designe which was then in hand fortified strongly by the Bishop But this new Fortification being begun in a time of peace gave great occasion of distrust to the neighbouring Princes who interposed with Frederick the fift then Prince Elector of whom held in chief to cause the Bishop to desist from the finishing of it Which when he refused to doe pleading a Placard from the Emperour Matthias to compleat the work the Prince Electour with the rest of the Confederates beat it down by force for this contempt cited to Spires the Imperiall Chamber in which it was also resolved to proceed suddenly and severely to their condemnation One of the chief motives which occasioned that unfortunate Prince to entertain the offer of the Crown of Bohemia and consequently a chief cause of the German wars In managing whereof this town was thought so commodious that Marquis Spinola caused the works to be raised again made it the strongest hold in all those Countries and caused it to be called by the name of Philipsberg 3. Rotenberg originally belonging to the Bishops of Spires but of late times possessed by the Princes Palatine Others of lesser slote I forbear to mention The first Inhabitants of this Country on the French side of the Rhene were the Nemetes and Vangiones spoken of before on the other side the Intuergi First conquered by the Romans and from them conquered by the French of whose Empire it remained a part till dismembred from it at the erection of the Kingdome of Lorrain in the fall whereof it was annexed to the Empire of Germany By little and little got into the hands of the Princes Palatine who being originally Officers of the Emperours houshold such as the Maires of the Palace to the French Kings at the first institution had first the honour of Counts Palatine bestowed upon them and afterwards the place of an Electour in the choice of the Emperour But where their Estate then lay where they fixed their dwelling and what provinces or people they had subject to them a nullo inveni scriptum I could never find any good Record to build on saith the learned Munster their habitation and possession in and of these parts acquired for the most part by Armes and Money not being above 450 years standing at the utmost Likely it is they had their residence for the most part in the Emperours Palace living upon their rents as other great officers of Court in these later times the dignity and authority of so great a place seeming sufficient to content them but called Count Palatines of the Rhene because their Jurisdiction and Authority lay most especially in those parts of the Empire which were towards that River Afterwards on the marriage of Otho the second of that name Duke of Bavaria with Gertrude the daughter of Henry the Elector Palatine this office with the Electorall dignity fell into that house possessed at that time of those parts of 〈◊〉 which not long after on the dividing of that estate betwixt Rodolphus and Ludoâ—â—ous the son of â—udovick the 2. Electour Palatine and Duke of Bavaria made up this Palatinate A State which suddenly received a great augmentation partly by the care and good husbandry of Rupertus Emperour and Electour Palatine partly by the weaknesse and ambition of Wenceslaus Emperour and King of Bohemia and partly by the valour of Frederick the Prince Electour Of these the first bought in the townes of Winheim Ladeberg and Scriessen with the Castle of Stralnberg with their lands and territories The second gave unto the Palatines for their voices in his election three strong towns of the Empire viz. Keisars Lauterne Ingelheim and Openkeim and the last took in battle anno 1452. the Earl of Wirtenberg the Marquesse of Baden the Bishop of Spires and the Archbishop of Mentz and ransomed them on what condition he pleased More particularly the Earl of Wirtenberg for it was not yet erected into a Dukedome payed for his ransome 100000 Florens the Bishop of Mentz redeemed himself for 450000 Florens The Bishop of Spires gave for his liberty the towns of Rottenberg and Wersaw and the Marquesse of Baden yeelded up in lieu of his freedome the Country of Spanheim of which Cruitznack is a part the towns of Besiken and Binheim the right which he pretended to Eppingen a town over against Gemersheim and his royalties between this Gemersheim and Selts a town of Alsatia in fishing and hunting So having brought these Princes unto their Estate let us next take a view of those who have successively enjoyed both the State and Title as far as we can goe by the light of Story ELECTORS Palatine of the RHENE A. Ch. 1. Henry Count of Palatine in the time of Otho the third by whom ordained to be one of the six Electors 2 Sigefride the sonne of Adelheild wife of this Henry the Electour by a former husband 3 Ezeline and Conrade sonnes of Sigefride 4 Ludoifus son to Ezeline 5 Conrade Elector Palatine in the time of Henry the fift 6 Frederick sonne to Frederick Duke of Schawben Nephew to the Emperour Conrade the third 7 Henry II. surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria 1195 8 Henry III. sonne of Henry the Lyon and husband of Clementia daughter of Conrade Duke of Schawben and Elector Palatine 9 Henry IV. sonne of Henry the third in the life of his Father the last Elector Palatine of the nomination and appointment of the Emperour the dignity from hence forwards becoming hereditary 10 Otho Duke of Bavaria of that name the second Electour Palatine of the Rhene in right of Gertrude his wife sister and next heir of Henry the fourth whom he succeeded in the Electorall dignity confirmed therein by the Emperour Frederick the second 1269 11 Ludovicus Electour Palatine and Duke of Bavaria the son of Otho 1294 12 Rodolphus the eldest son of Lewis or Ludovicus succeeded his Father in the Palatinate and Electorall dignity Northgoia or the Palatinate of Bavaria being added to his part to make even the scale his younger brother Ludovicus succeeding in Bavaria 1315 13 Adolphus surnamed the Simple resigned the Electorall dignity to his brother Rodolphus as the fitter man to undertake it 1327 14 Rodolphus II. on the resignation of Adolphus 1337 15 Rupertus the brother of Rodolphus the second founder of the University of Heidelberg anno 1346. 1385 16 Rupertus II. sonne of Adolfus the Simple 1398 17 Rupertus III. elected Emperour in the place of Wenceslaus King of Bohemia anno 1406 made Knight of the Garter by King Henry the fourth 1410 18 Ludovious II. surnamed Caecus and Barbatus married Blanch daughter to King Henry the fourth of England 1439 19 Ludâ—vicus III. son of Lewis the second 1451 20 Frederick brother of Ludovicus during the minority of Philip his said brothers sonne succeeded in the Electorall dignity and added much to that Estate by his personall vertue 1478 21 Philip the sonne of Lewis the third pretended to the Dukedome of Bavaria in
South side of the Lake so named an Episcopall See and honoured with giving the title of a Baronie to the Dukes of Mecklenburg 3 Malcaw first walled by Niclot Prince of the Vandals anno 1270. 4 Ratzenburg an Episcopall See spoken of before 5 Rostoch the next in reputation of all the Hâ—â—se towns to Lubeck and Dantsick Large rich and much frequented by all sorts of Merchants in compasse almost six English miles situate on the River VVarn neer the fall thereof into the Baltick Honoured with an University here founded by John Duke of Mecklenburg an 1419. the first Professors in it being brought from Erdford in Saxony 6 Stargard which once gave the title of Duke to the younger Princes of this house 7 Sarentine memorable for a Nunnery there founded by Duke Magnus the second 8 Laâ— built and fortified by Duke Henry the second as an out-work to Rostock which he had lately bought of Christopher then King of Denmark 9 Sternberg of which little memorable 10 Fridland on the edge of Pomeren not far from Stargard which gave the title of Duke to Albert of Wallenstein after that called Duke of Fridland that eminent and prosperous Commander of the Imperiall Forces in the late war of Germany but miserably murdered after all his services by command of the Emperour 11 Fitchtell both pleasantly and strongly seated on the edge of a Lake 12 Dammin a strong Town on the Marches of Brandenburg The antient Inhabitants of this Country were the Vandals with the rest of the Heruli and Burgundians But the Burgundians being reckoned as a part of the Vandals were not much took notice of till their irruptions on the borders of the Roman Empire made them more considerable the Princes of these Nations using no other title then Kings of the Heruli and Vandals Of these the first is said to be one Anthyrius sonne of an Amazonian Lady who learned his first rudiments of warfare under Alexander the Great Out of his loins descended a long race of Kings amongst whom Rhadaguisâ— who together with Alarick the Goth invaded Italy I know not by what warrant is accounted one Gunderick the seventeenth of these Kings weary of so cold a dwelling passed towards the South and having harassed Gaul and Spain shipped himself over the Straits of Gibralter and erected the Kingdome of the Vandals in Africk whose successors we shall meet with there By Vitalaus the youngest sonne of Gensericus the sonne of Gunderick the line of these Princes is continued who after mingling with the Obotriti and other of the Sclaves succeeding into the void places of the Vandals left off the title of Kings of the Vandals and called themselves Kings of the Heruli and Obotriti continuing it to Pribislaus or Primislaus the second who wrote himself Pribislaus Dei gratia Herulorum Wagriorum Circipanorum Palumborum Obotritorum Kissinorum Vandalorumque Rex Making herein a generall muster of those tribes of the Sclaves and Heruli which remained under his command But he being vanquished by Henry surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxony and Bavaria the title of King was laid aside his successours contenting themselves with that of Princes Divided betwixt Henry and Niclot the Nephews of Pribislaus by his sonne Henry into two Estates Henry assuming to himselfe the title of Prince of the Obotriti and Niclot that of Prince of the Vandals But the posterity of Niclot failing in VVilliam the last of that line anno 1430. his title with the lands thereunto belonging fel to Henry the fat the fourth Duke of Mecklenbourg to which honour Albert and John the sonnes of Henry the fourth descended from the elder house had been advanced by the Emperour Charles the fourth at Prague Anno 1348. The succession of which family from Pribislaus take in order thus The PRINCES of the HERVLI and DUKES of MECKLENBVRG 1158 1 Pribislaus the last King and first Prince of the Heruli after their subjection to the Saxons restored to this title and his former estate by the bountifull conquerrers to be held under the right and homage of the house of Saxony 1179 2 Henry sonne of Pribislaus baptized with all his people in his fathers life time by the perswasion of Henry Duke of Saxony and Bavaria by whom restored to their Estates 3 Henry II. sonne of the former Henry dividing the estate with his brother Niclot 1228 4 John surnamed the Divine so called because created Doctor of Divinity in the University of Paris whither he was sent by his Father to learn good Arts. 1260 5 Henry III. surnamed of Hierusalem because of his expedition thither against the Saracens 1302 6 Henry IV. surnamed the Lyon for his valour and undaunted constancie 1319 7 Albert and John the sonnes of Henry going to Prague with a Princely train to attend on the Emperour Charles the fourth were by him created Princes of the Empire and Dukes of Mecklenberg anno 1348. 1380 8 Magnus sonne of Albert. 1384 9 John sonne of Magnus the founder of the University of Rostock anno 1419. 1423 10 Henry V. surnamed the Fat who on the death of William the last Prince of the Vandals succeeded into his Estate 1447 11 Magnus II. sonne of Henry founder of the Cathedrall Church of Rostock 1503 12 Albert II. sonne of Magnus the second 1547 13 John-Albert sonne of Albert the second endowed the University of Rostock with the lands of some dissolved Monasteries and authorised in his Estates the Reformamation of Religion begun by Luther 1578 14 John III. sonne of John-Albert 1592 15 Adolph-Frederick and John-Albert sonnes of John the third dispossessed hereof by the Emour Fernand the second anno 1528. their Estates with the title of Duke of Mecklenberg being conferred on Albert of Wallenstein Duke of Fridland Who had not long enjoyed the Title when Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden the Assertor of the liberties of Germany restored it to the proper owners The heirs to whose Estates is Gustavus Adolphus the onely sonne and heir of John-Albert the other of those two being without issue 17. The DUKEDOME of SAXONIE The Dukedome of SAXONIE reckoning in the Estates and Provinces united to it and now in possession of those Dukes is bounded on the East with a part of Bohemia Lusatia and some part of Brandenbourg on the West with Hassia on the North with the Dukedome of Brunswick and on the South with Franconia and some parts of Bohemia So called because the Patrimony and possession of the Dukes of Saxonie who since the proscription and deprivation of Duke Henry surnamed the Lyon anno 1180. in some or other of these Countries have had their fixed seat and habitation It containeth the distinct Provinces of 1 Turingia 2 Misnia 3 Voiteland and 4 Saxony properly and specially so called 1 TVRINGIA is bounded on the East with Misnia and a part of the River Saltza on the West with Hassia on the North with the Wood Hartz and Saxony specially so called on the South with the mountainous Forrest of Duringer-Wald
Title Brunswick Lunenburg 1195 2 Henry first Earl after Duke of Brunswick 1213 3 Otho sonne of William Duke of Lunenburg after the death of Henry Duke of Brunswick also 1252 4 Albert sonne of Otho 1279 5 Albert II. sonne of Albert. 1318 6 Otho II. sonne of Albert the second 1334 7 Magnus sonne of Albert II. on the failing of the other house enjoyed both Estates 1368 8 Magnus II. son of Magnus the first 1373 9 Henry II. sonne of Magnus the second 1416 10 William son of Henry 1482 11 William II. son of William 1503 12 Henry II. son of Will the second 1514 13 Henry III. son of Henry the second 1568 14 Julius son of Henry the third 1589 15 Henry IV. son of Julius who married the Lady Elizabeth sister to Anne Queen of England 16 Frederick Vlric son of Flizabeth of Danemark and Henry Julius 1634 17 Augustus son of Henry Duke of Lunenbourg succeeded on the death of Fredenick Vlrick and the failer of the house of Brunswick in him in this Dukedome 1195 2 William first Earl after Duke of Lunenburg 1252 4 John sonne of Otho 1261 5 Otho II. sonne of John 1330 6 Otho III. sonne of Otho the second 10 Barnard brother of Magnus the second 1434 11 Frederick II. son of Barnard 1478 12 Otho III. son of Frederick 1514 13 Henry III. son of Otho the third 1532 14 Otho IV. son of Henry the third 15 Ernest the brother of Otho succeeded in his brothers life time surrendring his Estate for an Annuall pension 1546 16 Henry IV. son of Ernest 1590 17 Ernest II. son of Henry the fourth 18 Wolfâ—angus the brother of Henry the fourth and Uncle of 〈◊〉 the second now Duke of Lunenbourg anno 1648. The Armes of these Dukedomes were first the same that is to say Gules two Lyons Or Armed Azure which Arms they tooke by reason of their extraction from the Kings of England then Dukes of Normandie retained to this day by the Dukes of Brunâ—wick without any Addition But those of Lunenbourg have added three Coates more unto it the whole bearing being quarterly 1 Gules two Lyons Or Armed Azure 2 Azure Seme of Hearts Gules a Lyon Azure Armed and Crowned Or 3 Azure a Lyon Argent Crowned Gules and 4 Gules within a Border Componie Or and Azure a Lyon of the second Armed of the third HASSIA HASSIA is bounded on the North with Brunswick on the South with Veteravia or the State of Wideraw on the East with Saxonie on the West with Westphalia So called from the Hessi who having vanquished the Chatti the old Inhabitants of this Countrey possessed themselves of it The Christian faith was first preached here by Boniface or Winifred an English Saxon afterwards Archbishop of Mentz anno 730 or thereabouts Of whom I find this memorable Apophthegm that in old times there were Golden Prelates and wooden Chalices but in his time wooden Prelates and Golden Chalâ—ces Not much unlike to which I have read another but of later date viz. that once the Christians had blinde Churches and lightsome hearts but now they have lightsome Churches and blinde hearts The Countrey is very fruitfull of corn and affordeth good 〈◊〉 for the feeding of Cattell of which they have great droves and heards in many places with great abundance of Stags and other Deer for the pleasures of hunting harboured in the woods hereof with which in many parts of it it is very much shaded It breedeth also on the Downes good store of sheep enriched with the finest fleece of any in Germany the Staple commodity of this Country and in the mountainous parts hereof there want not rich Mines of brasse lead and other metals which yeild great profit to the people Chief towns herein are 1 Allendorf on the VVeser or Visnegis of much esteeme for the springs or fountaines of Salt which are thereabouts 2 Frislar upon the Eder well walled and situate in a fruitfull and pleasant soil belonging to the Archbishop and Elector of Mentz but in regard of the convenient situation of it much aimed at many times attempted and sometimes forcibly possessed both by the Lantgraves of Hassia and Dukes of Saxony 3 Fuld on a River of that name remarkable for the Monastery there founded by Boniface Archbishop of Mentz by the name of Saint Saviours the Abbot which is a Prince of the Empire Chancellour of the Emperesse and Lord of a goodly territory in this Country called from hence Stift Fuld 4 Frankenberg on the Eder also so called from the French who incamped there in their wars against the Saxons first founded by Theodorick the French King anno 520. but much enlarged by Charles the Great about the yeer 804. 5 Eschewege on the brow of an hill neer the River VVert of great trading for the woad of which the fields adjoyning yeild a rich increase Being destroyed by the Hungarians it was re-edified and enlarged by the Emperour Henry the second and having suffered much misery in the long war between Adolph Archbishop of Mentz and the Lantgraves of Hassia it fell at last into the possession of the Lantgrave anno 1387. 6 Melsingen on the River Fuld 7 Darmsiad lately if not at the present the seat and inheritance of Count Ludovick of the younger house of the Lantgraves taken Prisoner by Count Mansfield anno 1622. and his whole Country exposed unto spoil and rapine because besides many other ill offices he was the chief perswader of the Princes of the Vnion to disband their forces provided for defence of themselves and the Palatinate and to reconcile themselves to the Emperour 8 Marpurg the seat of the second house of the Lantgraves descending from that Philip who was Lantgrave in the time of Charles the fift whom he so valiantly withstood pleasantly seated on the Lon amongst Viny downes and shady Mountains honoured with an University founded here by Lewis Bishop of Munster anno 1426. and beautified with a magnificent Castle the ordinary dwelling of those Princes situate on an high hill somewhat out of the Town which gives it a very gallant prospect over the Town and Country 9 Geisen a Town belonging to the Lantgraves of Cassels and a small University also 10 Dietz upon the River Lon belonging also to the house of Cassels 11 Cassels the chief town and ordinary residence of the Lantgraves of the elder house who are hence sometimes called the Lantgraves of Cassels commodiously seated in a pleasant and fruitfull soil and well fortified with strong earthen walls and deep ditches but the houses in it of no great beauty being composed for the most part of wood thatch and clay Within the limits of this Province is the County of WALDECK not subject to the Lantgraves of Hassia though included within the limits of it before laid down taking up the Western parts thereof where it meets with Westphalia in figure very neer a square each side of which is of the length of six ordinary Dutch or 24 English
