only bane of their Government nor must a Foreigner stir abroad without leave c. And lastly They are so Proudly conceited of their own Prudence that they think their Politiques the most perfect and absolute in the World No question he would lend his Hand against the Turk if for no other Cause than the Vindication of the Greek Church of which he is the sole Soveraign Protector but it is not Long enough and will not reach that distant Enemy but by the wayes aforesaid The present Emperours Name is Alexei Michalowich that is the Son of Michael which is all the Sir-name they use both Prince and People His Fathers Christian Name being Michael Fedorowitz the Son of Theodore who was Patriarch of Musco This Michael the Nobles having been twice imposed on by the Polanders who brought in two counterfeit Princes named Demetrius pretended Sons of Vasilowich the last Prince but one of the Royal Blood and in their quarrel subdued Mosco and almost ruined the Empire weary of their own Confusions and the intollerable oppression of the Poles unanimously chose for their Emperour who setled the State and managed it in a more constant way of Peace with the Turk Tartar Pole and Swede than any of his Predecessors had done before him He began his Reign in 1615. and died in 1646. much lamented and adored of his Slaves as well for his foreign Acts as those at home and for his Justice and Moderation And so we pass Westward to the Kingdom of Sweden SWEDEN OR Swethland THis Kingdom is bounded on the East with Muscovy on the West with great Hills which divide it from Norway on the North with the great Frozen Ocean and on the South with Donmark Livonia and the Baltique Sea For the quantity reckoning in Lapland it exceedeth France and Italy by 900. Miles and for fertility if you count Wells Stones Mountains and Lakes it excelleth them both likewise but Gothland and Finland are excellently well stored with all Necessaries and supply their Neighbours with Malt and Barley The Religion is Lutheran introducted by Gustavus Ericus or de Vasa descended from the last King Magnus who coveted the Revenues of the Church but kept up the Episcopal Dignity who have Voices in Parliament The Swedish Gentleman is a well-accomplish'd and gallant Person a good Souldier and a good Captain understands the Politiques and speaks most Languages They are something fierce and insolent on advantage but it is in War which excuseth it The People are naturally strong and active provident patient and industrious are very humble and hospitable to Strangers and in the Northern Parts so healthy that they live commonly to the Age of 130. or 140. years and this is imputed to the purity of the Air but sometimes over-cast with Foggs by reason the Inhabitants neglect the Water-courses of their miry standing Lakes Of no great note for Arts or Armes till that Gustavus Ericus who chased out the Danes under their King Christiern the 3d. and Gustavus Adolphus whose Conquests were admirable and his Conduct not to be matched by any Parallel They are exceeding apt to learn the Mechanick Arts so that every Souldier is his own Smith Cutler Carpenter c. They are very Valiant both their Horse and Foot as they have given good proof both in Germany Poland Russia and Denmark Their Religion is wholly Lutheran Bishops they have whom they call Surintendents and who retain their Voice in Parliaments but have no setled Church Revenue being paid and maintained by the King with an inconsiderable yearly Pension The whole Kingdom is divided into two Parts the one lying on the East the other on the West side of the Gulph or Bay of Bodner or Sinus Boddicus a spacious Branch of the Baltique Sea according to which division there are 1. the Province of Gottoland 2. Of Sweden lying on the West side And 3. Lapland on the North. 4. Bodden 5. Finland And 6. the Swedish Islands so that He is a Prince of no small Territory but like the Russian he is not very Populous by reason of those cold Regions which none but Savages inhabit under a certain tribute of Furrs of which this King hath his share from the Laplanders As for the Government it is Monarchical and Absolute to the King in Actu but the Senators pretend it to be Elective although the Son hath continually succeeded his Father in the Government which was made a Sanction by the States at the instance of the same Ericus who would not accept of the Crown urged upon him without such a Law and this hath prevailed ever since but in the Case of Sigismond beaten out of Sweden by the Faction of Charles Duke of Suderman his Uncle for we have seen the Infant Son of the late Charles Gustavus advanced immediately upon his Fathers death to the Throne And when the King is once seated there he governs pro imperio for he layes what Taxes he pleaseth as 5 6 7 8 Dollars yearly upon every Housholder according to his quality And that which is chief all Appeals for final Determination are made to him not to his Parliament or Council This Kings Revenue consisteth in four things the Tenths of Ecclesiastical Livings Mines Tributes and Customes 1. The Revenues of the Church arise