose that in this illustrious Colledge the exercises of the body are no more neglected then those of the mind G. One may there learn with little charge and pains that which men go to seek for in Italy and France at the expense of their health and soundness both in body and soul Florence hath nothing for riding the great horse nor Rome and Paris for fencing and dancing Schools which may not be gotten without going out of Tubing where the University and Colledge have excellent Professors in all faculties and principally in those
by the deceased Princes Subjects he added a clause in his Will to deprive that party of the right of Succession that should oblige his Subjects to change their Religion Notwithstanding which clause Maurice forced the inhabitants of his division to embrace the Reformation of Calvin Lewis taking Maurice to have forfeited the right he had to the inheritance complained of the non-observance of the Will Whereupon they took Arbitrators who judged that the Clause annext to the Testament could not deprive Maurice of the right he had as a Prince of the Empire of obliging his Subjects to follow his Religion Lewis appealed from this Arbitrary sentence to the Court of the Emperor where he found more favour and obtained a Decree that condemned Maurice and an Army that put Lewis into possession of the lands in question Maurice not being able to withstand the Army and the will of the Emperor gave waâ— to power So Lewis surnamed the pious and George his son possest those lands in peace 〈◊〉 Amelia Elizabeth Mother to William VI. hâ—ving an Army at her command used it so oâ—portunely that she drove George out of theâ—tigious Territories and forced him to another Agreement which was mediated by Erâ—â— Duke of Saxony in the year 1647. P. These contentions must needs begethtred between the two Houses But are they 〈◊〉 equal puissance G. That of Cassel is the elder hath prendence and more estate then that of Darmstrâ—â— but they are so far forth equal that each 〈◊〉 them hath a voice in the Assemblies and neither depends in any wise upon the other They are both well allied George Chief of the Branch of Darmstadt is married to the eldâ—â— daughter of the late Elector of Saxony his eldest son to a daughter of Frederick Duke 〈◊〉 Holstein and one of his daughters to Philâ—â— Lewis Duke of Newbourg William the present Prince of Cassel hath taken to wife a sister of the Elector of Brandenbourg and Williams eldeâ— sister is married to Lewis of Tremüoille Dolâ— of Toüars Prince of Tarante and the young est to Charles Lewis Elector Palatine P. You have already told me that Williâ—â— VI. was son to Amelia Elizabeth who governed his person and estate from the year 1637. till the Peace and her Regency was so renowned and so beneficial to that House that I think my self obliged to propose this question to you Whether they do not great wrong to Ladies that esteem them unable to govern a State G. I wonder there should be any Philosophers who dare affirm that the Female Sex is unworthy to bear the Scepter since Histories tell us that Ladies have preserved and enlarged the Kingdoms of Spain England Denmark Sweden Portugal and France that the five former never flourished so much as under two Elizabeths Margaret Christina and Loüyse and that the last was freed from the English yoke by Jane d'Arc commonly called the Maid of Orleans preserved in peace under the Regency of Blanche of Castile Mother to St. Lewis and the bounds thereof advanced under Anne of Austria Mother to the incomparable Lewis XIV the present King P. You will acknowledge that this Sex is usually weak inconstant and faint-hearted and that it is not able either to ride or wear armour for the good of the State G. It is the opinion of those who to decry Ladies tell us they are naturally inconstant fearful and cruel and when we object the illustrious examples of Roman Grecian Spanish German and French Ladies they say they are rare things and such as ought not to be drawn into consequence and that for one that hath administred the State well there be two that have abused their authority I confess they are not all sufficiently qualified to rule but I deny also that all men are so And I may confidently say that never any King of England was better obeyed then Queen Elizabeth that the bravest Swedish Commanders freely acknowledged their victories proceeded as much from the happy Genius of their Queen as from their own valour that Portugal ows its deliverance to Loyse de Gusman who governs it still with admirable prudence that Elizabeth of France wife to Philip IV. would have re-established the affairs of Spain if the impertinency of a Favourite had not held her at distance from the Counsels of the King her husband that the Hessians were never better ruled then by Amelia Elizabeth and that no Prince was ever more moderate in his prosperty nor more constant in adversity then this matchless Lady One example shall make you confess this truth In the year 1647. her Army besieged Paderborne and was forced to raise the siege with loss The news came to her while she sate at Table she read the Letter and told me We have ill news my Troops have