they had reigned here under eight of their Kings for the space of 72 years they were at last subdued by Belisarius and Narses two of the bravest Souldiers that had ever served the Eastern Emperours and Italie united once more to the Empire in the time of Justinian But Narses having governed Italie about 17 years and being after such good service most despightfully used by Sophia never the wiser for her name the wife of the Emperor Justinus abandoned the Country to the Lombards For the Empress envying his glories not only did procure to have him recalled from his Government but sent him word That she would make the Eunuch for such he was come home and spin among her maids To which the discontented man returned this Answer That he would spin her such a Web as neither she nor any of her maids should ever be able to unweave and thereupon he opened the passages of the Country to Alboinus King of the Lombards then possessed of Pannonia who comming into Italie with their Wives and Children possessed themselves of all that Country which antiently was inhabited by the Cisalpine Galls calling it by their own names Longobardia now corruptly Lombardy Nor staid he there but made himself master of the Countries lying on the Adriatick as far as to the borders of Apulia and for the better Government of his new Dominions erected the four famous Dukedoms 1 of Friuli at the entrance of Italie for the admission of more aids if occasion were or the keeping out of new Invaders 2 of Turlu at th foot of the Alpes against the French 3 of Benevent in Abruzzo a Province of the Realm of Naples against the incursions of the Greeks then possessed of Apulia and the other Eastern parts of that Kingdom and 4 of Spoleto in the midst of Italie to suppress the Natives leaving the whole and hopes of more unto his Successors The Lombardian Kings of Italie 1 Alboâ—us 6. 2 Clephes 1 Interregnum annorum 11. 3 Antharis 7. 4 Agilulfus 25. 5 Adoaldus 10. 6 Arioaldus 11. 7 Richaris or Rotharis 8 Radoaldus 5. 9 Aribertns 9. 10 Gundibertus 1. 11 Grimoaldus 9. 12 Garibaldus mens 3. 13 Partarithus 18. 14 Cunibertus 12. 15 Luithertus 1. 16 Rainbertus 1. 17 Aribertus II. 12. 18 Asprandus mens 3. 19 Luit prandus 21. 20 Hildebrandus m. 6. 21 Rachisiâ—s 6. 22 Astulphus 6. 23 Desiderius the last King of the Lombards of whom more anon In the mean time we will look into the story of some of the former Kings in which we find some things deserving our confidetation And first beginning with Alboinus the first of this Catalogue before his comming into Italie he had waged war with Câ—nimundus a King of the Gepida whom he overthrew and made a drinking cup of his Skull Rosumund daughter of this King he took to Wife and being one day merry at Verona forced her to drink out of that detested Cup which she so stomacked that she promised one Helmichild if he would aid her in killing the King to give him both her self and the Kingdom of Lombardy This when he had consented to and performed accordingly they were both so extremely hated for it that they were fain to fly to Ravenna and put themselves into the protection of Longinas the Exarch Who partly out of a desire to enjoy the Lady partly to be possessed of that mass of Treasure which she was sayd to bring with her but principally hoping by her power and party there to raise a beneficiall War against the Lombards perswaded her to dispatch Helmichilde out of the way and take him for her husband to which she willingly agreed Helmichilde comming out of a Bath called for Beer and she gives him a strong poyson half of which when he had drunk and found by the strange operation of it how the matter went he compelled her to drink the rest so both died together 2 Clephes the 2 d King extended the Kingdom of the Lombards to the Gates of Rome but was so tyrannical withall that after his death they resolved to admit of no more Kings distributing the Government among 30 Dukes Which division though it held not above 12 years was the chief cause that the Lombards failed of being the absolute Lords of all Italy For the people having once cast off the yoak of obedience and tasted somewhat of the sweetness of licentious Freedom were never after so reduced to their former duty as to be aiding to their Kings in such Atchievements as tended more unto the greatness of the King than the gain of the subject 3 Cunibert the 14 King was a great lover of the Clergy and by them as lovingly requited For being to encounter with Alachis the Duke of Trent who rebelled against him one of the Clergy knowing that the Kings life was chiefly aimed at by the Rebels put on the Royal Robe and thrust himself into the head of the Enemy where he lost his own life but saved the Kings 4 Aripert the 17. King gave the Celtian lpes containing Piemont and some part of the Dutchy of Millain to the Church of Rome which is observed to be the first Temporall Estate that ever was conferred upon the Popes and the foundation of that greatnes which they after came to 5 The 19 King was Luitprandus who added to the Church the Cities of Ancona Narnia and Humana belonging to the Exarchate having first wonne Ravenna and the whole Exarchie thereof An. 741. the last Exarch being called Eutychus But the Lombards long enjoyed not his Conquests For Pepin King of France being by Pope Stephen the third sollicited to come into Italy overthrew Astulphus and gave Ravenna to the Church The last King was Desiderius who falling at odds with Adrian the first and besieging him in Rome was by Charles the great successor to Pepin besieged in Pavie and himself with all his children taken prisoners An. 774. and so ended the Kingdom of the Lombards having endured in Italie 206 years Lombardy was then made a Province of the French and after of the German Empire many of whose Emperours used to be crowned Kings of Lombardy by the Bishops of Millaine with an iron Crown which was kept at Modoecum now called Monza a small Village This Charles confirmed his Fathers former donations to the Church and added of his own accord Marca Anconitana and the Dukedom of Spoleto For these and other kindnesses Charles was by Pope Leo the fourth on Christmas day crowned Emperour of the West An. 801 whose Successors shall be reckoned when we come to the story of Germany At this division of the Empire Irene was Empress of the East to whom and her Successors was no more allotted than the Provinces of Apulia and Calabria and the East parts of the Realm of Naples being then in possession of the Greeks To the Popes were confirmed
saith Florus a man might ask where Samnium stood even in the middle of the City How it came by this new name of Aprutium I am yet to learn The River of Pescara runneth thorow the midst of it and divideth it into two parts whereof the one containeth 5 Cities and 150 Castles or walled places the other 184 Castles and 4 Cities The principall Cities of the whole 1 Beneventum heretofore called Maleventum as we find in Pliny because the Windes hereabouts were so fierce and violent that men could not sit upon their horses but had at last that name of Beneventum from the pleasant Plains and spacious Vallies which â—y round about it in like manner as the Country of the old Allobroges exchanged the name of Malvoy into that of Salvoy It was one of the four Dukedoms which the Lombards erected when they first came into Italie for the better assuring of their Conquest and was given to the Church of Rome by the Emperor Henry the fourth in exchange of a certain Tribute remitted by Pope Leo the ninth to the Church of Bamberg where the said Emperour was born and is still under the command of the Popes of Rome 2 Aquila built by the Emperour Frederick the second King of Naples to assure the Realm upon that Quarter 3 Lanliano four miles from the Adriatick a Town of great Trade and much resorted to by Merchants at her Annuall Marts 4 Ortona the Port-town unto Lanciano 5 Teranum or Teran Ptolomy calls it Inter-aâ—na antiently the Metropolis of the Praecatini 6 Citta di Chieti situate on a Hill some seven miles from the Sea heretofore known by the name of Theate Here is in this Tract 7 Aquino the Birth-place of Thomas Aquinas the great School-man who first brought the scattered limbs of Popery into a body And 8 Sulmo honoured with the birth of Ovid that renowned Poet as himself testifieth Sulmo mihi Patria est gelidis uberrimus undis Millia qui novies distat ab Urbe decem Full of cool streams Sulmo my native land From the great City ninety miles doth stand There belongeth also to Abruzzo the Country of Molisi in which are 104 walled places or Castles and four considerable Towns the principall of which is Bovianum or Boiano now a Bishops See In this Country also I mean Abruzzo are the streights called Furcae Candinae in which when the Samnites and their confederates had so inclosed the Romans that there was no possibility to escape they sent to Herennius a man for his Age much honoured and for his Wisdom much followed by them to know what they should do with the captive Enemy Word was returned that they should send them home safe and without dishonour Thinking the old man had not been well informed of the state of the business they sent to him again and he advised that they should put them all to the sword These contrary Answers made them judge amiss of the old mans brain and therefore following their own fancies they spoyled the Romans and disarmed them and despightfully used them and so sent them home Which when Herennius came to know he much lamented the imprudence of so rash an action but much more the destruction of his Countrey as a consequent of it Telling them after their return that had they given the Romans a safe and honourable deliverance from the present danger they had made them their friends for many Ages or had they put unto the sword so many of their Souldiers and chief Commanders they had disabled them for long time from pursuing the War The middle way which they had taken would be their undoing and so accordingly it proved For the Romans not being made their Friends by so odious a benefit but hatching Revenge for the disgrace soon renewed the War and under the conduct of Papyrius subdued the Countrey and handled the poor conquered people with the like despight An excellent president unto Princes and those in power how to proceed towards men of Quality and Rank when they have them under which must be either not to strike at all or to strike home and to the prurpose Nic. Machiavil in his Florentine History taxeth Rinaldo of Albizi for committing a great Soâ—â—cism in point of State in that hating Cosmo de Medices and desiring to remove him from the publick managery of affairs he thought it was sufficient to procure his Banishment which Cosmo afterwards returning payd in better coyn Whereupon he inferreth this notable Aphorism that Great Persons must not at all be touched or if they be must be made sure from taking Revenge Yet do I not interdict a Prince or any supreme Governours the use of Mercy I know it is the richest Jewel which adorns the Crown Nor dare I take upon me to direct the use of that excellent vertue Only I shall observe what usage hath been commonly afforded towards such persons after their Delinquencies whose liberty or life may create danger to the publick The first is present Execution for Mortui non mordent as the saying is a course more to be allowed of where it cannot than commended where it may be spared The second is either close imprisonment under trusty Guards or else confinement to the house and custody of some trusty Statesman in which great caution also is to be observed For besides that nothing is more ordinary than the escape of great Prisoners either by corrupting or deceiving their Keepers We find in our own Histories how Dr. Morton Bishop of Ely being committed to the Duke of Buckingham by King Richard the 3. not onely procured his own liberty but brought about that Duke to the contrary faction The last which is in all times the gentlest and in some cases the safest is not only an absolute pardon of life and a grant of liberty but an endearing of the party delinquent by giving him some place of honour or committing unto his fidelity some office of trust it being the nature of most men that where they are not trusted they are never true and that as long as they ly under suspect and jealousies they will be apt to entertain some thoughts of their lost condition And of this kind of dealing with a person Delinquent we have a pregnant instance in the Emperor Otho who not only pardoned Marius Celsus one of Galba's faction and a chief one too but put him in place nearest to him and made him one of his principall Leaders in the following War against Vitellius His reason was Ne hostis metum Reconciliationis adhiberet lest lying aloof as a pardoned Enemy he might conceive the breach were but badly made up And on the other side Marius Celsus proved so sensible of the obligation that he continued faithfull to him to the very last and lost his life in the pursuance of his quarrell shewing thereby that persons of a generous and noble disposition are more obliged by favours than restrained by terrour But it is now time I should free
Minores and gave name to the place neer the Tower-hill in London where they had their house called from them the Minories 2. S. Brigit was a Queen of Swethland and coming to Rome on devotion obtained of Pope Urban the third Ano. 1370. or thereabouts that Friers and Nuns might in some places live together For being a Woman and a Widow she knew best as it seemeth what was good for both Sexes and so devised such a Rule as contented both But little needed this cohabitation or living together under the shelter of the same roof For they had formerly been joyned in carnall affections though parted by walls neither were the visitations of the Friers so fruitless but that the Nuns did fructifie by them These Friers and Nuns though they lived under the same roof are prohibited from coming to one another but on speciall occasions the Foundress so ordering it that the Nuns should lie in the upper rooms and the Friers in the lower The Confessor also is denied access into their chambers but shriveth them though an Iron-Grate by which his lodging is parted from the Lady Abesse's And herein lyeth the Mystery of Iniquity For Robinson whom before I named tells us that at the time of his service in the English Nunnery at Lisbon he was shewed a way by which this uncharitable Grate which seemed to keep the Friers from the company of their female friends might be and was on such occasions usually removed and the access made free and open to each others beds Which if it be truly said of these may be suspected also in all the rest of this Order and in most also of the others And now I return unto my Friers which besides the maintenance which by their Founders is allotted for their present subsistence are kept in a continuall hope and possibility of attaining to the highest honours which that Church can give if they continue constant in their due obedience For there is not one of them which hopeth not to be the Prior of his Convent 2. Provinciall of his Order in that Countrey where he liveth 3. and then the Generall of his Order Next none more likely than the Generalls to be chosen Cardinalls and out of the Cardinalls one of necessity must be chosen and why not he as well as any of the pack to be Pope of Rome So firm and sweet a Companion of man is Hope that being the last thing which leaves him it makes all toyls supportable all difficulties conquerable The Popedom containeth Arch-bishops 3. Bishops 54. The Dukedom of URBINE ENvironed on all sides with the Lands of the Church save where it coasteth on the Adriatick lies the Dukedom of URBINE having on the East Marca Anconitana on the West Romagna or Romandiola on the North the Adriatick Sea on the South the Apennine It is in length about sixty miles and some thirty five miles in the bredth within which round lie intermixt some Estates of the Church of which the Duke is a Fendatary and to which he payeth 2240. Crowns for a quit-rent yeerly The soyl is very fruitfull of Corn Wine and Oyl plentifull of Figs and other fruits of most pleasant tast and in a word affording all things necessary for the life of man But the air is generally unwholesom especially about Pesaro and Fossombrune by reason of the low flats and over-flows of the water The principal commodities which they vend abroad are the wines of Pesaro sold in great abundance to the Venetians and dryed figs which they vend unto Bologue and other places The most famous River is Metaurus now called Metremo and a famous one it is indeed by reason of that great battell fought on the banks thereof betwixt Asdrubal the brother of Annibal and his Carthaginians and the two Consuls Livius and Cl. Nero in which after a long and hot dispute the victory fell unto the Romans there being 56000. of the Carthaginians slain as Livie writeth and 5400. taken prisoners Polybius speaks of a less number both slain and taken and like enough it is that Livie to advance the honor of that Family might inlarge a little But whatsoever was the truth in this particular certain it is that this victory turned the tide of the Roman Fortune which from this time began to flow amain upon them the Citizens of Rome beginning at this time to trade and traffick to follow their affairs and make contracts and bargains with one another which they had long forborn to do and that with as secure a confidence as if Annibal were already beaten out of Italie This famous River riseth in the Apennine hills and passing by Fossombrune a Town of this Dukedom falls into the Adriatick There are reckoned in this Dukedom seven Towns or Cities and three hundred Castles The principall of which are 1. Urbine one of the most antient Cities of Italie which both Tacitus and Plinie mention a fair Town well built and the Dukes ordinary seat in Summer It is seated at the foot of the Apennine hills in a very rich and pleasant soyl built in the fashion of a Miter and therefore called Urbinas quod urbes binas continere videbatur Francisco Ubaldi the first Duke built here a very sumptuous Palace and therein founded a most excellent Library replenished with a great number of rare Books covered and garnished with gold silk and silver all scattered and dispersed in the time that Caesar Borgia seized on the Estate Polydore Virgil the Author of the History of England which passeth under his name was a Native here an History of worth enough as the times then were except onely in such passages as concernthe Pope the Collector of whose Peter-pence he then was in England whose credit and authority he preferreth somtimes before truth it self 2. Pisaurum now called Pesara the strongest town of all the Dukedom two miles in compass and fortified according to the modern art of war the fortifications of it being first begun by Francisco Maria and perfected by Guido Ubaldi his sonne and successor the ordinary seat of the Duke in winter well garrisoned and therefore trusted with the publick Armorie It is seated neer the shore of the Adriatick at the mouth or influx of the River Isaurus which parts it from Romagna populous of handsom buildings and a very strong wall the soyl exceeding rich but the air so bad that partly in regard of that and partly by their eating of too much fruits nothing is more frequent here than Funeralls especially in the moneth of August few of the Inhabitants living to be fifty yeers old 3. Senogaille called antiently Sena Gallica a strong and well-fenced City neer the River Metaurus over which there is a Bridge consisting of eighty Arches made of that length not so much in regard of the breadth of the Channell as the frequent over-flowings of that turbulent water 4. Fossombrune called in old Authors Forum Sempronii for air and soyl of the same nature with Pisaurum bought