to a great Summ consisting before the Reformation of seven Bishopricks and sixty Monasteries which enjoyed very great Possessions now incorporated into the Crown except only some small maintenance to the Bishops as abovesaid 2. His Mines a great deal more considerable for that his tenth part of three Copper Works almost a hundred years agoe yielded him 3000. Dollars whereby estimation may be made of his Silver and Gold And those Mines may be found in every place if the Country People bound to carry wood and do other servile work there did not hide and hinder the discovery Most fine Silver is found in the Province of Vestras were it not for the envy and jealousie of the Inhabitants either murmuring that Strangers should be employed or suspecting that they should be over-reached so that his Revenue is mightily hindred by this means 3. But his Taxes do far surpass all his other Incomes for he levyeth the Tenth of Rye Wheat Barley Fish Skins Oxen c. Of the Tenth of Oxen he hath gathered at some times 18000. Dollars with all which he maintaineth his Court Officers Navy and Armies In the time of War with Dane or Muscovite his Neighbours he alloweth his Souldiers Victuals which by his Taxes he provideth at easie Rates He giveth them likewise a Coat or Cassock every year which maketh them ever fully ready to obey his Commands The Marriage of the Kings Daughters is at the disposal of the Senate who give them for their Portion besides Silver Plate and other Gifts a 100000. Dollars Of the Uplandish People which pay not the Impost of Victuals the King is accustomed to exact of every Poll acording to his ability five Dollars or more yearly 4. His
populous but the liberties of the said two Hanse Towns and the Danish part retrench the estimate of its force It was over-run by the Swedes in 1643. during the residence of this King Frederick the third as Duke thereof to the great surprisal of old King Christiern yet he so notably bestirred himself with the help of the Emperour both against them and the Dutch at Sea and Land that he brought the business to some advantage on his side had not the French King interposed his Authority in the very nick of a decision of it by Battel and did the Swede a notable kindness since when by the marriage of the late King of Sweden with the Daughter of this present Duke who is a lineal Descendant of John the younger Son of Christiern the 3d. King of Denmark it hath suffered in that War from the Dane and his Confaederates what it had formerly underwent by the Swede who to shew his Affection to his Father-in-Law had procured him some Concessions and Assignments by the Roschild Treaty which being afterwards violated by the Swede this Country paid for the Swedes undue courtesie by the forces of the Marquess of Brandenburgh and the Emperour notwithstanding in the last Treaty in the Leagure before Copenhagen it retained thus much that the Jurisdiction of Swabstadt together with half the Chapter of the Dutchy of Sleswick lying in North Jutland together with the soveraignty thereof was assigned and passed over to this Duke for ever So that this Dukes Interest is at present bound up in that of Sweden having countermarched its Ground being formerly more strictly tyed to the Dane but we see what Fate and Revolutions can do As to the Turk being he is exempt from the Decrees and Injunctions of the Empire it is not to be expected he will put himself forward for that he is none of the wealthiest Princes having not one Farthing of Customes by Sea but only his Toll for the 50000. Oxen above mentioned and some Patrimonial Lands belonging to the Dutchy We are now obliged to pass to Oldenburg because it had formerly the same Dependencies and Aspects to Denmark but because I will not trespass too far upon Germany we will leave it to its place there And so we pass by Sea to Holland and the seven United Provinces of the Netherlands THE NETHERLANDS OR The 7. Vnited Provinces OF HOLLAND c. THese Countries are bounded on the North and West with the German Ocean on the East with part of Germany and on the South with Flanders c. They were once under several Lords and State-holders who by the Power and their Interest with the Emperours of Germany made themselves absolute from whom by the Marriage of their Heirs General they devolved at last into the Soveraignty of the Dukes of Burgundy whose Daughter conveyed them to Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria By his Grand-Son Charles the 5th they were designed to be made with the other ten Provinces one entire Kingdom but the Discrepancy of their Laws and Customes and the irreconcilable Contrariety thereof made him give over that Resolution About the Year of our Lord 1567. at what time the Duke of Alva raged against all these Provinces they shook off the Spanish Yoak and the Government of Philip the 2d Son of Charles the 5 th who setling himself in his Realm of Spain intended to govern them by a Stat-holder That Discontent together with the memory of their former Oppressions the Insolence of their present Governours the Contempt of their Laws and