A discours of the empire, and of the election of a king of the Romans, the greatest busines of Christendom now in agitation as also of the Colledg of Electors, their particular interests, and who is most likely to be the next emperour / by J.H. Howell, James, 1594?-1666. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A44712 of text R4781 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing H3065). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 124 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 67 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A44712 Wing H3065 ESTC R4781 13201221 ocm 13201221 98449 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A44712) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 98449) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 421:14) A discours of the empire, and of the election of a king of the Romans, the greatest busines of Christendom now in agitation as also of the Colledg of Electors, their particular interests, and who is most likely to be the next emperour / by J.H. Howell, James, 1594?-1666. [7], 109, [17] p. Printed by F.L. for Charles Webb ..., London : 1658. Written by James Howell. Cf. BM. "Senesco, non Segnesco" printed between author's initials. Includes index. Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library. eng Electors (Kurfürsten) -- Early works to 1800. Holy Roman Empire -- Kings and rulers. Holy Roman Empire -- History -- 1648-1804. Germany -- History -- 1517-1871. Rome (Italy) -- History -- 1420-1798. A44712 R4781 (Wing H3065). civilwar no A discours of the empire, and of the election of a King of the Romans, the greatest busines of Christendom now in agitation. As also of the Howell, James 1658 19962 5 5 0 0 0 0 5 B The rate of 5 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2003-12 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-10 Ben Griffin Sampled and proofread 2004-10 Ben Griffin Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A DISCOURS OF THE EMPIRE , AND OF The Election of A King of the ROMANS , the greatest Busines of Christendom now in Agitation . AS ALSO Of the Colledg of Electors , their particular Interests , and who is most likely to be the next EMPEROVR . {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} . J. Senesco , non Segnesco . H. LONDON , Printed by F. L. for Charles Webb , at the Bores-head in S. Pauls Church-yard 1658. The Summ and substance of the ensuing Discours as it is divided to seven Sections . THe proeme , shewing the Motives that induc'd the Author to undertake this task . The first Section , Treats of the first Rise of the Roman Empire , and of the sundry Rotations , or Retrogradations of Goverment that hapned in Rome , &c. The second Section , Treats of the Septemvirat , or the Electors of the Roman Empire , their primitive Constitution , and Power ; with their precedence , and offices , &c. The third Section , Treats of the stile , and title of Emperour , or Caesar , and of the King of the Romans , &c. The fourth Section , Treats of the Diet , or Imperial Parlement , and the Members therof , with the Division of Germany , and the strength of the Empire , &c. The fift Section , Consists of a parralel 'twixt the Empire pass'd , and the present , with the causes first and last of the declination therof , &c. The sixt Section , Treats of the enlargement of the Colledg of Electors , from seven , to an Octum virat ; And of the Contest that 's now 'twixt the Count Palatin of the Rhin , and the Duke of Bavaria , touching the Vicarship of the Empire , &c. The seventh Section , Consists of som reflexes made upon the present conjuncture of things , and the political Condition of Germany , with a conjecture who is likely to be King of the Romans , and consequently the next Emperour , &c. A Corollary . Pauca in multa diffundere est opus Ingenii , Multa in pauca digerere est opus Artis . A DISCOURS OF THE EMPIRE , IN A LETTER Sent lately to a Noble Personage . My Lord , THe Election of a King of the Romans , and consequently of a Western Emperour , being now the Gran Busines in agitation , and wheron the eyes not only of all Christendom , but of other Princes ( as well Turk as Tartar ) are more earnestly fix'd than at other times , because of so long a vacancy , and a kind of demurr ; As also for the opposition that France , with all her confederatts , are like to make for secluding , and putting by the House of Austria ( especially the young King of Hungary ) wherin the German Empire hath continued above two hundred and odde yeers . And wheras that after som loose extemperall communications lately upon this subject , your Lordshipp desir'd much to be inform'd of the present estate and interests of Germany , together with the power and primitive constitution of the Septemvirat , or the Colledg of Electors , with other reflexes upon that point ; Being returned home , I fell a rummaging my old papers , and such remarques that I gathered when I was employ'd in some parts of the Empire , and to comply with your Lordshipps desires ( which shall alwaies be as binding to me as Decrees ) I have digested into this short ensuing Discours , consisting of seven Sections . The first Section . Treating of the first Rise of the Roman Empire , and the sundry Rotations , or Retrogradations of Goverments that hapned in Rome , &c. NOw for a cleerer illustration of things , and a more regular proceeding , it is not amiss to fetch in matters from their fundamental ( for the furthest way about is somtimes the neerest way home specially in the reserches of Truth . ) And to do this , we must go to Rome , a City that hath had as many strange traverses of fortune , and turns of Goverment , as any other upon Earth , having bin eight several times ravish'd and ransack'd by sundry warlike Nations . First by Brennus the bold Britain , then by Alaric the Goth , afterwards by Ge●sericus the Vandale , then twice by To●ila the Hun , after him by the Moores and Saracens , then by three Christian Emperours , viz. by Henry the fourth , Otho the third , and Charles the fift when his General the Duke of Bourbon breath'd his last in scaling her walls , ( and she was lately like to receive an ill-favour'd shock by the Duke of Parma ) yet she never fell sans recource as they say , or was ever layed so flat upon her back , but she recovered herself , and rays'd up her crest again , whence it may be inferr'd , that an extraordinary Providence , and Tutelar Genius doth attend that Citty ; 'T is tru that the translating of the Imperial Court by Constantine , to Bizantium ( which he christned afterwards with his own name ) was fatal to Rome , when the glory of the Tyber and Tyrrhene Sea pass'd over to the Hellespont , yet a Spiritual Head preserv'd her still in some lustre , In so much that when the Pope came to be her Master , she might have bin sayed to have bin reduc'd to her first Principles , and to have pass'd from one Shepheard to another , viz. from Romulus , to Sylvester ; But ther were a world of vicissitudes and revolutions of goverments interven'd , and pass'd between ; Her primitive , and original way of Ruling was by Kings , but , after a hundred and forty yeers continuance , she surfetted upon that , which surfett may be sayed to have proceeded from the Peeples wantones rather than from Tarquins lust ; Then , she was govern'd a while by Consulls , so call'd a Consulends carrying a memento of their duty is their names ; Then followed the Decemvirs who were put down for the same vice that destroyed the Kings After that , the Supremacy was delated to two Tribunes ; Then it revolv'd to Consulls , then to Tribunes again , b●● more than two , which lasted a good tract of time above seventy yeers , then came Consuls in again the third time , after that Dictators , untill Caius Iulius Caesars time who was the first perpetuall Dictator , and a little after the first Emperour , though it cost him dear , for he might be sayed to have cimented the foundation of the Roman Empire with his own bloud being murther'd in the Senat by small contemptible tools , yet it remain'd in his progeny to six descents , viz. to Domitius Nero . Thus after so many rotations or retrogradations of goverments , and a kind of cushion dance of several kind of Rulers , the Imperial was Established at last , and the successive Emperours were us'd to be chosen by the Senat , and then saluted by the Army ; But afterwards the Legionary Soldiers & Pretorian bands made Emperours sub hasta in the field , and Galba was the first who was chosen so , and that with the consent of the Senat ; now , it was the most unpolitique act that ever the Roman Senat committed , which prov'd so fatal to so many of the following Emperours who held not their security as much as their lifes from the Soldiers , which took them away at plesure ; for after that the Election pass'd from the Senat to the Sword , ther were above thirty Emperours that were put to violent deaths , and som of them very tragical , fower murthered themselfs , many also of those that were adopted Caesars , and design'd to succeed in the Empire were untimely made away , being rays'd to that pitch that they might perish the sooner , as an Author sayes . But to go more punctually to work we will muster up here most of those Emperours that came to immature and violent deaths ; Iulius Caesar was assassinated in the Senat. Octavius the first Augustus ( called so ab augendo Imperium , from enlarging the Territories of the Empire ) was made away by his wife Livia ; Tiberius by Macro ; Caligula by Cassius Chereas ; Claudius poyson'd by his wife Agrippina ; Nero and Otho slew themselfs ; Galba and Vitellius were done away by the Soldiers ; Domitian by Stephanus ; Commodus by Letus , and Electus ; Pertinax and Iulianus by the Praetorian bands ; Caracalla by Macrinus command ; Macrinus , Heliogabalus , Alexander , Maximinus , Maximus , and Balbinns by the Soldiers ; Hostilianus by Gallus and Aemilianus , and they by the Legions ; Valerianus died in Parthia ; Florianus waas ccessary to his own death ; Aurelianus murther'd by his own meniall servants ; Gallienus , Quintillus , Tacitus and Probus by the militia , &c. Now , that which heighned the Spirits of the Soldiery to such infolences , was the largesses , and encrease of salary , that the Praetorian bands us'd to receave from the new Emperour , which pernicious kind of bounty was begun first by Claudius Caesar , and is now practised by the Turk : for evry new Sultan useth to enhance the pay of the Spahies , and Ianizaries to so many aspers more for fear of mutinieng , which in time may be the bane of the Ottoman Empire , for such hath bin the presumption allready of the sayed Ianizaries of late yeers that they have murther'd two of their Emperours in lesse than five and twenty yeers . But in the Roman Empire the military bands came to such an exorbitancy of power , that somtimes they did prostitute , and put the Empire to sale by publique outcry , as we read how Sulpitianus offerd twenty Sestertiums ( which are neer upon eight pounds sterling apeece ) to evry Soldier , but Iulianus rays'd the market higher , and out-bad him ; But Constantine the great ( the first Christian Emperour and a Britain born ) found out the policy to regulat , & lessen the Praetorian bands , till at last he quite casheerd them , at least reduc'd them to such a nomber that they could do no hurt . The removal of the Imperial Court to Constantinople , though it prov'd advantagious to the Bishop of Rome , who had the Citty transferr'd unto him by way of a pious donation from Constantine about his departure from Italy to the Levant , as the Church Annals affirm , though some by way of drollery , and derogation to the Pope do say , that he hath the same right to Rome , as Venice hath to the dominion of the Adriatique Gulph , and that they are both inserted in one patent , though that patent cannot be found upon any record ; I say though this removall was an advantage to the Bishop of Rome , yet it prov'd very prejudiciall to Italy in general , and to all the Western parts of the Empire , for many rough-hewn Northern Nations , that desir'd to come neerer the Sun , took the advantage hereby to rush in , not only to Italy , and harasse her so often , but like so many fwarms of Locusts they cover'd other Countreys , ( And some fear'd the like of the late Swedish Army , had they prosper'd in Poland ) The Huuns took such firm footing that they gave the name to Hungary ; The Longobards to Insubria , and the territoties about Milan ; The Goths and Vandales piercing the very heart of France overcame Spain , and denominated Andaluzia , Insomuch that the present King of Spain doth acknowledg himself to be de la sangre de los Godos , to descend from the Goths , wherby som wold inferr that he is a German not only by extraction from the House of Austria , but also from the Gothique race , who were a branch of the Teutons , or Germans , taking the word in the largest sense ; but more properly may Germany challenge the French , and English to be her Children , the first comming from the Territories of Franconia , the other from the lower Circle of Saxony wherof