like Stags which skin is of such an incredible hardness that the Beast being cast headlong against a Rock receives no hurt but nimbly flyes from his Enemy to his den The soyl by reason of the mountains which every where are too thick and barren in it is not very fruitfull producing Corn in less plenty but the best Wines and such as the old Romans well relished in good measure It produceth also Oyl Figs Raisons and Honey the first three in a mediocrity of goodness the last somewhat bitter and by many deemed unwholsome It aboundeth also with Allom Box-tree Iron-mines and the tree called Taxus whose poysonous Berries though in tast pleasing are much fed on by Bees and therfore thought to be the cause of the bitterness of the Honey In some few places where the Rivers have their currents especially towards Liguria it recompenseth by its fertility in bearing all manner of grain the barrenness of the mountains Which mountains cutting thorough the midst of it divide the whole Iland into Cismontanum being that towards Genoa and Transmontanam lying towards Sardinia yet so that the people on each side call themselves the Cismontanes and the other the Tramontane◠Both of them speak a corrupt Italian in which there is not a little mixture of French and Spanish For Rivers there are none of note the principall of those which the Iland yeelds being called Gelo and Travignano And as for Cityes some of the Antients reckoned 33 which Strabo doth conceive to be Castles only there being but four Towns or Cities in it in his time of which four two were Roman Colonies the one planted by Marius called Mariana the other by L. Sylla in the Town called Alleria a place of some Antiquity before that time and at this day a Bishops See But now the place of most importance is the Town of Bastia seated in the North-East part of the Iland opposite almost unto Aleria with a commodious Haven to it and a strong Garrison to defend it as being the ordinary seat of the Governour sent hither from Genoa and of the Bishop of Aleria who makes there his residence 2 Aiazze a reasonable strong Town and a Bishops See and so is also 3 Nebbio called Chersunum by Ptolomie Then there is 4 Porto Urechio built not long since in the place of an old decayed Haven and peopled by a Colony sent from Genoa 5 S. Florence a Port-town in the Northern part in the middest betwixt Nebbio and Mariana and 6 S. Boniface called by Ptolomie Portus Syracusanus just opposite unto it in the South corner of the Isle both of them places of good safety and capable of the greatest vessels that frequent those Seas Who were the first Inhabitants is not easily known That the Phoenicians or Tyrians had some footing here is manifest by that of Calimachus an old Greek Poet who calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Phoenician Cyrnus and by that of Diodorus Siculus affirming that the Carthaginians and Tyrrheni which questionless he mistook for Tyrii cast the Phocenses out of this Iland But whether these Phocenses did first inhabit it or onely had a Colony in some part thereof is not demonstrable from those Authors The Carthaginians after this made a conquest of it and held it till the time of the first Punick War when they were driven thence by the valour of Cornelius Scipio Yet was it not totally subdued nor brought into the form of a Roman Province till some time after when it was fully conquered by C. Papyrius A. V. C. 541. This Iland and Sardinia at the first being joyned together and governed by one Praetor onely but afterwards made two distinct Provinces immediately subject to the Praefect of the City of Rome and consequently members of the Roman Patriarchate In the falling of the Roman Empire it became a prey unto the Vandals who used to send their condemned persons out of Africk hither to fell Timber for shipping the Countrey even till then being very much over-grown with Woods Afterwards with the rest of the Ilands of the Mediterranean it was under the power of the Saracens against whom Ademar the Count or Governour of Genoa armed a Fleet of Gallies and vanquished them in a fight at Sea but lost his life in the action which notwithstanding the Genoese followed their good fortune seised on the Iland and carried thence 13 of the Enemies Ships The Pisans after this got possession of it but being vanquished by the Genoese in the fight near Giglio before mentioned they were fain to leave it to the Conquerors Since that it hath alwaies followed the fortune of Genoa save that it remained somewhat longer than that City did in the hand of the French who in the year 1554 seized on it by the ayd of the Turk◠whom to the great dishonour of Christianity they entertained in their Wars against Charles the fift but in the end restored it to the Commonwealth upon the peace made betwixt France and Spain An o 1559. And for securing of this Iland to the State of Genoa they fell upon this handsome project imploying none but naturall Genoese to serve in the Garrisons of the Iland the better to keep under this untractable people and filling all their Garrisons upon the Continent with naturall Corsicans whereby the Iland is unfurnished of its ablest men who also serve for hostages of the publick Faith Having thus took a brief view of the severall parts and members of this Common-wealth let us next look upon the whole as to the Government Forces and Revenue of it First for the Government the principall of their Magistrates hath the name of Duke as titular as the Duke of Venice but of less esteem that Duke continuing in his Office for term of life but this being alterable and removed at the two years end So that he may be called most properly the Mayore of Genoa For those two years he dwels in the publick Palace an hath 500 Germans for the guard of his person in nothing like a Prince but that and for that time he alone hath the power of propounding any thing to the Senate which carrieth some resemblance of a Negative voice His time expired he returns unto his house as a private person but so that during life he hath the office of a Procurator in the Commonwealth To him there are assistant eight principall Officers who sit upon the same form with him and continue in their office for two years also which eight together with the Duke are called the Signeurie but he and they in matters of most weight and moment subordinate to the Generall Counsell consisting of 400 persons all of them Gentlemen of the Citie who with the nine before remembered do constitute the body of the Commonwealth Under this form they have continued ever since by the power and goodness of Andreas Doria who might have made himself their Prince they were discharged of their subjection to the French An. 1528 never
they yeeld unto the Prince in the way of Revenue and what Forces he is able to raise out of his Estates I cannot positively determine But by the Tribute formerly payd unto the Popes for the City of Mutina and the rich territory of both Towns and the great Revenues of the Dukes of Ferrara I conceive they cannot yeeld less than 100000 Crowns of yearly in-come The Armes of this Duke the same with those of Ferrara before blazoned The Dukedom of PARMA THe Dukedom of PARMA hath on the North the Dukedoms of Millain and Mantua from which it is parted by the Po on the South the Apennine which divideth it from Liguria on the East the Country of Modena on the West Montferrat situate as Modena is in Lombardia Cispadana and much of the same nature both for soyl and air and other the commodities of those parts of Italie The principall Cities of it are 1 Parma an antient City and made a Colony of the Romans at the end of the second Punick War as Mutina and Aquileia at the same time were It is seated on a small River of the same name which runneth almost thorough the middest of it beautified with very handsome buildings and peopled by a race of ingenious men whether they do be take themselves unto Arts or Arms. The grounds about this City are of excellent pasturage and yeeld great plenty of the Cheese which is called Parmesan 2 Placentia seated on the Po one of the first Colonies which the Romans planted amongst the Cisalpine Galls and famous for the resistance which it made both to Annibal and Asdrubal who severally in vain besieged it made afterwards the Metropolis of the Province of Aemilia yet nothing the less beautifull for so great an age The fields adjoyning have the same commendation with those of Parma for most excellent Cheese but go beyond for Salt-pits and Mines of Iron which the other wanteth 3 Mirandula a proper Town built in the time of Constans the sonne of Constantine the Great the Patrimony of the noble Family of the Pici of which was Picus de Mirandula that renowned Scholar but held by them as Feudataries to the Dukes of Parma 4 Briscello called antiently Brixellum not far from the chief City Parma of no great note at the present time but memorable in the Roman story for the death of the Emperor Otho who here killed himself For hearing here that his Forces were overthrown by Valens and Cecina Commanders of the Forces of Vitellius then his Competitor for the Empire he rather chose to fall by his own sword than that the Romans should be forced for his sake to renew the war And this he did with so much honour to himself that many of his souldiers slew themselves at his Funerall Pile not out of consciousness of crime on for fear of punishment but to testifie their affections to him and to follow such a brave example as was layd before them So as we may truly say of him as he is sayd by Tacitus to have sayd of himself viz. Alii diutius imperium tenuerunt nemo tam fortiter resiquit 5 Monticella in the middle way almost between Parma and Plancentia and opponte unto Cremona a chief Town of the Dutchy of Millain from which parted by the River Po. These Towns as others in these parts have been partakers of the diversities of fortune as being after the declining of the Western Empire some times under the Venetians most times under the Millanoys and at last couquered by the Popes in the confusions and distractions of the Dukedom of Millain under the two last Princes of the house of Sforza By Paul the 3 d being of the house of the Farnesis the Cities of Parma and Placentia with their Appendixes were given unto his son Petro Aluigi or Petrus Aloysius as the Latins call him with the title of Duke An o 1549. The Signeurie of Camerine which he had lately taken from the Dukes of Urbin being given in recompence to the Church This Petro being a man of most vicious life had amongst other villanies committed an unspeakable violence on the person of Cosâ—â—us Chirius the Bishop of Janum and soon after poysoned him For which most detestable fact he received no other chastisement of his Father than this Haec vitia me non coÌ„monstratore didicit that he was sure he had not learnt those vices by his example But going on in these wicked courses he was slain at last by Count John Aguzzola and Placentia after a short siege yeelded to Ferdinand Gonzaga Vice-Roy in Millain for the Emperor Charles the fifth conceived to be privy to the murder Octavian the sonne of Petro Luigi hearing what had hapned fortified himself in Parma as well as he could but being hated by the new Pope and distrustfull not without good cause of the Emperors purposes he had quite lost it if Henry the second of France had not taken him into his protection For the Emperor Charles fully determined notwithstanding that Octavian had maried his base daughter to have made himself Lord of the Town and the French King was loth to see so great a strength added to the Emperors possessions in Italie When the war had now lasted four years Philip the second which succeeded Charles considering how necessary it was for his affairs in Italie to have this Octavian his friend restored unto him again this Plaisance or Placentia and so withdrew him from the French faction An. 1557. Yet because he would be sure to keep his house in a perpetuall dependance on Spain he restored it not absolutely at the present but held the Citadell thereof with a Spanish Garrison till the year 1583 when in regard of the good services which Alexander Prince of Parma had done him in his Wars against the Hollanders and others of the revolted Provinces he caused it to be surrendred into the hands of his Father Octavian By which and by his setling upon this house the Town and Territory of Novara in the Dukedom of Millam and other personall favours which they have conferred on the Princes of it the Kings of Spain seem to have given some satisfaction to this house for stepping betwixt them and the Kingdom of Portugal to which they might have made such a probable title as would have troubled his Estate had they stood upon it The Dukes of Parma 1549 1 Petro Luigi Farnesis sonne to Paul the third made by the Pope his Father the first Duke of Parma 1550 2 Octavian Farnesis sonne to Petro Lewis maryed Margaret base daughter to Charles the fift afterwards Governess of the Netherlands 3 Alexander sonne of Octavian and Margaret of Austria one of the most renowned Souldiers of his time Governour of the Netherlands for King Philip the 2d. 1592 4 Rainutio Farnesis sonne of Alexander and Mary of Portugal eldest daughter of Edward sonne to King Emanuel one of the competitors for that Crown 5 Edoardo Farnesis sonne of Rannutio Of the Revennes and
and specially so called is bouuded on the East with Wallisland and part of Piemont on the West with Daulphine and La Bresse on the South with some parts of Daulphine only and on the North with Switzerland and the Lake of Geneva The Country is fot the most part hilly and mountainous overspread with the branches of the Alpes healthy enough as commonly all Hill-countries are but not very fruitfull except some of the vallies which lie nearest to the Western Sun and the plain tract about the Lemanian Lake lying towards Geneva By reason of the difficult and narrow waies and those full of theeves it was once called Malvoy but the passages being opened by the cost and industry of the people and purged of theeves by good Laws and exemplary justice it gained the name of Savoy or Salvoy quasi salva via as Maleventum a town of the Realm of Naples on the like considerations got the name of Benevent By the Latins of these later times it is called Sabaudia a name not known to any of the antient writers who knew it by no other name than that of the Allobroges or Allobrogum Regio The Common people are naturally very dull and simple so gross of understanding for all their continuall converse with other Nations who take this Country in their way to Italie that they beleeve the Duke of Savoy to be the greatest Prince in the World and so unwarlike that a few men of another Nation well trained and disciplined will make a great number of them fly But on the other side the Gentry are of a very pleasing conversation civill ingenious and affecting all good exercise so as there may be dayly seen in Chamberie as much good company and as well-appointed and behaved as in many of the best Towns of France or Italie The number of both sorts taking in Piemont who are not interessed in the first part of this character are thought to be 800000. The chief Cities are 1 Chamberie situate on the banks of the River L' Arch in a very pleasant valley compassed round with Mountains the principal of the Dukedom on that side of the Alpes honoured with the Dukes Court when he resideth in this Countrey the ordinary seat of Justice and many neat houses which belong to the Gentry fortified of late with a strong Castle and sufficient Out-works but not recovered of the damage it received An o 1600 when it was forced by King Henry the fourth of France in his Wars with Savoy 2 Tarentuise an Archbishops See situate in the middest of the Mountains heretofore the Metropolis of the Province of the Alpes Graiae and Poeninae and called by Antoninus Civitas Centronum from the Centrones who inhabited about this tract 3 Lunebourg in the Country of the old Medulli betwixt which and Suse a town of Piemont lyeth the most ordinary road betwixt France and Italie 4 Aque belle situate at the foot of a craggy Rock 5 Ripaille in a sweet and fruitfull situation on the South-side of the Lake Lemanus the chief Town of the Signeury of Fossigme where Amadee the first Duke of Savoy having given over his Estate lived a Monastick life and was thence chosen Pope by the Fathers of Basil An o 1440. 6 Nun or Nevidum by some of the old Latins called Noviodunum an antient City layd desolate in or before the time of Julius Caesar repaired again in the Empire of Vespasian the seat of late times of the Bishops of Geneva since their expulsion out of that Citie 7 Bele on the Rhodanus or Rhosne 8 Albon founded about the year 456. 9 Conflans fortified by the late Dukes of Savoy but otherwise of small importance 10 Annunciada not much observable but for being the seat or place of Solâ—mnities for an order of Knights called by that name 11 Maurienne or St. John de Maurienne an Archbishops See situate in a valley of the Alpes so called the chief City of the old Medulli who dwelt hereabouts from whence the Princes of this house were first entituled Earles of Maurienne only 12 Charboneers a well-fortified place Here is also the strong Town and Fort of Montmelian which held out four moneths against Henry the fourth and many thousand shot of French Cannon An o 1600 and the impregnable Fortress of St. Catharines which yet submitted to that King the Government whereof being denied to the Duke of Byron plunged him in discontent and treason to the loss of his head The many Tribes in and about this mountainous Country of which we have mentioned some before pass generally in most antient Writers by the name of the Allobroges because the most powerfull of them all Of whom the first mention which vve find in story is the Attonement made by Annibal in his passage this way between Bruncus and his brother about the succession of the Kingdom Afterwards siding with the Salii a Gallick Nation in a War against Marseilles then a confederate of the Romans they drew that people on their backs by whom they were in fine subdued with the loss of no less than 120000 Galls under the severall conducts of Cn. Domitius Aenobarbus and Qu. Fabius Maximus by which last Bituitus or Bitultus King of the Auverni one of the confederates was led in triumph unto Rome The Country and people at that time were much alike Coelum atrox pervicaci ingenio a sharp air and stubborn people as it is in Florus not without commendation in the following Ages for discovering Catilines conspiracy by which the whole Roman state was in danger of ruin After which we find Coctius one of the Kings of these Allobroges to have been in speciall favour with Augustus Caesar affirmed to be the founder of 12 Cities in this mountainous tract whence it had the name of Alpes Coctiae and by that name reduced into the form of a Province by the Emperor Nero. In the declining of that Empire this Province became a part of the Kingdom of Burgundy and passed with other rights of that falling Kingdom to the Emperors of Germany by the gift of Rodolph the last King To them it did continue subject till the year 999 in which Berald of Saxony brother to Otho the third for killing Mary the lascivious Wife of his Uncle fled from Germany and setled himself here in France His sonne Humbert surnamed Blanchmanis that is White-hand was by the speciall favour of the Emperor Conradus Salicus made Earl of Maurienne which is a town of this Country An o 1027. And by this mariage with Adela the daughter and heir of the Marquess of Suse added that noble Marquisate one of the seven erected by Otho the second and given amongst the sonnes of Waleran unto his estate Humbert the second gained by conquest the Town and Territory of Tarentaise as Ame or Amadee the third did the Counties of Vaulx and Chablais An o 1240 or thereabouts Ame or Amadee the fourth by the Mariage of Sibille daughter and sole heir of Wric Earl
