A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 3
Of Germany.
THE next Countrey unto France, on the East side, is Germany, which is boundedGermany how bounded. on the West with France, and the Low-Countries; on the North with Denmark, and the Danish Seas, on the East with Prussia, Polonia, and Hungary; on the South-East, with Istria and Illyricum; on the South with the Alpehils, and with Italy.
The Governour General of this Country, is called the Emperour of The Emperor Governor of Germany. Who be the seven Electors.Germany, who is chosen by three spiritual Princes; the Archbishop of Collen, called Coloniensis, the Archbishop of Ments, called Moguxtinus, and the Archbishop of Trevers, called Treverensis; and three temporall Princes, the Duke of Saxony, the Marquesse of Brandenburgh, and the Count Palatine of Rhene; which if they cannot agree, as to make a major part in their election, then the King of Bohemia hath also a voice, whereof it commeth to be said, that there be seven Princes Electors of the Empire.His manner of Election.
The manner of the choice of the Emperor, was established by a Decree, which is commonly called Bulla Aurea, which was made by Charles the 4 Emperor of Germany, and King of Bohemia, wherein he doth set down all the circumstances of the Election of the Emperor, and appointeth the King of Bohemia to be Sacri Imperii Archipincerna, which is the Cup-bearer.
The 3 Bishops of Colen, Ments, and Trevers, to be the Arch-Chancellours, of the three several parts of the Empire; the Count Palatine of the Rhene, to be Sacri Imperii, Archidapifer, which should have the setting on of the first dish, the Duke of Saxony to be Sacri Imperii Archimariscallus, whose office is to beare the sword, and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh to be Sacri Imperii Archi-Camerarius, or great Chamberlaine; all which Offices they supply on the day of the Emperours Coronation.
It appears by all the RomaneThe Empire went sometimes by succession and sometimes by election. Stories, that in times past, the Empire went sometimes by succession, as unto the Sons of Constantine and Theodosius, sometimes by Election, and that either of the Senate, or of the Souldiers, who oftentimes also in mutiny did elect men unworthy, yet such as fitted their purpose: But now of late, the Electors do choose some Prince of Christendome, who hath otherwise a Dominion of his own, which may helpe to back out the Empire, and therein of late hath appeared the great cunning of that which we call the house of Austria▪ whose greatest title within this 300 yeares, was to be a mean Count of a mean place, namely the County of Haspurg. But since that time, they have so planted and strengthened themselves, that there have been 7 or 8 Emperours lately of that family; but the Empire is not tied unto them, as may appeare by the possibility, which the Duke of Saxony, and Francis the great King of France, had to ascend to that Dignity.
When Charls the fifth was chosen Emperour, one of the meanes whereby the possession hath been continued to that house hath been the electing of some one to be Rex Romanorum, whilest another of his Family was Emperour, which Charls the fifth effected in his life time for his Brother Ferdinandus, Ferdin Em…eror.who after succeeded him; and that hath been the attempt of Albertus late Cardinal, and now Arch-Duke of Austria, that he might be established in the hope of the Empire, during the life of his brother … the Second, now Emperour and King of Bohemia: Rex Romanorum is he, who is f…rre already invested in title to the Empire, so that upon the death, resignation, or deposition of the then being Emperour, he is immediately to succeed.
He who is, now Emperor of Germany, is called Caesar, or Romani Imperii Caesar, or Romani Imperii Imperator.Imperator, but very improperly, in as much as the case is farre different from that which was when the Romane Empire did flourish; for then the Territories thereof were very great, all under the Regiment of one man, unless it pleased him to associate to himself some other. ButThe Empire divided by Theodosius. Theodosius did divide the Empire into two soveraignties, which were called the East and West Empires, & made Constantinople to be the chief seat of Arcadius, one of his sons, and Rome to be the principal City, of Honorius, the other; which Westerne Empire continued in his glory but a while; for the Gothes and Lombards, and other barbarous People, did both over-run it, and as good as extinguish it; in the which case it continued to the dayes of Charles the Great, who revived it again: but although there was some shew of Dominion, belonging unto him in Italy, yet his principal residence was in France, and his successours after him, removedA great policy in the Bishops of Rome. it into Germany; so that properly he is now to be called Imperator Germanorum. It was a great policy of the Bishops of Rome, that the Emperour was wrought to leave Italy, and keep himselfe in Germany; for the Popes did not like to have a strong Neighbour so near, who might at his pleasure chastise or depose them, if he saw good.