Priviledges together with the Decrees of the Council of Trent the revived Edict of the said Charles against Haeretiques and the Introduction of the Inquisition to which may be added the hated Administration of Perennot the Cardinal of Granvelle the Death of the Counts of Egmond and Horn and the tenth and hundredth Penny taxed by the Duke of Alva and his Cruelties thereafter so animated these People that they entred into a Confaederacy under the Conduct of William Prince of Orange Count of Nassau and in the year 1581. by a publique Instrument declared the said King to have rightfully fallen from the Dominion and Jurisdiction of these Provinces then united under the Profession of the Reformed Religion Nevertheless they are not yet nor are ever like to be an entire Common-Wealth while each retains its Soveraignty distinct and therefore it is a new Module of a Republique without any Pattern viz. Guelderland Holland Freizland Zeland Zutphen the Bishoprick of Utrecht and Groeningen Now the Cement and Principles of these Confaederate States and the Contracts by which they are Combined together and by which they have so gloriously subsisted come next under a brief Consideration The First of them is That they shall continue inseparably united nor shall act distinctly in the common Affairs 2. The Rights Priviledges and Franchises c. of each particular Province shall be continued inviolate 3. They shall strennuously assist one another and if any Difference arise between two Places they shall submit to the ordinary Course of Justice and shall attempt nothing to the prejudice of one another 4. They shall mutually aid and defend one another against the Armes of Spain and shall sympathize with one anothers Losses 5. The new Fortresses shall be made at the common Charge but the Frontiers at the particular Charge of each Province 6. Peace War or Truce not to be made without the common Consent of all the Estates and People 7. Liberty of Conscience shall be allowed 8. All Care shall be used by each particular Province and all of them in general that they give no Cause of Quarrel or Offence whereby they should become engaged in any other War than that of Spain These were the Originalls of this Republique and the Fundamental Laws thereof we will now see the Practice and Execution of them in the Administration and the Policy of the Government 1. Every City of these United Provinces acknowledges its particular Magistrate the Provincial Magistrate and the Colledge of the Lords the States-General By the Magistrate of the City are understood the Councellours whose total number is forty which are paid for their service and hold their Places for life because they may act freely without those resentments of a future private Condition these deliberate of the Affairs of the Province and inspect and choose all other Magistrates and are in effect the Peoples Servants as they will sometimes taunt them the Burgo-Masters and Sheriffs together with a Baily who judgeth absolutely in Criminal Causes but he holds his Place not longer than Durante Placito of the Council of the City The Provincial Magistracy is composed of a Councellour of every City of the Province whose Office is to Conserve its Priviledges and Immunities to this Court there lies an Appeal from the Sentence of the Sheriffs Court The Colledge or Assembly of the Lords States General is constituted of the Deputies of the Provincial Councils these make the Alliances and Treaties or
Provinces for Corn Grain and production of Cattel and affords all manner of good Diet in a plenteous manner and a very wholesome Air to digest it Brabant is the first in our way although the States General do share in the two first Stages thereof and some other Towns as Hertogenbush c. namely Breda the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Prince of Aurange and Bergenapzom and that they had not Antwerp was their own fault when undertaken by Prince Henry of Aurange in 1648. assisted thereto by 6000. French Horse and Foot sent them by the Duke of Orleans the French Generalissimo then besieging Dunkirk to his great dis-advantage for want of the said men to carry on the Siege of Dunkirk but given over by him at the order of the States and the instance of those of Amsterdam who fore-saw that that Town would carry away the Trade from them and deprive Holland of that Wealth and Glory she had so long enjoyed in the Traffique of that her grand Emporium And indeed it is one of the finest Places in the World famous for its Exchange from whence ours was patterned and that general resort made it so some a 100. years agoe from all Parts of the World when Amsterdam was in its Infancy and might never have risen to any grown Estate but for the War with Spain which eclipsed the lustre of this Mistriss of all Negotiation and pent her up in the Shallows of the River Scheld hard by the Sea Port Towns of Middle-borough and Flushing and the Block-house of Lillo which had had all the Deeps flowing in upon her with the Treasures of the World And in this Condition she yet remaines an Impost being still paid to the