of Solomon who at the 〈◊〉 of the Insular-Britans then distressed by the Scots and Picts as Geofrie orâ— Mon 〈◊〉 telleth the storie sent over Constantine his Brother with a complete Army to their aid who having valiantly repulsed the Enemy was made King of Britain Anno 433. Of whose posterity more there Those of Armorica being broken by the puissance of Charles the Great abandoned the name of Kings and satisfied themselves with the title of Earls assumed first by Alain le Rebre Anno 874. but as some say Anno 859. which was somewhat sooner By Peter of Dreâ—x the 16th Earl chalenging his Estate in right of Alice his Wife the half Sister of Arthur and Daughter of Constance by Guy of Thouars her 3d Husband the better to secure his title this Earldom was made subject to the Vassallage of the Crown of France in the time of Lewis the 9th by whom Iohn called the Râ—d the Sonne of this Peter was created the first Duke of Bretagne Yet notwithstanding this subjection to the Kings of France the Dukes hereof reserved unto themselves the Sovereign powers as to write themselves By the Grace of God the privilege of coyning Gold c. and stood so high upon their termes that Francis the last Duke denyed to do his Homage to Charles the 7th either upon his Knees or without his Sword according to the former custome For which being quarrelled by Lewis the eleventh the Sonne of Charles who was at better leisure to pursue the business than his Father was he joyned himself with Charles Duke of Berry and Charles Duke of Burgundie in a War against him and thereby drew upon himself that ruine which he indeavoured to avoid For in Conclusion Charles of Berry as it was thought was poysoned Charles of Burgundie lost his life at the Battle of Nancie 1476. and a great part of his Estate was conquered by the French King And Francis this Duke having embarked himself in the same troublous Ocean must needs suffer shipwrack with his Copartners The French King invadeth Bretagno The Duke overcharged with melancholy dies 1488. leaving Anne his Daughter and Heir in the power of Charles the 8th the Sonne and Successour of that Lewis who contracts a mariage with the Orphan and uniteth Bretagne to France There were many impediments which might have hindred this mariage but Charles breaketh through them all First Charles himself had been formerly contracted to the Archduke Max milians Daughter but this he held void because the young Lady was not of age at the time of the Contract 2 Anne the Dutchess was also contracted to Maximilian and this he held unvalid also because that being his Homager she could not bestow her self without his consent 3 Maximilian had by proxic maried her which mariage he consummated by a Ceremonie in those dayes unusuall For his Ambassadour attended with a great Train of Lords and Ladies bared his Leg unto the Knee and put the same within the Sheets of the Dutchess taking possession thereby of her Bed and Bodie But Charles consulting with his Divines was told That this pretended Consummation was rather an invention of Court than any way firm by the Lawes of the Church and therefore of no power to hinder his pursute of this mariage so advantagions to his Crown What else remains touching the union of this Dukedom to the Realm of France we shall see anon having first looked over the Succession of those Princes who under severall Titles have governed the Estate thereof according to the best light we can get from Storie Kings of the Britans of Gauâ—-Armorick 385. 1 Conan placed here by Maximus 2 Grallon Sonne of Conan 3 Salomon Sonne of Grallon 4 Aâ—lâ—ran or Aldroenus the Sonne of Solomon 5 Bodis Sonne of Auldran 6 Hoel Sonne of Bodis 7 Hoel II. Sonne of Hoel the first 8 Alain Sonne of Hoel the second 9 Hoel III. Sonne of Alain 10 Solomon II. Sonne of Hoel the third 11 Alain II. Grandchild to Solomon the second the last King of Bretagne of the race of Conan who dying without Issue left his Kingdom unto many Competitors by whom distracted into many pet it Tyrannies and at last subdudued by Charles the Great And though they did again recover their Liberty and Kingdom in the time of Ludovâ—câ—â— Pitts who next succeeded yet they did not hold it long in quiet Insomuch as after the murther of two or three Usurpers of the Royall title Alain surnamed Le Rebre laid aside that invidious name of King and would be called only Earl of Bretagne His Successours â—ollow Earles and Dukes of Bretagne 874 1 Alain le Rebre 2 Indicael Colodock the Sonnes of Alain 3 Mathrudon Sonne in Law of Alain le Rebre 4 Alain II. Sonne of Mathrudon 5 Conan descended from King Solomon the 3d. 6 Geofrie Sonne of Conan 7 Alain III. Sonne of Geofrie 8 Conan II. Sonne of Alain 9 Hoel Sisters Sonne of Conan the 2d 10 Alain IV. called Fergent Sonne of Hoel 11 Conan III. Sonne of Alain 12 Eudon Husband of Bertha Daughter of Conan 1131. 13 Conan IV. Sonne of Eudoâ— 1172. 14 Geofrie II. Sonne of Henry the 2d King of England Husband of Constance Daughter and Heir of Conan the 4th 1186. 15 Arthur Sonne of Geofry 1202. 16 Peter of Breux 1250. 17 John the first Duke of Bretagne 1287. 18 John II. Sonne of John 1305. 19 Arthur II. Sonne of Iohn the 2d 1312. 20 Iohn III. Sonne of Arthur 2d 1341. 21 Iohn Earl of Montfort Brothers Sonne of Arthur 1399. 22 Iohn V. Sonne of Iohn of Montfort 1442. 23 Francis the Sonne of Iohn the fift 1450. 24 Peter the Brother of Duke Francis 1457. 25 Arthur III. second Sonne of Iohn Earl of Montfort 1458. 26 Francis II. Sonne of Richard Earl of Estampes the Brother of Duke Arthur the 3d. the last Duke of Bretagne of whom sufficiently before 1484. 27 Charles the 8th French King succeeded in the Dukedom of Bretagne in right of Anne his Wife Daughter and Heir of Francis the 2d 1498. 28 Lewis the 12th French King succeeded on the death of Charles in the right of the said Anne whom he took to Wise and to make a way unto her Bed divorced himself from the Ladie Ioane his former Wife Daughter of Lewis the 11th 1515. 29 Francis the III. of Bretagne and the first of France succeeded in the Dukedom in right of Claude his Wife the eldest Daughter of Lewis the 12th and Anne of Bretagne by whom being made the Father of so many Children that he had little cause to fear that the Crown would be separated from his House in the year 1532 being the 17th of his reign and Government caused an Act to pass with the consent of the States of Bretagne for the inseparable uniting of that Dukedom to the Kingdom of France and by that meanes divested his Posteritie of it For his male issue failing in King Henry the 3d the rights hereof descended on the Heires
Blais and Champagne and by him given together with the Earldom of Blais to Theobald or Thibâ—uld his Eldest Sonne his second Sonne named Stephen succeeding in Champagne who in the year 1043 was vanquished and slain by Charles Martell Earl of Anjou and this Province seized on by the Victor who afterwards made Tours his ordinarie Seat and Residence Part of which Earldom it continued till the seizure of Anjou and all the rest of the English Provinces in France on the sentence passed upon King Iohn After which time dismembred from it it was conferred on Iohn the fourth Sonne of King Charles the sixth with the stile and title of Duke of Tourein and he deceasing without Issue it was bestowed with the same title on Charles the eldest Sonne of Lewis Duke of Orleans in the life of his Father the same who afterwards suceeding in the Dukedom of Orleans was taken Prisoner by the English at the Battle of Agincourt kept Prisoner 25 years in England and finally was the Father of King Lewis the 12th 3 On the North side of Anjou betwixt it and Normandie lieth the Province of MAINE The chief Towns whereof are 1 Mans Cenomanensium Civitas in Antoninus by Ptolomie called Vindinum seated on the meeting of Huine and Sartre the principall of the Province and a Bishops See most memorable in the elder times for giving the title of an Earl to that famous Rowland the Sisters Sonne of Charlemaâ—gne one of the Twelve Peers of France the Subject of many notable Poems under the name of Orlando Inamorato Orlando Furioso besides many of the old Romances who was Earl of Mans. 2 Mayenne on the banks of a river of the same name Meduana in Latine the title of the second branch of the House of Guise 1 famous for Charles Duke of Mayenne who held out for the Lâ—ague against Henry the 4th A Prince not to be equalled in the Art of War onely unfortunate in employing it in so ill a cause 3 Vitrun upon the edge of Breagne of which little memorable 4 La Val not far from the head of the River Mayenne of note for giving both name and title to the Earls of Laval an antient Familie allied unto the houses of Vendosme Bretagne Anjou and others of the best of France Few else of any note in this Countie which once subsisting of its self under its own naturall Lords and Princes was at last united to the Earldom of Anjou by the mariage of the Lady Guiburge Daughter and Heir of Helie the last Earl hereof to Eoulk Earl of Anjou Anno 1083. or thereabouts the Fortunes of which great Estate it hath alwayes followed But as for Anjou it self the principall part of this goodly Patrimonie it was by Charles the Bald conferred on Robert a Satâ—n Prince for his valour shewn against the Normans Anno 870. Which Robert was Father of Eudes King of France Richard Duke of Burgundie and Robert who succeeded in the Earldom of Anjou Competitor with Charles the Simple for the Crown it self as the next Heir to his Brother Eudes who died King thereof Slain in the pursute of this great quarrell he left this Earldom with the title of Earl of Paris and his pretensions to the Crown unto Hugh his Sonne surnamed the Great who to make good his claim to the Crown against Lewis the 4th Sonne of Charles the Simple conferred the Earldom of Anjou and the Countrie of Gastinois on Geofrie surnamed Ghrysogonelle a renowned Warriour and a great stickler in his cause in whose race it continued neer 300 years How the two Counties of Main and Tourein were joyned to it hath been shewn before Geofrie the Sonne of Foulk the 3d maried Maude Daughter to Henry the first of England and Widow of Henry the 4th Emperour from whom proceeded Henry the second King of England and Earl of Anjou But Iohn his Sonne forfeiting his Estates in France as the French pretended Anjou returned unto the Crown and afterwards was conferred by King Lewis the 9th on his Brother Charles who in right of Beatrix his Wife was Earl of Provence and by Pope Urban the 4th was made King of Naples and Sicilie Afterwards it was made a Dukedom by King Charles the fifth in the person of Lewis of France his second Brother to whom this fair Estate was given as second Sonne of King Iohn of France the Sonne of Phâ—lip de Valois and consequently the next Heir to Charles de Valois the last Earl hereof the King his Brother yeelding up all his right unto him Finally it returned again unto the Crown in the time of Lewis the 11th The Earls and Dukes hereof having been vested with the Diadems of severall Countries follow in this Order The Earls of Anjou of the Line of Saxonie 870. 1 Robert of Saxonie the first Earl of Anjou 875. 2 Robert II. Competitour for the Crown of France with Charles the Simple as Brother of Eudes the last King 922. 3 Hugh the great Lord of Gastiâ—ois Earl of Paris Constable of France and Father of Hugh Capet 926. 4 Geofrie â—hrysogonelle by the Donation of Hugh the great whose partie he had followed in the War of France with great fidelitie and courage 938. 5 Foulk Earl of Anjou the Sonne of Geofrie 987. 6 Geofrie II. surnamed Martell for his great valour 1047. 7 Geofrie III. Nephew of Geofrie 2. by one of his Sisters 1075. 8 Foulk II. Brother of Geofrie 3. gave Gastinois which was his proper inheritance to King Philip the first that by his help he might recover the Earldom of Anjou from his part wherein he was excluded by his Brother Geofrie 1080. 9 Geofrie IV. Sonne of Foulk 2. 1083. 10 Foulk III. Brother of Geofrie King of Hierusalem in the right of Melisend his Wife 1143. 11 Geofrieâ— V. surnamed Plantagenet 1150. 12 Henry the II. King of England Sonne of Earl Geofrie and Maud his Wife Daughter of King Henry the first 1162 13 Geofrie VI. third Son of King Henry the 2d made Earl of Anjou on his mariage with Constance the Heir of Bretagne 1186. 14 Arthur Sonne of Geofrie and Constance 1202. 15 Iohn King of England succeeded on the death of Arthur dispossed of his Estates in France by Philip Augustus immediately on the death of Arthur Earls and Dukes of Anjou of the Line of France 1262. 1 Charles Brother of King Lewis the 9th Earl of Anjou and Provence King of Naples and Sicilia c. 1315. 2 Charles of Valois Sonne of Philip the 3d Earl of Anjou in right of his Wife Neece of the former Charles by his Sonne and Heir of the same name the Father of Philip de Valois French King 1318. 3 Lewis of Valois the second Sonne of Charles died without Issue Anno 1325. 1376. 4 Lewis of France the 2d Sonne of King Iohn the Sonne of Philip de Valois created the first Duke of Anjou by King Charles his Brother and adopted by Queen Ioan of Naples King of Naples Sicil and
his exploits against the English mounted upon the top of an high hill at the confluence of the Loire and Aigre 3 Vendosme Vindocinum in Latine the chief Town of the Dukedom of Vendosme not otherwise of note than for the Earles and Dukes which have born this Title of which as being the Progenitors of the Kings now regnant I have thought fit to adde the ensuing Catalogue Earles and Dukes of Vendosme 1386. 1 Iohn of Bourbon Grandchild of Lewis the first Duke of Bourbon the first Earl of Vendosme of this Familie 1432. 2 Lewis of Bourbon a Confederate with Ioan the Virgin in her actions against the English 1446. 3 Iohn of Bourbon the II. from whom descended the Princes of Roch-sur-you and the Dukes of Montpensier 1472. 4 Francis of Bourbon 1495. 5 Charles of Bourbon the first Duke of Vendosme from whose youngest Son called Lodowick or Lewis descend the now Princes of Conde and Earls of Soissons 1537. 6 Antony of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and King of Navarre 1562. 7 Henry of Bourbon Duke of Vendosme and King of Navarâ—e afterwards King of France also by the name of Henry the 4th 8 Caesar de Vendosme one of the Sonnes of Henry the 4th by the Duchess of Beaufort created by his Father Duke of Vendosme and once designed his Successour in the Crown of France Afterwards by the procurement of the King his Father maried to the Daughter and Heir of Philibert Emanuel D. of Mercoeur a younger branch of the house of Lorrein possessed of a fair and goodly estate in the Dukedom of Bretagne in the right of his Wife a Daughter and Heir of the house of Martignes a branch of the Familie of those Dukes By means whereoâ— the Duke of Vendosme hath not only a large inheritance but great autoritie in that Countrie The Arms of the Earls and Dukes of Vendosme were and are Azure six Flower de Lyces Or. 3. 2. 1. 8 BERRY BERRY is bounded on the North with La Beausse on the South with Limosin on the East with Heurepoix part of France specially so called and some part of Bourbonnois on the West with Poictou and Toureine in the Dukedom of Anjou In Latine called Biturigam Regiâ— from the Bituriges the old Inhabitants of this tract by Plinie Strabo and some others called the Bituriges Cubi to difference them from the Bituriges Vbisci dwelling about Beurdeaux The Countrie watred in the East with the River Faye in the South with the Covre in the North with the Cher and in the inland parts with Indre Arnon Theo Eure and others which we shall meet withall anon of no great note but such as much conduce to the fruitfulness of it affording it the benefit of fat pastures and flourishing Meadowes which breed great multitudes of Cattell and such stocks of Sheep that when they tax a man for lying in excess of numbers they use to say Phy Sir thâ—re are not so many Sheep in Berry It containeth in it 3â—â— walled Towns the chief whereof are 1 Bâ—urges a Town of great strength by nature and as well fortified by Art situate in a low Flat amongst deep impassable Bogs and Marishes caused by the over-flowings of the Auron Yeure Molon and Aurette small Riverets but of great waters when they meet together By means whereof it may be easily drowned at the approach of an enemy for that cause made the fastnesâ— and retreat of Charles the 7th in his long Wars against the English possessed at that time of Paris and the greatest part of the Kingdom The poor Prince in the mean time fain to feast it here with a Rump of Mutton and a Chick and that but upon high daies neither from his constant abode here and that withall he had been Duke of this Countrie in the life of his three elder Brethren by the English in derision called King of Berry A large fair and rich Town it is the Seat of an Arch-Bishop a Seige Presidial and one of the best Vniversities in France especially for the studie of the Civil Lawes first founded by K. Lewis the 9th and afterwards restored or perfected by Charles Duke of Berry the Brother of King Lewis the 11th Some fabulous founders and as ridiculous originations have been thought of for it as that it was built by Ogyges a Grand-child of Noah by whom called Bytogyges which in the corruption of the following times came forsooth unto Bituriges which Etymologie were it as dear bought as it is farre-fetched might be good for Ladies and then it would be good for somewhat Others no less absurdly will have it called Bituris quasi Bi-Turris from two fair Towers which formerly as they pretend were erected here one of the two in part still standing and unto this they say alludeth an old Grammarian thus Turribus à binis inde vocor Bituris From two Towers which were builded here The name of Bituris I bear But the truth is it was thus called from the Bituriges the Biturigum Civitas of Antoninus and by that name in the division of old Gaul by the Emperour Constantine made the Metropolis of the Province of Aquitania Prima of which this Countrie was a part 2 Viarron or Viarzon pleasantly seated amongst Woods Vines and Rivers the Rivers Arnon Thee Cher and Yeure meeting hereabouts Built in or neer the place of the old Avaricum a town of great note and strength in the time of Caesar the Revolt whereof gave such a check to his proceedings that he was fain to stretch his wits and valour on the verie tenter-hooks before it was again recovered 3 Concressant on the River Souldre beautified with a strong and magnificent Castle 4 Chasteau Roux on the River Indre of which little memorable 5 Issaudun on the River Theo the Bailliage for that part of the Countrie 6 Montfalcon an antient Baronie 7 Argenton on the River Creuse the title and estate of Philip de Comines hence called Seigneur de Argenton who writ the Historie of France under Lewis the 11th in which he dived so farre into and writ so plainly of the greatest affaires of State that Queen Catharine de Medices used to say that he had made as many Hereticks in State-Policie as Luther had done in Religion 8 Sancerre seated on an high hill neer the River Loire by some Latine Writers called Xantodorum but most generally said to be so called quasi Sacrum Cereris from the Godess Ceres herein worshipped A Town of great consequence and strength and as such assigned over to the Hugonots Anno 1579. as a Town of Caution for their securitie and the better keeping of the Articles of Peace then agreed upon famous not long after for enduring a most desperate and tedious Siege under Charles the 9th by whom those Articles were almost no sooner made than broken Here is also in this Province the Town and Signeurie of Aubignie adorned with many privileges an ample territorie and a beautiful Castle Bestowed by Charles the sixt on Robert the
