A discourse OF THE EMPIRE, AND OF The Election of A King of the ROMANS, the greatest business of Christendom now in Agitation. AS ALSO Of the college of Electors, their particular Interests, and who is most likely to be the next Emperor.  
{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 Boars-head in S. Paul's churchyard 1658.   

The sum and substance of the ensuing discourse as it is divided to seven Sections.  
THe proem, showing the Motives that induced 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 government that happened 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 Emperor, or Caesar, and of the King of the Romans, &c.   

The fourth Section,  
Treats of the Diet, or Imperial parliament, and the Members thereof, with the Division of Germany, and the strength of the Empire, &c.   

The fift Section,  
Consists of a parallel twixt the Empire passed, and the present, with the causes first and last of the declination thereof, &c.   

The sixt Section,  
Treats of the enlargement of the college 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 some 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 Emperor, &c.  
A Corollary.   Pauca in multa diffundere est opus Ingenii, Multa in pauca digerere est opus Artis.  

A discourse 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 Emperor, being now the Gran business in agitation, and whereon the eyes not only of all Christendom, but of other Princes (as well Turk as Tartar) are more earnestly fixed than at other times, because of so long a vacancy, and a kind of demur; 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) wherein the German Empire hath continued above two hundred and odd years.  
And whereas that after some loose extemperall communications lately upon this subject, your lordship desired much to be informed of the present estate and interests of Germany, together with the power and primitive constitution of the Septemvirat, or the college of Electors, with other reflexes upon that point; Being returned home, I fell a rummaging my old papers, and such remarks that I gathered when I was employed in some parts of the Empire, and to comply with your lordships desires (which shall always be as binding to me as Decrees) I have digested into this short ensuing discourse, consisting of seven Sections.   

The first Section.  
Treating of the first Rise of the Roman Empire, and the sundry Rotations, or Retrogradations of governments that happened in Rome, &c.  
NOw for a clearer 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 sometimes the nearest 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 government, as any other upon Earth, having been eight several times ravished and ransacked by sundry warlike Nations. First by Brennus the bold Britain, then by Alaric the Goeth, afterwards by Ge●sericus the Vandale, then twice by To●ila the Hun, after him by the moors and Saracens, then by three Christian Emperors, viz. by Henry the fourth, Otho the third, and Charles the fift when his General the Duke of Bourbon breathed his last in scaling her walls, (and she was lately like to receive an ill-favoured shock by the Duke of Parma) yet she never fell sans recource as they say, or was ever laid so flat upon her back, but she recovered herself, and raised up her crest again, whence it may be inferred, that an extraordinary Providence, and Tutelar Genius doth attend that city; 'Tis true that the translating of the Imperial Court by Constantine, to Byzantium (which he christened afterwards with his own name) was fatal to Rome, when the glory of the Tiber and Tyrrhene Sea passed over to the Hellespont, yet a Spiritual Head preserved her still in some lustre, In so much that when the Pope came to be her Master, she might have been said to have been reduced to her first Principles, and to have passed from one shepherd to another, viz. from Romulus, to Sylvester; But there were a world of vicissitudes and revolutions of governments intervened, and passed between; Her primitive, and original way of Ruling was by Kings, but, after a hundred and forty years' continuance, she surfeited upon that, which surfeit may be said to have proceeded from the Peeples wantonness rather than from Tarquin's lust; Then, she was governed a while by consuls, so called 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 revolved to consuls, then to Tribunes again, b●● more than two, which lasted a good tract of time above seventy years, then came Consuls in again the third time, after that Dictators, until Caius Julius Caesar's time who was the first perpetual Dictator, and a little after the first Emperor, though it cost him dear, for he might be said to have cemented the foundation of the Roman Empire with his own blood being murdered in the senate by small contemptible tools, yet it remained in his progeny to six descents, viz. to Domitius Nero.  
Thus after so many rotations or retrogradations of governments, and a kind of cushion dance of several kind of Rulers, the Imperial was Established at last, and the successive Emperors were used to be chosen by the senate, and then saluted by the Army; But afterwards the Legionary Soldiers & Praetorian bands made Emperors sub hasta in the field, and Galba was the first who was chosen so, and that with the consent of the senate; now, it was the most unpolitique act that ever the Roman senate committed, which proved so fatal to so many of the following Emperors who held not their security as much as their lives from the Soldiers, which took them away at pleasure; for after that the Election passed from the senate to the Sword, there were above thirty Emperors that were put to violent deaths, and some of them very tragical, four murdered themselves, many also of those that were adopted Caesars, and designed to succeed in the Empire were untimely made away, being raised to that pitch that they might perish the sooner, as an Author says.  
But to go more punctually to work we will muster up here most of those Emperors that came to immature and violent deaths; Julius 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 poisoned by his wife Agrippina; Nero and Otho slew themselves; Galba and Vitellius were done away by the Soldiers; Domitian by Stephanus; Commodus by Letus, and Electus; Pertinax and Julianus 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 murdered by his own menial 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 increase of salary, that the Praetorian bands used to receive from the new Emperor, which pernicious kind of bounty was begun first by Claudius Caesar, and is now practised by the Turk: for every new Sultan useth to enhance the pay of the Spahies, and janissaries to so many aspers more for fear of mutinieng, which in time may be the bane of the Ottoman Empire, for such hath been the presumption already of the said janissaries of late years that they have murdered two of their Emperors in less than five and twenty years.  
But in the Roman Empire the military bands came to such an exorbitancy of power, that sometimes they did prostitute, and put the Empire to sale by public outcry, as we read how Sulpitianus offered twenty Sestertiums (which are near upon eight pounds sterling apiece) to every Soldier, but Julianus raised the market higher, and out-bad him; But Constantine the great (the first Christian Emperor and a Britain born) found out the policy to regulat, & lessen the Praetorian bands, till at last he quite cashiered them, at least reduced them to such a number that they could do no hurt.  