Dutch for all Goods passing from Flushing by Lillo and so thither It continueth nevertheless the residence of many wealthy English Merchants and of all Nations besides who live there in great splendour and are highly respected by the civil Inhabitants The Government being Monarchical with the Intervention of the Estates of the Country to advise upon occasions and the raising of Moneys it will be unnecessary to give a further account thereof because common and the same with all Regal Administration save that this is not so absolute as other Soveraignties for although the House of Burgundy by a standing Militia raised at first and paid by the consent of the Estates for the Honour and Majesty of their Persons which they increased afterwards at their pleasure to a formidable number of Gens d' Armes did keep them very low and the House of Austria into whose Patrimony this Princely Estate fell with the Marriage of the sole Daughter of Burgundy to the Arch-Duke Maximilian endeavoured to subjugate them totally by the same and other Means and Policies upon which followed many terrible Revolts particularly that of Ghendt yet could they not be brought to abandon their Pretensions to Liberty the Terms and Name whereof they held as precious Reliques and would boldly talk of them though to no effect But when the Hollanders by their valiant strugling had shook the Power of Spain and as good as shook off that Yoak that King found it high time to carry a gentle sweet hand over those Provinces that remained in his Subjection and their Allegiance and gave them that Gratis which the other had extorted although not to that full Liberty yet as much as satisfied this People who being addicted to the Romish Religion which was the main Grievance of the Revolters and eased in point of Taxes were content with their old Master being naturally of a more tractable and ducible temper than the stiffe and storm-driven Hollander who could never compose or quiet his thoughts after the first rupture And indeed had not these People been fast and sure in Allegiance which was sweetned to them by many Acts of Grace this King had never been able to have withstood such Potent Enemies as for 12. years together from 1636. to 1648. set upon him on both sides notwithstanding in which year or somewhat sooner without doubt he had been driven out of this Country betwixt the French and the Dutch and the Prey shared betwixt them but that the Dutch were more jealous of the French as a potenter and nearer Neighbour whose entire strength might at one time be powred in upon them So that although they made a show of pursuing their Confaederacy in 1646. and so to 48. yet in the mean while notwithstanding all the French Instances to the contrary by Mounsieur Servient at the Hague they secretly proceeded to an Agreement with the Spaniard and finally concluded it at Munster aforesaid By which means the more Northernly and Westernly Provinces as Brabant Namur c. had a discharged respite from the harass of War but the Easternly and Southerly suffered as much as ever from the French Nevertheless the King of Spain made shift to make his Party good against the French alone gaining one Summer what he lost in another until Oliver Cromwel upon account of Partnership joyned with the French and turned the Ballance wherefore the King of Spain who had begun a Treaty and debated most of the Particulars in the year 1656. at Madrid earnestly resumed it in the Summer 1659. at St. John de Luz in the Confines of both Kingdomes of France and Spain by the Plempotentiaries of the two Crowns Cardinal Mazarine and Don Lewis de Haro who in November concluded it and made this Agreement as to these Provinces which were assigned to the Crown of France for ever Namely the County of Artois with the Town and City of Arras Hesden and the Liberties thereof Bethune with its Jurisdiction Bapaume Lents Lillers Terroane de Pas with the Liberties c. together with the Count of St. Pol. Excepting the Towns and Jurisdictions of Ayre and St. Omer With the Town of Renty as belonging to either of those two Places Within the Province and County of Flanders the Towns of Graveling the Forts Philip Sluce Hanouin and Bourbourg together with St. Venant Since which time the French are likewise possessed of Dunkirk and Mardike Fort Within the County of Hanault of the Towns of Landrecy and Quesnoy the Ducal Title of Marshal Turenne with all their Jurisdictions and Appurtenances Within the Province of Luxemburg with the Towns of Theonville Montmedy and Damvilliers with their Dependencies the Government of Ivoy Chavanty and Marville as belonging partly to the Dutchy of Bar. In lieu whereof the French King exchanged the Towns of La-Bassee and Bergen St. Wynox with the Fort Royal built upon the Channel in the way to Dunkirk for the Places of Marienburg and Philippe ville seated betwixt the Rivers Sambre and the Maes together with Avennes seated upon the same Rivers And as to other Places taken by the Armes of France in these Countries the French re-delivered the Towns of Ypres Oudenaerd Dixmude Furnes with the Forts of La Fintelle La Quenoque Merville upon the River Lys Menene and