they bear the names ( Saissons ) among the Welsh and Irish to this day . But to proceed from the main subject , the Eastern part of the Roman Empire bore up many ages after Constantine with som lustre in the Levant , though the Northwest parts suffred many Eclipses , being so pittifully dilacerated , and torn by the fury of forein Nations ; Now the chiefest cause therof may be ascrib'd to the remotenes of the Emperours person at Constantinople , who by reason of so incommunicable a distance could not reach a timely hand to assist them with auxiliaries ; But about the yeer eight hundred a new kind of auspicious star appeer'd in the West , which was Charlemain , whom the Germans do claym to be their Compatriot , though they go a great way back and fetch him from Pharamond , or the first race of the Kings who invaded Gallia , and by way of conquest call'd it France . Charlemain was the Gran-child of Charles Martell , who being Maire of the Palace , or chief Steward and Surintendent of the Kings Court gott his Son Pepin to be crown'd King of France over the head of Chilperic his liege lord and master , Martel giving out that he did not follow the ambition of his heart , but the inspirations of heaven in this act ; So the Scotts stories tell us that the Family of the Stewards came to be Kings of Scotland by taking their Surnames from their office , for as Charles Martell was in France , so the first of them was Steward of the Kings Court in Scotland . Pepin though a little man did great exploits , for he cross'd the Alpes , and recover'd Lombardy where a race of Goths had bin Kings above 200 yeers , And at his return to France conferr'd the Exarcbatship , or Vicegerency of Italy upon the Bishop of Rome . Charlemain his Son did higher achievments , for he clammer'd ore the Pyreneans and debell'd the Saracens in Spain , discomfited the Saxons , and confirm'd the conquest of Italy , so that he was solemnly saluted Emperour of the West at Rome by the general voice , and wonderfull acclamations of the peeple , and so confirm'd by the Popes benediction ( Leo the 4th . on Christmas day . Nicehporus in Constantinople storm'd extremely at first ther shold be another Emperour besides himself , alledging that he was the sole Roman Emperour , and accordingly us'd to send his Exarques , or Viceroyes to govern Italy , but not knowing how to remedy it , he complied at last with Charlemagne who then kept his Court in Germany , where he died , and was buried at Aquisgrave , leaving Ludovicus his son to succeed him , who partitioning the Empire afterwards twixt his three Sonns did wonderfully enervat and enfeeble it , as a great River cutt out into many armes , and sluces must needs grow weaker and shallower in her first bed . Now , though Charlemain was an extraordinary heroique , and a Magnanimous gallant man as his actions tell us , yet his children for fower descents together did strangely degenerat , and prov'd but poor spirited men , His Son Lewis was call'd the Gentle for his soft nature , Charles the Bald was of a baser alloy than hee , Lewis the stuttring inferior to both , Charles the grosse the last Emperour and King of France died a most disastrous death ; After him the Empire was soly devolv'd to the Germans ; Charlemain and his Dependants enjoy'd it 118 yeers , then it came to the House of Saxony who held it 117 yeers , The House of Suevia 110 , other families ( wherof the House of the Count Palatine of the Rhin , and of Nassaw were somtimes ) held the Empire 112 yeers , untill it came to the House of Austria , who have held it longer than any one Family ever did . Now , ther is a remarquable Tradition how the House of Austria came to that comble of greatnes , which they report thus , Rodulph Earl of Habspurg returning homeward fromhunting one day overtook a Priest that had the Eucharist under his habit , comming from visiting a sick body , The Earl finding he was tyr'd alighted , and help'd the Priest a horsback , and holding the bridle in his hand wayted upon him as a lacquay till he came to the Church , and replac'd the Host upon the Altar , The Priest sang an extraordinary Masse ( where the Earl devoutly attended all the while ) and pronouncing the Benediction at the end , he cross'd the Earl , saying that for so signal , and a sweet Act of piety , His House shold be one of the greatest , and most glorious Families that ever was upon Earth , which prov'd tru , for a while after not only the German Empire , but the East , and West Indies , with all the Dominions of Spain , wherof some are the tother side of the world , came to that Family . And now , my Lord , I will proceed to the Septemvirat , or Colledg of Electors ( wherof I promis'd an account in the beginning ) whose Creture the Emperour may be sayed to be , for t is their breath that makes him . The second Section , Touching the Septemvirat , or Electors of the Roman Emperour , their primitive Constitution , and power with their precedence , and offices , &c. FOr two hundred yeers after Charlemain , who was the Restaurator of the Occidental parts of the Roman Monarchy ( which had bin so pittifully shatter'd by the irruption of sundry barbarous peeple , as was sayed before ) and therfore meritoriously stil'd , the first Emperour of the West , I say for a long time ther was no certain or regular way of Election , and the customs was that the Emperour regnant us'd to nominate , & recommend his Son , or neerest Kinsman to the German Princes , but in the yeerabout 1000 after the Incarnation , Rome began to rayse up her crest , and brussle , by re-demanding and challenging the Election of the Emperour , alledging , 't was a prerogative of Hers de jure antiquo ; The raking up of the ashes of this old Right , was like to kindle a great fyre on both side of the Hills , for the Italian Princes stuck to Her in the claym ; But Otho the third a prudent Prince found a way to prevent it , by procuring a Cosen of his to be created Pope by the name of Gregory the fift , who being a German born , was so favorable and indulgent of his own Countrey , that he confirm'd the choosing of the VVestern Emperour to the German Nation , but the Romans , with some Italian Princes stomaching heerat , they depos'd Gregory , and chose the Bishop of Placentia Pope in his place , by the title of Iohn the ninth : Otho took this in so great indignation , that he suddenly rays'd an Imperial Army , clammer'd or'e the Alpes , and made his way by the point of the Sword towards Rome , which open'd her Gates unto him without much difficulty , so he seaz'd upon the person of the new Pope , disoculated that counterfait light of the Church by plucking out his eyes , and replac'd Gregory the fift his Cousin in Saint Peters chair with triumph . Otho being victoriously return'd to Germany , convoqu'd the chiefest Princes , and propos'd unto them the multiplicity of inconveniences , encumbrance , and causes of confusion , that the incertain , and unestablish'd way of choosing an Emperour , and his immediat Successor , was subject unto , therfore he desir'd them to consider of a more regular way of Election ; so after many mature deliberations , and bandings of opinions they fell upon settling a Septemvirat , viz. seven Princes , in whom a plenary power shold be invested , to elect an Emperour , and his next Successor ; Herupon the Colledg of Electors was founded , and constituted , but they must be all within the German pale ; Addresses were made to the Pope about this business , who not only approv'd herof , but was ready to confirm the Act , provided that three of the sayed Electors were Ecclesiastiques ; So the Western Empire was made purely Elective , giving encouragements therby for Princes of Vertue and merit to aspire . Herupon the Archbishop of Mentz , the Archbishop of Collen , and the Archbishop of Tryers were chosen for the three Spiritual , and for the secular the Palsgrave of the Rhin , the Duke of Saxony , the Marquis of Brandenburg , and in case their suffrages were equal , the Duke of Bohemia ( made about 80 yeers after King ) was chosen to have a session among them , and whom he nam'd of those two that they had elected , shold be Emperour , so that the Bohemian might be call'd rather an Umpire than an Elector in these transactions . This great Act was solemnly voted , and enroll'd in the Imperial Chamber , and som hundred of yeers after 't was ratified and fortified by the famous Aurea Bulla , the Golden Bull , who regulated matters more punctually touching the Offices , the Precedencies , and other particulars reflecting upon the sayed Electors . The Archbishop of Mentz was made High-Chancellor of Germany , He of Colen High-Chancellor of Italy , and he of Tryers High-Chancellor of France ; The Duke of Saxony was made sacri imperii Archi-Marascallus , Lord high Marshall of the sacred Empire ; The Count Palatin of the Rhin sacri imperii Archidapifer , Lord high Sewer of the sacred Empire ; The Marquis of Brandenburg was made sacri imperii Archicamerarius , Lord high Chamberlain of the sacred Empire ; The Duke ( now King of Bohemia ) was made sacri imperii Archipincerna , Lord chief Buttler of the sacred Empire , all which offices are contracted in this tetrastique . Moguntinensis , Trierensis , Coloniensis , Quilibet Imperii fit Cancellarius horum ; Et Palatinus Dapifer , Dux portitor ensis , Marchio Praepofitus camerae , Pincerna Bohemus . Thus in English , Mentz , Colen , Tryers , let these Three Each of Them an Arch-Chancellor bee , Duke , bear the Sword ; Count , the first Dish take up ; Marquis look to the Chamber , Boheme the Cup . So the secular Electors are compos'd of a King , a Duke , a Marquis , and a Count . Upon an occasion of a new choise , these with the Ecclesiastiques were to be summon'd by the Archbishop of Mentz , to assemble within three months time , and to be garded by the Countrey as they passed along , but their retinue was not to exceed two hundred horse , wherof ther shold be but fifty armed . Being conven'd , the Ecclesiastical Electors were to put their hands only on their breasts , the Secular Princes solemnly upon the Book , to choose a fit Imperial head for Christendome , and they were to do this within the compass of thirty daies , and not to go out of Frankford , or the place where they mett in the interim , & Iury-like to have no other nutriment but bread and water after the expiration of the sayed thirty dayes . The choice being made by the Assembly of Electors , the new Emperour , according to the tenure of the golden Bull the grand Charter of the Empire ( so call'd because 't was confirm'd by the Pope ) is saluted by the Title of King of the Romans , and not Emperour till he be crown'd with three Crowns , viz. with the golden Crown representing Rome , with a sylver Crown representing Germany , and with an Iron Crown representing Lombardy , which ceremony useth to be perform'd at Aquisgrave for all the three places , But he is not to be call'd Augustus till confirm'd by the Pope . At the first day of the Emperours Inauguration , the foresayed Electors were to give their personal attendance in the Emperours Court , but now they are dispens'd withall to do it by proxy . Before the Palace Gate ther us'd to stand a heap of Oats to the breast of a Horse , then comes the Duke of Saxony mounted , having in his hand a sylver wand , and a sylver measure stood by , which was to weigh two hundred Marks , he fills the measure , sticking his wand afterwards in the remainder , and so goes to attend the Emperour ; The three Arch-bishopps say Grace ; The Marquis of Brandenburg comes also on hors-back with a sylver bason of water , of the value of twelve Marks , and a clean towell which , being alighted , he holds to the Emperour ; Then comes the Count Palatin of the Rhin a hors-back also , and being alighted he carries fower dishes of meat , ev'ry dish of the value of three Marks ; Then the King of Bohemia comes with a napkin on his arm , with a cover'd cupp of twelve Marks which he presents . Touching the precedence of the Electors among themselfs one may judg of it by the maner of their session with the Emperour , when he sitts in Majesty , which is thus . The Arch-bishop of Tryers high Chancellor of France sitts over against the Emperour ; The Arch-bishop of Moguntia or Mentz , as high Chancelor of Germany sitts on the right hand of the Emperour ; The Arch-bishop of Collen on the left hand ; The King of Bohemia hath his seat on the right hand of the Arch-bishop of Mentz , and next him the Count Palatin of the Rhin ; The Duke of Saxony fitts on the left hand of the Arch-bishop of Collen , and by him the Marquis of Brandenburgh . Moreover when they us'd to go in procession with the Emperour 't was ordain'd in the Golden Bull that the Arch-bishop of Tryers shold go before his Imperial Majesty , and neer him on both sides one of the Ecclesiastical Electors ; The King of Bohemia was to go alone after the Arch-bishops , and after him the Elector of Saxony with the naked Sword of the Empire in his hand , having on his right hand the Count Palatin of the Rhin , carrieng the golden apple which denotes the world to be under the Roman Empire ; And