The removal of the Imperial Court to Constantinople, though it proved advantageous to the Bishop of Rome, who had the city transferred 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 Adriatic gulf, and that they are both inserted in one patent, though that patent cannot be found upon any record; I say though this removal was an advantage to the Bishop of Rome, yet it proved very prejudicial to Italy in general, and to all the Western parts of the Empire, for many rough-hewn Northern Nations, that desired to come nearer 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 covered other countries, (And some feared the like of the late Swedish Army, had they prospered 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 Vandals piercing the very heart of France overcame Spain, and denominated Andaluzia, Insomuch that the present King of Spain doth acknowledge himself to be de la sangre de los Godos, to descend from the Goths, whereby some would infer 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 coming from the Territories of Franconia, the other from the lower Circle of Saxony whereof 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 some lustre in the Levant, though the Northwest parts suffered many Eclipses, being so pitifully dilacerated, and torn by the fury of foreign Nations; Now the chiefest cause thereof may be ascribed to the remoteness of the Emperor's 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 year eight hundred a new kind of auspicious star appeared in the West, which was Charlemagne, whom the Germans do claim to be their Compatriot, though they go a great way back and fetch him from Pharamont, or the first race of the Kings who invaded Gallia, and by way of conquest called it France.  
Charlemagne was the granchild of Charles Martell, who being Maire of the Palace, or chief Steward and Surintendent of the King's Court got his Son Pepin to be crowned 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 Scots 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 King's Court in Scotland.  
Pepin though a little man did great exploits, for he crossed the alps, and recovered Lombardy where a race of Goths had been Kings above 200 years, And at his return to France conferred the Exarcbatship, or Vicegerency of Italy upon the Bishop of Rome.  
Charlemagne his Son did higher achievements, for he clammered o'er the Pyreneans an debelled the Saracens in Spain, discomfited the Saxons, and confirmed the conquest of Italy, so that he was solemnly saluted Emperor of the West at Rome by the general voice, and wonderful acclamations of the people, and so confirmed by the Pope's benediction (Leo the 4th. on Christmas day.  
Nicehporus in Constantinople stormed extremely at first there should be another Emperor besides himself, alleging that he was the sole Roman Emperor, and accordingly used to send his Exarques, or viceroys 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 sons did wonderfully enervat and enfeeble it, as a great River cut out into many arms, and sluices must needs grow weaker and shallower in her first bed.  
Now, though Charlemagne was an extraordinary heroic, and a Magnanimous gallant man as his actions tell us, yet his children for four descents together did strangely degenerate, and proved but poor spirited men, His Son Lewis was called the Gentle for his soft nature, Charles the Bald was of a baser alloy than he, Lewis the stuttring inferior to both, Charles the gross the last Emperor and King of France died a most disastrous death; After him the Empire was solely devolved to the Germans; Charlemagne and his Dependants enjoyed it 118 years, than it came to the House of Saxony who held it 117 years, The House of Suevia 110, other families (Whereof the House of the Count Palatine of the Rhin, and of Nassaw were sometimes) held the Empire 112 years, until it came to the House of Austria, who have held it longer than any one Family ever did.  
Now, there is a remarkable Tradition how the House of Austria came to that comble of greatness, which they report thus,  
Rodulph Earl of Habspurg returning homeward fromhunting one day overtook a Priest that had the Eucharist under his habit, coming from visiting a sick body, The Earl finding he was tired alighted, and helped the Priest a horseback, and holding the bridle in his hand waited upon him as a lackey till he came to the Church, and replaced the Host upon the Altar, The Priest sang an extraordinary mass (where the Earl devoutly attended all the while) and pronouncing the Benediction at the end, he crossed the Earl, saying that for so signal, and a sweet Act of piety, His House should be one of the greatest, and most glorious Families that ever was upon Earth, which proved true, for a while after not only the German Empire, but the East, and West Indies, with all the Dominions of Spain, whereof some are the t'other side of the world, came to that Family.  
And now, my Lord, I will proceed to the Septemvirat, or college of Electors (Whereof I promised an account in the beginning) whose creature the Emperor may be said to be, for 'tis their breath that makes him.   

The second Section,  
Touching the Septemvirat, or Electors of the Roman Emperor, their primitive Constitution, and power with their precedence, and offices, &c.  
FOr two hundred years after Charlemagne, who was the Restaurator of the Occidental parts of the Roman Monarchy (which had been so pitifully shattered by the irruption of sundry barbarous people, as was said before) and therefore meritoriously styled, the first Emperor of the West, I say for a long time there was no certain or regular way of Election, and the customs was that the Emperor regnant used to nominate, & recommend his Son, or nearest Kinsman to the German Princes, but in the yeerabout 1000 after the Incarnation, Rome began to raise up her crest, and brussle, by redemanding and challenging the Election of the Emperor, alleging, 'twas a prerogative of Hers de jure antiquo; The raking up of the ashes of this old Right, was like to kindle a great fire on both side of the Hills, for the Italian Princes stuck to Her in the claim; But Otho the third a prudent Prince found a way to prevent it, by procuring a x of his to be created Pope by the name of Gregory the fift, who being a German born, was so favourable and indulgent of his own country, that he confirmed the choosing of the Western Emperor to the German Nation, but the Romans, with some Italian Princes stomaching heerat, they deposed Gregory, and chose the Bishop of Placentia Pope in his place, by the title of John the ninth: Otho took this in so great indignation, that he suddenly raised an Imperial Army, clammered o'er the alps, and made his way by the point of the Sword towards Rome, which opened her Gates unto him without much difficulty, so he seized upon the person of the new Pope, disoculated that counterfeit light of the Church by plucking out his eyes, and replaced Gregory the fift his Cousin in Saint Peter's chair with triumph.  
Otho being victoriously returned to Germany, convoqued the chiefest Princes, and proposed unto them the multiplicity of inconveniences, encumbrance, and causes of confusion, that the incertain, and unestablished way of choosing an Emperor, and his immediate Successor, was subject unto, therefore he desired 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 should be invested, to elect an Emperor, and his next Successor; hereupon the college 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 approved hereof, but was ready to confirm the Act, provided that three of the said Electors were ecclesiastics; So the Western Empire was made purely Elective, giving encouragements thereby for Princes of virtue and merit to aspire.  
Hereupon the Archbishop of Mentz, the Archbishop of Collen, and the Archbishop of triers 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 years after King) was chosen to have a session among them, and whom he named of those two that they had elected, should be Emperor, so that the Bohemian might be called rather an Umpire than an Elector in these transactions.  
This great Act was solemnly voted, and enroled in the Imperial Chamber, and some hundred of years after 'twas 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 said Electors. The Archbishop of Mentz was made High-Chancellor of Germany, He of Colen High-Chancellor of Italy, and he of triers High-Chancellor of France; The Duke of Saxony was made sacri imperii Archi-Marascallus, Lord high marshal 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 butler 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, triers, let these Three  
Each of Them an Arch-Chancellor be,  
Duke, bear the Sword; Count, the first Dish take up;  
Marquis look to the Chamber, Boheme the Cup.  