and the praeferring to Benefices The whole Revenues of the Clergy are valued at six Millions of Gold yearly Rent there being 34. Cathedral Churches all richly endowed some whereof having 50. some a 100. and some 200. Millions of yearly Revenue and in particular the Metropolitan Arch-Bishop of Toledo hath more than 300. Millions Neither do the Kings of Spain care to parcel these Churches to a greater number although over-grown with their plenty for then they should with more difficulty make use of the Revenues and Notes thereof when occasion required which is very often upon any disastrous Event As he likewise layes extraordinary Taxes upon the Laity in the like Occurrence for in the Kingdom of Castile alone Philip the 2d had nigh 8. Millions of Gold in one year reckonning hereto also the Profits which his Orders of Knighthood yield him viz. 200. Millions of Crowns so that here is Revenue more than enough were it not for the Canker of Interest at the Bank of Genoa nor are the Merchants of Antwerp without their share in the partition thereof and now the Amsterdammers also This Princes Coyn notwithstanding is the best in Europe since all their Neighbours make a gain of them as a Piece of Reals or 8. Six-Pences in our Money goeth in France for 4 s. 6 6. a Doublin in Gold that which is a Pistolet with them being 13. Shillings is in France and other Places 29. Reals which is 14 s. 6 d. of our Money Most of the Coyn that passeth for Wine Bread Fruit c. is of Brass which they call Quartas and Quartillas of their Maravedies 20. make three-pence but sometime the King enhanceth the Price of this Brass Money of a sudden and with a great deal of profit to himself brings a great loss upon Trade All their Meat Fruit and Bread are sold by the Pound and not except before an Officer which they call Alcalda so that no Stranger can be deceived in price or weight As to the Interest of these Princes it hath been evidently seen what it hath been but since the French mated them under Francis the First and held them to it till Lewis the 14th was too powerful for them since the Dutch baffled them and We triumphed over them they have been put to defend their own instead of over-running others Their Designes are now to secure their Estates and to draw from them that Revenue into their Coffers which was squandred away in the War without any account and yet to be as gentle a Soveraign as possible For all the late League the Spaniard nor French will ever joyn Interests or agree together more than they do in their Humours or Fashions In fine they really hate one another but more revengefully the Spaniard frets at the French as he that first put a stop to his Career of Ambition and therefore there 's nothing but Jealousie and Suspition between them however smoothed and oyled over with Court Artifices alike understood for such on both sides nor have their late frequent Consanguinities and Marriages any influences to draw them nearer to any amicable understanding With the Dutch he firmly keeps a good Correspondence as his very good Friends since Fate would needs have it so and useth them very respectfully as his good Neighbours and as security to his Estates in Flanders for the Dutch as was said do not love the Frenchmens vicinity For the King of England he cherisheth a more than usual respect testified by those publique Honours done his Ambassador Sr. Richard Fanshaw in that Kingdom and inviolably observeth the Peace betwixt us With the Duke of Savoy he is newly reconciled and certainly that Duke who hath the Citadel of Verceil restored him by this King by vertue of the late Treaty hath no great Antipathy against Him for he hath suffered twice more from the French than from the Spaniard who is as well able to Defend Him as he is conveniently scited to Offend him upon every displeasure The Duke of Parma is allyed to him and so sure to his Interest The Florentine is stiff but is aequal between the French and Him The Mantuan will be Neutral and the Pope his secret Friend The Prince of Modena will hardly engage any more against Him for in a manner he is the Umpire of all Quarrells between those Princes He is Patron also to the Common-Wealth of Luca. And for the States of Venice ever since the Dutchy of Millain came to the possession of this Crown they have set them down with great quietness rather looking to the strengthening of their own than attempting his and good reason too for our Ancestors have seen the Spanish favouring the Venetians when their Estate was dangerously hazarded by the Turk chearfully to have entred into the Actions of Cephalonia and Lepanto when nevertheless at the same instant they had at their own Doors Algier Tunis and other African Ports their dangerous Enemies The State of Genoa must favour the King of Spain and stand by him for he is their Protector and owes them vast summs which by any partiality of their side will be wholly lost With all the Catholique Princes of Germany he is in perfect Correspondence and how great a relation and necessity