on the left hand of the Duke of Saxony , the Marquess of Brandenburgh was to march with a Scepter in his hand , then followed the Emperour himself . By what hath bin spoken the discern Reader may judg who had the priority of place , the Count Palatin of the Rhin or the Duke of Saxony , a Contest that hath gravell'd many . The third Section , Touching the stile & title of Emperour or Caesar , and of the King of the Romans , &c. COncerning the Character , and title of Emperour , it is of a younger date than that of King , and among the Romans it was in the beginning given to him who was Commander in chief of the Militia , nor was it neer of such a transcendency then as now it is , He was at firstbut tutoyè he was but Thou'd when he was spoken unto , but afterwards in regard he had the prerogative to conferr honors , and offices , to grant pardons , and patents of grace , with other obliging motives , the Courtiers , especially the Churchmen began to magnifie , or rather deifie him with sublime attributs , as we read in Symmachus in his Epistles to Theodosius , and Valentinian , wherin his stile unto them is Vestra aeternitas , vestrum numen , vestra perennitas , vestra clementia , &c. then he began to be call'd Divus Imperator ; but touching the title of Majestas , which was given ab augendo Imperium ( as was touch'd before , ) or as some wold have it a majori statu , it is an attribut of no great antiquity , for it is not found among the old Authors , and it came not till Henry the seconds time to France who is not us'd to be backward in assuming , and applyengtitle of greatnes to her self . But concerning the dignity of Emperour , as heretofore , so is he still accounted the prime potentat and Prince paramount among Christians , and not only among them , but the Turk , next himself accounts the German Emperour the greatest Monark upon Earth , and esteems him accordingly , which appeer'd in the person of David Vngnadius , who being not an age since Ambassador in Constantinople for the Christian Emperour , and coming for audience to the Duana in the Seraglio , the Perfian Ambassador had come before , and got the chair , but Vngnadius offering to go away ther was an upper chair put for him . Another time upon the celebration of Mahomet the Thirds Circumcision which lasted forty daies & nights , ther being then in Constantinople the Legats of the greatest Monarks upon Earth , yet Hee who was Ambassador at that time for the Emperour Rodulphus the second had alwayes the first place . Some Civilians exalt the Emperour with divers transcendent titles , wherof one is , Dominus totius terrae , the lord of the whole Earth ; That Caesar is Proximus Deo ; Caesar is next to God Almighty ; But though the Emperour be accounted the sole supereminent Prince in Christendom yet ther have bin other Kings who assum'd that title besides him ; Som of the Kings of Spain have bin call'd Imperatores Hesperiae ; King Edgar whowas row'd upon the river of Dee by fower Kings , wherof the Scot was one , had this title , which appears upon good record by this bouncing Character . Ego Edgarus Altitonantis Dei largiflua clementia Anglorum Basileus omniumque Regum Insularúmque , Oceanique Britanniam circumjacentis , Cunctarúmque Nationum quae infra eam includuntur Imperator , et Dominus , He was call'd also Albionis Imperator . I Edgar by the bountifull clemency of the highthundring God , King of the English , Emperour , and Lord of all the Kings , Islands , and seas circumjacent to Britain , and of all the Nations included therin , he was stil'd in another place Emperour of Albion . Moreover the Realms of England was declared an Empire by Act of Parlement octavo Henrici octavi and in divers other Acts the Crown of England is call'd the Imperiall Crown , and the City of London the Imperiall Chamber . Now touching the respects that other Christian Kings owe the Emperour , they acknowledge no other but that of precedence only , though Henry the second of England in his letter ( which stands upon record ) to Frederique Barbarossa , and Richard the first in his to Henry the 6. Emperour , seem to acknowledg a kind of subordination by way of Complement ; but Edward the third of England wold not kisse the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria's feet at their Enterview in Colen , and the reason he alledg'd , was , because he was Rex inunctus habens vitam & membrum in potestate sua , &c. because he was an anointed King having life and limb in his power , &c. which Edward , as the German Annals attest , Ab Electoribus fuit vocatus , et nominatus Vicarius Imperii , he was call'd , and nominated Vicar of the Empire , and as some have it , was offer'd to be Emperrour , in regard of his acquests , and glorious Exploits in France , whence he brought the three flower de luces upon his Sword , after the French had sent him that geering answer that la Couronne de France n'est pas liee a la quenoville , that the Crown of France was not tied to a distaff . Add herunto that the Emperour cannot be call'd so pure , and independent a Monark as some other Kings , for besides that he is but Tenant for life and govern'd by Diets which are Imperial Parlements , the Electors may be sayed to be his Associats , and to have a share in the goverment ; Nay , the Emperour by the ancient customs of the Empire may be brought to answer in causis pro quibus impetitus fuerit , sayeth the Bull , before the Count Palatin of the Rhin , but he can passe no Iudgement unlesse the Emperour himself be present in Imperiali curia . Ther want no examples that some Emperours have bin depos'd for their mal-administration , an instance shall be made in Wenceslaus in the yeer 1400. who was formally degraded by the Archbishop of Mentz upon a publique theater in the plaines of Brubach neer the river of Rhin by a judicial sentence , which I thought worthy the inserting here . VVee Iehn Archbishop of Moguntia , Prince Elector and Archchancellor of the German Nation , in the name of other Princes Electors , Dukes , Landgraves , Counts , and other Lords , Barons , and Potentats of the Empire , in regard of divers dommageable interests , and for the special importance of all the Empire , we do depose , and deprive by common consent , and Mature deliberation , Wincestaus as negligent , unprofitable , and unworthy of the Roman Empire ; We degrade him of all the dignities and of all the honors which were due to him from the Empire , and we publish him in the presence of all the Princes , Barons , and Potentats of the Empire for a prophane person , and unworthy of such an honor , and dignity ; Enjoyning Evry one of what quality or condition soever he bee , not to yeeld him obedience as Emperour , prohibiting evry one to payhim any kind of tribut , fief , or forfeiture , either by Right or by covenant , or any office appertaining to the Empire , Nay , we will that those perquisits be reserv'd untill God doth give us the grace to elect an Emperour , that may be for the benefit of the whole Empire , and the Christian Common-weale . And it is well known how often he hath bin admonish'd by the Princes Electors both in publique and privat , and particularly by ev'ry one of our Order that he wold leave his unworthy deportments , and carry himself as his Dignity requir'd . Concerning the King of the Romans , it is but a modern title , peculiar to him who is declar'd Heir apparent , or the design'd Successor of the Empire ; But at first , he who was so chosen was called Caesar , and it was the Emperour Adrian who first cal'd AeliusVerus by that title , insomuch that the family of Iulius Caesar being extinct in the person of Domitius Nero who was the sixt in descent ( as afore was told ) the name Caesar ceas'd to be us'd as the name of a family or blood , but it was us'd as a name meer honorary , and precedent to the Empire ; Afterwards the design'd Successor to the Empire was call'd Despote , after that he was call'd King of Italy , then King of Germany , and lastly King of the Romans , Romischer Konig in high Dutch , and the Emperour himself was only call'd Caesar Keyser in Dutch , wch appellation continueth to this day ; And it was Charles the 5 who introduc'd the title of King of the Romans , who since is acknowleg'd the immediat , and unquestionable apparent Heir and to succeed in the Empire , whether it be by Resignation , by deprivation , or death , being in proximo fastigio collocatus to the Emperour ; Nay som Civilians hold that the King of the Romans may make Edicts without the regnant Emperour , being bound only as they say , Majestatem Imperialem comiter observare , making him hereby to owe a duty of reverence , but not of superiority to the Keysar or Emperour . The 4 Section . Touching the Diet or Imperial Parlement , and the members therof , with the Division of Germany , and the strength of the Emperour . THe German Empire is divided to ten Circles , viz. Austria the high , and low , Franconia , Bavaria , Saxonia , Westphalia , the lower Circle of Saxony , Burgundy , the two Palatinatts ; The goverment wherof is principally in the Emperour , contractedly in the Electors , and diffusively in the Diet or Imperiall Parlement , and other Courts , wherof the Chamber of Spire is the Supreme , whence ther is no appeal . In the Diets , after the Emperour , the Princes Electors are the prime state , among whom the Prelats have still the priority ; The second state is compos'd of four Arch-bishops , viz. he of Magdenkurg ( who is primat of all Germany ) He of Salzburg , he of Besanson , and the Arch-bishop of Breme , which Archbishoprick the Kings of Denmark have had a long time ; Then ther are one and thirty Bishops , and eleven Abbats , wherof he of Fulda is the chief , having above fourscore thousand rich dollers in annuall revenue ; Then come the secular Princes of the Empire , wherof the Arch-dukes of Austria are first , and they are divided into two branches , viz. of Germany and Burgundy . The third Estate is compos'd of Imperial towns which are about sixty five in nomber , som wherof hold soly from the Emperour ( which are accounted the most noble , ) and some are Relevant from other Princes . Ther is another sort of Towns call'd the Hansiatique Towns , twixt whom ther is a strong confederacy , and fraternal league in merchantile affairs : They are divided into fower classes , or Metropolitan Cities , to wit Lubeck , Colen , Brunswick , and Danzick , who have a solemn yeerly convention at Lubeck where they keep their Records . The Hans or Hansiatique Association is of long antiquity ; touching the word , some wold fetch it from hand , because they of the Society plight their faith when they enter into the fraternity ; others derive it from the word Hansa , which is Counsell or advice in the Gothique toung ; Others wold have it from Hander see which signifieth a place neer the Sea , and this passeth for the most current Etymologie , in regard that all their Townes are so situated , or upon som Navigable river leading to the Sea . The Extent of the old Hans was from the Nerve in Liefland , as far as the banks of the Rhin , comprehending about 62 townes of trassique , whereof the fower great Towns afore nam'd were the several precincts ; The Kings of Poland , and Sweden have sued to be their Protector , but they refus'd them , because they were not Princes of the Empire ; They put off the King of Denmarque also with a complement , nor wold they admit of the King of Spain when he was most powerfull in the Netherlands , though afterwards they desir'd his help when 't was too late ; They refus'd also the Duke of Anjou , notwithstanding that the world thought at that time he shold have married Queen Elizabeth of England , who appeer'd for him in this busines , wherby 't was probable , they might have recover'd their old priviledges in England ; So that I do not find that they had any other Protector ( unles of late yeers ) but the great master of Prussia , and their want of a Protector did do them some prejudice in that famous difference they had with Queen Elizabeth ; The old Hans had Extraordinary immunities conceded unto them by our Henry the third , because they assisted him in his warrs with so many Ships , and , as they pretended , the King was not only to pay them for the service of the sayed Ships , but for the vessels themselfs in case they miscarried ; Now , it fortun'd , that upon their return to Germany from serving Henry the third ; a great part of their Fleet was cast away by distresse of weather , for which according to covenant they demanded reparation ; Our King in lieu of money gave them some immunities , and among other acts of grace , they were to pay but one per cent custom , which continued till Queen Maries time , and by the advice of King Philip her husband she Enhanc'd the one to twenty percent ; The Hans not only complain'd , but clammor'd allowd for breach of their ancient privileges confirm'd unto them by long prescription from thirteen successive Kings of England , which they pretended to have pourchas'd with their money ; King Philip undertook to accommodat the busines , but Queen Mary dieng , a ltttle after ( out of a conceit of the