been worsted and forced to leave a plate which it concerned me very much to have taken And so sate out her Meal without the least show of any alteration P. No more would a great man be much moved at such a loss G. I know Philip II. seemed not to be concerned when he heard of the victory won at Lepanto and of the losing of a Fleet which he thought Invincible but that Prince was singular in generosity and constancy And to prove that Ladies are worthy to bear the Scepter it is enough that we find some comparable to the most excellent of men P. I submit to your reason but withal I think there are not many Amelia Elizabeths to be found G. There are but few indeed because the malice or envy of men keeps them off from showing their ability and making their prudence and generosity admired Nay I make no question but if there were as many Ladies as there be Princes upon the Throne we should often find Female accomplishments superior to ours enough to make Philosophers recant and acknowledging their error to confess that Ladies are as much if not more excellent then men P. I perceive you love that beautiful Sex and understand their worth and if they had no greater enemies then you they should have the honour that is due to them I shall always be of the same opinion and if ten thousand Philosophers would perswade me the contrary I should not forbear to say and believe that there be many Ladies worthy to govern and would be many more if they were instructed and brought up to great affairs from their youth The end of the Fourth Dialogue Dialogue V. Of the same Secular Princes P. I Would gladly have heard something of the Marquisses of Baden in the preceding Dialogue because they take their turns with the other princes you last mentioned But I hope there is nothing lost G. These Princes as well as all that are Ancient hear many men speak of the beginning of their House but few that speak truth I do not desire to confute opinions contrary to mine nor to entertain you long upon such a subject It is enough for me to tell you what I have learnt from
it translating all the books that they count worthy of their pains P. There are some that undervalue Translations and endeavour to cast an imputation upon them as pernicious to the Common-wealth being causes of lazyness and negligence G. I know there be some learned men are sorry that an entrance is opened into the Temple of wisdom through an easier door then Greek and Latin But notwithstanding their opinion it is certain that Great men should not be debarred of the knowledge necessary for them under the specious pretenses that the Latin and Greek Tongues will be lost in Germany if men may find Learning in their native Language P. If Prince Lewis hath been fortunate in this commendable enterprize his Countrey is greatly obliged to him For these translations do not forbid any man to look into the Originals being only for such as have not time to learn the Languages which furnish us with books But of what Religion are the Princes of these two Houses G. Duke Francis Herman and Iulius Henry his Father who are at this time the eldest and ruling Princes of Saxon-Lawembourg are turned Catholiques the brethren of the forenamed Iulius Henry are Protestants as also the Prince of Anhalt residing at Zerbst All the rest are of the Reformed Religion and very zealous in it The first sort of these Princes take the title of Dukes of Saxony Hungary and Westphalia the other Princes of Anhalt assume that of Counts of Ascania Lords of Berembourg and Zerbst Lawembourg is a fine place upon the Elbe but the Castle is ruined and the Duke lives at Ratzebourg though he have nothing there but the Castle the City belonging to the Duke of Meklebourg The River of Sala crosses the Principality of Anhalt which makes it no less beautiful then fruitful But the Countrey is very little and the Princes stand in need of a greater estate to exercise the liberality to which they have so strong an inclination P. Liberality is the proper vertue of Princes and I think it were better for a great Lord to be profuse then avaritious G. Every man should take a true measure of his ability and give no more then he can well bear Prodigality hath a semblance of something more noble then avarice hath and really it is less odious nay they that gain by it make it pass for a vertue but perchance it is more prejudicial to posterity and no less dangerous then the other extreme Though a King should give away his whole Kingdom he would not satisfie all that ask no nor all that think they deserve much of him It is then more convenient to give with reason never to draw so near the bottom but that Great men may alwayes have wherewithal to gratifie persons of merit and above all they should take special care that their liberality be exercised without the oppression of the People to avoid murmuring which may produce Rebellion P. There is no need of making Laws against giving too much Princes are not so free and there are not many of them that want a Tutor or Overseer in that kind Let us go forward if you please to that which remains concerning the Princes of the Empire G. Seeing we reserve the Dukes of Savoy and