of mutual adhaerence there is between the Emperour and Him no man is ignorant confirmed now and more intimately contracted by the late Marriage of the Infanta With the King of Fez and Morocco his Catholique Majesty is in League but it is of no use or availment to him Of the Religion of Malta the King taketh a particular protection as that in like sort depends wholly upon his pleasure and doth readily execute his Royal Commandements serving him often in keeping the Coasts of Spain and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicily from Incursions of Pyrates and that without one penny cost or charges to the King As to the Turk he maintains no intercourse nor useth any Trade with him and yet he hath neither Peace nor War with him Peace he pretends he ought not to have and the other he careth not for and the Turk is as unwilling to quarrel as he remembring what he suffered from him at Lepanto So that pivate Damages are privately made good and the Algier men do take upon themselves the Rupture if any louder Mischief happen of which the Spaniard will not complain It is thought that this King is Superiour to the Turk in Naval Furniture and Provision and the Courage and Ability of Seamen for his Biskayners and Catalonians are hardly to be paralleled for enduring of Winter weather and Tempests and the Turk is alwayes moared at home from October to March besides the convenience of his Coast for building of Ships and Gallies of which he hath a 100. in readiness and the Turk hath but two Places all along his African Coast viz. Algier and Tunis where he can build a Vessel Upon this account it was that Philip the 2d was advised to seize upon the Morea and
higher Dutchy of Pomeren c. By the Treaty at Munster the lower Pomeren with the Lordships of Prignits and Cotten in Silesia and two Towns in Vorteland with the County of Rapir and Jurisdiction of the Town of Cothins in the Lower Alsatia The Revenue of this Prince notwithstanding these large Territories is computed to be nothing considerable not to amount to above 200000. at the utmost but certainly they reckon without their Host for although his Intrado be not any where exactly made out yet the effects thereof do declare some greater matter for what Armies did he maintain in the late Polish and Danish War for six Years together without any impairing of his Dominions and his Souldiers constantly paid And if it be said that he had a Purse before-stand it will appear that his constant Charge in Peace would consume such a summ by the multitude of Garrisons he keeps with such incident Expences Most certain it is that his Puissance is answerable to most of his Neighbour Princes not hath he wanted Conduct and Fortune answerable thereunto His Interest is to keep a firm and good understanding with the Hollander whom he knows how to use to his advantage and because of his Expectations there if the Prince of Aurange should decease a Minor without Issue He hath respects for the Family of the Count Palatine whose Sister he married and at whose instance he would have introduced the Calvinian for the Lutheran Profession but found it too hot for his fingers nevertheless he exerciseth the Calvinian way in his private Chapel according to his Stipulation with his then mutinous Subjects He is in good and perfect amity with the Emperour and all the Protestant Princes with the Kings of Denmark and France and Sweden and he reconciled but he stands upon his Guard in that Point In the first beginning of the Reformation there was some Difference betwixt Albert of Brandenburg and John Frederick of Saxony but ever since they have continued Friends for it was a Difference in Religion the Saxon being then a Lutheran He was first proposed as General against the Turks but he declined it but his rated numbers with some super-numerary supply will be advanced by him besides he will be necessitated to keep some considerable Forces in readiness if the Turks by some sudden Incursion should ever pass through Silesia as they have often attempted to get into it And so we proceed to Pomerania POMERANIA is bounded on the South with Brandenburg on the West with Mecklenburg on the North with the Baltique Sea 200. Miles in length and on the East with Prussia It is divided into the Upper and Lower Pomerania the former whereof with the Isles of Rugen a well-traded and inhabited County the Isle of Wollin the Trade whereof was long since conveyed to Lubeck and the Town of Stettin all three belonging to the Lower Pomeren were assigned to the Swede and the Brandenburger whose it was otherwise recompenced but whether so well contented is the question By this way the Swede hath an entrance into Germany and Poland and is therefore a great Eye-sore to all the Neighbouring Princes who look upon this back-door as a trap-door to surprize them unawares but nothing less would content the Swede who then had his Garrisons in every place of it and because he first set footing in this Country the Lower Pomeren is likewise to be his in case the Male Issue of the Brandenburger should fail This Dutchy is rated its