lesse of Calais , which she sayed upon her death-bed should be found Engraven in her heart if she were open'd ) and he retiring hence , there could be nothing done ; Complaints being made afterwards to Queen Elizabeth , she answered , that , as she wold not innovat any thing , so she would protect them still in the immunities , and condition she found them . Hereupon their navigation , and traffic was suspended awhile , which prov'd very advantagious to the English , for they tryed what they could do themselfs herein , and after som adventures they thrive so well that they took the whole trade into their own hands , and so divided themselfs to Staplers , and Merchant adventurers , the one residing constant in one place , the other stirring , and adventuring to divers towns abroad with cloth , and other manufactures ; This so netled the Hans , that they devis'd all the wayes they could to draw upon them the ill opinion of other Nations ; Moreover the Hans towns being a body incorporated in the German Empire , complain'd to the Emperour , who sent over Ambassadors to mediat the busines , but they return'd still re infectâ ; Herupon the Queen caus'd a proclamation to be publish'd , that the Merchants of the Hans shold be intreated , and us'd as all other strangers within her dominions in point of Comerce , without any mark of distinction . This nettled them the more , therupon they bent their forces more eagerly , and in an Imperial Diet at Ratisbon they procur'd that the English Merchants who had associated themselfs in corporations both in Embden , and other places , shold be adjudg'd Monopolists ; whereupon ther was a Comitial Edict procur'd against them that they shold be exterminated , and banish'd out of all parts of the Empire , which was done by the activity of Suderman a great Civilian ; Ther was there at that time for Queen Elizabeth Mr. Gilpin , as nimble a man as Suderman , and he had the Chancellor of Embden to countenance and second him , but they could not stop the Edict wherby the society of English Merchants adventurers were pronounc'd a Monopoly ; yet Gilpin played his cards so well that he wrought under hand that the sayed Imperial Ban shold not be publish'd till after the dissolution of the Diet , and that in the interim his Imperial Majesty shold send an Ambassador to England to advertise the Queen of such proceedings against her Merchants ; But this made so little impression on the Queen , that the sayed Ban grew to be rather ridiculous than formidable ; for the town of Embden harbour'd our Merchants notwithstanding , and afterwards the town of Stode ; but they , being not so able to protect them against the Imperial Ban removed , and settled themselfs in Hamburgh ; After this the Queen commanded another proclamation to be publish'd , that the Hansiatique Merchants shold be allowd to trade into England upon the same conditions and payments as their own Subjects did , provided that the English Merchants might have the same privileges , to reside , and trade peaceably in Stode or Hamburgh , or anywhere else within the precincts of the Hans ; This incens'd them more , therupon endeavours were made to cut off Stode , and Hamburgh from being Members of the Hans , or of the Empire , but they suspended this dessein till they saw what successe the great Spanish Armada shold have which was then preparing in the year 88 , for they had not long before made their addresse to the King of Spain which had done them som good offices ; Wherfore to this day King Philip and his Councell were tax'd of a great oversight , that ther was no use made of the Hans towns in that great Expedition against England . Queen Elizabeth finding that they of the Hans were not contented with that Equality she had offer'd to make twixt them , and her own Subjects , put out a Proclamation that they shold transport neither corn , victuals , arms , timber , masts , cables , metals , and any other materials , or men to Spain , or Portugal ; And after , the Queen growing more redoubted , and famous by the overthrow of the Fleet in 88 , The Hans began to despair of doing any good ; Add herunto that another disafter befell them , which was the taking of 60 Sayles of their Shipps about the mouth of the River of Lisbon by the Queens Shipps , that went laden with ropas de contrabando , or goods prohibited by her former Proclamations into the Dominions of Spain ; And as these Shipps were ready to be discharged , she had intelligence of an extraordinary Assembly at Lubeck , which had purposely mett to consult of means to be reveng'd of her , therupon she made absolute prize of the sayed 60 Shipps , only two were freed to bring home tydings what became of the rest ; Herupon the Pole sent a ranting Ambassador in the behalf of the Hans , who spake in a high tone , but the Queen herself did suddenly answer him in a higher . These premisses being well considered , it prov'd an advantagious thing for England that this clash fell out betwixt Her and the Hans , for ever since the English Merchants have beaten a peacefull and an un-interrupted trade into High and Low Germany , with their Manufactures of Wool , the Golden fleece of England , and found also a way through the White Sea to Archangell , and Mosco , which may be sayed to have been the chiefground of that encrease of Shipping , Mariners , and Merchandising which she is come unto . Now , ther is one passage in this relation observable , that the Hans-towns , do not tie themselfs to obey the Bans , and Edicts of the Imperial Diet no further than it conduceth to their own interest , as it appeer'd by the examples of Embden , Stode and Hamburgh , in the traverses of this busines , which towns stuck stil to the English Factories , notwithstanding the publique transactions & prohibitions of the Diet to the contrary , Aeneas Sylvius hath a memorable critical saying of the German Diets when he sayeth omnes Germanorum Dietas esse valde faecundas , et quamlibet in ventre habere alteram , Ac credible est quia faemineum sit nomen libenter impregnari , pietas est parturire . All the German Diets are fruitfull , in regard ev'ry one hath another commonly in its belly , and 't is credible because Diet is of the Faeminine gender she is more willing to be got with Child ; wherunto alluded also the saying of ( Charles the fift , viz. That the German Diets were like vipers , for as these destroy their Damms , so the latter Decrees of Diets destroy the former . I have dwelt longer upon this particular , than my propos'd brevity requir'd , but the Hans being that part of the Empire with whom England hath most correspondence in point of negotiation and comerce , I suffred my self to be transported till my pen came to a full period . The fift Section . A parallel twixt the Empire passd , and the present , with the causes of the declination therof , &c. THough by the tru rule of proportion , no parallel canbe made 'twixt the Roman Empire pass'd , and the present , no more than 'twixt an Eagle and a Wren , yet because comparisons and examples conduce much to the elucidation of things , somthing shall be said to that point . The Roman Monarchy when she was at the highest altitude of greatnes , and glory , may be sayed to have had no horizon , while she sate upon her seven Hills she may be sayed to have overlook'd the World ; She was once fifty miles in circuit , and five hundred thousant free Citizens were computed to be within her Walls , by that famous cense which was made that Vopiscus relates ; The Roman Eagle fix'd his talons upon the Banks of Euphrates Eastward , on the Nile South , on the Danube and the Rhin Northward , and flew West as farr as the British and German Seas ; Her annual revenues were then computed at a hundred and fifty millions , wherof the salary of her legionary Soldiers amounted to above twenty Milions ; some of her Generals usually brought ten thousand talents into her aerarium , her Exchequer , at their return from abroad , and Gabinius twenty thousand ; Som of her Emperours are recorded to have strew'd the Amphitheater with gold sand in their publique spectacles , & triumphs , so she might well have taken then the 5 Vowels for her symbole A , E , I , O , V , which signified , Aquila , Electa , Iustè , Omnia , Vincit . But she may be sayed to have shrunk since from a Giantess to a Dwarf , Insomuch that he who hath the Empire now may be sayed to have an Eagles feather only in his Capp , for he must have somthing of his own to support the sacred Caesarian Majesty , els he may be put to live upon Alms ; Take all the tributes of the free Towns , they come but to five thousand Crowns a yeer , but for any tru fundum , or Real estate ther 's none ; He depends meerly upon the plesure of the Diet for all publique pecuniary erogations , and taxes ; And wheras we read that Charles the fift had once ninety thousand foot , and thirty five thousand effectif horse against Solyman , and above that nomber against the Lutherans , most of those were leavied in his own Dominions , and patrimonial Territories , Insomuch that if the Roman Eagles were not imp'd with Austrian feathers they wold be as bald as a Coot . Yet Germany or Almain , as the knowing statists have delivered their opinions , is a continent of that large expansion , and so well peepled , that take the whole bulk together she is able to rayse two hundred thousand effectif men , and maintain them by a general unanimous contribution . Now , my Lord , if you desire to know the reason of this so great an alteration and decay of the Roman Empire , ther were many causes concurr'd therunto , the main cause was touch'd before , viz. the translation of Caesars Court from Rome to Constantinople , wherby Italy , and the rest of the Western parts of the Empire were left obvious and as a prey to other Nations ; Add herunto the dismembring of the Empire into East and West , with other accidents pointed at before . But for the declination of the Occidental Empire founded by Charlemain , ther was a greater concurrence of caufes ; First the unhappy partition that Lewis the Gentle Charlemains Son , made of the Empire to find a-pannage and portions for his Sons , wherof he had three ; Adde herunto , that when the Empire came to be within the German pale , and Italy became but a Province to Germany , being to be dispos'd of by the Colledg of Electors , They who aspir'd to be Emperours , or to have their Sons to succeed them us'd to prepossesse , and oblige the Electors by donatifs , and indeed no lesse than bribes , as Charles the fourth to make his Son VVenceslaus capable to succeed him , offer'd them a hundred thousand Florins apeece , as Aeneas Sylvius hath it , but having no ready money to satisfy them , he transferr'd , and pass'd over som Imperial townes unto them , wherof the Count Palatin of the Rhin had three for his share at one time , viz. Openheim , Inquelien , & Keyserlausen . It is recorded in the Imperial Annals that Gerardus Archbishop of Mentz was call'd pro pola Imperii , the Hucster of the Empire , and having conspir'd with others of his Complices against Albert the first , and design'd to elect another Emperour , the sayed Gerardus having a hunting horn about him , and being a potent popular man , he winded out these words In hoc cornu complures gesto Caesares , In this horn I carry many Keysars , viz. Caesars ; The Empour taking this in indignation , by the speciall benediction of Heaven , he was quit with him , and his confederats afterwards , by making them carry doggs about the Countrey so many miles , which is acccounted in Germany the disgracefullest and most opproprious kind of punishment that can be inflicted upon a Nobleman , or Gentleman , wheras a Boore or Plebean is condemn'd according to the quality of his offence to carry only a Chair from one County to another ; such a peculiar punishment ther was of old in France , for wheras ther was a law call'd la loy de la chevelure that none shold wear long hair but the Nobles , he who had committed any degenerous offence was adjudg'd to have his hair cutt off before the tribunal of Iustice , and so was degraded from being a gentleman , his honor going away with his hair , and so made a Roturier or Yeoman : The story tells us that the Emperour Frederique Barbarossa made Hermannus Count Palatin of the Rhin , and ten Counts more to carry doggs above one German mile , for the praedations , and ill balancing of dollars , with other insolences they had committed while he was in Italy warring with the Pope , against whom we read he had twelve pitched battails . Such another clash the Emperour Conradus had with Guelphus Duke of Bavaria , who bore up a good while against him , at last the Emperour , recruting his Army with Italian Auxiliaries , shut up the Duke in VVinsberga , and beleagred him so close that he was ready to famish ; And the Emperour having bin provok'd so farr that he had vow'd to put all to fyre and sword , The Duchesse being a comely couragious Lady went through the throng of the army into the Emperours tent , and made such a flexanimous speech which so melted the Emperour , that he publish'd a proclamation , that for her sake all the Women of VVinsberga