Earls of 〈◊〉 though extracted from the Royall bloud and lived in a condition equall to most Kings in Christendom 3 The Earldom of BEGORRE is situate North of Bearn at the foot of the Pyrenâ—an mountains so called from the Bâ—gerrones the old inhabitants hereof in the time of Caesar Scattered in which and the adjoyning Principalitie of Bearn live a leprous and infectious people of noysome breaths deformed bodies and ghastly visages in which regard not suffered to have any commerce with other people nor to inherit any lands but only to applie themselves to drudgerie and the basest of mechanick trades From their great mishapen heads called â—apeâ—s or Gabets Chief Towns hereof are 1 Baigneres famous for medicinall Bathes 2 Lou de of which nothing memorable 3 Tarbe by Antonine called â—ursaubica seated upon the River Adâ—â— honoured with a strong Castle an Episcopall See and the Seneschalsie for all the Countrie of Begorre Which Countrie having for long time it s own Propriâ—tarie Earls was at the last by the mariage of Petronilla Daughter and Heir of Esquibal the last Earl to Boson Vicount of Marsan and Gabardan added to that house Whose Daughter Matthee marying to Gaâ—â—â— Prince of Bearn increased that Principalitie with those goodly peeces of Marsan Gabardan and Begorre all brought unto the house of Foix by Margaret Daughter of this Gaston maried to Roger Bernard as before is said The Armes hereof were Azure a Cross Argent By Inigo Arista the Sonne of Simon Earl of this Countrie called to the Crown of Navarre made the Arms of that Kingdom whereas before that time the Arms thereof had been Argent on a Tree Vert a Cross in chief Gules Which Arms are said to have been took by Garciâ Nimines the first King of Navarre from such a signe appearing to him in the Skie before his first battell with the Moores 4 The Earldom of COMMINGES lyeth betwixt Bearn and Foix running betwixt both as far Northward as to border Eastward on Begorre Divided into the Higher and more mountainous part situate at the foot of the Pyrences and the Lower which hath somewhat more of the vallie in it The old â—nhabitants of both the Convenae and Conserant The principall places at present in the Lower Comminges are 1 Lombes a Bishops See but of late erection 2 Moret upon the River Garonne 3 Samathan 4 Lisle en Dodon And in the Higher there is 1 Conserans once the chief Town of the Conserani now a Bishops See situate at the foot of the Pyrenean hills 2 S. Bernaud of old called Civitas Convenarum a Bishops See also and the chief Citie of this Earldome 3. St. Beat 4 St. Fâ—egou 5 Monregeau or Mons Regius 6 Silliers c. Of the estate of this Earldom I have little to say but that it was allied to the house of Foix by the mariage of Eleanor the Daughter of an Earl hereof to Gaston the second of that name and 11th Earl and afterwards unto that of Armaignac John of Lescon a Bastard of the Earl of Armaignac being Earl of Comminges and one of the Marshals of France in the time of King Lewis the 11th The Arms of which Earls were Gules four Orelles in Saltier Argent 5 The Earldom of ARMAIGNAC the greatest of all these Estates considered severally and apart lieth on the North of Comminges and so extendeth it self to the banks of the River Garond Principall Towns are 1 Aux upon the River Gez antiently called Augusta Ausciorum the Metropolis or head Citie of the Novempopulonia by consequence an Archbishops See The Revenues whereof are said to be the greatest of any Prelates in France computed at no less than 40000 l. per Annum 2 Lectoure a Bishops See called of old Lestoracium in our modern Latine Lectodurum A Town so well fortified when in the power of the Earls of Armaignac that it held out a siege of 3 months against the forces of France but since it came into the hands of the French Kings so strengthned and embattelled according to the modern Art of Fortifications that it is held the strongest Bulwark of the Kingdom on this side and their surest Fortress against Spain 3 Lisle de Iourdain which hath the title of an Earldom bought at the price of 38000 Crowns of Iohn Duke of Bourbon by Iohn the 4th Earl of Armaignac Anno 1421. 4 Auvillar 5 Auzan 6 Chastel-neau 7 Malbourquer 8 Nestes c. The Earls of Armaignac fetch their Original from the Kings of Navarre Sancho the great having subdued some Lands in Gascoigne which he conferred on Garsias a younger Sonne of his with the title of Earl of Armaignac Anno 1014. On which foundation it increased so fast both in power and honour that Barnard the fourth Earl hereof came to be Constable of France And so did Iohn the 4th of that name by the favour of King Charles the 7th who also writ himself By the Grace of Gâ—d Earl of Armaignac according to the stile of Soveraign Princes A man of so considerable power in these parts of France that the mariage of a Daughter of his to our Henry the sixt was thought the best means for establishing his Estate in Guienne And I remember it was charged on the Duke of Suffolk That by breaking off this alliance for that of Anjou he had been the cause of the loss of the Kings pieces in France This greatness made him subject to the jealousie of King Lewis the 11th who worried him out of his Estate and his life together Charles Brother of this Iohn succeeded by the favour of King Charles the 8th After whose death this fair Estate was seized on to the use of the Crown till given again by Francis the first to Charles Duke of Alanson whose grand-father had maried with a Sister of the said Earl Iohn and to the Lady Margaret his Wife the said Kings Sister who after the decease of the Duke of Alanson brought it to Henry of Albret and King of Navarre her second Husband returning so to the Original from whence first it came The Arms of these great Princes were Quarterly 1 Argent a Lyon Azure 2 Gules a Leopard Lyon Or. The 3d c. 6 The Earldom of ALBRET is situate on the North-west of Armaignac bordering upon Guienne The chief Town whereof is 1 Nerac seated on the River of Baize the only place of strength and moment in all this estate 2 Chastell-Ialone well seated to disturb the Trade betwixt Bourdeaux and Gascoigne but not able to endure a siege 3 Mont de Marsan and 4 Tartas both seated on the River Ladour and all four formerly Towns of Caution for those of the Reformed Religion of which this Countrey is so full that the Popish Religion had hardly any footing in all this Territory Which though the smallest of the six and of least Antiquitie had yet the fortune to incorporate all the rest into it For Iohn the Sonne of Alan Earl of Albret by his mariage
the Cantabrian Mountains by which parted from Guipuscoa and on the South with the River Aragon or Arga by which divided from that Kingdom It was called at first the Kingdom of Sobrarbre from a Town of that name situate in the most inaccessible part of the Pyrenees and therefore chose by Garcia Ximines the first King hereof for the seat of his Kingdom as most defensible against the fury of the Moores Afterwards it took the name of Navarre either from Navois signifying a plain and champagn Countrie first used by Inigo Arista the sixth King who having taken Pampelune abandoned the hill Countries and betook himself unto the Plains or from Navarriere the chief of the three parts into which that Citie was divided not only at the taking thereof but a long time after The Countrie though environed on all sides with mighty Mountains yet of it self is said to be reasonably fruitfull well watered and for the most part plain and level as before is said It taketh up some parts of both sides of the Pyrenees the Spanish side being fertile and adorned with trees the French side generally very bare and naked That on the Spanish side and on the summits of the Mountains now possessed by the Spaniard is called High Navarre that on the French side now called Base or Low Navarre estimated at a sixth part of the whole Kingdom is enjoyed by the French incorporated by King Lewis the 13. to the Realm of France Anno 1620. Places of most importance in Base Navarre 1. S. Palai formerly the place of Iudicature for this part of the Kingdom but in the year 1620. removed to Pau in the Principality of Bearn both Bearn and Base Navarre which had before been governed as distinct Estates from the Realm of France being then incorporate to that Crown 2. Navarreux a Town of great importance seven Leagues from Pan well fortified and as well munitioned King Lewis the 13. finding in it at his coming thither Anno 1620. no fewer then 45 Cannons all mounted besides 40 Culverins and smaler Peeces with Powder Buller and Victuals answerable thereunto 3. Pâ—ed de Port or S. Iohn de Pied de Port bordering on the edge of France against which formerly a Peece of especiall strength 4. Roncevallis or Roncâ—vaux situate in the most pleasant Countrie of all Navarre in the entrance of a small but delightfull Valley famous for the great battel fought neer unto it in the streights or entrances of the Mountains leading to this Valley betwixt the French under Charlemagne and a great Army of Moores and natural Spaniards confederate together in defence of their common Liberty In which battel by the treachery of Gavelon 40000 of the French were slain aud amongst them Rowland Earl of Mans the Nephew of Charles and others of the Peers of France of whom so many Fables are reported in the old Romances the first Author of which Fables passeth under the name of Archb. â—urpin said to be one of those twelve Peers who taking on him to record the Acts of Charles the Great hath interlaced his Storie with a number of ridiculous vanities by means whereof the noble Acts of that puissant Emperour and his gallant Followers are much obscured and blemished by those very pens which in the times succeeding did employ themselves to advance the same Of special note in High Navarre 1. Victoria first built or rather reedified by Sancho the 4th King of Navarre Anno 1180. by whom thus named in memory of some victory obtained thereabouts against the Castilians as in like case there had been many Towns built by the Greeks and Romans by the name of Nicopolis or the Citie of Victorie which we shall meet withall hereafter Situate in the place of the antient Vellica but graced with the privileges and name of a Citie by Iohn the 2d of Castile after it came under the command of that Crown Anno 1432. A Town belonging properly to the little Province of Olava and the chief thereof which Province being wholly in and amongst the Cantabrian Mountains was of old a member of Navarre but being extorted from it Anno 1200 by Alphonso the 2d of Castile it was in the year 133â— incorporated into that Crown as a part thereof as were some other Towns and members of this Kingdom also won by the Castilians 2 Viane the title of the eldest Sonne of Naevarre who was called Prince of Viane advanced unto this â—honout by King Charles the 3d Anno 1421. in imitation of the like custom in Castle were the eldest Sonne was called Prince of the Asturiaâ— but not less memorable for the death of Caesar Borgia slain neer unto it in an ambush after all his wanderings and interchangeableness of fortunes For being sonne of Pope Alexander the sixth by birth a Spaniard he was by his Father made a Cardinal but relinquishing that Title by Charles the eighth of France created Duke of Valeatinois in the Province of Daulphine during his Fathers life he had reduced under his obedience divers of the Estates which antiently had belonged to the Church of Rome but after his decease imprisoned by Pope Iulio the second who was jealous not without good cause of his plots and practices From Rome he stole unto Gonsalvo then Vice-Roy of Naples for Ferdinando the Catholique who notwithstanding his safe conduct sent him prisoner to Spain but breaking prison desperarely sliding down a window he came at last into this kingdom and was here slain in an Ambuscado as before was said So many times was Machiavels great Politician over-reached by Bookmen and Souldiers 3 Sobrarbre in the most inaccessible parts of the Pyrenees for that cause made the first seat of the Kings of Navarre entituled from thence the Kings of Subrarbre Made afterwards a distinct Kingdom from Navarre by Saâ—châ— the great who gave it to Gonsales his youngest Sonne after whose death not having issue it was seized on by Don Raymâ—r the first King of Aragon and made a Member of that Crown 4 Sanguessâ— a Town of a large territorie and jurisdiction privileged with a Suffrage in the Convention of Estates and a strong Fortress on the borders towards Aragon for which cause formerly aimed at by the Kings thereof who have had it sometimes in their hands 5 Pampelun in the Champagn Country on the banks of the River Arga the Metropolis of this Kingdom and the seat Royall of its Kings since the Conquest of it from the Moores by Inigo Arista the sixt King of Navarre Of old divided into three parts that is to say Bourg Peuplement and Navarriere each having severall Officers and Iurisdictions the cause of many quarrels and much blood amongst them till all united into one body and reduced under the command of one chief Magistrate by King Charles the third An antient Town first built by Pompey at the end of his wars against Seâ—toâ—ius in memory of whom called Pompeiopolis by our modern Lâ—â—inists but Pampeloa more neer unto the present name
last upon a large and pleasant Valley where they spyed a company of naked Savage people hemmed in amongst many craggie Rocks The Salvages gazing a while upon them ran into their Caves made in the hollows of the Rocks the best houses they had Which being observed by the Falconers they returned again unto their Lord telling him that instead of a Falcon they had brought him news of a New World in the midst of Spain and of a race of People which came in with Tubal Strongly affirming what they said they obtained belief And the Duke shortly after went with a Company of Musketeers and subdued them easily they having no offensive Weapons but only Slings They worshipped the Sun and Moon fed upon nothing that had Life but had good store of excellent fruits roots and springs of water wherewith Nature was very well contented And though their language was not altogether understood by any yet many of their words were found to be purely Bâ—squish Reduced on this discovery unto Christianity but easily discernible from all other 〈◊〉 by their tawnie complexions occasioned by the reverberation of the Sun-beames from those rockie Mountains wherewith on all sides they are encompassed The truth hereof besides the Credit of Iames Howell in his Instructions for Forrein Travell I have upon enquirie found to be attested by men of gravity and great place in this Realm of England employed there in affaires of publick interess Satisfied therefore in the truth of the Relation I am partly satisfied in the men Whom I conceive to be some râ—mnant of the antient Spaniards who hâ—d themselves amongst these Mountains for fear of the Romans Their language and Idolatry speak them to be such For had they either fled from the Gothes or Moores there had been found some Cross or other Monument of Christianitie as in other places or some such mixture in their speech as would have favored somewhat of the Gothes or Romans But it is time I should proceed NEW CASTILE is situate on the South of the old The chief Cities there 1 Signeâ—ca a Citie heretofore of the Celtâ—bâ—ri now a Bishops See beautified with a fair Cathedrall supposed to be the Condabora of Ptolomie 2 Madrid upon the Guâ—darama now the seat of the Kings whose residence there though the Countrie be neither rich nor pleasant hath made it of a Village the most populous City in all Spain It is a custom in this Town that all the upper Rooms in their houses do belong to the King except some Composition be made with him for them And of this Town the Spaniards do use to brag to Strangers that they have a Citie walled with Fire and then make good the boast by saying That it is situate in the middest of Quarries of Flint 3 Alcala de Henares of old called Complutum renowned for an University of Divines â—ounded here in the time of Ferdinand the Catholick by Francisco de Ximines Cardinall and Archbishop of â—oledo 4 Alcaraz amongst the mountainous tracts of Orâ—speda called Sierra de Alcaraz memorable for a great discomfiture given unto the Moores Anno 1094. 5 Molina in the same mountainous tract hence called Monte de Molina remarkable for giving the title of Lord to the Kings of Castile who in the Regall stile are called Lords of Molina the Signeurie hereof accrewing to that Crown by the mariage of Sancho the 3d with Mary the Daughter of Alfonso the last Lord Proprietarie The Territorie large and the Town of strengthâ— well fortified in the times fore-going both by art and nature 6 Cuenca seated at the spring head of the River Xucar and not far from that of the Tagus also amongst the Mountains of Orospeda built by the Moores on the top of those craggie hils whom it served for an impregnable Fortress against the Christians till taken by Sancho the 2d of Castile Anno 1177. Here also is the Escuriall or Monastery of S. Laurence built by King Philip the 2d A place saith Quade who spendeth 13 pages in its description of that magnificence that no building in times past or this present is comparable to it The front toward the West is adorned with three stately gates the middlemost whereof leadeth into a most magnificent Temple a Monastery in which are 150 Monkes of the order of S. Ierome and a College that on the right hand openeth into divers offices belonging to the Monastery that on the leâ—t unto Schooles and out-houses belonging to the College At the four corners there are four turrets of excellent workmanship and for height majesticall Towards the North is the Kings Palace on the South part divers beautifull and sumptuous Galleries and on the East side sundry gardens and walks very pleasing and delectable It containeth in all 11 severall quadrangles every one incloystred and is indeed so brave a structure that a voyage into Spain were well imployed were it only to see it and return Here is also in this Tract the old Town of Castulo the Castaâ—n of Strabo then the chief Citie of the Carpentani and the birth-place of Himilcâ— the Wife of Annibal from whence this whole Tract had the name of Saltus Castulâ—nensis and so called by Caesar now a poor Village known by the name of Castona la Veia in which is somewhat to be found of the antient ruines But of this more already when we were in the kingdom of Toledo to which it more properly belonged The old â—nhabitants of these Castiles were the Vaccai Ventones Arevacae Oretani Carpentani Dittani c. From none of which the name of Castile can be deduced so that we must fetch it either from the Castellani once a People of Catalogne or from some strong fortified Castles erected in the frontires against the Moores This last conjecture may seem probable because the Arms of this Kingdom are Gules a Castle triple-towred Or. Neither is it any way strange for Provinces especially smaller ones such as at first this was though now much extended both in bounds and power to take their names from a Castle For to go no farther even with us Richmondshire was so called from the Castle of Richmond there built by Alan Earl of Bâ—etâ—gne and Flintshire took denomination from a Castle built of Flint-stones by Henry the 2d We may see hereby how much Celius Secundâ—â—â—urio was deceived who writeth that Alphonso the third having overthrown Mahomet Enasir King of Morocco and put 60000 of his men to the sword assumed these Arms that thus named this Kingdom which was before called the kingdom of the Bastitanes because that victory like a strong Castle had confirmed his estates unto him Whereas in case there were no other Error in his supposition the Bastitanes were no Inhabitants of Castile but of Valentia and Murcia Provinces far enough off from the Old Castile at the first taking of that name And for the former Etymologie it appeareth most evidently in that the people are by the Latines called Castellani the Countrey Castella the