Lorraine and the Princes of Orange for another place we have no more to speak of but the Princes of Montbeliard Henneberg Zolleren Aremberg and East-Frizeland P. Did you not say enough of the Princes of Montbeliard when you were discoursing of the Duke of Wirtemberg G. It is true indeed that the Principality of Montbeliard belongs to the House of Wirtemberg ever since the year 1397. at which time Eberhard the younger married Henrietta heiress of that fair Territory Yet it is good for you to know that the present Prince is son to Lewis Frederick grandchild to Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg who having had many sons gave to his youngest the Counties of Montheliard and Horbourg the Soverainty of Ericourt the Lordships of Blamont Clairval Passevant and Richeville with the Barony of Grangeâ— This Prince hath Salt-pits and Iron-works that yield him great profit and a voice in the Assemblies but hath never a child His younger brother keeps his residence at Horbourg and is married to Anne of Coligny by whom he hath children P. It is said that the Prince of Montbeliard had heretofore a hundred thousand Rix-dollars yearly Rent Pass we on to those of Henneberg G. These Lords have not long had the quality of Prince Their Family was utterly extinguished in the year 1583. and their Principality past into the power of the Dukes of Saxony by vertue of a Confraternity The seat of the old Race was at Eslesunguen where their Sepulchres are yet to be seen and many â—pitaphs that evidence the grandeur of that illustrious House which was in great credit in the time of Charlemagne P. There are few Genealogies to be seen wherein the Counts of Henneberg have not a place But since they are all gone I had rather you should give me an account of those of Hohenzolleren G. The House of Hohenzolleren is a Branch of that of Brandenbourg and so this Prince is Vicar to the great Chamberlain of the Empire and gives the Emperor water to wash when he eats in Ceremony if the Elector of Brandenbourg be not present Ertel Frederick Count of Hohenzolleren was made Prince at the Diet of Ratisbon in the year 1623. and all the eldest brethren of his House bear the same quality The present Prince married the daughter and heiress of the Count Henry of Berg his youngest brother is Gentleman of the Chamber to the Emperor and the middlemost Canon of Collen These Lords have estate enough and might be rich yet they are in bad condition for want of order and good husbandry P. The Princes of Hohenzolleren are of very high extraction and have a very noble habitation at Echingnen where the Castle is magnificent and Hohenzolleren is seated upon the brow of a high hill I would willingly know how those of Aremberg were made Princes of the Empire G. These Princes having performed great services to the House of Austria and specially to the King of Spain were advanced to the highest Commands in the Low Countreys where they were often honoured with the Collar of the Golden Fleece and at last obtained a place among the Princes of the Empire by the favour of the Emperor Maximilian II. Duke Albert son to Robert Duke of Aremberg and Claudina Countess of the Rhine married Mary daughter and heiress to Everard Prince of Barbanson by whom he hath left Octavius who at this day bears the quality of Prince of Aremberg and Isabel married to Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg This Princess is of incomparable beauty and prudence and the Prince her brother extremely courteous P. Being this House hath its lands and habitations upon the King of Spains Territories you may discourse of it more at large in another place Let us now see that of East-Friseland
the People so bare and miserable being forced to contribute towards defraying the expenses of War and the maintenance of Princes although the poor contributors enjoyed but the least part of the land which obliged Kings at last to forbid Priests all kinds of further acquisitions If that had not been done they had swallowed all long since for heretofore there was an order that no Will should be made without bequeathing something to the Church And if any one dyed intestate an estimate was made of his inheritance and according to the value thereof a portion was allotted and given to the Priests For the remedying of that excess very excellent Laws have been made in England the Low Countreys and at Venice and the Parliament of Paris it self seeing the immense riches of the Carthusians and Celestins made orders expresly prohibiting them the acquiring of any more immovables P. Those regulations are just where Churchmen live in plenty but they should not be hindred from making moderate acquisitions it being reasonable that they who feed us spiritually should be maintained corporally G. Your argument is very good Poverty should not be permitted in the Church for it is impossible the Priest should carefully attend upon preaching the Gospel visiting the sick comforting the afflicted and administring the Sacraments and at the same time labour to get bread While Clergy-men were under continual suffering they stood in need of extraordinary assistance to keep them from falling