So the secular Electors are composed of a King, a Duke, a Marquis, and a Count.  
Upon an occasion of a new choice, these with the ecclesiastics were to be summoned by the Archbishop of Mentz, to assemble within three months' time, and to be guarded by the country as they passed along, but their retinue was not to exceed two hundred horse, whereof there should be but fifty armed.  
Being convened, 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 Christendom, and they were to do this within the compass of thirty days, and not to go out of Frankford, or the place where they met in the interim, & jury-like to have no other nutriment but bread and water after the expiration of the said thirty days.  
The choice being made by the Assembly of Electors, the new Emperor, according to the tenure of the golden Bull the grand Charter of the Empire (so called because 'twas confirmed by the Pope) is saluted by the Title of King of the Romans, and not Emperor till he be crowned with three Crowns, viz. with the golden Crown representing Rome, with a silver Crown representing Germany, and with an Iron Crown representing Lombardy, which ceremony useth to be performed at Aquisgrave for all the three places, But he is not to be called Augustus till confirmed by the Pope.  
At the first day of the Emperor's Inauguration, the foresaid Electors were to give their personal attendance in the Emperor's Court, but now they are dispensed withal to do it by proxy.  
Before the Palace Gate there used to stand a heap of Oats to the breast of a Horse, than comes the Duke of Saxony mounted, having in his hand a silver wand, and a silver 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 Emperor; The three archbishopps say Grace; The Marquis of Brandenburg comes also on horseback with a silver basin of water, of the value of twelve Marks, and a clean towel which, being alighted, he holds to the Emperor; Then comes the Count Palatin of the Rhin a horseback also, and being alighted he carries four dishes of meat, every dish of the value of three Marks; Then the King of Bohemia comes with a napkin on his arm, with a covered cup of twelve Marks which he presents.  
Touching the precedence of the Electors among themselves one may judge of it by the manner of their session with the Emperor, when he sits in Majesty, which is thus.  
The Archbishop of triers high Chancellor of France sits over against the Emperor; The Archbishop of Moguntia or Mentz, as high chancellor of Germany sits on the right hand of the Emperor; The Archbishop of Collen on the left hand; The King of Bohemia hath his seat on the right hand of the Archbishop of Mentz, and next him the Count Palatin of the Rhin; The Duke of Saxony fits on the left hand of the Archbishop of Collen, and by him the Marquis of Brandenburg.  
Moreover when they used to go in procession with the Emperor 'twas ordained in the Golden Bull that the Archbishop of triers should go before his Imperial Majesty, and near him on both sides one of the Ecclesiastical Electors; The King of Bohemia was to go alone after the Archbishops, 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, caring 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 Brandenburg was to march with a sceptre in his hand, then followed the Emperor himself.  
By what hath been spoken the discern Reader may judge who had the priority of place, the Count Palatin of the Rhin or the Duke of Saxony, a Contest that hath gravelled many.   

The third Section,  
Touching the stile & title of Emperor or Caesar, and of the King of the Romans, &c.  
COncerning the Character, and title of Emperor, 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 near of such a transcendency then as now it is, He was at firstbut tutoyè he was but thoued when he was spoken unto, but afterwards in regard he had the prerogative to confer honours, and offices, to grant pardons, and patents of grace, with other obliging motives, the Courtiers, especially the Churchmen began to magnify, or rather deify him with sublime attributes, as we read in Symmachus in his Epistles to Theodosius, and Valentinian, wherein his stile unto them is Vestra aeternitas, vestrum numen, vestra perennitas, vestra clementia, &c. than he began to be called Divus Imperator; but touching the title of Majestas, which was given ab augendo Imperium (as was touched before,) or as some would have it a majori statu, it is an attribute 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 used to be backward in assuming, and applyengtitle of greatness to herself.  
But concerning the dignity of Emperor, 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 Emperor the greatest monarch upon Earth, and esteems him accordingly, which appeared in the person of David Vngnadius, who being not an age since Ambassador in Constantinople for the Christian Emperor, 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 there was an upper chair put for him.  
Another time upon the celebration of Mahomet the Thirds Circumcision which lasted forty days & nights, there being then in Constantinople the legates of the greatest monarchs upon Earth, yet he who was Ambassador at that time for the Emperor Rodulphus the second had always the first place.  
Some Civilians exalt the Emperor with divers transcendent titles, whereof 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 Emperor be accounted the sole supereminent Prince in Christendom yet there have been other Kings who assumed that title besides him; some of the Kings of Spain have been called Imperatores Hesperiae; King Edgar whowas rowed upon the river of Dee by four Kings, whereof 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 called also Albionis Imperator.  
I Edgar by the bountiful clemency of the highthundring God, King of the English, Emperor, and Lord of all the Kings, Islands, and seas circumjacent to Britain, and of all the Nations included therein, he was styled in another place Emperor of Albion.  
Moreover the Realms of England was declared an Empire by Act of parliament octavo Henrici octavi and in divers other Acts the Crown of England is called the imperial Crown, and the City of London the imperial Chamber.  
Now touching the respects that other Christian Kings owe the Emperor, 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. Emperor, seem to acknowledge a kind of subordination by way of compliment; but Edward the third of England would not kiss the Emperor Lewis of Bavaria's feet at their interview in Colen, and the reason he alleged, 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 called, and nominated Vicar of the Empire, and as some have it, was offered 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 jeering 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 Emperor cannot be called so pure, and independent a monarch as some other Kings, for besides that he is but Tenant for life and governed by Diets which are Imperial parliaments, the Electors may be said to be his associates, and to have a share in the government; Nay, the Emperor 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 pass no judgement unless the Emperor himself be present in Imperiali curia.  
There want no examples that some Emperors have been deposed for their maladministration, an instance shall be made in Wenceslaus in the year 1400. who was formally degraded by the Archbishop of Mentz upon a public theatre in the plains of Brubach near the river of Rhin by a judicial sentence, which I thought worthy the inserting here.  