Iohn expelled the invading French out of England and by a Composition with King Lewis the 9th was restored unto the Dukedom of â—â—yenne held by his Successors till the reign of K. Henry the sixt Exhausted by the Pope and oppressed a long time by his factious and unruly Barons but at last victorious 56. 1274. 9 Edward the Sonne of Henry awed France subdued Wales brought Scotland into subjection of whose King and Nobility he received homage 34. 1308. 10 Edward II. Sonne of Edward the first a dissolute Prince hated of the Nobles and contemned by the vulgar for his immeasurable love to Pierce Gaveston and the Sâ—eucers was twice shamefully beaten by the Scots and being deposed by a strong Faction raised against him by his Queen and Roger Lord Mortimer was barbarously murdered in Barkley Castle 19. 1327. 11 Edward III. Sonne of Edward the 2d a most vertuous and valorous Prince brought the Scots to obedience overthrew the French in two great Battails took the Town of Callice and many fair Possessions in that Kingdom 50. 1377. 12 Richard II. another of our unfortunate Kings lost many of his Peeces in France and at last being over-awed by his two great Vncles of Lâ—ncaster and Glecester and taken Prisoner by his Cosin the Duke of Hereford he was forced to resign his Crown and afterwards was murdered at Pomfret Castle The Lancastrian Line 1399. 13 Henry IV. Sonne to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth Sonne to Edward the 3d was by the power of the Sword but with the consent of the people setled in the Throne and spent his whole Reign in suppressing home-bred Rebellions 15. 1414. 14. Henry V. the mirrour of Magnificence and Pattern of true vertue pursued the Title of France and won it being ordained Heir apparent to the French Crown but lived not to possesse it 9. 1423. 15 Henry VI. a pious but unfortunate Prince was crowned K. of France in Paris which he held during the life of his Vncle Iohn of Bedford and Humphrey of Glocester after whose deaths he not only lost France to the French but England and his life to the Yorkish Faction 38. The Yorkish Line 1461. 16 Edward IV. Sonne of Richard Duke of York the Sonne of Richard Earl of Cambridge and Grand-Sonne of Edmund of Langley Duke of York the fift Sonne of King Edward the third challenged the Crown in right of the Lady Anne his Grandmother Daughter of Roger Mortimer Earl of March the Sonne of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and of Philippa his Wife sole Daughter of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Sonne of the said King Edward and Elder Brother of Iohn of Gaunâ— The claim first set on foot by his Father the Duke of York who lost his life in pursuance of it at the Battail of Wakefeild with better fortune and success pursued by King Edward himself who finally after 9 bloody Battails fought between the Houses especially that of Towton in which were slain 36000 English was quickly seated in the possession of England and Ireland 23. 1484. 17 Edward V. his Sonne was before his Coronation murdered by his Vncle Richard in the Tower of London 1484. 18 Richard III. Brother of Edward the 4th a most wicked and tyrannicall Prince to make way unto the Diadem murdered King Henry the 6th and Prince Edward his Sonne 3. George Duke of Clarence his Brother 4 Hastings a saithfull servant to King Edward 5 Rivers Vaughan and Grey the Queens kindred 6 Edward the 5th his Soveraign with his young Cousin Richard 7 Henry Duke of Buckingham his dear Friend and greatest Coadjutor in these his ungodly Practices and his Wife Anne so to make way to an incestuous mariage with his Neece Elizabeth the Eldest Daughter of Edward the 4th but before the solemnity he was slain at Bosworth 3. The Vnion of the Families 1487 19 Henry VII Earl of Richmund Heir to the House of Lancaster as Sonne of Margaret Daughter of Iohn Duke of Somerset Sonne of Iohn Earl of Somerset Sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster after the overthrow of Richard maried Elizabeth Daughter and Heir to Edward 4th uniting by that mariage the divided Families He was also extracted from the British and French Royall blood as being Sonne to Edmund â—ndor Earl of Richmund Sonne to Owen Tudor descended from Cadwalladar the last of the Britans and Katharine of France Widdow of Henry the 5th His whole wars was against home-bred Rebels the chief being Lambert and the Followers and Fautors of Perken Warbeck 23. 1509. 20 Henry VIII Heir to both Families between which were fought for the Diadem 17 pitched Feids in which perished 8 Kings and Princes 40 Dukes Marquesses and Earls 200000 of the common people besides Barons and Gentlemen This King banished the usurped Supremacie of the Popes and began the Reformation of Religion though formerly he had writ a Book against Luther for which the Pope gave him the honourable Title oâ— The Defender of the Faith afterwards made Hereditarie by Act of Parliament to his Heirs and Successors A Prince of great vices but or greater vertues 38. 1547. 21 Edward VI. the Sonne of Henry the 8th by Iane Seymour his 3d Wife out of whose womb he was fain to be cut to come into the World as Caesar was but he had neither Caesars Fortune nor length of life dying very young and his affairs conducted by divided Counsels though otherwise of great hopes and of a pregnancie of judgement above his yeers 6. 1553. 22 Mary the Daughter of King Henry the 8th by Katharine of Spain the Widow of his Brother Arthur restored the Popes Supremacy banished by her Father with the whole mass of Popery abolished in her Brothers Reign To which Religion so addicted that in the short time of her Reign there was more blood shed than in the whole 44 yeers of her Sister Elizabeth In the last yeer of her Reign she lost Calice to the French which proved the loss of her life also as it was supposed 5. 1558. 23 Elizabeth the Daughter of King Henry the 8th by the Ladie Anne Bullein his second Wife a most gracious and Heroick Princess was by the divine providence of God preserved from the practices of her Enemies in her Sisters reign to sway the Scepter of the kingdom She pursued the Reformation of Religion begun in the times of her Father and Brother refined the corrupt coin brought in by her Father furnished the Royall Navy with all kind of warlike Ammunitions encreased the Revenue of the Universities by the Statute of Provisions succoured the Scots against the French the French Protestants against the Papists and both against the Spaniard defended the Netherlands against the attempts of Spain commanded the whole Ocean entred League with the Moscovite and was famous for her prudence and government amongst the â—urks Persians and Tartars yea her very Enemies Finally she died in the 45 yeer of her reign and the 70th of her life on the 24th of
reason be assigned for Zutphen in regard it is a State more ancient then that of Guelderland it self and not depending anciently on the fortunes of it united to it by the marriage of Othe of Nassaw the first Earl of Guelderland with Sophia daughter and heir of Wickman the last Earl of Nutphen So as this Earldome ended when that first began After this it continued subject to the Earls and Dukes of Gueldres till the revolt of Holland and the other Provinces from the King of Spain at what time it was besieged for the States by the Earl of Leicester at the siege whereof fell that gallant Gentleman Sir Philip Sidney of whom our British Epigrammatist thus verfifieth Digna legi scribis facis dignissima scribi Scripta probant doctum te tua facta probum Thou writ'st things worthy reading and didst doe Things worthy writing too Thy Acts thy valour show And by thy works we do thy learning know And though upon the losse of that gallant man nephew and heir unto that Earl the siege was raised at the present yet was it re-enforced again anno 1190. and the Town then taken continuing ever since in the confederacy of the States united GROINING-LAND hath on the east East-Friseland on the west West-Friseland on the North the main Ocean on the South Over-yssell so wedged in as it were betwixt both Friselands that some hold it to be but a part of the West It containeth under it the Country called the Ommelâ—nds corruptly for the Emmelands as I conjecture because lying along the River Ems and therein 145 Burroughs and Villages the chief whereof are 1. Dam near the Ems bordering on East-Friseland 2 Keykirk 3. Old-Haven standing on the Sea As for the town of Groyning it self it is rich great and very well built situate-amongst divers small streames which run through it and having also divers Channels for conveyance of waters which addes much to the safety and strength thereof A town of great jurisdiction both within and without judging absolutely without appeals in causes both Civill and Criminall in Spirituall subject heretofore to the Bishop of Munster till made one of the new Bishopricks by King Philip the second anno 1559. And though the Prince in Civill causes had his officer or Lieutenant there yet in Criminall the town was Soveraign and granted pardons as Soveraign of the whole estate paying to the Prince for all duties yeerly but 6000 Crowns Both Town and Country anciently belonged to the Bishops of Vtrecht by whose negligence in defending them they submitted their estate to the Dukes of Guelderland But the Dukes of Saxonie laying some claim to it disturbed this agreement for a time during which Ezardus the Earl of East-Friseland possessed himself of it but not able to make good his unjust possession sold his estate therein to Gueldres anno 1514. to whom of right it did belong Afterwards in the yeer 1536. they put themselves under the command of Charles the fift but with the reservation of all their priviledges and ancient Liberties for preservation of the which in danger to be over-born by the power of the Spaniard they consederated with the rest of the united States anno 1594. and so still continue The antient inhabitants of these Countries were the Menapii and Sicambri very valiant people possessing Guelderland and the Majores Frisii which were planted in Groyning and the rest of Friseland Of these the Sicambri were accompted the most valiant people uniting with other nations in the name of French and by that name possessing with the rest of those Nations the mighty Empire of the West In the division whereof by the posterity of Charles the Great these Countries were first part of the Kingdome of Austrasia or East-France afterwards of the Germane Empire governed at the first by Guardians or Protectours created by the people in the reign of Charles the Bald the two first being Wickard and Lupold or Leopold two Brethren who fixing their chief Seat in the Castle of Gueldres occasioned the whole Country to be called Guelderland But they and their successours by what name or title soever called were in effect but Provinciall Officers accomptable to the Emperours for their administration the first free Prince hereof being Otho of Nassaw who having to his first wife the Lady Aleide daughter of Wickard the last Guardian was by the Emperour Henry the third made first Earl of Guelderland adding thereto the State of Zutphen by a second marriage as is said before In Reinold the ninth Earl it was made a Dukedome by the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria anno 1339. sold by Duke Arnold justly incensed at his ungracious son Adolp to Charles Duke of Burgundy for 92000 Florens of ready money and an Annuall pension anno 1472. But notwithstanding this Agreement Adolph upon the death of Charles possessed himself of it and left it unto Charles his son who finally surrendred it unto Charles the fift anno 1547. EARLS and DUKES of GVELDERLAND 1079 1 Otho of Nassaw the first Earl 2 Gerard the son of Oth by his first wife Aleide 1131 3 Henry the son of Gerard. 1162 4 Gerard II. son of Henry 1180 5 Otho II. brother of Gerard. 1202 6 Gerard III. son of Otho the second 1229 7 Otho III. son of Gerard who walled the towes of Ruermond Aruhem Bomel Goch Wageniâ—gen and Harderwick 1271 8 Reinold son of Otho the third taken and imprisoned till his death by 1326 9 Rainold II. his own son created the first Duke of Gueldres by the Emperour Lewis of Bavavaria at Francfort Anno 1339. liberall to the poof and a great Patron of the Muses 1343 10 Rainold III. son of Rainold the 2 d molested with continuall wars with his brother Edward by whom taken and imprisoned till his dying day 1371 11 Edward the son of Rainold the second by Eleanor the daughter of Edward the third of England his second wife dyed the same yeer with his brother the last of the male issue of Otho of Nassaw 1371 12 Mary by some called Joan Sister of Edward by the same venter and wife of William Earl of Gulick 13 William son of William Duke of Gulick and Mary of Gueldres admitted Knight of the Garter by King Richard the second 14 Rainold IV. the brother of William 15 Arnold of Egmond son of John Lord of Egmond and Mary his wife daughter of Joan the sister of Rainold and William the two last Dukes succeeded in the estate of Gueldres taken impriâ—oned and most barbarously handled by his own son Adolph and delivered by Charles the Warlike Duke of Bargâ—ndie he sold to him his estates of Gueldres and Zutphen to be injoyed by him after his decease anno 1472. 1473 16 Adolpâ— the wicked son of Arnold dispossessed of his estate by the said agreement which Duke Charles enjoyed for his life after the death of the said Charles was restored to liberty by the Gauntois anno 1467. and made the Generall of their
himself but he intrapped the Counts of Horne and Egmond and beheaded them anno 1567. Being thus rid of these two with diverse others of good quality who living would have much hindred his proceedings he quartered his Spaniards in the Townes and Provinces spoiled the people not of their Priviledges onely but their Liberty Among the Reformed he brought in the bloudy Inquisition and indeed so tyrannically did he behave himself that the people were forced to a defensive war as well for their lives as substance This was a war of State not Religion the most part of the Hollanders being Papists at the time of their taking Armes During these troubles the Prince of Orenge was not idle but he in one place and Count Lodewick his brother in another kept Duke Alva imployed though divers times not with such fortunate successe as they did expect In the year 1572 Flushing was surprised by Voorst and Berland as we have before said So also was the Brill in Voorne an Island of Holland by the Count de la March and not long after all Holland except Amsierdam followed the fortune and side of the Prince together with all the towns of Zeland Midleburg excepted Anno 1573. Duke Alva being recalled Don Lewis de Requisens was appointed Governor during whose rule many of the Belgians abandoned their Country some flying into Germany others into France most into England After his death and before the arrivall of Don John the Priuce and his party recovered strength and courage again till the coming of the Prince of Parma who brought them into worse case then ever Yet anno 1581. they declare by their writings directed to all people that Philip of Spain was fallen from the Government and take a new oath of the People which bound them never to return to the Spanish obedience This done they elect Francis Duke of Anjou heir apparent to the French King and then in no small hopes of marrying Queen Elizabeth of England to be their Lord. But he intending rather to settle a Tyranny in himself then to drive it from the Spaniard attempted Antwerp put his men into the town but was by the valour of the Burgers shamefully repulst Shame of this ignoble enterprise especially grief for its ill suctesse took him out of the world About which time the estate of these Countries was thus by this Hieroglyphick expressed A Cow represented the body of Belgium there stood the King of Spain spurring her the Queen of England feeding her the Prince of Orenge milking her and Duke Francis plucking her back by the tail but she foul'd his fingers During his unfortunate Government Parma prevailed in all places especially after the death of William Prince of Orenge treacherously slain with a Pistoll anno 1584. Now were the poor Hollanders truly miserable desperate of pardon from their Prince and having none to lead them none to protect them but such as were likely to regard their own profit more then theirs England was the only sanctuary they had now left to which they sue offering the Queen thereof the soveraignty of their Provinces who had if not a true yet a plausible title to them As being generally descended from Edward the third and Philip his Wife who was sister and as some say Heir to William Earl of Hainalt Holland c. If Margaret from whom the right of Spain is derived were daughter to Earl William then was our Queen to succeed after Philip who was rejected if that Margaret were as many write his younger sister then was our Queen the undoubted Heir her predecessour Philippa being Earl Williams eldest sister But that Heroick Queen not disputing the right of the title nor intending to herself any thing save the honour of relieving her distressed neighbours and providing for her own estate by this diversion took them into her protection Under which the Belgian affairs succeeded so prosperously I will not now stand upon the particulars that before they would hearken to any treaty of peace they forced the King of Spain to this conclusion that he treated with them as with a free Estate abstracted from all right and title which he might pretend unto the places which they were possessed of This peace was concluded anno 1609. since which time they have kept Garrisons well disciplined and as well paid so that these Countries have in these late dayes been the Campus Martius or School of defence for all Christendome to which the youth of all Nations repair to see the manner of Fortifications and learn the art of war Thus did they for 40 years hold the staffe against a most puissant Monarch and in the end capitulated with great advantage that it is observed that whereas all other Nations grow poor by war these only grow rich Whereupon it is remarkable to consider into what follies and extremities Princes run by using their people to the warre The Kings of France place most of their hopes in their Cavalrie because in policie they would not that the Vulgar should be exercised in arms Lycurgus gave a Law to the Lacedemonians that they should never fight often with one enemie the breaking whereof made the Thâ—bans a small Common-wealth to be their equals in power The Turks won the vast Empire they now possesse by making many and speedy wars But now that policy being worn out of fashion we see that to omit Persia the little and distracted Kingdom of Hungarie hath for 200 years resisted their Forces So was it between the Dukes of Austria and the Switzeâ—s and so it is betwixt the Spaniard and Low-country men who formerly being accounted a dull and heavy people altogether unfit for the wars by their continuall combating with the Spaniard are become ingenious full of action and great managers of causes appertaining to sights either by Sea or Land We may hereby also perceive what advantage a small State gaineth by fortifying places and passages there being nothing which sooner breaketh a great Army and undoeth a great Prince then to beleaguer a well fortified town for that herein he consumeth his time and commonly loseth his men credit and money as the Romans before Numantia the great Tuâ—k in Malta and Charls of Burgundie before Nancie For where war is drawn out of the field unto the wals the Mattock and Spade being more necessary then the Sword and Spear there the valour of the assailant is little available because it wanteth its proper object Thus as before we brought these severall Estates and Provinces into one hand so now we have broke them into two the one part continuing in obedience to the Crown of Spain the other governing themselves as a State apart Under the King remain the Dukedoms of Luxembourg Limbourg and Brabant some few towns excepted the Marquisate of the Empire the Earldomâ— of Hainalt Namur Artois and Flanders except only S. Ivys and the Lorship or Signeurie of Machlyn with many places of importance in the Dutchie of Gueldres to countervail the