And the eunning of those Popes was such also, that they weakned the state of the Emperor exceeding much in Germany, by giving great exemptions to the Princes thereof, insomuch, that Munster rightlyMunsters complaint. complaineth. The Emperor beareth the Spread Eagle with two heads, noting the East and West Empire; but (saith he) one of the heads is quite pulled off; and so be almost all the feathers, and in the other head, although life remaineth, yet there is little spirit or vigour.
Surius in his Commentaries of the year 1530. reporteth, that to the Emperour of Germany belongeth three Crownes: The one of Silver, which intendeth the Kingdome of Germany: The second of Iron, which is for the Kingdome of Lombardy: And the third of Gold, which is for the Sacred Romane Empire.
In Germany all are at a kind ofMost of the Princes of Germany, take onthem as absolute Governours commandement of the Emperour: but most of the Princes otherwise take on them as absolute Governours in their Dominions: so that they have liberty of Religion; they do make Lawes, they do raise souldiers, they do stampe money with their own pictures, as absolute Princes? so doth the Duke of Saxony, the Arch-Bishop of Colen, and the rest.
The Princes of Germany came to that great strength of theirs, by meanes of a base and inferior man, who aspiring to the Empire (whereofHow they came by a great strength. he was unworthy) was content to release unto the Princes, almost all kind of their service and duty; so that their subjection since that time, is little more then titulary, yielding only very small maintenance to the Empire, either in tribute, souldiers, or otherwise: and albeit sometimes they refuse not to come by themselves, or their Agents to the Diets, and Parliaments, holden by the Emperour, yet that is as much for the safeguard of themselves from the invasion of the Turk, who is not farre from them, as for any other respect; and the pay which they allow in such cases, is rather held by them to be a contribution, than any imposition to be admitted by duty: & yet there is extant a book where the particulars are mentioned, how the Princes and free Cities are bound to maintaine upon their own charge, three thousand eight hundred forty two horses, and sixteen thousand two hundred foot, for the service of the Emperour, when he shall see cause; but how smal a trifle is that, in respect of the strength of so huge a Country?
The Princes themselves are soThe strengh of the Princes of Germany. strong many of them, that they dare encounter with any who oppugn them, insomuch, that whereas Charls the fifth, was doubtless the greatest Emperour that had been from the daies of Charles the Great, yet the Duke of Saxony, and the Lantsgrave of Hassia, with some few Cities which were confederate with them, did dare to oppose themselves against the said Charles: and entring the field with him did oftentimes put him to great inconveniences: yea, it is supposed by some, that howsoever he had a hand upon these two, yet his inability to match the rufling of some of those Princes, was not the least cause, why he resigned the Empire to his brother Ferdinando.The titles of their Nobility.
The manner of Germany is, that the Title of Nobility which is in the Father, commonly is imparted to all the Sonnes: so that every Sonne of a Duke of Saxony, is called Duke of Saxony; and every Child of the Count of Mansfield, is honored by the name of Count or Countes…e of Mansfield: but in the eldest House the chief Livelyhood doth remaine, for keeping upright the dignity of the Family.Free States and Cities▪
There are also Free States and Cities, which have the same Authority, as Argentine, Franckeford, and others.
This is to be noted of the Germanes; A Note worthy of observation.that they may boast this above other more Westernly Nations of Europe, that they are an unmixed Nation: for whereas the Lombards and Gothes at severall times, have set down in Italy, and mixed themselves with the people thereof, the Gothes, Vandals, and Saracens in Spaine, the Francks in Gaule or France, and the Normanes also; the Saxons, Angles, Danes and Normanes, in Great Britaine; they have been free from such inundation and mixture; yea, many of the people that have afflicted and inhabited these other Nations, have come from thence, so that therein Germany hath an advantage of these other Nations that have been subject hereunto.