into despair but growing too rich they were swallowed up in lazyness from whence there flowed streams of ignorance wantonness impiety luxury superstition idolatry and other vices which brought Christendom almost to utter ruine P. Let us not enter into the consideration of the lives manners and humours of Priests who have constrained good men to procure their reformation and that reformation caused rivers of blood which have very near drowned Christendom Tell me rather how the Ecclesiastical Princes come by their Dignity G. The Prelates of Germany are not all raised to their Dignity after one and the same manner and the order observed now differs from that which was observed when Germany received the Faith In the beginning of Christianity Bishops were every where chosen by the Clergy and the People joyntly After which when the Roman Emperors were become Christians they sometimes gave Bishops to the principal Churches by their own authority or of several that were proposed to them they made choice of him that pleased them best So Constans made Liberius Bishop of Rome and Theodosius the younger chose Nectarius to be Bishop of Constantinople from amongst many that were named to him Since the fourth age before which there were few or no Bishops in Germany the Kings made a Decree that no man should be promoted to the Episcopal Dignity without their consent and when Germany was united to France the French Kings made such use of that right that no man was made Bishop but by their nomination or at least their approbation for if the Clergy and the People chose a Bishop he was to be confirmed by the King In Bavaria which at that time had its own Kings sometimes the People and sometimes the King chose the Bishops but so as there was no need to have Bulls from Rome Pepin gave the Archbishoprick of Mentz to Boniface and that Prelate being grown old he obtained a Coadjutor from the same King without having recourse to the Pope P. I believe indeed that Pepin raised that Prelate to the Episcopal Dignity but some think he had obtained permission to do so from Pope Zachary G. The creatures of Rome would make us believe so but that is not probable since Pepins Predecessors had the same power and his Successors maintained it insomuch that Leo or rather Gregory IV. durst not make Colonus the Deacon Bishop of Reale without the permission of Lewis the Debonaire and the Fathers of the Synod held at Aix-la-Chapelle entreated the same Emperor to have a great care of giving good Pastors to the Churches Nay all the Popes from Leo VIII to Gregory VII were created or confirmed by the Emperors P. But have not the Emperors made not confirmed any Popes since that time G. Gregory VII took away from Kings and Emperors the power not only of creating and confirming the Popes but the Bishops also in the Countreys under their obedience and having excommunicated the Emperor Henry IV. he commanded Hugh Bishop of Die his Legat in France to procure a Decree to be made against Lay-men that would name persons unto Bishopricks The year after he forbad Church-men the receiving of any Bishoprick Abbey or other Benefice from the hand of a Lay-man though he were King or Emperor and within two years more he pronounced that the power of choosing Bishops and Pastors belonged to the Apostolick See Victor III. confirmed the Decrees of Gregory VII Vrban II. went further and at the Synod of Melfi Can. 8. and at that of Clermont Can. 15. and 16. forbad Clergy-men to take the Oath of Allegiance unto their Princes Those Decrees drew the Emperor Henry V. into the field who took Paschal II. prisoner and made him restore the Empire unto its first condition But when Popes had once tasted what a pleasure it was to be independent and to keep the Emperors under their authority they forced the Councils of Lateran and Vienna held in the year 1112. to declare Heretical the Collations of Benefices made by Lay-men The Emperors on the other side desiring to keep up their power named one Bishop and the Pope or the People another and the stronger party held the Bishoprick to the great scandal and prejudice of Christendom At length Paschal II. excommunicated Henry V. Calixtus II. confirmed the proceedings of his predecessors at the Council of Reims A. D. 1120. and Henry being both strucken by the Popes thunderbolts and wearied by the obstinacy of the Princes renounced his own right in the Diet held at Wormes A. D. 1122. In this manner the right which the Emperors had to choose Bishops passed from them to the Clergy and the People but a little after the Canons of Cathedral Churches assumed that right to themselves and keep it still P. I observe that many of the Councils wherein the Empire lost so much of its power and dignity were held in France G. Those Kings seeing that Germany had separated it self from France and kept the Imperial Majesty which their first Predecessors of the second Race had gotten were glad to see it humbled and for that cause they sided with the Popes when they would vex the Empire helping by that means to forge and hammer those chains of servitude which would have oppressed them and their Successors if the Popes had not met with Parliaments and a French people more inclined to obey their own Kings then to follow the orders of Rome P. Those Subjects who prefer the obedience they owe to their Soverains before any other consideration are highly to be