We Jehn Archbishop of Moguntia, Prince Elector and Archchancellor of the German Nation, in the name of other Prince's Electors, Dukes, Landgraves, Counts, and other Lords, Barons, and potentates of the Empire, in regard of divers damageable 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 honours which were due to him from the Empire, and we publish him in the presence of all the Princes, Barons, and potentates of the Empire for a profane person, and unworthy of such an honour, and dignity; enjoining every one of what quality or condition soever he be, not to yield him obedience as Emperor, prohibiting every one to payhim any kind of tribute, fief, or forfeiture, either by Right or by covenant, or any office appertaining to the Empire, Nay, we will that those perquisites be reserved until God doth give us the grace to elect an Emperor, that may be for the benefit of the whole Empire, and the Christian commonweal. And it is well known how often he hath been admonished by the Prince's Electors both in public and private, and particularly by every one of our Order that he would leave his unworthy deportments, and carry himself as his Dignity required.  
Concerning the King of the Romans, it is but a modern title, peculiar to him who is declared Heir apparent, or the designed Successor of the Empire; But at first, he who was so chosen was called Caesar, and it was the Emperor Adrian who first called AeliusVerus by that title, insomuch that the family of Julius Caesar being extinct in the person of Domitius Nero who was the sixt in descent (as afore was told) the name Caesar ceased to be used as the name of a family or blood, but it was used as a name mere honorary, and precedent to the Empire; Afterwards the designed Successor to the Empire was called Despote, after that he was called King of Italy, than King of Germany, and lastly King of the Romans, Romischer Konig in high Dutch, and the Emperor himself was only called Caesar kaiser in Dutch, which appellation continueth to this day; And it was Charles the 5 who introduced the title of King of the Romans, who since is acknowleged the immediate, 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 Emperor; Nay some Civilians hold that the King of the Romans may make Edicts without the regnant Emperor, 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 Emperor.   

The 4 Section.  
Touching the Diet or Imperial parliament, and the members thereof, with the Division of Germany, and the strength of the Emperor.  
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 government whereof is principally in the Emperor, contractedly in the Electors, and diffusively in the Diet or imperial parliament, and other Courts, whereof the Chamber of Spire is the Supreme, whence there is no appeal.  
In the Diets, after the Emperor, the Prince's Electors are the prime state, among whom the prelates have still the priority; The second state is composed of four Archbishops, viz. he of Magdenkurg (who is primate of all Germany) He of Salzburg, he of Besanson, and the Archbishop of Breme, which archbishopric the Kings of Denmark have had a long time; Then there are one and thirty Bishops, and eleven abbots, whereof he of Fulda is the chief, having above fourscore thousand rich dollars in annual revenue; Then come the secular Princes of the Empire, whereof the archdukes of Austria are first, and they are divided into two branches, viz. of Germany and Burgundy.  
The third Estate is composed of Imperial towns which are about sixty five in number, some whereof hold solely from the Emperor (which are accounted the most noble,) and some are Relevant from other Princes. There is another sort of Towns called the Hansiatique Towns, twixt whom there is a strong confederacy, and fraternal league in merchantile affairs: They are divided into four classes, or Metropolitan Cities, to wit Lubeck, Colen, Brunswick, and Danzick, who have a solemn yearly convention at Lubeck where they keep their Records. The Hanse or Hansiatique Association is of long antiquity; touching the word, some would 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 counsel or advice in the Gothique tongue; Others would have it from Hander see which signifieth a place near the Sea, and this passeth for the most current etymology, in regard that all their towns are so situated, or upon some Navigable river leading to the Sea. The Extent of the old Hanse was from the Nerve in Liefland, as far as the banks of the Rhin, comprehending about 62 towns of trassique, whereof the four great Towns afore named were the several precincts; The Kings of Poland, and Sweden have sued to be their Protector, but they refused them, because they were not Princes of the Empire; They put off the King of Denmarque also with a compliment, nor would they admit of the King of Spain when he was most powerful in the Netherlands, though afterwards they desired his help when 'twas too late; They refused also the Duke of Aniou, notwithstanding that the world thought at that time he should have married Queen Elizabeth of England, who appeared for him in this business, whereby 'twas probable, they might have recovered their old privileges in England; So that I do not find that they had any other Protector (Unless of late years) 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 Hanse had Extraordinary immunities conceded unto them by our Henry the third, because they assisted him in his wars with so many Ships, and, as they pretended, the King was not only to pay them for the service of the said Ships, but for the vessels themselves in case they miscarried; Now, it fortuned, that upon their return to Germany from serving Henry the third; a great part of their Fleet was cast away by distress 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 Mary's time, and by the advice of King Philip her husband she enhanced the one to twenty percent; The Hanse not only complained, but clammored allowed for breach of their ancient privileges confirmed unto them by long prescription from thirteen successive Kings of England, which they pretended to have pourchased with their money; King Philip undertook to accommodat the business, but Queen Mary dying, a little after (out of a conceit of the less of Calais, which she said upon her deathbed should be found Engraven in her heart if she were opened) and he retiring hence, there could be nothing done; Complaints being made afterwards to Queen Elizabeth, she answered, that, as she would 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 proved very advantageous to the English, for they tried what they could do themselves herein, and after some adventures they thrive so well that they took the whole trade into their own hands, and so divided themselves 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 nettled the Hanse, that they devised all the ways they could to draw upon them the ill opinion of other Nations; Moreover the Hanse towns being a body incorporated in the German Empire, complained to the Emperor, who sent over Ambassadors to mediate the business, but they returned still re infectâ; hereupon the Queen caused a proclamation to be published, that the Merchants of the Hanse should be entreated, and used as all other strangers within her dominions in point of commerce, without any mark of distinction.  
This nettled them the more, thereupon they bent their forces more eagerly, and in an Imperial Diet at Ratisbon they procured that the English Merchants who had associated themselves in corporations both in Embden, and other places, should be adjudged Monopolists; whereupon there was a Comitial Edict procured against them that they should be exterminated, and banished out of all parts of the Empire, which was done by the activity of Suderman a great Civilian; there 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 whereby the society of English Merchants adventurers were pronounced a Monopoly; yet Gilpin played his cards so well that he wrought under hand that the said Imperial Ban should not be published till after the dissolution of the Diet, and that in the interim his Imperial Majesty should 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 said Ban grew to be rather ridiculous than formidable; for the town of Embden harboured our Merchants notwithstanding, and afterwards the town of stood; but they, being not so able to protect them against the Imperial Ban removed, and settled themselves in Hamburgh; After this the Queen commanded another proclamation to be published, that the Hansiatique Merchants should be allowed 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 stood or Hamburgh, or anywhere else within the precincts of the Hanse; This incensed them more, thereupon endeavours were made to cut off stood, and Hamburgh from being Members of the Hanse, or of the Empire, but they suspended this dessein till they saw what success the great Spanish Armada should have which was then preparing in the year 88, for they had not long before made their address to the King of Spain which had done them some good offices; wherefore to this day King Philip and his council were taxed of a great oversight, that there was no use made of the Hanse towns in that great Expedition against England.  