shold have safe conduct to depart and carry away upon their backs as much of their most precious wealth that they could bear . Herupon the Dutchesse took the Duke upon her back , and evry wife by her example her husband , mayds and unmarried women took up their brothers , and kindred , and so all marched out ; The Emperour being much taken with this witty peece of humanity , publish'd a generall act of Amnestia , and so the Duke was redintegrated into his favor . This memorable story I couch'd once into verse , being a task impos'd upon me , and the Epigram runns thus . Tempore quo Bavarum superârat Roma Guëlghum , Seria festivo Res fuit acta joco ; Conradus victor VVinsbergam oblesserat Vrbem , Hinc fame , Deditio facta , premente , fuit ; Matribus at miserans Bavaris , sponsaeque Guelphi , Induperator iis tale Diploma dedit ; Quaelibet ut Mulier tuto cum Rebus abiret Quas humeris posset sustinuisse suis . Cum reliquis Comitissa novo Diplomate nixa Inde viros portant , pondera grata , suos . Pendebant collo nati nataeque lacertis Sic abiit licita Faemina Virque fugâ ; Hac delectatus Caesar pietate , pepercit Omnibus , atque novum cum Duce faedus init . But to return where we left , another cause of the Empours decay , was , that being often reduc'd to som exigents for want of money , they us'd to have recours to the richest Imperial towns for a supply , who us'd to lend them money , and the Emperours payed them their money back with immunities ; Many towns in Italy got their necks out of Caesars yoak this way , and som of them very cheap , as Florence , for it cost her but six thousand Crownes , and Luca ten thousand ; &c. In so much that the liberties of most of the free Citties of Italy , much more of high and low Germany , sprung out of the necessities of the Emperours , wherby their power as well as their glory did daylie decline ; Adde herunto that the Bishopps of Rome feather'd their nests from time to time with the Eagles plumes , specially in Italy , for besides the City of Rome , and the Countreys adjacent , such was the high reverence the Church had in those daies that many other territories were given to the Apostolical See , and since , by well devoted Princes , Insomuch that the Pope is grown herby to he a great temporal Prince , for the state of the Church extends above three hundred miles in length , and about two hundred miles in breadth ; It contains the Dutchy of Ferrara , Bologna , Romania , the Marquisat of Ancona , Sabina , Perugia , with a part of Toscany , the Patrimony of Saint Peter , and Latium ; in these there are above 50 Bishopricks ; He doth signorize also over the Dutchy of Spoleto and the Exarchat of Ravenna , he hath the Towns of Benevento in the Kingdom of Naples , and the County of Venisse in France call'd Avignon , he hath title good enough to Naples also herself , and Calabria , but rather than incurr the diplesure of the King of Spain his Champion , and chief supporter of his Chair , he is contented with an annual heriot of a white Mule with a pursfull of pistols about her neck ; He pretends also to be Lord paramount of Sicily , Urbin , Parma , and Masseran , as also of Norway , Ireland , and England since King Iohn did prostrat our Crown at Pandulpho his Legats feet : His Dominions reach from one Sea to another , viz. from the Tyrrhene to the Adriatique , and these Territories run through the center of Italy , which enables the Pope to do good or harm to the Princes about him , and makes him capable to be an Vmpire , or a potent Enemy , his authority being mixt twixt secular and spiritual , for he can use the sword , and thunder-bolt of Excommunication at plesure ; And ( to return to our chief subject ) most of the Countreys pointed at before being feathers of the Eagle did much decrease her strength . Moreover , as the Roman Church did this way impair the power of the Empire , so the Reformed Church , and the difference of Religion in Germany did much enfeeble it ; For those Princes who turn'd Lutherans daylie encroach'd upon , and impropriated the demeans of the Church , which was a great support to the Emperour , being more devoted to him ; than to the secnlar Princes . But to go a little more particularly to work , we will not rove in Asia and Afrique where so many mighty parts of the Continent fell from the Roman Empire , nor will we look so farr back in Europe as to speak of the defection of Spain , France , and Great Britain , which was the first Province that fell from Rome , though indeed Rome may he sayed to have fallen first from Her , being not able by reason of warrs she had in other Countreys , to protect the Britains against the Picts , as England sayes now in point of Religion that she had never fallen away from Rome , unlesse Rome had fallen from her self ; I say we will not look so fart back , but come to more modern Times since the Empire came within the German pale ; The Suisses were one of the last that revolted , who being summon'd to the Imperiall Chamber at Spire , they sent a rough hewn Ambassadors totell the Imperial Councel in these words , Domini confaederati Heluetii vos vicinos suos salvere jubent , mirantur verò quod tam crebris citationibus , &c. The Lords Confaederats of Switzerland do greet you their Neighbours , but they wonder that by your so frequent citations you wold disquiet Them , therfore they pray and exhort you , that you would no further molest Them . In Charles the fifts time the Livonians fell off , and He summoning them to their obedience , and menacing to reduce them otherwise by force , they sent him a geering Answer , That they beleev'd his Horse wold tyre before he could reach the skirts of Liefland , as Thuanus hath it . A German Author hath it upon record , that since the reign of Rodolph the first , above two hundred States and Princes have un-membred , and emancipated themselfs from the German Emperour , who were us'd to obey his summons , & make their apparance accordingly . Touching Germany it self , 't is tru , that it is a huge Continent , and full of Princes , which make som compare her to a Firmament spangled with Stars ; Others compare the Emperour to a great Luminary incircled with the seven Planets , meaning the Septemvirat , or the Colledg of Electors , and not improperly , for this agrees with the Caesarean Arms , which are Sol , Saturn arm'd , and crown'd Mars , and the Eagle displayed with two heads ; yet , though therby the Emperour be call'd Rex Regum , these Princes are prejudicial to his greatnes , wherof Ibraim Ambassador to Solyman the great Turk gave a hint by an ingenuous Fable which was thus ; When Maximilian the second was chosen Emperour , the foresayed Ibraim was then at Frankfort , who having bin a Spectator to the ceremony , and observ'd what great Princes attended the Emperour that day , and being told that som of them could rayse an Army of them selfs , and maintain it against any power , The Ambassador smilingly sayed , That he doubted not of the puissance of Germany , but he observ'd that the Minds and Actions , the Counsels and Interests of the Germans were like a beast with many heads , and tayls , which in case of necessity being to pass through a hedg , and ev'ry head seeking to find a particular hole to pass thorough , they were a hindrance one to another , ev'ry head drawing after his own fancy , and so hazarded the destruction both of all the heads body & tayls : But the Empire of Solyman his great Master was like a beast with many tayls , yet she had but one head , which head being to get thorough or over any passage , without any confusion , or difference of fancy , all the tayls , and the whole body follow'd smoothly after . Lastly , the fatallst cause of the decay of Caesar was the monstrou ; successes of the Mahumetan , whose half Moon fill'd out of the Wane of the Roman Empire both East and West , It being a sad saying , that whersoever the Turks horse sets once his foot , ther 's no Christian grasse will ever grow there again . The sixth Section , Of enlarging the Colledg of Electors from seven to an Octumvirat , And the Contest that is now twixt the Count Palatin of the Rhin , and the Duke of Bavaria touching the Vicarship of the Empire . THe attempting the Crown of Bohemia by Frederiqne Count Palatin of the Rhin , as it prov'd unsuccessfull unto himself and Family , so it prov'd fatal to all Christendom besides ( as the preceding Comet did foretell An. 1618. ) for directly or collaterally it hath bin the cause of all the warrs that happen'd ever since in Christendome , which made King Iames , as if he had bin Prophet as well as Prince to say unto his privy Councell , upon the first tydings which were brought him that his son-in-law was gone to Prague , My Lords , this is a sad busines , and the youngest man amongst us shall not live to see the end of it which prov'd tru . The Bohemian Crown was first offer'd by the Revolters to the Duke of Saxony , but hee out of a political prudence , as well as out of the fidelity and alleageance he ow'd the Emperour , declin'd it ; Then they reflected upon the Count Palatin of the Rhin as a Prince that might be par negotio , and able to go through-stitch with it , In regard of his powerful alliances , The King of great Britain being his Father-in-law , the King of Denmark his Onckle , the states of Holland his confederatts , and Maurice Prince of Orenge with the Duke of Bovillon ( who was call'd the old Ardenian fox ) being also his Oncles , which last three , incited him first unto that great Attempt , though he paus'd a good while upon it , and resolv'd twice to decline it , till his lady seem'd to reproch his pusillanimity , telling him , Had you Sir , the courage to venture upon a King of great Britains sole Daughter , and will you not venture upon a Crown when 't is offer'd you ? The Count Palatin then was look'd upon as one of the fortunatst Princes in Germany , Having the best lady in his bed , the best stable of horses , the best library of Books , the best cellar of wine of any of the rest . Maximilian the old Duke of Bavaria , stuck close to the Emperour in this quartell , for by his assistance and conduct an army of 25000. was routed by lesse then fifteen thousand , and the City of Prague with the whole Kingdom was recover'd for the Emperour ; On the otherside by the arms of the King of Spain and the conduct of Marquis Spinola the Palatinat was conquer'd , though the Princes of the Vnion had an Army of forty thousand effectif men under , the Marquis of Ansback and others to defend it , but 't was sayed that dolus versabatur in Generalibus , that the Generals were corrupted , and that the acquest was made more by Spanish pistolls , than by Spinola's Sword . Herupon at a solemn Assembly of the Electors at Ratisbon Anno 1623 , the Electorship of the Rhin , and the Archidapifership , with all the prerogatives , and perquisits , the authorities and enfranchisements , and honors annexed therunto was conferr'd upon the Duke of Bavaria for term of life ; But in another Assembly 1628 , which was five yeers after at Prague , this great Grant was not only confirm'd unto him during his own life , but entayl'd upon his Heirs to Perpetuity , and withall , the upper Palatinat was transferr'd unto him , with the County of Cham in consideration of his expences in the wars , which amounted to thirteen million of Dollars . But in the Treaties at Munster and Osnabrug Anno 1652 , fower and twenty yeers after , this Grant was qualified , that in case the Gulihelmian line which is the House of Bavaria did fayl without Masculine issue , the Electorship of the Rhin , with the Archidapifership and all the prerogatives therof shold revert to the Rodulphian line which is the Palatin , being the elder House of the two . Now , concerning the Gulielmian or Bavarian line ther are but 4 living , wherof two are Churchmen , viz. the Archbishop of Colen , and the Bishop of Frizing , which can leave no issue behind ; Then is ther the now Duke of BAVARIA and his Brother , nor are they also likely to get issue , for as the Tradition in Germany goes Maximilian the former Duke of Bavaria having maried the last Emperours Sister who was young , and the Duke being old and crazy having 5 issues then about his body , ther were some Jesuitts that brought such a prolifical cordial from Italy that enabled the old Duke to get children , but those Children shold be impotent and barren , as it hath hitherto prov'd tru , insomuch the Palsgrave is in fair hopes to get the Electorship of the Rhin again in a short time , and then the eighth Electorship must be extinguished . Besides , publicae tranquillitatis causa , as the Instrumentum pacis hath it , for setling a firm and general everlasting peace in Germany which had bin so miserably depopulated and torn by the late wars , which had not only scratch'd her face , but rent her very bowels , for about thirty yeers together , as also for diremption of all strife for the future , The Count Palatin was created the eighth Elector , which is term'd in the Instrument by a new coynd Epithet or logical term simultanea Investitura , a joint or contemporary Investiture ; And because ther 's an office