Proportions for the Turkish War which the Swede is not to exceed And so we pass to Mecklenburg MECKLENBURG is bounded on the East with Pomerania on the South with Brandenburg and Saxon Lawenburg on the West with Holstein and on the North with the Baltique Sea The chief Town hereof is Wismar built upon the ruines of old Mecklenburg but assigned to the Swede at Murster and the Temporalities of the Bishopricks of Swera and Ratzenburg given this Duke in lieu thereof This is a fine Port Town and another Inlet into Germany and renders the Swede formidable also upon the Baltique Sea In this Dutchy stands Fridland the Title of Albert of Wallenstein the Emperours General who was afterwards made Duke of Mecklenburg also in place of Adolph Frederick and John Albert proscribed by the Emperour but was by his raiser soon after caused to be assassinated in his quarters at Egra upon suspicion of his aspiring to the Imperial Dignity but by the Treaty these Dukes were restored and Gustavus Adolphus the Son of John Albert now enjoyes the Estate These Dukes are of little Power of themselves and afford no discourse of Interest which is bound up in the Union and Combination of the Protestant Princes SAXONY bounded on the East with Bohemia and Brandenburg 16. Saxony on the North with part of the same and Mecklenburg on the West with Hassia Brunswick c. and on the South with Franconia Divided into two main Members viz. Upper Saxony Misnia Vorteland and Turingia the Estate of the Duke of himself And 2. the Principality of Anhalt Earldom of Mansfield Arch-bishoprick of Magdeburg yet administred by the Brother of this Duke but after his death to be given the Elector of Brandenburg and Saxon Lawenburg the Estate of another Family of this Duke besides that of Weymar descended of John Frederick deposed by Charles the 5th and the Town or Weymar given him for his maintenance His Nephew with Count Mansfield and the Marquess of Jagerendorf followed the fortune of Frederick Prince Elector and greatly molested the Emperour till forsaken by Bethlehem Gabor and destitute of all means being then in Hungary to maintain their Army whereupon Mansfield hasted with his most Expedite Troops through Bosnia where he dyed of a Flux having given himself Poyson as was reported and the gallant Duke of Weymar wasted with the same discontent and vexation retired into Silesia and there also expired as not long after did Jagerendorf and Gabor sooner The Son of this Weymar proved as gallant a Person as his Father against the Emperour and was made Generalissimo of the French Forces in Germany but he dyed soon after and in him by report that Family is extinct But to return for we must not stand to enumerate all Particulars in this mighty Province The other Part is meerly Feudatory and that scarcely performed 1. The Princes of Anhalt indeed owe some kind of dependence to this Duke but they are free Princes of the Empire and have proved excellent Warriours and Favourers of the Reformation Christian the young Prince thereof falling unhappily in the quarrel of the Count Palatine at the Battel of Prague and the Interest of this Family is still the same although in former times highly honoured by the Emperours and indeed not yet dis-respected by them They are by Religion Calvinists The Counts of Mansfield have almost traced the same steps of Military Glory after those of Arhalt and their Revenue almost as considerable part of their
say of the Hungarians then called Pannonians antiently That they were so unconstant that there was no governing them but by Cittadels so unruly that they knew no other Kings but their Landlords that they understood no Duty but towards a General and that they owned no Religion but Liberty And I may add of Hungary what they say of Scotland That as long as the People hang so much on the Nobility and the Priesthood neither Nobility nor Priesthood will stick to the King Since they are so subtile and proud it 's well they are so voluptuous and that their wit and malice is softned by their pleasures It 's some security that a Faction is deboished especially here where none comes to undoe the Common-wealth but a Sober Man it being an Hermit that first taught Hungary that dangerous way of Marrying Noblemens Children as soon as born and entring them in a Combination as soon as they are matriculated Christians It 's a wonder the Emperour cannot as well be rid of the Palatine of Hungary as the King of Spain is of the Justice of Arragon both whom pretending a Power between King and People usurped an Authority over both not easily checked unless as Albertus Arch-Duke of Austria got the Title to the Kingdom by marrying the King's Daughter 1431. so his Successors may keep Possession by marrying the Palatine's The Hungarians and the Welshmen agreeing in this that they would willingly be governed by none but their own Natives But rather than insist on these Niceties it becomes these desolate People 1. To fix upon some Principles that may unite these divided States 2. That they promote the general Peace of Christendom 3. That they provide good Shipping upon the