Queen Elizabeth finding that they of the Hanse were not contented with that Equality she had offered to make twixt them, and her own Subjects, put out a Proclamation that they should 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 Hanse began to despair of doing any good; Add herunto that another disafter befell them, which was the taking of 60 sails of their ships about the mouth of the River of Lisbon by the Queen's ships, that went laden with ropas de contrabando, or goods prohibited by her former Proclamations into the Dominions of Spain; And as these ships were ready to be discharged, she had intelligence of an extraordinary Assembly at Lubeck, which had purposely met to consult of means to be revenged of her, thereupon she made absolute prize of the said 60 ships, only two were freed to bring home tidings what became of the rest; hereupon the Pole sent a ranting Ambassador in the behalf of the Hanse, who spoke in a high tone, but the Queen herself did suddenly answer him in a higher.  
These premises being well considered, it proved an advantageous thing for England that this clash fell out betwixt Her and the Hanse, for ever since the English Merchants have beaten a peaceful and an uninterrupted 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 archangel, and Moscow, which may be said to have been the chiefground of that increase of Shipping, Mariners, and Merchandising which she is come unto.  
Now, there is one passage in this relation observable, that the Hans-towns, do not tie themselves to obey the bands, and Edicts of the Imperial Diet no further than it conduceth to their own interest, as it appeared by the examples of Embden, stood and Hamburgh, in the traverses of this business, which towns stuck still to the English Factories, notwithstanding the public transactions & prohibitions of the Diet to the contrary, Aeneas Silvius 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 fruitful, in regard every one hath another commonly in its belly, and 'tis credible because Diet is of the feminine gender she is more willing to be got with Child; whereunto alluded also the saying of (Charles the fift, viz. That the German Diets were like vipers, for as these destroy their dams, so the latter Decrees of Diets destroy the former.  
I have dwelled longer upon this particular, than my proposed brevity required, but the Hanse being that part of the Empire with whom England hath most correspondence in point of negotiation and commerce, I suffered myself to be transported till my pen came to a full period.   

The fift Section.  
A parallel twixt the Empire passed, and the present, with the causes of the declination thereof, &c.  
THough by the true rule of proportion, no parallel canbe made twixt the Roman Empire passed, and the present, no more than twixt an Eagle and a Wren, yet because comparisons and examples conduce much to the elucidation of things, something shall be said to that point.  
The Roman Monarchy when she was at the highest altitude of greatness, and glory, may be said to have had no horizon, while she sat upon her seven Hills she may be said to have overlooked 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 sense which was made that Vopiscus relates; The Roman Eagle fixed his talons upon the Banks of Euphrates Eastward, on the Nile South, on the Danube and the Rhin Northward, and flew West as far as the British and German Seas; Her annual revenues were then computed at a hundred and fifty millions, whereof the salary of her legionary Soldiers amounted to above twenty million; some of her Generals usually brought ten thousand talents into her aerarium, her Exchequer, at their return from abroad, and Gabinius twenty thousand; some of her Emperors are recorded to have strewed the amphitheatre with gold sand in their public spectacles, & triumphs, so she might well have taken then the 5 Vowels for her symbol A, E, I, O, V, which signified, Aquila, Electa, justè, Omnia, Vincit. But she may be said to have shrunk since from a Giantess to a Dwarf, Insomuch that he who hath the Empire now may be said to have an eagle's feather only in his Capp, for he must have something of his own to support the sacred Caesarian Majesty, else he may be put to live upon Alms; Take all the tributes of the free Towns, they come but to five thousand Crowns a year, but for any true fundum, or Real estate there's none; He depends merely upon the pleasure of the Diet for all public pecuniary erogations, and taxes; And whereas we read that Charles the fift had once ninety thousand foot, and thirty five thousand effective horse against Solyman, and above that number against the Lutherans, most of those were levied in his own Dominions, and patrimonial Territories, Insomuch that if the Roman Eagles were not imped with Austrian feathers they would 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 raise 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, there were many causes concurred thereunto, the main cause was touched before, viz. the translation of Caesar's Court from Rome to Constantinople, whereby Italy, and the rest of the Western parts of the Empire were left obvious and as a prey to other Nations; Add herunto the dismembering of the Empire into East and West, with other accidents pointed at before.  
But for the declination of the Occidental Empire founded by Charlemagne, there was a greater concurrence of caufs; First the unhappy partition that Lewis the Gentle Charlemains Son, made of the Empire to find apanage and portions for his Sons, whereof he had three; add herunto, that when the Empire came to be within the German pale, and Italy became but a Province to Germany, being to be disposed of by the college of Electors, They who aspired to be Emperors, or to have their Sons to succeed them used to prepossess, and oblige the Electors by donatifs, and indeed no less than bribes, as Charles the fourth to make his Son Wenceslaus capable to succeed him, offered them a hundred thousand Florins apiece, as Aeneas Silvius hath it, but having no ready money to satisfy them, he transferred, and passed over some Imperial towns unto them, whereof 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 called pro pola Imperii, the Hucster of the Empire, and having conspired with others of his Complices against Albert the first, and designed to elect another Emperor, the said Gerardus having a hunting horn about him, and being a potent popular man, he wound out these words In hoc cornu complures gesto Caesares, In this horn I carry many Keysars, viz. Caesar's; The Empour taking this in indignation, by the special benediction of Heaven, he was quit with him, and his confederates afterwards, by making them carry dogs about the country so many miles, which is accounted in Germany the disgracefullest and most opproprious kind of punishment that can be inflicted upon a Nobleman, or Gentleman, whereas a boor or plebeian is condemned according to the quality of his offence to carry only a Chair from one County to another; such a peculiar punishment there was of old in France, for whereas there was a law called lafoy loy de la chevelure that none should wear long hair but the Nobles, he who had committed any degenerous offence was adjudged to have his hair cut off before the tribunal of justice, and so was degraded from being a gentleman, his honour going away with his hair, and so made a Roturier or Yeoman: The story tells us that the Emperor Frederique Barbarossa made Hermannus Count Palatin of the Rhin, and ten Counts more to carry dogs 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 battles.  