annexed to ev'ry Electorat , he was made Arch-treasurer of the Empire , which he executed at the Election of the last King of the Romans , and the coronation of the Empresse at Ratisbon , by throwing Medaills some of Gold , some of Sylver among the peeple ; under this notion he hath a session and suffrage in the Colledg of Electors , but he must be content to sitt last of all ; Moreover by the said Instrument of Accommodation at Munster , he was to renounce all right pro tempore not only to the upper Palatinat , and the County of Cham , but he was to part with the Bergstrad ( one of the best parts of the lower Palatinat ) and re-deliver it to the Archbishop of Mentz , who had oppignorated , and pawn'd it to his Ancestor Anno 1463 for a sum of money , but cum pacto perpetuae reluitionis , with a proviso that it might be redeem'd at all times . The Emperour Ferdinand the third , being not long since dead ther arose a contest , which continues still undecided , 'twixt the Elector Palatin , and his Cosen , and Co-elector the Duke of Bavaria about the Vicarship of the Roman Empire ; And to illustrat this point the better it must be understood that by the fundamental laws of the Empire , exemplified in the Aurea Bulla , it is enacted , that in the absence of the Emperour ( who was us'd oft in former times to crosse the Alpes to Italy ) or after his death during the vacancy or Interregnum , ther were two Vicars or Imperial Deputies appointed to manage the affaires of the Empire , to witt the Count Palatin of the Rhin , for the jurisdictions of Franconia , Svevia , and the Country about the Rhin , And the Duke of Saxony for those large Territories that lay within that Circle ; The Bavarian alledgeth that this prerogative of Vicarship appertain'd unto the Count Palatin of the Rhin ratione Electoratus , by vertu of the Electorship , & the office of Archidapifer or chief Sewer of the sacred Empire , for which he produceth the Golden Bull both in the Original Latin , and also translated into Dutch ; Hee takes also the great Instrument of Munster for his buckler , wherin the sayed Electorship of the Rhin , and the ofice of Archsewership with all the prerogatives , perquisits , and appendixes therunto belonging , wherof the Vicarship is the chiefest , is totally transferr'd uuto Him and his Issue Male to perpetuity . The Count Palatin utterly denies that , and positively affirmeth that this office and prerogative of Vicariat was conferr'd upon him and practis'd by his progenitors before ever the Colledg of Electors , and the subsequent Aurea Bulla was constituted , which Bull or Magna Charta of the German Empire was not the Donor but confirmer only of that great Ancestrial prerogative which inconcussa consuetudine , by an unshaken custom belong'd to his family ; Avouching further , that it is an Annexum inseparabile Comitatus , That it is an Heirloome of the County Palatin of the Rhin , in which County he was formally and plenarily reinvested in the yeer 1652 : He excepts likewise against the translation of the sayed Aurea Bulla into the Teutonique , or High Dutch , alleadging it is erroneous in many passages ; And lastly concludes that his Progenitors enjoyed this prerogative of Vicariat , ratione Comitatus , not Electoratus , as may be inferr'd out of the politicall reason why that office was conferr'd upon his Ancestors wch was in regard of the position of their ditions & Territories which lye apposit & proper to have the goverment of those Countreys of Franconia Svevia , &c. because they are situated neer , & som of them conterminant with the Rhin . This controversy remains still indecided ; In the interim the protestants of those parts make their addresses to the Count Palatin , and the Roman Catholiques to the Bavarian as their occasions require , either for renewing or letting of leases , the forfeiture of Felons goods , the protection of Idiots , and Lunatiques , &c. The seventh Section . Some Reflexes made upon the present Coniuncture of Things , and the political condition of Germany , with a Coniecture who is likely to be King of the Romans , and consequently the next Emperour . HAving allready , my Lord , in a Succinct , but I hope , some Satisfactory way treated of the German Empire , of the Octumvirat , or Colledg of Electors , with other matters Concident , and homogeneous with this subject , I shall now wind up this small bottome , and conclude with some glances upon the present Estate of Germany , together with the particular Interests therof . Your Lordship hath read before that the Office of Emperour , in statu quo nunc , is meerly a Title , and like a feather in one's capp , whosoever undertakes it must have pillars of his own to support it ; Now among the Princes of Germany , the Duke of Saxony , next after the House of Austria , is thought to be best able to bear the three Imperial Crowns , and at the late Emperours death he began to be much spoken of , but ( as an Observing gentleman , who came lately thence , told mee ) all the peeple that are under his subjection did rise up , and with open mouth protested against it , cryeng out that they wold put themselfs under the protection of another Prince , if he wold be the Keysar ; Now , the reason is , that if the Elector of Saxe were Emperour , he must of necessity enhance their tolls and taxes to support the Dignity . The Duke of Bavaria since he hath bin invested in the upper Palatinat , and the County of Cham , is grown very considerable , and to be able to counterpoise the Saxe in power , their yeerly revenues amounting to above a million of rich dollars apeece ; Besides , the Bavarian Sylver mines have wonderfully thriven of late yeers both for the purenes , and quantity of Bullion ; And if Maximilian the former Duke of Bavaria could lay out thirteen millions for the service of the Emperour , in consideration wherof he had at first a part of the Territories of Austria hypothequ'd unto him , and afterwards the upper Palts and the County of Cham transferr'd unto him , together with the Electorship of the Rhin in full and valuable satisfaction of the said 13 millions , I say if the former Duke was so powerfull , it may be well inferr'd that the present Duke is much more , by the new acquests he hath made , and so might be capable of the Empire , but notwithstanding that the French is sayed to spurr him on , and that the Elector of Colen be his Oncle , yet 't is not probable he will make any competition with his Cousin-germin the King of Hungary , his peeple like them of Saxony being also very averse therunto , though his peeple be in a surer way of subjection and vassalage unto him , than other Germans are , ther being no great ones in his Dominions to clash with him . Touching the Marquis of Brandenburg , though he be great Master of the Teutonique Order , and hath such spacious and large Territories that he can go upon his own demeans above 500 miles from Cleve to the furthest parts of Prussia , yet is he thought to be inferiorto the other two in revenues , & wealth , therfore the lesse able to bear the weight of the German Empire ; Adde herunto that of the eight Electors , five are still Roman Catholiques , so that it is improbable , a Protestant shold be chosen , for ther are such ceremonies to be perfotm'd that are incompatible with a Protestant , besides the Pope wold never confirm such an Emperour , and without his confirmation no Emperour can be call'd Augustus . Touching the King of Denmark though he be capable of the Empire being a kind of German , yet the nature of those Kings and peeple hath bin rather to preserve what they have than to extend their Country further ; Moreover the present King is ingag'd in an open war against the Swed ; Ther is also a late clash 'twixt him , and the town of Hamborough about the Huldygen , which is an Inauguration to be her Protector , as his Father was : for Hamborough was built upon , and stands still upon the King of Denmarks ground ; yet she refuseth to Huld him , alledging that she bought him out for great summes of money , And so pretends to be now an Imperial free Town , and to hold soly from the Keyser ; Wheras others averre that she is meer Hansiatique within the Verge of Lubeck her Neighbour , which is the chiefest of the first Precinct of the old Hans , as was touch'd before . Adde herunto that the last King of Denmark hath some particular obligations to the House of Austria , his great Gran-mother having bin Charles the fifts Sister . Besides , when General Tilly was like in the eye of human reson with a Veteran victorious Army to overcom all Holsteyn , Ferdinand this King of Hungaries Gran-father made a friendly , and favourable peace with Christian the fourth , who had invaded Germany with a considerable Army , but with little successe , in the behalf of the Count Palatin of the Rhin his Nephew . The Swed mought have bad fair for the Imperial Golden Apple had he took firmer footing in Poland , and succeeded in his notable designs further ; Nay , his Army being compos'd of Soldiers of Fortune , might still by new recreuts as they push'd on their hopes , have prov'd in time as formidable , and fatal to the test of Christendome as their Ancestors the Goths and Vandales were of old , who pierc'd the very center of Europe to find warmer habitations . Nor was the Swed altogether incapable to have stood for it in regard of those Territories which Gustavus got , and annexed to the Crown of Sweden within the pale of the Empire , viz. Pomerland , and Breme ; But the Dane entring into a new warr with him , and the Marquis of Brandenburg deserting him , and having the House of Austria , the Pole , the Moscovit his actual enemies besides , 't is thought his hopes are blasted for enlarging his dominions at this time , but 't is well if he can now secure Sweden it self , much more the new acquests aforesaid in Germany ; specially his friends ( viz. England and France ) being so remote from him , and his enemies so neer about him . The French King , though I beleeve he be in despair to have it himself , he being Exterus & non Germanus , a Scranger and no German , and ther being a fundamental Law that no Forrener be Emperour , as ther is a Sanction in the Conclave among the Cardinals , that no Tramontane , viz. one born this side the Alps can be Pope , I say , though the King of France looks not for it himself , yet he spends all the interests he hath , and is like to employ all the power he can with all the Artificies besides to cajoll , I will not say , corrupt the Electors for the secluding of the young King of Hungary , and that the Empire shold not be alwayes a prostitut to one Family . But France they say hath few real Friends in Germany among the Princes ; 'T is true the Elector of Tryers being perpetual Arch-chancelor of France , hath always bin , and is still Fleurdelizè , he is Flowdeliz'd and Frenchified all over , and France alwaies sticks to him also upon all occasions ; 't was about him that ther was such a counterbuff 'twixt Lewis the thirteenth , and Gustaphus Adolphus , because he had invaded part of his Territories ; 't was for his sake , besides the still growing greatnesse of Spain , that this present warr was denounc'd by sound of Herald against the House of Austria , by the last French King : Moreover , 't is tru that the Marquis of Brandenburg while he lately adher'd to the Swed was devoted to France , but since he hath accommodated matters with the Pole , he hath chang'd his interest , and is like to enter into the general league they speak of to be made between the Princes of the Empire for preserving the common peace of Germany against all that shall attempt to disturb it ; And besides the Electors themselfs , The Duke of Brunswick , Prince of Anbalt , Luneberg , Lawenburg , the Landgrave of Hesse , Darmstad't , Baden , Newburgh , Wittemburgh , though the last , and some of the other smell rank of the French interest , yet to prevent a new warr in Germany they are like to enter into the foresayed Patrial league , together with all the Imperial and Hansiatical Towns . Touching the Palsgrave , or Prince Palatin of the Rhin , 't is tru that ther hath bin a great deal of intimacy , and reciprocal leagues twixt his Progenitors , and France , but the last Emperour and his Son the King of the Romans oblig'd him ( and his brother Prince Rupert ) by many recent civilities ; At the Treaties of Osnabrug , and Munster the Emperour wold have his busines to be dispatch'd first , and was very indulgent of him all along the while ; The fower hundred thousand dollars which were assign'd himself , and to make portions and apennages for his younger brothers , the twenty thousand dollars that were awarded the Lady Dowager his mother pro victalitio , and the ten thousand dollars which were assign'd for dowries to evry one of his Sisters , were all granted as the words of the Instrument run pro benevolo suae Majestatis Caesareae affectu ergo domum Palatinam , for the benevolent affection his Imperial Majesty bore to the family of the Palatin , which summes the Emperour punctually payed ; Moreover at the coronation of the Empresse , and the creation of the last King of the Romans , the Prince Palatin officiated in person , and ther were many Endearments pass'd twixt the Emperour , and him ; In so much that 't is thought he will be no back frend to his son the now King of Hungary when the busines of Election comes to be canvas'd . These Premisses , & particular interests being well considered , in the eye of all humane probality 't is thought , that the last Emperours son Leopoldus Ignatius , now King of Bohemia and Hungary , &c. and being one of the Electors himself , and chiefest of the Temporals , is like to be the man , and make the fourtinth Emperour of a direct Austrian line ; And they who think thus , ground their conjectures upon divers reasons deduc'd from the present posture of things . First , because the Iunta , or Assembly of the Princes Electors is stil deferr'd , and like to be so , till the sayed King of Hungary be come to his Majority , which by the German law in this point is at eighteen yeers , and this will be in Iune next ; then being out of his bassage , or minority , he is capable both to be King of the Romans , and to have a suffrage among the Electors as he is King of Bohemia , and Archbuttler of the sacred Empire . Secondly , because if the King of Hungary have the canvas , and be rejected , ther will be an inevitable warr in Germany , which she will avoyd if possible she can , having had not only her face scratch'd , but her very entrails rent asunder for so many yeers by a cruentous lingring warr , and the deep wounds she receav'd thence are not yet consolidated in som places . Thirdly , because ther is no Prince so potent and proper to bear the weight of this great burden than the King of Hungary , or to keep out and encounter the Common Enemy , to witt , the Turk , as Hee , for he hath not only most of the Dominions of Austria , but two Kingdomes besides situated on the confines , and serving as ramparts against him by land , as the Republique of Venice doth by sea ; Insomuch that both the danger , as well as security of the House of Austria is involv'd with the Empire it self , and indeed of all Europe . Now we shall find all these Countreys in the title of the last Emperour , which runns as followe's . Ferdinandus tertius divinâ favente clementia electus Romanorum Imperator , semper Augustus , Ac Germaniae , Hungariae , Bohemiae , Dalmatiae , Croatiae , Slavoniae , &c. Rex , Archidux Austriae , Dux Burgundiae , Bragantiae , Stiriae , Carinthiae , Carniolae , &c. Marchio Moraviae , Dux Lucemburgiae , ac superioris & inferioris Silesiae , Wittemburgiae , & Teckae , Princeps Sveviae , Comes Haspurgi , & Gloritiae , Langravius Alsatiae , Marchio sacri Imperii Romani , Burgaviae , ac superioris , et inferioris Lusatiae , Dominus Marchiae Slavonicae , portus Naonis , & Salinarum , &c. In this accumulation of eight and twenty titles ther are but two that he had from the Empire , viz. the stile of Emperour , and Ring of Germany , all the rest are appendixes of the House of Austria ; And the King of Spaiu who is of the elder House hath many more , being great granchild to the Emperour Charlesle Quint , who made a spontaneous Resignation of the Empire to Ferdinand his second brother , though as a privat Author hath it , the second day after his resignation , was the first day of his repentance . Now , to rayse up the House of Austria to this altitude , six of the greatest Families of Europe concentred in one , viz. Austria , Burgundy , Castile , Aragon , Hungary , and Portugal , so that it may be call'd a palace six stories high , ( though as Emperour he hath not a house to hide his head in ) Austriacûm Domus Armipotens sex fulta columnis . Fourthly , because the House of Austria hath the good wishes of the Pope , and of the Iesuitts , who underhand do good offices for him , though the Pope dare not appeer publiquely in the busines for fear of giving any distaste to France ; For he may be sayed to hold France , and Portugal also , as one doth a Dog by the ears , fearing they shold run away from him to Patriarks of their own making ; Nor hath any King in Christendom a greater temptation to fall away from Rome , in regard the Gallican Church , by a late computation which was made , hath above three hundred and forty millions of liures in annual revenue , which , shold he renounce the Pope , wold devolve most of it to the Crown . Moreover , this Gentleman told me that the Electors , with the Princes and Cities of Empire , are more and more sensible to find the King of France shold appeer so much , and as som write , intrude himself into this busines , by sending Ambassadors with such gawdy trains , whose rich liureys are like to be worn out before the Election day , so that they had needed to have brought a Lantern and Candle with them comming so long before day , as one made a Pasquill of them in Frankfort , who with som difficulty did open her Gates unto them , it being an ancient Constitution of the Empire , that none shold be admitted to lodge in the Town where the Election is to be held , but the Princes Electors themselfs and their train , which come to nere upon two thousand horse ; But the Germans are more sensible and startled , that the French shold draw such forces to their Frontires as to Metz , Philipsburg , and Brisack ( for Brisack-bridg makes now France and Germany one continued piece , ) as if ther wer a design hereby to controul the Electors in their choice , and embroyl Germany again in a warr ; which puts the young King of Hungary to extraordinary expences , of making new levies , Insomuch that he will have by the next Spring , as they write , an Army of 50 thousand effectif men , to confront the French . But indeed it may be wondred ther shold be any ambition at all , of aspiring to the Roman German Empire in statu quo nunc , it being but an ayrie bare shadowy title , or a Skeleton of part of the old Roman Monarchy , Therfore a late German Author confesseth , Quod nobis est magnum momentum politicum , Exteris est magnum deridiculum , That which we make to be of so high political a consequence , seems to Forreners to be but a thing of laughter , alluding to that adoe ther is us'd about the election of an Emperour , as in Venice to creat a Doge who in point of power is no other than tecta di legno a head of wood . Nor are those who live under the Empire tyed to so strict an obedience , ther is not that exact relation , and reciprocation of subjection , and protection 'twixt the Emperour and his Vassals , as useth to be 'twixt Prince and Peeple in other places , where the Liegeman is bound to submit , and the Liegelord is bound to defend ; Touching the later , he spoke like a Statist , that sayed , Defendere subditos est attributum naturale inhaerens visceribus Regiminis , est qualitas infixa ossibus , et indivisibilis , ita utregimen , & protectio unum & idem judicatur indivisible . Defence of the Subject is a natural attribut inhaering in the very bowels of Goverment , 't is a quality infix'd in the very bones therof , Insomuch that Protection and Goverment is adjudg'd to be the self same indivisible thing : 'T is not so in the Imperial Government , wher ther is a looser kind of Clientele , and Protection ; Nor is the submission of the Liegeman so absolut , for an Imperial Ban is not so much obey'd there as an Edict in France , a Prematica in Spain , a Proclamation in England , or a Placart in the Netherlands , wher ther is a more punctual obligation 'twixt Prince and Peeple , the one to obey , the other to defend their persons , and maintain their privileges ; Though som do hold , that a Country giving her self to a Prince , what privileges soever the peeple reserve to themselfs by contract , they are all lost when they enter into subjection , which by its nature makes a man subordinat to another without any exception , whensoever the publique good is concern'd , and that those privileges by the sayed subjection pass into the nature of concessions of Princes afterwards , which they may stretch , restrain , or revoke according to the urgency of their publique occasions ; And when ther is a necessity to do so , the Peeple are not allow'd to revolt , or right themselfs by violence ; 'T is tru , that in all privat particular Treaties the unobservation of the Conditions , acquitts the parties from the Obligations of the contract , but this doth not reach to Soverain Princes , when the Peeple have once chosen them for their advantage , and security . But to return to our chief matter , the Princes , and Towns of the Empire , though they acknowledg the Keyser for their Soveraign , yet are they not oblig'd in that strictnes of obedience to him , as their own peeple are to them ; These Princes may be sayed to be rather his Collegues , and Associats in governing rather than Snbjects ; It being a Rule in Germany , that Quilibet Imperii status in suo Territorio tantum possit , quantum Imperator in toto Imperio , Ev'ry state of the Empire within his own Territory , may do as much as the Emperour in the whole Empire ; They have power of life and death , they may coyn money , send Ambassadors abroad , and make confederacies , and leagues with forren Princes , with other Territorial prerogatives ; But that power of making leagues was restrain'd in the late Treaty at Osnabrug , for the Instrument sayes , Ius faciendi faedera liberum esto , Ita tamen ne ejusmodi faedera sint contra Imperatorem , & Imperium , pacemque ejusdem publicam , Let it be free to make confaederacies , provided that the sayed confaederacies be not against the Emperour , and the Empire , with the publique peace therof ; Nay further , the Princes of the Empire have such a latitude of power that they write se regnare Dei gratiâ , that they Raign by the Grace of God ; And that within the verge of the Empire the Princes Electors are not to give precedence to any other forren Prince , or potentat whatsoever ; Therefore when Charles King of Scotland , was a few yeers since at Frankfort , the Count Palatin of the Rhin sent him word that he desir'd to give his Majesty a visit , but by the constitution of the Empire he was not to give priority of place there to any , it being an Imperial Town , but if his Majesty wold please to come to any of his own Territories he wold then respect his Majesty in that point accordingly . The states of the Empire have also a territorial authority , to change their Religion at plesure , by a late Constitution , where 't is sayed , Religionis mutatio est sequela Territorialis Iurisdictonis , ac inhaeret Territorio sicut nebula paludi ; The alteration of Religion is a sequele of Territorial Iurisdiction , and is inhaerent in the Territory as a clowd in a pond . By what hath bin spoken it appears what a small extent of power the sacred Caesarean Majesty hath over those that professe obedience to him ; Nay , when ther is a King of the Romans 't is a question who hath the greater power the Emperour or Hee ; For the Emperour and the King of the Romans may be sayed to be like two Sunnes in one Firmament , the one declining , the other rising , and the later hath more eyes upon it than the former . By those particulars that have bin pointed at in this Section , a conjecture may be made , if not a judgment , who stands fairest to be the next Emperour ; But they who harbour some doubts of the King of Hungary , have one shrewd argument that he may go without it , which is his late encrease and amplitude of power , for he hath not only the large Kingdom of Bohemia with the great Territories annex'd therunto now as hereditary by way of conquest , but ther is an ovverture , if not an offer and privat Treaty a foot that the Crown of Poland will be entayl'd upon him , and his successors for the future ; Though this augmentation of power be good for the Christian Common-Wealth in general , because it enableth the Emperour to bear up the better againgst the Common Enemy the Turk , yet not only the Electors , but some other Princes of the Empire conceave some jealousie of this enlargement of the Imperial power , not without some apprehensions of fear , that if the Eagle shold ranew his bill , and have his feathers come home to make his wings full summ'd again , hee might seaze upon , and make a prey of sundry Towns , and Territories which divers of the sayed Princes hold from the Empire but by crazy weak titles ; Nay it putts a flea in the Venetians ear also , who have bin alwayes jealous of the Austrian greatnes , in regard of contiguity of Territories they both have in Dalmatia , Croatia , and other places . But it may be well expected that the Princes Electors will rather look upon the generall good and incolumity of the Christian Common-Wealth , as their Oath doth bind them , which is as astringent , and conjuring kind of Oath as possibly the witt of man can draw , or devise , for they are not to be transported by any Pact , Price , Promise , or Prayer in the Election . Which Oath runns thus . The Solemn Oath that 's administred to the Princes Electors , when they meet for choosing a KING of the ROMANS , the Spiritual having their hands upon their breasts , the Secular upon the book all the while . EGo R. Sacri imperii Princeps Elector , juro ad sancta