with a See Episcopall 3 Verdun an antient Episcopall See also the Civitas Verodonensiam of Antoninus seated on the Meuse or Maes the Bishop whereof as also those of Mets and Toul being the onely ones of this Countrey of Lorrain acknowledge the Archbishops of Triers for their Metropolitan All of them in the number heretofore of Imperiall Cities possessed of large and goodly territories and of great revenue but taken by the French King Henry the second anno 1552. during the wars between Charles the fift and the Protestant Princes of Germany under colour of aiding them against the Emperour And though Charles tryed all wayes to recover them to the Empire againe and to that end maintained a long and desperate siege against the City of Mets yet was the Town so gallantly defended by the Duke of Guise that he was fain to raise his siege and goe off with dishonour Since that they have been alwayes under the subjection of France a Parliament being erected at Mets for the ease of the people as in other Provinces of that Kingdome Of such Towns as immediately belonged to the Duke of Lorrain the principall are Nancey not great but of a pleasant and commodious site well watered by the river Meurte or Marta and fortified better then before in the year 1587. on occasion of a great Army of the Germans passing into France to aid the Protestants most commonly the Dukes seat and famous for the discomfiture which Charles Duke of Burgundy here suffered with the losse of his life 2. St Nâ—câ—las a town so populous well seated and neatly built that were it walled it would hardly yeeld preceedency to Nancie It took name from the body of Saint Nicolas here buryed whose reliques have purchased no small reputation and riches to this town 3 Vaucoleur the birth-place of Joane the Virgin to whose miracles and valour the French attribute the delivery of their countrey from the power of the English but being at last taken prisoner she was by the Duke of Bedford then Regent of France condemned and burned for a Witch Of which crime I for my part doe conceive her free Nor can I otherwise conceive of her and her brave exploits then of a lusty lasse of Lorrain tutored and trained up by the practise of the Earl of Dunois commonly called the Bastard of Orleans and so presented to Charles the seventh French King as if sent immediately from Heaven A project carryed on of purpose as the most intelligent of the French writers say Pour fair revenir la courage aux Francois to revive the drooping spirits of the beaten French not to bee raised againe but by help of a miracle Upon the sight of her Statua on the bridge of Orleans a friend of mine did adventure on a copy of verses in her commendation too long to be inserted here but they ended thus She di'd a Virgin 'T was because the earth Bred not a man whose valour and whose birth Might merit such a blessing But above The Gods provided her an equall Love And gave her to Saint Denys She with him Protects the Lilies and their Diadem You then about whose Armies she doth watch Give her the honour due unto her match And when in field your standards you advance Cry loud Saint Denys and Saint Joan for France Townes of lesse note are 4 Pâ—nt a Moson so called from a bridge on the River Moson with a small University 5 Vandemont which gave a title of an Earl to a younger branch of the house of Lorrain 6 Neauf-Chatteau on the edge of the Countrey towards Barrois 7 Amance seven leagues on the South of Mets sometimes the Chancery of Lorrain 8 Riche Court neer the Lake called Garde-lake out of which floweth a River which runs into the Meurte 9 La Mothe seated on a River which fals presently into the Moselle 10 Churmes the place of treaty between the Duke of Lorrain and the Cardinall of Richelieu the result whereof was the surrender of the town of Nancie and by consequence of all the Dukedome into the hands of the French Septemb. 1633. Of lesse note there are 1 Saint Die 2 Saint Hippolit 3 Bouquenon and 4 Saverden the first towns of this Dukedome taken by the Swedes anno 1633. in the warre against Lorrain 5 Saint Miel 6 Oden-Chasteau 7 Mirecour all taken the same yeere by the French in the prosecution of that war before the treaty at Charmes 8 Romberville 9 Espinul 10 Gerbrevillier c. The old Inhabitants of this Countrey were the Mediomatrices and the Leuci spoken of before together with the Vindonenses all of them conquered by the Romans under whom this Countrey and the District of Triers made up the whole Province of Belgica Prima From them being taken by the French with the rest of Gaule it was made a Kingdome the Provinces of Germania Prima Secunda containing all the parts of Germany before described and so much of the Netherlands as lye on the Westside of the Rhene being added to it called first from the Eastern situation by the name of Austenreic or Austrasia the portion of Theodorick the fourth sonne of Clovis the first Christian King of the French from the chief City of his Kingdome called the King of Mets whose successours follow in this order The KINGS of AVSTRASIA or METS 514 1 Theodorick the base sonne of Clovis the Great vanquished the Turingians and extended his Kingdome as far as Hassia and Turingia as we call them now 537 2 Theodebert the sonne of Theodorick repulsed the Danes infesting the coasts of the Lower Germany and added Provence taken from the Gothes of Italy unto his Estates 548 3 Theobaldus the sonne of Theodebert subdued the Almans and added much of their Countrey to his own Dominions 555 4 Clotaire King of Soissons the youngest sonne of Clovis the Great succeeded Theobald in this Kingdome as afterwards his brother Childebert in the Realm of France anno 560. uniting in his person the whole French Dominion 565 5 Sigebert the sonne of Clotaire vanquished the Hunnes then falling into his Estates killed in his Tent by the practises of Fredegond the wife of Chilperick King of France 577 6 Childebert the sonne of Sigebert successour to his Uncle Guntrum in the Realm of Orleans 598 7 Theodebert the II. the sonne of Childebert vanquished and outed of his Kingdome by Clotaire the second of France from whose eldest sonne Sigebert descended the illustrious family of the Earls of Habsburg 617 8 Clotaire the II. King of France on the death of Theodebert King of Austrasia and his brother Theodorick King of Orleans the sole King of the French 9 Dagobert in the life of his Father King of Mets or Austrasia whom he succeeded at his death in the Realm of France 645 10 Sigebert II. the eldest son of Dagobert made choise of this kingdome for his part of the whole French Empire therein preferring it to West-France or France it self which he left to Clovis the 2.
him out of silver mines is no lesse then 130000 yearly the 〈◊〉 laid on Beer in Leipsich onely a City but of two Parish Churches by which conjecture at the rest being farmed at 20000 l per annum Then hath he the tenthes of all sorts of encrease as of corn wine c. the Salt-houses at Hall and some other places very fair lands belonging unto his domain and besides a standing and perpetuall tax laid upon the Subject towards the maintenance of the war against the Turke granted at first in times of danger and hostility but gathered ever since in the time of peace as to that Enemie under colour of being ready and prepared against him According to the quantity of his Intrado so he keeps his State well served and better attended then any other of the Electors there being at one time in the Court of Christian the Father of the present Duke three Dukes three Earles and five Barons of other Nations besides the Nobility of his own all Pensioners and Servants to him one of the Princes of Anhalt and one of the Earls of Mansfeild both Homagers unto the Saxon being two of the number The Armes of Saxonie are Barre-wise of six pieces Sable and Or a Bend flowred Vert. Which Bend was added to the Coat by the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa when he confirmed Barnard of Aâ—halt in his Dukedom For Barnard desiring of the Emperor to have some difference added to the Ducal coat being before onely Barry Sable and Or to distinguish him and his successours from those of the former house the Emperour tooke a Chaplet of Rue which hee had then upon his head and threw it crosse his Buckler or Eschocheon of Armes which was presently painted on the same 18 BRUNSWICK and 19 LVNENBVRG The Dukedome of BRVNSWICK and LVNENBOVRG being both originally taken out of the great Dukedome of Saxonie extracted both from the same root and many times united in the person of the same one Prince shall bee joined together in the story though severed in the Chorographie or Description of them bounded on the East with Magdeburg and Brandenburg on the West with Westphalia on the North with Denmark on the South with Duringen and Hassia The Air in all parts hereof very cold and comfortlesse but sound and healthfull the soil towards the old Marches of Brandenburg but meanly fertile towards Duringen and Hassia mountainous and woodie in other parts very plentifull of corn and well provided also of such other commodities as usually doe grow in those colder climates But to take the Chorographie of them severally BRVNSWICK is bounded on the East with the Diocese of Magdeburg and the Earldom of Mansfeild on the West with Westphalen on the North with Lunenburg on the South with Hassia and Turingia So called from Brunswick the chief City and the head of this Dukedome Places of most importance in it are 1 Goslar upon the River Gose whence it had the name Of a poore Village made a City by Henry the first much beautified and enlarged by Henry the third who founded here two Churches and a stately Palace Now one of the Imperiall Cities 2 Helmstat in the middle way betwixt Brunswick and Magdeburg first fortified by Charles sonne of Charles the Great for a bridle to the neighbouring Sclaves and being after given to the Abbats of Werda was by them sold to William the Duke of Brunswick Quedelnberg built also by Henry the first much increased fince by the neighbourhood of a very rich Nunnerie the Abbesâ—e whereof had formerly the priviledges of a Prince of the Empire 4 Hildesheim an antient City honoured with an Episcopall See by Charles the Great at the first conversion of the Saxons 5 Grubenhagen which gave title to a younger branch of the house of Brunswick a principality and a member of the Empire 6 Hannover on the River Leine well built very strongly fortified and not meanly traded 7 Brunswick upon the River Onacter which passeth through it passed over by many handsome bridges the Metropolis of the antient Saxoniâ— and at this time the chief of this Dukedome though of it self Imperiall and one of the Hanse The City of a Quadrangular form seated in the midst of a plain very fruitfull of corn in compasse about two Dutch or eight English miles somewhat larger then Nurenberg and lesse then Erdford containing in that compasse not above twelve Churches whereof two have steeples covered with lead a third with brasse all the rest with tile Rich populous and strongly fortified on some sides with a double on others with a treble wall within which wals are five Cities distinguished by priviledges but united by Laws The whole first built by Bruno sonne to Ludolphus Duke of Saxonie and Uncle to the Emperour Henry the first about the year 861. from whence it had the name of Brunswick or Brunonis Vicus by the more elegant Latinists Brunopolis 8 Hamelen on the East side of the Weser or Visurgis encompassed with a deep moat occasioned by a stream cut out of the River round about which are divers fortifications and placed with Ordinance Nigh unto this town is the mountain called also Hamelen unto which the Peed-piper as they call him led the children of Halberstade where they all sunk and were never more seen but of this story more hereafter when we come to Transylvania 2 Wolfehaiten or Wolfenbuttell where the Duke doth keep his Court For though Brunswick giveth him his title yet will it not yeeld him any obedience but reputeth herselfe among the Hansetownes for which cause there have been great warres between the Dukes and the Citizens 3 Halberâ—iade a Bishops See the late Bishop or Administratour of the Bishoprick being Christian Duke of Brunsaick that noble young souldier who had vowed his life and fortune to the service of Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia created by King James one of the Knights of the Garter A Bishoprick of great revenew and a very large territorie since the alteration of Religion given with the title of Administrator to the sonnes of Brunswick but now by the conclusions at Munster assigned over to the Electour of Brandenburg with the title of Prince of Halberstade the familie of Brunswick being to be recompensed with an alternate succession in the Bishoprick of Osnaburg and some other additionals The Dukedome of LVNENBOVRG hath on the East the Old Marches of Brandenbourg on the West the Diocese of Bremen a part of Westphalia on the North the Elb and on the South the Dukedome of Brunswick So called from Lunenbourg the chiefe City once the seat of the Dukes Places of most observation in it are 1 Lunenbourg it self situate on the River Elvenaw an Imperiall City and one of the principall of the Hanse so called from the Moon here worshipped in the times of Idolatry Of a round form and seated in a pleasant valley but with mountains near it on one of which called Calberg is a very strong Castle of right
the title of Earl of Holstein anno 1114. By Adolph the second his successour who having made a full conquest of it caused it to be planted with Colonies of Dutch or Germans from Holland VVesâ—phalen and Friseland by which meanes the name of Sclaves was at last worn out By Gâ—rrard the fift the Dukedome of Sleswick was also conferred upon him by the bountie of Margaret Queen of Denmark in whose wars he served Adolph the last Earle of this house dying without issue the whole Estate fell on Christiern sonne of Theodorick Earl of Olderburg and Heduigis his wife sister and heir to Adolph before mentioned who being called to the Crown of Denmark compounded with his brother Gerrard for the summe of 50000 Markes and having gotten Ditmarsh also of the Emperour Frederick the third prevailed so farre as to have the whole Estate erected into a Dukedome Anno 1474. to bee held by him and his successours of the sacred Empire Which said we will next adde the Catalogue of The EARLES and DUKES of HOLSTEIN 1114 1 Adolph of Schomberg by Lotharius Emperour and Duke of Saxonie made the first Earle of Holstein 1137 2 Adolph II. sonne of Adolph the first 1164 3 Adolph III. sonne of Adolph the second vanquished by Canutus King of the Danes lost himself and his Countrey 1232 4 Adolph IV. in his fathers life time recovered his estate from Waldemar the successour of Canutus overcome by him in a well-fought field anno 1226. his father then prisoner to the Danes 1261 5 Gerrard the second sonne of Adolph the fourth his elder brother John making choice of Wagerland succeeded in Holstein 1281 6 Henry the sonne of Gerrard the first that set up a custome-house at Hamburg for receipt of his tols and taxes 1310 7 Gerrard II. sonne of Henry slain treacherously by the Danes 1339 8 Henry II. sonne of Gerrard the second 1381 9 Gerrard III. sonne of Henry the second created the first Duke of Sleswick by Queen Margaret of Denmark 1404 10 Henry III. sonne of Gerrard the third 1427 11 Adolphus V. commonly called the XII those of the younger houses being reckoned in the last Earl of this house 1459 12 Christiern of Oldenburg King of Denmark Sweden and Norwey sonne of Theodorick Earl of Oldenburg and his wife Heduigis sister of Henry and Adolphus the two last Earls succeeded in the Earldome of Holstein inlarged with the addition of Ditmarsh and erected into a Dukedome by the Emperor Frederick the third anno 1474. But seeing that Otho Earle of Schemberg pretended a right unto the whole as the next heir male according to the constitutions of the Empire of which it was holden and Gerrard the brother of Christiern put in for his share according to the ill custome of Germanie of which it was then counted part he was faine to buy his peace of both giving to Otho 43000 Florens in ready money with the Townes of Pinnenberg Haltzburg and Bramstede the antient possessions of the Earles of Schomberg and 50000 markes to his brother Gerrard besides his whole interest in the Earldome of Oldenbourg as before was said By this meanes Holstein was united to the Crown of Denmark the Kings whereof as Dukes of Holst being counted Princes of the Empire but neither send unto the â—iâ—ts nor contribute any thing at all to the publick taxes nor acknowledge any kinde of subjection to it more then meerly titularie Onely it was ordained at the request of the subjects when first they were incorporated into that Kingdom that in case of any grievance or unjust sentence in the ordinary courts of justice wherein they found no remedie in the supreme councell of the Province it might be lawfull for them to appeale to the Imperiall Chamber as they had done formerly Which as it was granted to content them at the present time on sufficient caution so hath it seldome or never been put in practise the very grant or priviledge if such it were being in a manner worn out of memory But since this uniting of the two Estates the title of Duke of Holstein and a good part of the Countrey was given unto Aâ—â—lphus brother of Christiern the third created by Queen Elizabeth one of the Knights of the Garter anno 1560 who governed it interchangeably with the King in their severall turns after whose death and the death of all his children dying without issue male the title of it was conferred on Vlrick son of Frederick the second and brother of Christiern the fourth created Knight of the Gaâ—â—er by King James anno 16â—5 JVITLAND IVITLAND containeth all the rest of the Cimbrick Chersonese divided from the Dukedom of Holst by the River Eydore the antient boundarie betwixt the Saxons and the Danes but principally by a long trench and wall from one Sea to the other of such breadth that a chariot or two horsemen a breast might ride upon it First built in imitation of the Picts wall in England by Godfrey King of Danemark in the time of Charles the Great either to hinder the dayly incursions of the Saxons as some or to stop the current of the victories of the said Charles as others thinke The tract whereof still very easie to be seene is called Dennewerck or the Danes work to this very day It was so called from the Juites who together with the Angli and neighbouring Saxons made a conquest of the best part of Britain The Countrey so abounding in Cattell that it sendeth yeerly into Germany 50000 Oxen besides great store of Butter Cheese Tallow Hides and Horses divided commonly into North-Juitland dnd South-Juitland or Juitland specially so called and the Dukedome of Sleswick SOVTH-IVITLAND or the Dukedome of SLESWICK is that part of the Cimbrian Chersonese which lies next to Holstein called South-Juitland from the Southern situation of it and Sleswick from the chief Town of it and the head of this Dukedome The Countrey for the most part plaine little swelled with mountaines the fields whereof doe interchangeably yeeld both fish and corn For during one three years they sow it constantly and reap the fruits of it and for the next three let the Pooles overflow the land to the end the fish may eat up the grasse whom they catch as often as they please and the mudde which is left behinde inricheth the soil But besides their Pooles they have also on the Baltick shores many goodly Bayes not onely commodious for Merchants but well stored with fish and with Salmons specially Chief Townes herein are 1 Flensburg seated amongst very high Mountains on the shore of the Baltick Sea where there is a Port so deep so safe and so commodious that all the Inhabitants thereof in a manner may lade and unlade their ships close to their houses 2 Husem upon the German Ocean nor farre from the mouth of the River Edore 3 Hadersleve a Bishop See if not rather some towne or manour of the Bishops of Sleswick situate on a Navigable inlet of the