Such another clash the Emperor Conradus had with Guelphus' Duke of Bavaria, who bore up a good while against him, at last the Emperor, recruiting his Army with Italian Auxiliaries, shut up the Duke in Winsberga, and beleaguered him so close that he was ready to famish; And the Emperor having been provoked so far that he had vowed to put all to fire and sword, The Duchess being a comely courageous Lady went through the throng of the army into the Emperor's tent, and made such a flexanimous speech which so melted the Emperor, that he published a proclamation, that for her sake all the Women of Winsberga should have safe conduct to depart and carry away upon their backs as much of their most precious wealth that they could bear. Hereupon the Duchess took the Duke upon her back, and every wife by her example her husband, maids and unmarried women took up their brothers, and kindred, and so all marched out; The Emperor being much taken with this witty piece of humanity, published a general act of Amnestia, and so the Duke was redintegrated into his favour. This memorable story I couched once into verse, being a task imposed upon me, and the Epigram runs thus.  
Tempore quo Bavarum superârat Roma Guëlghum,  
Seria festivo Res fuit acta joco;  
Conradus victor winsbergam oblesserat Vrbem,  
Hinc fame, Deditio facta, prement, 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 deuce faedus init.  
But to return where we left, another cause of the Empours decay, was, that being often reduced to some exigents for want of money, they used to have recourse to the richest Imperial towns for a supply, who used to lend them money, and the Emperors paid them their money back with immunities; Many towns in Italy got their necks out of Caesar's yoke this way, and some of them very cheap, as Florence, for it cost her but six thousand crowns, and Luca ten thousand; &c. In so much that the liberties of most of the free cities of Italy, much more of high and low Germany, sprung out of the necessities of the Emperors, whereby their power as well as their glory did daily decline; add herunto that the Bishops of Rome feathered their nests from time to time with the eagle's plumes, specially in Italy, for besides the City of Rome, and the countries adjacent, such was the high reverence the Church had in those days that many other territories were given to the Apostolical See, and since, by well devoted Princes, Insomuch that the Pope is grown hereby 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 duchy of Ferrara, Bologna, Romania, the marquisate of Ancona, Sabina, Perugia, with a part of Toscany, the Patrimony of Saint Peter, and Latium; in these there are above 50 bishoprics; He doth signorize also over the duchy 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 called Avignon, he hath title good enough to Naples also herself, and Calabria, but rather than incur 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, Urbino, Parma, and Masseran, as also of Norway, Ireland, and England since King John did prostrate our Crown at Pandulpho his legates feet: His Dominions reach from one Sea to another, viz. from the Tyrrhene to the Adriatic, and these Territories run through the centre of Italy, which enables the Pope to do good or harm to the Princes about him, and makes him capable to be an umpire, or a potent Enemy, his authority being mixed twixt secular and spiritual, for he can use the sword, and thunderbolt of Excommunication at pleasure; And (to return to our chief subject) most of the countries 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 turned Lutherans daily encroached upon, and impropriated the demeans of the Church, which was a great support to the Emperor, 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 Africa where so many mighty parts of the Continent fell from the Roman Empire, nor will we look so far 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 said to have fallen first from Her, being not able by reason of wars she had in other countries, to protect the Britains against the Picts, as England says now in point of Religion that she had never fallen away from Rome, unless Rome had fallen from herself; I say we will not look so fart back, but come to more modern Times since the Empire came within the German pale; The Swisses were one of the last that revolted, who being summoned to the imperial Chamber at Spire, they sent a rough hewn Ambassadors totell the Imperial council in these words, Domini confaederati Heluetii vos vicinos suos salvere jubent, mirantur verò quod tam crebris citationibus, &c. The Lord's Confaederats of Switzerland do greet you their Neighbours, but they wonder that by your so frequent citations you would disquiet Them, therefore they pray and exhort you, that you would no further molest Them. In Charles the fifths time the Livonians fell off, and He summoning them to their obedience, and menacing to reduce them otherwise by force, they sent him a jeering Answer, That they believed his Horse would tire 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 unmembered, and emancipated themselves from the German Emperor, who were used to obey his summons, & make their appearance accordingly.  
Touching Germany itself, 'tis true, that it is a huge Continent, and full of Princes, which make some compare her to a Firmament spangled with Stars; Others compare the Emperor to a great Luminary encircled with the seven Planets, meaning the Septemvirat, or the college of Electors, and not improperly, for this agrees with the Caesarean Arms, which are Sol, Saturn armed, and crowned Mars, and the Eagle displayed with two heads; yet, though thereby the Emperor be called Rex Regum, these Princes are prejudicial to his greatness, whereof Ibraim Ambassador to Solyman the great Turk gave a hint by an ingenuous Fable which was thus; When Maximilian the second was chosen Emperor, the foresaid Ibraim was then at Frankfurt, who having been a Spectator to the ceremony, and observed what great Princes attended the Emperor that day, and being told that some of them could raise an Army of them selves, and maintain it against any power, The Ambassador smilingly said, That he doubted not of the puissance of Germany, but he observed that the Minds and Actions, the Counsels and Interests of the Germans were like a beast with many heads, and tails, which in case of necessity being to pass through a hedge, and every head seeking to find a particular hole to pass through, they were a hindrance one to another, every head drawing after his own fancy, and so hazarded the destruction both of all the heads body & tails: But the Empire of Solyman his great Master was like a beast with many tails, 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 tails, and the whole body followed smoothly after.  
Lastly, the fatallst cause of the decay of Caesar was the monstrou; successes of the Mahometan, whose half Moon filled 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, there's no Christian grass will ever grow there again.   

The sixth Section,  
Of enlarging the college 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 proved unsuccessful unto himself and Family, so it proved fatal to all Christendom besides (as the preceding Comet did foretell An. 1618.) for directly or collaterally it hath been the cause of all the wars that happened ever since in Christendom, which made King James, as if he had been Prophet as well as Prince to say unto his privy council, upon the first tidings which were brought him that his son-in-law was gone to Prague, My Lords, this is a sad business, and the youngest man amongst us shall not live to see the end of it which proved true.  