Mares which he had in his grounds dyed without children lawfully begotten in the year 1656. at least if I may believe the Gazette where I read it though some men do not agree to it The King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein inherited his Counties Iohn Prince of Anhalt the Lordship of Iever and Antony Count of Oldenbourg his natural son all the rest of his lands Those of Erbach find their original in the affection which a daughter of Charlemagnes bore to a Gentleman in her Fathers Court who being recommended by his own merit as much as he was favoured by the generosity of Charles had the honour to marry her after he had had that of being carried upon her back through the Court of the Palace The Counts of Hanau have as large an estate as a great Prince and in that a Justice from which their Subjects cannot appeal And having often both given and taken daughters to and from the best Houses of the Empire they have been so happy as to see a noble Lady of their family steer the State of Hesse and bring it succesfully into the Port during the most dreadful storm that ever blew upon the Empire for many ages P. You pass many Houses over in silence G. Those of which I say nothing are unknown to me The Counts of Helfenstein having flourished above a thousand years expired some years since Those of Leininguen judge their Subjects causes without any Appeal The House of Hohenlohe would be very mighty if it had not divided its lands into many portions The Lords thereof are naturally Souldiers brave well made both in body and mind and glorious as well through their own merit as for that of their Ancestors The Barons of Limbourg whom all Writers place amongst the Counts have a title of Semperfrey always free that no body bears but they They are so ancient that they know not their own beginning and so well known in Germany that their priviledge of being Vicars to the King of Bohemia Great Cup-bearer of the Empire is obvious to every one They of Mansfeld are of different Religions One of the Catholiques is Governor of Raab in Hungary the other is Master of the Horse to the Emperor Of the Lutherans Iohn George is travelling to enable himself to answer the hopes which hâ—s Countrey conceives of his vertue This County is plentiful in Copper and other Minerals and famous for many things but especially for Eiseliben where Doctor Luther was born in the year 1484. and dyed there 63. years after The Counts of Montfort have nothing common with those in France but the name they are certainly very noble very ancient and very vertuous P. If you say nothing of the Counts of Ottinguen and of the Rhingraves I will tell you what I know of them G. I speak of the Counts in an Alphabetical method not always suitable to their merit otherwise many should have come behind those Houses so abounding in extraordinary personages That of Ottinguen is divided into two principal Branches That of Waldenstein is Catholique that of Ottinguen Lutheran and both perfectly well allied but specially Ieachim Ernest who having already had one Countess of Solmes and another of Hehenlobe is in the last place married to a Princess Palatine and had of the two former besides many sweet children Sophia Margaret and Mary Dorothy Sophia Princesses whose graces and endowments of body and mind have acquired to the first the chast love and conjugal bed of Albert Marquiss of Brandenbourg of Anspach to the second that of Eberhard Duke of Wirtemberg and to the Father two Sons-in-law equal in Grandeur piety and magnificence The Rhingraves have furnished matter to so many Histories ancient and modern that no body is a stranger to their vertue nobility and generosity The Counts of Schwartzbourg are great in riches vertue and alliances When I passed through their Countrey Clara Dutchess of Brunswick and Sophia Agnes Princess of Anhalt were widows to two Lords of that House and Antony Gunther had a Princess Palatine Many believe the Counts of Solmes are issued out of those of Nassau They are not rich but you will meet with few Lords so well allyed Frederick Henry Prince of Orange the honour of the Captains of our age had the generous Amelia Joachim Ernest Marquis of Brandenbourg had the Phenix of beauty and chastity Sophia Frederick Marquis of Dourlach the incomparable Eleonor Augustus Prince of Anhalt the pious Sibyll Vlrick Duke of Wirtemberg the amiable Sophia Dorothy Maurice Landgrave of Hesse the fair Agnes and Ernest his son hath at this time Mary Eleonor all Countesses of Solmes From whence we may conclude that this House is fruitful in beautiful and vertuous Ladies P. I would willingly have heard a word of the Counts of Salme and Stolberg but if you find it difficult pass on to the consideration of the Barons of the Empire G. The Counts of Salme were raised to the rank of Princes though their lands be held of the Duke of Lorraine They are Rhingraves and all the Rhingraves bear the name and Arms of