Dei Evangelia , heic praesentialiter coram me posita , quod Ego , per fidem qua Deo , & sacro Romano Imperio sum astrictus , secundum omnem discretionem , & intellectum meum , cum Dei adjutorio , eligere volo Temporale Caput populo Christiano , id est , Regem Romanorum in Caesarem promovendum , qui ad hoc existat idoneus , in quantum discretio , & sensus mei me dirigunt , & secundum fidem praedictam , vocemque meam , & votum sive Electionem praefatam dabo absque omni Pacto , Stipendio , Precio , seu Promisso , vel quocunque modo talia valeant appellari , sic me Deus adjuvet , & omnes sancti . IR . Prince Elector of the Sacred Empire , do swear by the holy Gospell of God put here before me , That I by the Faith wherin I am bound to God , and the holy Roman Empire , will choose according to all my discretion & understanding , with the help of God , a Temporal Head for Christian Peeple , to wit , a King of the Romans to be promoted to be Caesar , one that may be idoneous for it , according as my discretion & senses shal direct me ; and according to my foresayed Faith I shall give my Voice , and Vote , or forenamed choice , without any Pact , Stipend , Price , or Promise , or by what names soever such things may be call'd ; So help me God , and all his Saints . This tremendous Oath is pronounc'd in Latin , the Language of the Empire in all Negotiations with forein Princes ; though the Electors be enjoynd by the Great Charter of the Imperial Constitutions , viz. the Golden Bull , to speak the Teutonique or High Dutch , the Italian , and Slavonique Languages . THE COROLLARY . THus have we cast the Roman Monarchy as it were into the Eagles egg again , as 't is recorded that Homers Iliads were once put into a Nuttshell , and as Falconers observe the Eagle can lessen her self into a Lark by her high Soaring , so we may say the Roman Monarchie hath lessn'd her self by her stooping . Therefore this small volume is not unsuitable unto Herin point of proportion as the case stands with Her now , being shrivell'd a large Folio to a Decimo sexto , and mouldred away from a Castle into a Cottage , or rather from a Mountain to a Mole-hill . Such is the Method of the all-ruling Providence with whom the greatest Kingdomes are but as Kittlepins which he tipps down at pleasure . Ludit in humanis divina potentia Rebus 'T is He who transvolves Monarchies , tumbles down Empires , and cantonizeth them into petty Common-wealths at pleasure , whereunto the Pagan Philosopher seem'd to allude when being asked what Iupiter did in Heaven ? He answered Magnas ollas rumpit , et ex frustis earum parvulas componit , He breaks great potts , and of their Fragments makes little pitchers ; And remarkable it is how symbolizing in point of sence and similitude , the Holy Psalmist is with the Philosopher herein , when he sayeth Tanquam vas Figuli conteres eos , Thou shalt bruise them in peeces ( viz. the Potentates of the Earth ) like a potters vessel , which shews the brittlenesse , the Lubricity , and unfixednesse of all sublunary things as well Political as Natural , so that to find out a stability , and permanence , we must travel beyond Trismegistus circle , and seek it in the other World . To conclude , having thus cast a few glances upon the Ro. German Empire , I hope , My Noble Lord , it will suffice to quitt me of that obligation I owe to your commands , which shall be alwayes to me as Favours and I look upon your Favours as a considerable part of my Happines , which makes me delight so much in the Character of Holborn Calendis Ianuarii 1658. Your most obedient and ever ready Servant , Jam. Howell . Infantium cerebri Quadragessimus . An Index of the Principal Matters contain'd in this Treatise . A THe Arms of the Empire Fol. 64 Alarick the Goth sacks Rome . 5 An extraordinary providence watcheth over Rome . 5 Austrian family enjoy'd the Empire more than any that ever was . 16 Arch-bishop of Mentz Prime Elector and Arch-Chancellor of Germany . 21 Arch-bishop of Colen Arch-Chancellor of Italy . 23 Arch-bishop of Triers chief Chancellor of France . 23 Arch-bishop of Magdenburg Primat of all Germany . 39 Arch-duke of Austria chief Prince of Germany after the Electors . 39 A maga animous Speech of the Lady Elizabeth . 69 Augustus a Title soly given by the Pope . 81 The Austrian House● six stories high , and how . 90. B BRennus the Britain first ransack'd Rome . 5 Bourbon breathed his last in scaling the Walls of Rome . 5 Bohemian King chief Butler of the Empire . 23 A Ban against the English pronounc'd by the Imperial Diet , and not obey'd . 45 Boores carry Chairs , and Noble-men Doggs for a punishment in Germany . 56 Brandenburg hath spacious Territories . 80 Bavaria and the Palatin of the same line , this the Rodulphian , the other the Gulielmian . 71 The Bavarian Duke grown very potent of late years . 79 Brisack Bridge makes France and Germany one continued peece . 92 C CAesars issue enjoy'd the Empire for 6 Descents . 7 Consulary Goverment thrice in Rome by Retrogradation . 6 Claudius Caesar first began the pernicious way of enhancing the Soldiers pay . 9 Constantines policy to the Soldiers . 10 Constantin gives Rome to the Pope . 10 Charlemain the first Western Emperour . 13 Charles Martel and his Story in brief . 13 Charlemains exploits . 14 Charlemain proclaim'd Emperour in Rome upon Christmas day . 14 Charlemains issue degenerated . 15 The Civilians exalt the Emperour by high Titles . 31 The Crown of England called an Imperial Crown by Act of Parlement . 33 The Crown of France not tyed to a Distaff . 34 The Comparison of Germany to a Firmament spangled with Stars . 64 Count Palatin of the Rhin Arch-Treasurer of the Empire , and eighth Elector . 68 The Count Palatins Interests . 85 D THe distance of the Roman Emperour the cause of the declination in the West . 13 Duke of Saxony Lord high Marshal of the Empire . 22 Duke of Brandenburg Lord Chief Chamberlain of the Empire . 23 Electors how they precede one another . 26 Domitius Nero the last of the race of Iulius Caesar . 36 The division of Germany . 36 The Diets of Germany , or Imperial parlement . 39 Dutchesse of Bavaria a couragious Lady . 67 Duke of Bavaria at present impotent of getting Children , and the reasons thereof . 71 Duke of Saxony a potent Prince . 78 Divers reasons why the young King of Bohemia is fittest to be Emperour 88 Of the King of Denmark . 81 E THe Empire of Rome put often to sale by the Soldiery . 10 The exorbitances of the Roman militia . 10 English and French descended of the Germans . 12 The Eastern Empire . 12 The Exarchat of Italy given to the Pope by King Pepin . 14 The Empire devolv'd to the Germans . 15 Electors first constituted . 21 Emperours but Thou'd at first . 29 The Emperours next to God Almighty on Earth . 32 Edgar an Emperour , and his high Titles . 32 Edward the third of England ▪ Vicar of the Empire , &c. 33 Embden a great friend to the English . 45 The English declar'd Monopolists in Germany . 45 The Empire now but a feather in ones Cap. 55 The Emperours Titles . 89 The Empire an airy Title in statu quo nunc . 92 The Electors bound to learn to speak Dutch , Italian , and the Slavonique . 105 F FRance and Portugal like to make Patriarks of their own . 91 Furthest way about is the nearest way home in the researches of truth . 4 A facetious comparison of the German Dietts . 49 A facetious tale of the Arch-bishop of Mentz . 55 A facetious answer of the Lieflanders to Charles the fift . 63 The famous siege of Winsberga . 57 The Title of Emperour but an Eagles feather in ones Cap. 78 G GEnsericus the Vandal sacks Rome . 5 Galba the first Emperour chosen by the Soldiers . 7 A geer upon Rome and Venice . 11 Of the Goths and Vandals . 12 German Princes do carry Dogs for their punishment . 17 German Princes feather themselfs with the Eagles Plumes . 61 Germany able to raise 200 thousand electif men . 54 H HUngary took name from the Huns . 11 Henry the second in France had the first Title of Majesty . 30 The high power of the King of the Romans . 37 Hans-Towns whence derived . 42 How Hamburgh first receiv'd the English staple . 46 A hundred and fifty millions the revenues once of the Roman Monarchy . 54 How the Imperial Towns got out of Caesars yoak . 59 I IUlius Caesar cimented the Empire with his blood . 7 Iulianus bought the Empire of the Soldiers . 10 Imperial Towns . 42 Immunities payed for monies to the Towns of the Empire . 59 Ibraim the Turks Ambassador his witty Parable . 64 King Iames his prophetique saying . 68 K KIngs continued in Rome 140 years . 7 King a more antient title than Emperour . 29 Kings of Spain sometimes called Emperours . 32 King of Denmark Arch-bishop of Breme 39 L THe late Swedish army like to have prov'd such another as that of the Goths and Vandals of old . 11 Lombardy freed of the Goths by King Pepin . 14 Lutherans a great cause of the decay of the Empire . 62 The latitude of power which the Princes of the Empire have . 96 The lubricity of political bodies as well as natural . 108 M THe Moors and Saracens sack Rome . 5 The manner of electing an Emperour . 25 Majesty and other high titles how they began . 30 Maximilian Duke of Bavaria takes Prague from the Palatin with a lesser army . 69 Marq-Spinola takes the Palatinat . 69 The Mahumetan Moon fill'd by the wane of the Christian Empire . 65 Of the Marquis of Brandenburg his interest . 85 N THe names of divers of the Emperours that were put to violent deaths . 9 A notable saying of Charles Martel . 13 The names and offices of all the Electors . 21 Nothing so unlike as the present Empire and the old . 53 A notable story of a Bavarian Dutchess 57 The notable symbolisation of sense 'twixt the Psalmist and a Pagan philosopher . 108 O ONe of the cause that may oververthrow the Turkish Empire . 9 The new Ottoman Emperour must encrease the Ianizaries pay . 9 Otho the third the first Establisher of the Electors . 20 The Offers of Wenceslaus to the Electors to make his Son Emperour . 55 Of the Swed . 82 The tremendous Oath the Electors take . 103 P THe present King of Spain a Goth by descent . 12 Pepin a little man , but a great Conqueror . 14 Pope Iohn the ninth , taken Prisoner , and his eyes pluck'd out . 20 Palatin of the Rhin Arch-sewer of the Roman Empire . 22 Parallel 'twixt the Empire pass'd , and present . 51 Palatin of the Rhin adjudg'd to carry a Dog for his punishment . 57 The Pope a great Temporal Prince . 60 The poor revenues of the Empire . 53 Q QUarrell 'twixt Rome and Germany for choosing the Emperour . 19 Quarrel 'twixt Queen Elizabeth , and the Hans-Towns . 43 Quarrel 'twixt the Count Palatin and the Duke of Bavaria touching the Vicariat of the Empire . 74 Quarrel 'twixt the King of Denmark , and Hamburgh . 81 A thing like a quarrel 'twixt the King of Scots and the Palsgrave . 97 R THe Rise of the Roman Empire . 5 Rome eight times ravish'd and ransack'd . 5 The Roman Emperours held their lifes from the Army . 8 The Roman Monarchy shrunk from a Giantess to a Dwarf . Reasons why the King of Hungary is likeliest to be Emperour . 88 The revennues of the French Church 300 millions of liures and 20. 91 S THe several kinds of Goverments in Rome . 7 The Stewards in Scotland , and Charles Martel of France had the same beginning . 13 The Septemvirat or the seven Electors . 18 Staplers their first rise . 43 The Suisse one of the last that fell from the Empire , &c. 63 The Spaniard the Popes Champion . 61 The small power of the Emperour . 53 A sad saying of the Turks . 66 The Spaniard comes from the elder House of Austria . 90 The several Interests of the Princes of Germany . 85 T TOtila the Hun sacks Rome . 5 The translation of the Empire to Constantinople fatal to Rome . 5 Thirty Emperours put to violent deaths by the Army . 8 Two Turkish Emperours kill'd in less than 25 years . 9 A Tradition remarkable how the House of Austria came to be so great . 26 The Turk gives place to the Emperors Ambassadors above all other . 31 The Titles of the Heirs apparent to the Empire from time to time . 37 The Territories of the Pope 300 miles in length . 60 The Pope pretends to be Lord Paramount of England by King Iohns Grant . 61 Titles of the House of Austria . 89 V THe Vastnes of the old Roman Monarchy . 54 The vast circumference of Rome in Vopiscus time 50 miles compass . 54 A very witty embleme of the Turks Ambassador touching Germany . 64 A very witty devise of the Dutchess of Bavaria to preserve her husband . 58 The Vicarship of the Empire challeng'd by the Count Palatin , and his reasons . 74 A very witty way found by a Iesuitt to make the old Duke of Bavaria get Children . 71 The Upper Palatinat , the County of Cham , with the Electorship conferr'd upon the Bavarian . 79 W THe wantones of the peeple more than the Tarquins , cause of the expulsion of Kings . 6 A weak Act of the Roman Senat. 7 The Welsh and Irish have no other name for an English man , but Saisson or Saxon. 12 Wenceslaus the Emperour , depos'd , and the manner how it was . 35 Why England fell from the Roman Emperour , and from the Pope . 62 Were not the Imperial Eagles imp'd with Austrian feathers they wold be as bare as a Coot . Gloria Honorque Deo saeclorûm in saecula sunto . Chronogramma .