The Bohemian Crown was first offered by the Revolters to the Duke of Saxony, but he out of a political prudence, as well as out of the fidelity and allegiance he owed the Emperor, declined it; Then they reflected upon the Count Palatin of the Rhin as a Prince that might be par negotio, and able to go throughstitch 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 Orange with the Duke of Bovillon (who was called the old Ardenian fox) being also his Oncles, which last three, incited him first unto that great Attempt, though he paused a good while upon it, and resolved twice to decline it, till his lady seemed to reproach his pusillanimity, telling him, Had you Sir, the courage to venture upon a King of great Britain's sole Daughter, and will you not venture upon a Crown when 'tis offered you?  
The Count Palatin then was looked 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 Emperor in this quarrel, for by his assistance and conduct an army of 25000. was routed by less than fifteen thousand, and the City of Prague with the whole Kingdom was recovered for the Emperor; On the otherside by the arms of the King of Spain and the conduct of Marquis Spinola the Palatinate was conquered, though the Princes of the union had an Army of forty thousand effective men under, the Marquis of Ansback and others to defend it, but 'twas said that dolus versabatur in Generalibus, that the Generals were corrupted, and that the acquest was made more by Spanish pistols, than by Spinola's Sword.  
Hereupon at a solemn Assembly of the Electors at Ratisbon Anno 1623., the Electorship of the Rhin, and the Archidapifership, with all the prerogatives, and perquisites, the authorities and enfranchisements, and honours annexed thereunto was conferred upon the Duke of Bavaria for term of life; But in another Assembly 1628., which was five years after at Prague, this great Grant was not only confirmed unto him during his own life, but entailed upon his Heirs to Perpetuity, and withal, the upper Palatinate was transferred unto him, with the County of Cham in consideration of his expenses in the wars, which amounted to thirteen million of Dollars.  
But in the Treaties at Munster and Osnabrug Anno 1652, four and twenty years after, this Grant was qualified, that in case the Gulihelmian line which is the House of Bavaria did fail without Masculine issue, the Electorship of the Rhin, with the Archidapifership and all the prerogatives thereof should revert to the Rodulphian line which is the Palatin, being the elder House of the two.  
Now, concerning the Gulielmian or Bavarian line there are but 4 living, whereof two are Churchmen, viz. the Archbishop of Colen, and the Bishop of Frizing, which can leave no issue behind; Then is there 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 married the last Emperor's Sister who was young, and the Duke being old and crazy having 5 issues then about his body, there were some Jesuitts that brought such a prolifical cordial from Italy that enabled the old Duke to get children, but those Children should be impotent and barren, as it hath hitherto proved true, 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 settling a firm and general everlasting peace in Germany which had been so miserably depopulated and torn by the late wars, which had not only scratched her face, but rent her very bowels, for about thirty years together, as also for diremption of all strife for the future, The Count Palatin was created the eighth Elector, which is termed in the Instrument by a new coined Epithet or logical term simultanea Investitura, a joint or contemporary Investiture; And because there's an office annexed to every 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 Empress at Ratisbon, by throwing Medaills some of Gold, some of silver among the people; under this notion he hath a session and suffrage in the college of Electors, but he must be content to sit 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 palatinate, and the County of Cham, but he was to part with the Bergstrad (one of the best parts of the lower Palatinate) and redeliver it to the Archbishop of Mentz, who had oppignorated, and pawned it to his Ancestor Anno 1463 for a sum of money, but cum pacto perpetuae reluitionis, with a proviso that it might be redeemed at all times.  
The Emperor Ferdinand the third, being not long since dead there arose a contest, which continues still undecided, twixt the Elector Palatin, and his x, and coelector 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 Emperor (who was used oft in former times to cross the alps to Italy) or after his death during the vacancy or Interregnum, there were two Vicars or Imperial Deputies appointed to manage the affairs of the Empire, to wit 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 allegeth that this prerogative of Vicarship appertained unto the Count Palatin of the Rhin ratione Electoratus, by virtue 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; he takes also the great Instrument of Munster for his buckler, wherein the said Electorship of the Rhin, and the ofice of Archsewership with all the prerogatives, perquisites, and appendices thereunto belonging, whereof the Vicarship is the chiefest, is totally transferred vuto Him and his Issue Male to perpetuity.  
The Count Palatin utterly denies that, and positively affirmeth that this office and prerogative of Vicariat was conferred upon him and practised by his progenitors before ever the college 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 belonged 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 year 1652: He excepts likewise against the translation of the said Aurea Bulla into the Teutonique, or High Dutch, alleging it is erroneous in many passages; And lastly concludes that his Progenitors enjoyed this prerogative of Vicariat, ratione Comitatus, not Electoratus, as may be inferred out of the political reason why that office was conferred upon his Ancestors which was in regard of the position of their ditions & Territories which lie apposite & proper to have the government of those countries of Franconia Svevia, &c. because they are situated near, & some 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 Catholics to the Bavarian as their occasions require, either for renewing or letting of leases, the forfeiture of Felons goods, the protection of Idiots, and lunatics, &c.   

The seventh Section.  
Some Reflexes made upon the present Coniuncture of Things, and the political condition of Germany, with a conjecture who is likely to be King of the Romans, and consequently the next Emperor.  
HAving already, my Lord, in a Succinct, but I hope, some Satisfactory way treated of the German Empire, of the Octumvirat, or college of Electors, with other matters Concident, and homogeneous with this subject, I shall now wind up this small bottom, and conclude with some glances upon the present Estate of Germany, together with the particular Interests thereof.  
Your Lordship hath read before that the Office of Emperor, in statu quo nunc, is merely a Title, and like a feather in one's cap, 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 Emperor's death he began to be much spoken of, but (as an Observing gentleman, who came lately thence, told me) all the people that are under his subjection did rise up, and with open mouth protested against it, crying out that they would put themselves under the protection of another Prince, if he would be the Keysar; Now, the reason is, that if the Elector of Saxe were Emperor, he must of necessity enhance their tolls and taxes to support the Dignity.  