Salme They of Stolberg are inferior to none either in antiquity of Nobility or greatness of Alliances or priviledges They coyn money both of gold and silver and bear for their Arms a Stag Sable because one of the ancient Counts of that House giving an entertainment of hunting to the Emperor Conrade of Franconia a black Stag was taken and the Emperor would transmit the memory thereof to posterity by that change of Arms. As to the Barons you ought to know that they who are Estates of the Empire do hardly differ from the Counts but in name In all things else they are equal they marry their daughters they are in the same Classe at the Diets of the Empire they give their Suffrages there after the same manner and enjoy the same immunities lastly they are both alike styled Illustrious P. Methinks we have a great many Barons in Germany G. There are but few Barons of the Empire To be such an one it is necessary to be Matriculated and contribute to the necessities of the State which belongs not to any one of those whom the Emperor creates upon a new score in his hereditary Countreys how rich and potent soever they be And for that cause they have neither voice nor place in the Assemblies of the Empire Many of the ancient Barons have taken the quality of Count those which remain are Creange Fleckenstein Fugger Hohengeroldseck Konigseck Limbourg Maxelrein Perlestein Plaven Rapolstein Schombourg Scheuk of Tautemberg Wolfenstein Winemberg Walbot and it may be some others that are not come to my knowledge Part of those of Creange are Counts but the others are not inferior to them being allyed even to Princes and very near to the Houses of Nassau and the Rhingraves They of Fleckenstein have signalized themselves in the last War where they got honour and served in the quality of Generals The Fuggers are not
for the money they disbursed in that War and besides such a considerable summe Pomerania which is more worth then Alsatia is left in their hands G. They have not only received that summe and Pomerania but Wismar also a Port of the Baltique Sea the Fortress of Walfisch the Bailiwick of Poel and Neucloster which heretofore belonged to the House of Meklebourg and which is yet more the Archbishoprick of Bremen and Bishoprick of Verden converted into Dutchies together with the City and Bailywick of Wilshausen In all which lands and Principalities the Swedes have Soverain Justice right to erect an University and to set Imposts upon all commodities that enter into go out of or grow within the Countrey by them conquered and possessed So by that Peace the King of Sweden hath gotten the names and titles of Duke of Bremen Verden and Pomerania Prince of Rugia and Lord of Wismar P. You told me before that during the last War the Swedes had more Forces in Germany then the French and I see now they have reaped much more profit make me understand what satisfaction the Heroical Lady of Hesse received G. That Princess which reigned in the hearts of all those that have had the honour to speak with her had too well served the victorious Party to remain without satisfaction It was therefore accorded unto her for her self her son William and their Successors for ever that besides the general clause of the Article Tandent omnes they should enjoy the Abbey of Hirchfeld with all its appurtenances as well Ecclesiastical as Secular as well without as within the Territory of the said Abbey and the right Lordships and demesnes of the Cities and Bailywicks of Schaumbourg Bukembourg Saxenhaguen and Stathaguen which heretofore belonged to the Bishoprick of Minden and 600000. Crowns in money payable at Cassel within nine moneths after the publication of the Peace And for an accomplishment and full measure of satisfaction the Assembly of Munster ratified the transaction between the two Branches of Cassel and Darmstadt made by the mediation of Ernest Duke of Saxon-Gotta April 14. 1649. and the right of Primogeniture in those two Branches P. Those satisfactions were without question of very hard digestion to the contrary party but a good Peace cannot be bought too dear G. The Emperor lost nothing for by giving up his right in Alsatia he made the Kingdom of Bohemia Hereditary to his House But the Spaniards will not easily be able to comfort themselves for that loss because if Alsatia and Lorraine remain in the hands of the French it will be impossible for them to joyn their Forces of Italy with those of the Low Countreys unless they transport them by Sea with great expense and greater danger or through the Territories of others which cannot be done without buying the friendship of those that are not willing to see the formidable forces of Spain united And from hence grows a great advantage to the French by that Treaty P. Methinks I am now sufficiently instructed in that which concerns our Germany But having heard nothing hitherto of the Golden Bull except some words which you have scattered here and there I would gladly hear you discourse more amply of it G. That Bull is the Diamond Nail which holds together these remainders of the Empire and keeps them from dissolution by the wholesome Ordinances which it contains touching