Danube 4. That they Victual and Garrison the Frontier Towns already erected and erect more 5. That they set up the Profession of Religion in so decent a way as may work upon their Neighbour Turks a Reverence at least of if not a Respect for it 6. That they observe those Dissentions that grow among the Infidels and make use of their Discontents to weaken their Power A Lesson they might well learn from the very Turks themselves who have invaded Hungary now 8. times upon no other Encouragement than the Contests that they have had among themselves about Religion and the Quarrels with their Liege Lords about Liberty 7. That they prosecute the Mines that yield the Emperour 162000 l. and employ 10000. idle men that might be worse busied And encourage Tillage where Wheat is higher than a man's head Vines over-top the Trees Grass groweth up to the Knees and the Woods threaten the Clouds And 8. That they train their Foot to as much Expertness as they do their Horse that the Bandi may be as eminent amongst them as their Heyduchs to which purpose a veterane Army of 3000. Horse and Foot such as t ey raised Anno 1561. were not amiss since the Emperour holds but one Part of this Country and the Great Turnk two BOHEMIA BOHEMIA lyeth open to the same Dangers with Hungary from Greece alwayes obnoxious to Invasions and from Germany alwayes lyable to Pressures only it receives not less advantage from Calvinism than the Neighbour Countries have done from Lutheranism For the Emperour had been absolute e're this and all the Privileges contended for here and elsewhere swallowed up had not the Reformers put in a new stickling Principle into the People and made those who were ready to forgoe their Liberties stand fast for their Religion The Italians saith a Statesman who are very clear-sighted in Matters of State have perceived this long since And Bocalini when he brings in Apollo making answer to Sir Thomas More That all People will be Catholiques when the King of Spain will be content with Castile and the Emperour with the County of Hasburgh Makes it evident That Religion is the Bulwark of their Liberty and that which upholdeth all other States secures this It was a great weakness in the Bohemians to cast off the Emperour whose Power raised them to a Kingdom and whose Hereditary Estates surrounds them And it were a greater now to dispute with him since it lyeth so open to the Mahumetan by the way of Moravia lying on the West of it and to the Swede by the way of Silesia lying on the North. In which Places were Olmualz on the River Mark Brin on the River Schwatz Swaein on the Teia on the one stand Glatz with Noiste on a River of that name Breslaw and Glogaw on the River Odera well guarded with Forts Redoubts and Lines of Communication the 200000. Foot and the 32000. Horse that Dubravi saith the Emperour could raise here taking only a tenth man might make such an impression upon the debauched and divided State of the Turk as might alter the present settlement and fear of the World Only the Cavalry here are not so excellent by reason of the generous freedom allowed their Gentlemen as the Foot are unserviceable by reason of the despicable dejectedness impressed on their common People Otherwise this King of Bohemia might bid for the Eastern Empire as fairly as Sigismond of Luxemburgh another King thereof did for the Western of whom it 's said that being in the Diet for the Choice of an Emperour after the Death of Robert of Bavaria spoke the first according to the Custom and saying That he knew no man more worthy of the Empire than he was named himself whereupon the rest of the Electors his Colleagues admiring his freedom and generosity unanimously gave him their Voices An Interest as easily made had this Emperour three Lay-Counsellours and three Clergy-men of his Council Bohemians by Birth as that had who might give such safe Counsells in the grand Points of Religion and Liberty as might accommodate all the Pretences of both kinds those Bohemians made against the Emperour Mathias Provided alwayes That that Emperours mistake be avoided and than no Person there be advanced so farr that he hath nothing more to be ambitious of save his Power that advanced him For I shall never forget how Theodosius Duke of Braganza and the richest Lord in Portugal being displeased with Philip the 3d. his Liege Lord because he was not permitted to walk side by side with him withdrew from Court and how the Courtiers fore-seeing the danger of so great a Person 's discontent in so unsetled a Kingdom intreating his Majesty to satisfie him before he went home the King sent for him and upon his approach with an extraordinary sweetness said to him Pedid Duque Ask what you would have my Lord The Duke swelled with his Grandeur answered Senor los Mayores de vuestru Majestad que tanbien han sido los mios hizieron tautas mercedes a mâ—â—â—sa que no me queda nada que pedir Sir Your Majesties Ancestours who were mine also have bestowed so many favours and bounties upon my House that there remains nothing for me to ask Whereat the whole Court was surprized and after