have accompanied the Vandals in their on-fals into Gaul and Spain Of any expedition of theirs crosse the Baltick seas neâ—gry quidem nothing to be found in more antient Authors We must therefore reserve the originall of this people either to the Suiones or the Suethidi or perhaps to both both being antiently setled in these Northern Regions Of the Suiones wee read in the booke of Tacitus inscribed De Moribus Germanorum by whom reported to be strong in men armour and shipping and that they were inhabitants of Scandia appeares by two circumstances in that Authour 1 That the people were not permitted to weare weapons quia subitos hostium incursus prohibet Oceanus because the Ocean was to them a sufficient Rampart which could not be affirmed of the antient Suevians but agreeth very well with the situation of this present Countrey defended by the baltick and vast Northern Ocean from the sudden assaults of any enemy 2. Because the Sea which hemmed in that people was conceived to be the utmost bound of the World trans Suiones 〈◊〉 quo cingi claudique terrarum orbis fines as his words there are which wee know to hold good of this Countrey Adde unto these this passage of the old Annals of the Emperour Lewis the second where it is told us of the Danes 〈◊〉 patria apud Suiones exulabant that they were banished into the countrey of the Suâ—ones which cannot so well be understood of any place as of this Sweden being next neighbour unto Denmark And 4 that this people both by Munster and Crantzius are as well called Suiones as Suâ—â—i or Sueâ—i which sheweth what they conceived of their true Originall Then for the Suethans or the 〈◊〉 whom Jornandes speaks of in his book Deâ—ebus Gâ—ticiâ— they are by him placed in the Isle of Scandia for such this great 〈◊〉 was esteeâ—ed to be by most antient writers Now that these Suethidi are no other then the present Suethlanders appeareth 1. by the propinquity of the names 2 In that he maketh the Finni and Finnaithae the next neighbours to them and 3 in that they are affirmed by the same Authour to have furnished the Romans with rich Furs and the skins oâ— wilde Beasts with which commodities this countrey is aboundantly well stored Now to which of these two Nations either the Suiones or the Suethidi those of Sweden are most endebted for their originall will I conceive be no great controversie the Suethans and Suethidi of Jornandes being no other then a tribe of the Suiones though the greatest and most powerfull of all those triles placed therefore in the front to command the rest and so most like to give the name unto the whole Their government was antiently under Kings affirmed so to be by Tacitus who telleth us also that they were absolute and free nullis exceptionibus non precario jure regnandi not bound in Câ—venant with their people nor holding their Estates at the will of the Subject But their Historians have gone for Antiquity hereof beyond the story of Brute or the Trojan warre beyond which very few of that strain have dared to pretend as high as unto Magog the son of Japhet reigning here within 90 years after the flood But letting passe these dreams and dotages of the Monkish times certain it is that sometimes they were under the Danes sometimes under the Norwegians sometimes had distinct Kings of their owne and finally sometimes were comprehended with the Danes and Norwegians under the generall name of Normans conducted by one King or Captain upon forain actions Omitting therefore the succession of their former kings of whose very being there is cause to make great question we will begin our Catalogue of them with Jermanicus who entertained Harald King of Denmark and his brother Regenfride driven out of that kingdome by Gottricus or Godfrey the Contemporary of Charlemagne of whose successours Munster giveth us more certainty The KINGS of SWEDEN 1 Jermanicus 2 Frotho 3 Herotus 4 Sorlus 5 Biornus 6 Wichsertus 7 Ericus 8 Ostenus 9 Sturbiornus 10 Ericus II. 11 Olaus 12 Edmundus 13 Stinkalis 14 Halsienus 15 Animander 16 Aquinus 17 Magnus 1150 18 Sherco 13. 1160 19 Carolus 8. 1168 20 Canutus 54. 1222 21 Ericus III. 27. 1249 22 Bingerius 2. 1251 23 Waldemarus 26. 1277 24 Mognus II. 13. 1290 25 Birgerius II. 23. 1313 26 Magnus III. son to Ericus the brother of Byrgerius was also chosen King of Norwey 1326 27 Magnus IV. King of Sweden and Norwey which last he gave in his life time to Hayvin or Aquinus his second son and after the death of Ericus his eldest son his designed successour in this Crown was outed of this kingdome by the practise of 1463 28 Albert Duke of Mecklenburg son of Euphemia the sister of Magnus the fourth to the prejudice of Aquinus king of Denmark and Norwey made King of Sweden on that quarrell vanquished by Margaret Queen of Denmark and Norwey widow of Aquinus anno 1387. to whom desirous of liberty he resigned his Kingdom and dyed in his own countrey anno 1407. 1387 29 Margaret Queen of Denmark Sweden and Norwey the Semiramis of Germany having united the three Kingdomes under her command caused an Act of State to be passed in Colmar a chiefe town of Swethland for the perpetuation of this union unto her successours the Lawes and Priviledges of each Kingdome continuing as before they were 1411 30 Ericus IV. Duke of Pomeren adopted by Margaret of whose sister Ingelburgis he was descended was in her life time chosen King of the three Kingdomes into which he succeeds actually after her decease but outed of them all by a strong faction raised against him anno 1439. he dyed in a private estate in Pomeren anno 1559. 1439 31 Christopher Count Palatine and Duke of Bavier in title only son of the Lady Margaret sister of Ericus succeeded in all three Kingdomes After whose death the Swethlanders being weary of the Danish Government broke the agreement made at Colmar for the uniting of the three Kingdomes under one Prince and chose one Carolus Caâ—utus to be their King anno 1448. 1448 32 Carolus Canutus one of the meanest of the Nobility and not long pleasing to the great ones whose displeasure when he had incurred and feared the consequents thereof hee gathereth together all the treasure he could fled unto Dantzick and there ended his dayes 1455 33 Christiern King of Denmark and Norwey called in by a party of the Swedes and crowned King of Swethland but outed againe under colour that he had not kept conditions with them the kingdome governed after that for a time by Marshals 1458 34 John King of Denmark and Norwey the sonne of Christiern received king by the Swedes then overpowered by the Muscovite but their turne being served they expelled him againe returning to their former government under Marshals Of which Marshals descended from Steno Stur the Uncle of Carolus Canutus by his Mothers side there were three in
no night at all which is a mighty disproportion from the length of the longest day in the most Southern parts being but 16 houres and an half as before is said And by this rule we are to take the dimensions also For though some make the length hereof from North to South that is to say from Cala in the North to Astrachan near the Caspian Sea to be no more then 2260 Versts or 3690 Italian miles yet they confess that reckoning forwards from Tromschua the furthest point of Petzora the full length thereof will be nigh so much more And for the breadth reckoning from Narve on the Bay of Finland now in possession of the Swedes to the Province of Severia in the East it amounteth to 4400 Versis or 3300 Italian miles each Verst being estimated at three quarters of an English mile Which mighty Territorie if it were peopled answerably to some other parts of the world would either make it too great for one Prince to hold or make that Prince too great and puissant for all his neighbours The people as is commonly reported of them are very perfidious crafty and deceitful in all their bargains false-dealers with all they have to do with making no reckoning of their promises and studying nothing more then wayes to evade their Contracts Vices so generally known and noted in them that when they are to deal with strangers they dissemble their Countrie and pretend to be of other Nations for fear lest no bodie should trust them Destitute of humane affections and so unnaturall that the father insults on the son and he again over his father and mother So malicious one towards another that you shall have a man hide some of his own goods in the house of some man whom he hateth and then accuse him for the stealth of them They are exceedingly given to drink insomuch that all heady and intoxicating drinks are by Law prohibited and two or three dayes only in a year allowed them to be drunk in For the most part they are strong of body swift of foot of a square proportion broad short and thick grey-eyed broad-bearded and generally furnished with prominent paunches The Commons live in miserable subjection to the Nobles and they again in as great slavery to the Duke or Emperour to whom no man of all the vulgar dares immediately exhibit a Petition or make known his grievances nay the mean Lords and Officers are squeamish in this kinde and but on great submission will not commend unto the Duke a poor mans cause They are altogether unlearned even the Priests meanly indoctrinated it being cautionated by the great Duke that there be no Schools lest there should be any Scholâ—rs but himself so that the people use to work commonly on the Lords day holding it fit only to be kept by Gentlemen and to say in a difficult question God and our Great Duke know all this and in other talk All we enjoy health and life all from our Great Duke According to whose pleasure every man is prescribed what habit he shall wear both for matter and fashion suitable unto their condition In the time of my Author their habit was a long Garment without plaits which hung down to their heels commonly of white or blew with very strait sleeves on their legs wearing buskins up as high as the calf for the most part red high at the heels and beset with nails of iron The stuffe and trimming of this dresse is the only difference betwixt the Noble and the Paisant The women are attired also much after this manner but if great and Noble suffered to set forth themselves with store of pearls and precious stones which hang so thick about their ears that they do almost pul their ears from their heads A second marriage is conceived no blemish in point of chastitie but the third condemns them of incontinence naturally subject enough to the lusts of the flesh but private and fearful to offend if once lascivious then most intolerably wanton It is the fashion of these women to love that husband best which beareth them most and to think themselves neither loved nor regarded unlesse they be two or three times a day well favouredly swadled The Author of the Treasurie of times telleth a story of a German Shoomaker who travelling into this Country and here marrying a widow used her with all kindnesse that a woman could as he thought desire yet did not she seem contented At last learning where the fault was and that his not beating her was the cause of her pensivenesse he took such a vein in cudgelling her sides that in the end the Haâ—gman was fain to break his neck for his labour They use the Sclavonian language but so corrupt and mixt with other languages that they and the Sclavonians understand not one anothers meaning but by circumstance only yet in Jugaria out of which the Hungarians are thought to have issued they speak a corrupt Hungarian and in Petzora and the Countrie of the Czâ—remissians they have a language to themselves distinct from others They first received the Christian Faith in the year 987. or as some say anno 942. by the preaching and ministerie of the Greeks sent hither by the Patriarch of Constantinople of which Church they are constant followers both for rites and doctrine but not without some superstitions of their own superadded to them viz. not coming near a Crosse Church or Monasterie but they kneel down and make the sign of the Crosse saying Milâ—y Hispodi i. e. Lord have mercy upon us not entring into any Church untill washed and bathe They bear a deadly hatred to the Jews whom they suffer not to live amongst them and so great friendship unto a Calfe that they hold it a great offence to kil one or to eat his flesh Their Church is governed by 18 Bishops and 2 Metropolitans al of them subordinate to their Archbishop or Patriarch as he in former times to the Constantiâ—opolitan by whom he used to be confirmed But about an hundred years agoe they withdrew themselves from that subjection the Patriarch being nominated by the Great Duke and consecrated by two or three of his own Suffragans Without the counsell and advice of this Patriarch the Emperour or Great Duke doth nothing of any moment The Bishops are all chosen out of the Monastick or Regular Clergy which makes the Monks being all of the Order of S. Basil to live very religiously in hope to be advanced to the Episcopall dignity And for the Secular Clergy or Parochiall Priests there is not much required of them but to say their Masses which being in their own language they may easily do and to read now and then one of S. Chrysostoms Homilies translated heretofore for the use of those Churches after the death of their first â—lves not permitted to marry in other things little differing from the rest of the people Once in the year it is lawfull and usuall with them to
abandoned the title of King only and used that of Prince or Duke 1003 20 Boleslaus III. son of Vladislaus 1140 21 Vladislaus II. son of Boleslaus the third outed by his Brethren and at last estated in Silesia united formerly to Poland from the time of Lechus 1146 22 Boleslaus IV. brother of Vladislaus the second 1174 23 Miecislaus III. brother of Boleslaus and Vladislaus deposed by his brother Casimir 1178 24 Casimir II. brother of the three last Princes 1195 25 Lescus V. son of Casimir the second deposed by Miecislaus the third 1203 26 Vladislaus III. son of Miecislaus the third deposed by Lescus the fift who again seised on the Estate 1243 27 Boleslaus V. surnamed Pudicus 1280 28 Lescus VI. surnamed Niger the adopted son of Boleslaus and his Cousen German once removed after whose death anno 1289. the estate being distracted into many fations was for some time without a Prince setled at last on 1295 29 Primislaus surnamed Postbumus who againe assumed the name of King continued ever since by his successours 1296 30 Vladislaus surnamed Locticus brother of Lescus Niger outed by Wenceslaus King of Bohemia anno 1300. after whose death anno 1306. he resumed the estate 1333 31 Casimir III. surnamed the Great son of Vladislaus the fourth the first establisher of the kingdom after all those troublesd yed without issue 1371 32 Lewis king of Hungary son of Charles King of Hungary by Elizabeth the sister of Casimir 1383 33 Heduigis the youngest daughter of Lewis her elder sister Mary succeeding in the Realm of Hungary chosen Queen of Poland marryed to Jagello Duke of Lituania Christened and called Vladislaus the fift 1386 34 Valdislaus V. Duke of Lituania elected King upon his marriage with Queene Heduigis 1435 35 Vladislaus VI. son of Jagello or Vladislaus the fift by Sephia daughter of the Duke of Kiovia He was King of Hungary also slaine at the battell of Varna by Amurath the second King of the Turkes without issue 1447 36 Casimir IV. brother of Vladislaus first brought the Knights of Prussia under his command Knight of the order of Garter 1493 37 John Albert the second sonne of Casimir his elder Brother Vladislaus being pretermitted on his accepting of the Crowns of Hungarie and Bohemia 1502 38 Alexander the third son of Casimir 1507 39 Sigismund the fourth sonne of Casimir his elder Brethren dying without issue suppressed the Order of the Dutch Knights in Prussia and added part thereof unto his estate 1548 40 Sigismund II. surnamed Augustus the last of the male issue of Jagello 1574 41 Henry Duke of Aniou son of Henry the second French King chosen on the death of Sigismund Augustus the onely Stranger to the bloud in all this Catalogue On the death of his brother Charles the ninth he departed secretly into France where he succeeded by the name of Henry the third 1579 42 Stephen Bathor Vaivod of Transylvania having marryed Anne sister of Sigismund the second is elected King he united Livonia to the Crown and had a great hand upon the Moscovite 1587 43 Sigismund III. son of John King of Swethland and Catharine his wife another of the sisters of Sigismund the second King of Poland and Sweden He valiautly opposed Osman the Great Turke invading his Dominions with an Army 300000. 1633 44 Vladislaus VII eldest son of Sigismund the third after whose death the kingdom was extremely embroyled by factions especially by the mutinous and seditious Cosaques not fully setled by the election of 1648 45 Casimir V. Brother of Vladislaus the seventh now king of Poland anno 1648. The Government of this kingdome is nothing lesse then Monarchicall For though the first Dukes hereof were absolute Princes and ruled after a Despoticall manner having power not onely of the estates of their subjects but of life and death without formalities of Law yet when they once became elective they lost much of that power which decayed so by little and little that at the last the King is counted little better then a Royall shadow Stat magni nominis umbra in the Poets language A diminution which began first in the times of Lewis of Hungarie and Jagello of Lituania who to gaine the succession to the kingdome contrary to Law the one for his daughter the other for his sonne departed with many of their Royalties and Prerogatives to buy the voices of the Nobility Since which time the Nobilitie in all their elections have so limited and restrained the Kings authority and enlarged their own that without their consent in Counsell he may neither make war nor treat of peace nor impose taxes nor alienate any of his Demeanes nor do any thing of importance which concernes the Publick in so much as Boterus a great Statesman doth expressely say that the Government of Poland doth rather seem an Aristoratie then a Monarchie a Common-wealth rather then a Kingdome Besides the King not onely takes a solemn Oath at his Coronation to confirme all the rights and Priviledges which have been granted to the Subject by his Predecessours but addes this clause quod si Sacramentum meum violavero incolae Regni nullam nobis obedientiam praestare tenebuntur that if he violate this Oath his Subjects shall not be obliged to yeeld him any obedience Which as Bodinus well observeth doth rather savour of the condition of a Prince of the Senate then of the Majestie of a King respected accordingly by the great ones who looke not on him as their King but their elder Brother or perhaps not that and reckon his Decrees but of three dayes lasting Which notwithstanding the King once chosen and inthroned hath sole power in many things without consulting with the Senate as viz. in assembling Diets choosing the secular Counsellers disposing absolutely of his Vassals and the Revenues of the Crown to what use he pleaseth being â—ole Judge of the Nobility in Criminall causes which is a strong bridle to raine them in with By which and either uniting himself unto the Clergy or the well-forming of his party amongst the Noâ—â—lity hee may doe many things not allowable in strictnesse of Law the power and influence which he hath in the publick Government being proportionable to the strength of his wit and Brain And here it is to be observed that none but the Clergie and Nobilitie have any suffrage in the election of the King that is to say the 26 Palatines and 60 Chastellans with the four Marshals and some others of the principall Officers of State in behalf of the Nobility and the Archbâ—shops and Bishops in the name of the Clergie but of the Commons none at all Which is the reason why there is so much care taken to preserve the priviledges of the two first Orders without obtaining any immuties for reliefe of the third most miserably oppressed on all sides rather as Bondmen then Tenants in respect of their Lords and not so much subjects as plain slaves in regard of the King whereof somewhat