the time the place and the persons which ought to concur to the Election of the Emperor the number immunities and preheminences of the Electors the integrity candor and probity which they ought to use in choosing the first Prince of Christendom the order they ought to keep in their Assemblies as well while they accompany the Emperor as in their seats and places and to cut off all occasion of dispute between the Princes of the Electoral Houses the Emperor by that Edict sets down and prescribes the order they are to observe in their successions who ought to be Tutor and Guardian of their sons during their Minority and at what age they are to come out of Wardship Now because Elective Estates have no symptom more dangerous then while they lie under an Interregnum the Bull provides a remedy for that inconvenience ordaining that the Electors Palatine and of Saxony shall be his Majesties perpetual Vicars and shall have the same power after his death or in his absence that the Emperor had while he was living and present Lastly that Bull contains the office of every Elector at the Coronations Processions and publick Feasts of the Emperor P. Methinks in that Bull the Emperor Charles IV. hath had more care of the Electors then of all the Empire besides G. The Electors are the principal Pillars of our State and the Emperor thinking the destruction of the Empire might follow upon their dissension his special aim was to keep them united together by his Ordinance and to provide for the time to come that there should be no disorder in the Election of the Emperors nor in the Succession of the Princes Electors that the septenary number should continue for ever as most proper for an action of so great importance P. Is that Bull of any bigness G. It is a little book the Original whereof bing written in parchment containes 24. leaves and 30. Chapters of which the 23. first were published at Nuremberg the 10. of Ianuary 1356. and the other seven at Mets on Christmas day in the same year by the full power of his Majesty in the presence and with the consent of the most part of the Princes Lords and other Estates of the Empire the Emperor wearing the Imperial Cloak and having the Crown upon his head the Scepter in one hand and the Ball of the Empire in the other P. Why is that little book called The Golden Bull G. The Letters Patents of Emperors Popes and some other great Princes are called Bulls by reason of the seal which gives them their strength and validity Those Bulls or Seals are not alwayes of the same matter nor of the same bigness but according to the importance of the Letters the Seal is greater or less and of different wax or metal The ordinary Letters are sealed with an impression made upon wax the colour and bigness whereof encreaseth either the respect to or the honour of those persons to whom they are directed and those that contain Edicts are sealed with lead silver or gold according to the importance of the Laws which the Prince publishes From hence it was that this perpetual and irrevocable Edict containing the fundamental Laws of the Empire ought to be sealed with his Majesties great seal and not upon wax lead or silver but upon gold to show that as that metal is incorruptible the most excellent of all so the matters contained in that Bull being the principal Laws of the Empire should be preserved there without alteration P. Tell me more particularly of what fashion that Bull is G. The
Charles V. 291. 292. Kingdom of Bohemia made hereditary to the House of Austria by the Peace of Munster 340. Schemia erected into a Kingdom 38. King of Bohemia the first secular Elector 46. hath neither voice nor place in the general Assemblies of the Empire and why 51. How Sigismond of Luxembourg King of Bohemia named himself to be Emperor 51. Why the Bohemians revolted from the Emperor and chose a new King 321. What Books are fit for a Princes reading 24.25 Extent of the Elector of Brandenbourgs lands 93. Religion of his Subjects 94. Origin of the House of Brandenbourg 97. How it got title to the inheritance of Pomerania 98. How the Lords of Brandenbourg attained to the honours and Lands they possess ibid. What the House of Brandenbourg hath in lieu of Pomerania which was taken from it by the Peace of Munster 99. What disadvantages it receives by the loss of Lower Pomerania ibid. In what quality the Elector of Brandenbourg hath voices in the Assemblies of the Empire ibid. He alternates with the King of Sweden in the Direction of Lower Saxony 100. Differences between the Houses of Brandenbourg and Newbourg concerning the Dutchies of Juliers Cleve and Berg 101. 102. Brandenbourg the last but one of the Electors 102. The number of the present Princes of Brandenbourg and their children 103. Forces and Forts of the Elector of Brandenbourg and of his Cousins of Culembach and Anspach 104. Why the Elector of Brandenbourg is not yet put into possession of the Dutchy of Magdebourg 100. Origin of the Counts of Breda 228. The taking of Brisac 327. Brix a Bishoprick 190. Brunswick a free City 111. Estates of the Dukes of Brunswick Lunebourg wherein considerable ibid. The Princes alliances Origin and Religion of the Branches of Brâ—nswick and Limebourg 113 Golden Bull what it contains when published and why so called 342. The inscription upon the seal of the Golden Bull 344. Whether the Golden Bull may be abrogated and what alterations have been made in it 344. 345. Burgrave what and from whence so called 210. Who bear the title of Burgrave in Germany 214. C. Calvinist Princes in Germany who 208. Archbishop of Cambray his titles and whether he have place in the Assemblies of the Empire 175. 176. Canonries of Strasbourg belonging to Protestant Princes 184. How Hugh Capet born in France but originally a Saâ—on came to be King 16. Catholick Princes in Germany who 208. The power of the Imperial Chambers depends on the Emperor 68. How long the Imperial Chamber was ambulatory when made sedentary and where 67. What the Imperial Chamber takes cognizance of 68. No Appeal from the Judgement of that Chamber 69. Charlemagne a German by extraction 14. When and why proclaimed Emperor by the Pope ibid. Why the Empire and the Kingdom of France continued so short a time in the race of Charlemagne 15. How it made room for the Saxons in Germany and the Capetians in France ibid. Charles V. his voyages by sea and land his voluntary leaving the Government and his death 47. seq Why Charles Duke of Lorraine Uncle to Lewis V. was declared unworthy to succeed unto the Crown of France 15. Circles of Germany and their several Directors 182. Circles of Sawben Franconia and the Rhine divided into quarters a kind of Commonwealth 253. Cities of Germany 263. seq their beauty and magnificence 265. Classes of Assemblies in the Diets their division and order 304. 305. Elector of Collen third Ecclesiastical Elector 46. Collen why called Colonia Agrippina 269. Form of Homage which the Burgers of Collen make to their Bishop ibid. The Bishops confirmation of their priviledges 270. Colmar ibid. Peter Colonna from whom descended 97. Mixture of Conditions detested in Germany 249. Constance a Citty for what remarkable 184. What every Elector bears at the Coronation of the Emperor what Elector crowns him 60. Counts anciently no more then Judges of Cities and Provinces 210. How the Counts Palatine appropriated their several Provinces 211. Counts of Office Counts of Dignity 218. Whether Counts were greater then Dukes ibid. seq How Counts became Proprietors of their Lands and made them hereditary 222. The present Counts what place they have in the Assemblies and how they give their voices there 223. Immediate Counts and their prerogatives 225. Counts of Schwartzbourg Waldek Salme and Morange of what Princes they hold 226. Courage and prudence seldome meet 326. The Lombard and Roman Crowns not essential to the Imperial Dignity 14.15 Crowns of the Emperor and where he receives them 60. Marquisses of Culembach 103. D. Landgraves of Darmstadt and Hesse-Cassel their Religion differences and alliances 132. seq Counts of Delmenhorst extinguished in Antony Gunther and who inherited his Lands 233. 234. Genealogie of the Kings of Denmark and Dukes of Holstein 151. When and how the Kingdom of Denmark was severed from that of Sweden 149. Assemblies of Deputation who have place voice there 309. The Emperors Diademe what anciently and what now 60. Diets called by the Emperor but with consent of the Electors 294. Time necessity and place of Diets 295. Not to be appointed out of Germany 296. First Diet after the Election of an Emperor where held 295. What persons the Emperor calls to the Diets 296. The office and power of the Vice-Marshal at the Diets 297. Cities and Abbesses appear in the Diets by their deputies 299. Order observed in the Diets 300. seq How they proceed upon debates in the Diets 305. seq What matters are treated on in the Diets 307. How conclusions are made in the Diets 308. Directors of each Circle 182. 183. The Ecclesiastical Discipline of Protestant Lords within their Territories 205. 206. Donavert how it became subject to the Duke of Bavaria 270. Lands and alliances of the Marquisses of Dourlach 144 145. Religion of the Branches of Dourlach and Baden their voices and places in the Assemblies 146. Duke of the Grisons the ancientest Duke 216. Why Dukes were sent to the Frontiers ibid. German Dukes all Princes and more considerable then those of France and Spain ibid. How Dukes became so great etymology of the name 217. The Princes of Poland Hungary and Bohemia anciently Dukes 219. Title of Duke anciently equal to that of King 220. E. Counts of East-Friseland 170. seq Ecclesiastical Princes not Bishops that sit in the Diets of the Empire 191. How the Ecclesiâ—sticks grew so rich 196. What Ecclesiastical Government among the Protestants in Germany 205. Counts of Egmont subject to the Duke of Burgundy 226. Eichstedt a Bishoprick in Franconia by whom founded 181. The Electors three Ecclesiastiques and five Seculars with their respective Offices 39. Electors have right to choose and depose an Emperor 40. The number of Electors why seven 50. Why they are Eight now 44. Dignity of Electors as to precedence 44. The Ecclesiastical Electors precede the Seculars 46. The Electors Palatine and of Saxony are Vicars of the Empire during