The Duke of Bavaria since he hath been invested in the upper palatinate, and the County of Cham, is grown very considerable, and to be able to counterpoise the Saxe in power, their yearly revenues amounting to above a million of rich dollars apiece; Besides, the Bavarian silver mines have wonderfully thriven of late years both for the pureness, and quantity of Bullion; And if Maximilian the former Duke of Bavaria could lay out thirteen millions for the service of the Emperor, in consideration whereof he had at first a part of the Territories of Austria hypothequed unto him, and afterwards the upper Palts and the County of Cham transferred 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 powerful, it may be well inferred 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 said to spurr him on, and that the Elector of Colen be his Oncle, yet 'tis not probable he will make any competition with his Cousin-germin the King of Hungary, his people like them of Saxony being also very averse thereunto, though his people be in a surer way of subjection and vassalage unto him, than other Germans are, there 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, therefore the less able to bear the weight of the German Empire; add herunto that of the eight Electors, five are still Roman Catholics, so that it is improbable, a Protestant should be chosen, for there are such ceremonies to be perfotmed that are incompatible with a Protestant, besides the Pope would never confirm such an Emperor, and without his confirmation no Emperor can be called 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 people hath been rather to preserve what they have than to extend their Country further; Moreover the present King is engaged in an open war against the Swed; there 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 Denmark's ground; yet she refuseth to Huld him, alleging that she bought him out for great sums of money, And so pretends to be now an Imperial free Town, and to hold solely from the kaiser; whereas others aver that she is mere Hansiatique within the Verge of Lubeck her Neighbour, which is the chiefest of the first Precinct of the old Hanse, as was touched before.  
Add herunto that the last King of Denmark hath some particular obligations to the House of Austria, his great grandmother having been Charles the fifths Sister. Besides, when General Tilly was like in the eye of human reason with a Veteran victorious Army to overcome all Holsteyn, Ferdinand this King of Hungaries grandfather made a friendly, and favourable peace with Christian the fourth, who had invaded Germany with a considerable Army, but with little success, in the behalf of the Count Palatin of the Rhin his Nephew.  
The Swed Might 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 composed of Soldiers of Fortune, might still by new recruits as they pushed on their hopes, have proved in time as formidable, and fatal to the test of Christendom as their Ancestors the Goths and Vandals were of old, who pierced the very centre 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 entering into a new war with him, and the Marquis of Brandenburg deserting him, and having the House of Austria, the Pole, the Moscovit his actual enemies besides, 'tis thought his hopes are blasted for enlarging his dominions at this time, but 'tis well if he can now secure Sweden itself, much more the new acquests aforesaid in Germany; specially his friends (viz. England and France) being so remote from him, and his enemies so near about him.  
The French King, though I believe he be in despair to have it himself, he being Exterus & non Germanus, a Scranger and no German, and there being a fundamental Law that no foreigner be Emperor, as there 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 cajole, I will not say, corrupt the Electors for the secluding of the young King of Hungary, and that the Empire should not be always a prostitut to one Family. But France they say hath few real Friends in Germany among the Princes; 'Tis true the Elector of triers being perpetual arch-chancellor of France, hath always been, and is still Fleurdelizè, he is flowdelized and Frenchified all over, and France always sticks to him also upon all occasions; 'twas about him that there was such a counterbuff twixt Lewis the thirteenth, and Gustaphus Adolphus, because he had invaded part of his Territories; 'twas for his sake, besides the still growing greatness of Spain, that this present war was denounced by sound of Herald against the House of Austria, by the last French King: Moreover, 'tis true that the Marquis of Brandenburg while he lately adhered to the Swed was devoted to France, but since he hath accommodated matters with the Pole, he hath changed 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 themselves, The Duke of Brunswick, Prince of Anbalt, Luneberg, Lawenburg, the Landgrave of Hesse, darmstaded, Baden, Newburgh, Wittemburgh, though the last, and some of the other smell rank of the French interest, yet to prevent a new war in Germany they are like to enter into the foresaid Patrial league, together with all the Imperial and Hansiatical Towns.  
Touching the Palsgrave, or Prince Palatin of the Rhin, 'tis true that there hath been a great deal of intimacy, and reciprocal leagues twixt his Progenitors, and France, but the last Emperor and his Son the King of the Romans obliged him (and his brother Prince Rupert) by many recent civilities; At the Treaties of Osnabrug, and Munster the Emperor would have his business to be dispatched first, and was very indulgent of him all along the while; The four hundred thousand dollars which were assigned 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 assigned for dowries to every 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 sums the Emperor punctually paid; Moreover at the coronation of the Empress, and the creation of the last King of the Romans, the Prince Palatin officiated in person, and there were many Endearments passed twixt the Emperor, and him; In so much that 'tis thought he will be no back friend to his son the now King of Hungary when the business of Election comes to be canvased.  
These premises, & particular interests being well considered, in the eye of all human probality 'tis thought, that the last Emperor's 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 Emperor of a direct Austrian line; And they who think thus, ground their conjectures upon divers reasons deduced from the present posture of things.  
First, because the Junta, or Assembly of the Prince's Electors is still deferred, and like to be so, till the said King of Hungary be come to his Majority, which by the German law in this point is at eighteen years, and this will be in June 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, there will be an inevitable war in Germany, which she will avoid if possible she can, having had not only her face scratched, but her very entrails rent asunder for so many years by a cruentous lingering war, and the deep wounds she received thence are not yet consolidated in some places.  
Thirdly, because there 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 wit, the Turk, as he, for he hath not only most of the Dominions of Austria, but two kingdoms besides situated on the confines, and serving as ramparts against him by land, as the republic of Venice doth by sea; Insomuch that both the danger, as well as security of the House of Austria is involved with the Empire itself, and indeed of all Europe. Now we shall find all these countries in the title of the last Emperor, which runs as follows.  
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 there are but two that he had from the Empire, viz. the stile of Emperor, and Ring of Germany, all the rest are appendices of the House of Austria; And the King of Spaiu who is of the elder House hath many more, being great v to the Emperor Charlesle Quint, who made a spontaneous Resignation of the Empire to Ferdinand his second brother, though as a private Author hath it, the second day after his resignation, was the first day of his repentance.  
Now, to raise up the House of Austria to this altitude, six of the greatest Families of Europe concentred in one, viz. Austria, Burgundy, Castille, Aragon, Hungary, and Portugal, so that it may be called a palace six stories high, (though as Emperor 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 jesuitts, who underhand do good offices for him, though the Pope dare not appear publicly in the business for fear of giving any distaste to France; For he may be said to hold France, and Portugal also, as one doth a Dog by the ears, fearing they should run away from him to patriarchs 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 livres in annual revenue, which, should he renounce the Pope, would 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 should appear so much, and as some write, intrude himself into this business, by sending Ambassadors with such gaudy 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 coming so long before day, as one made a Pasquil of them in Frankfurt, who with some difficulty did open her Gates unto them, it being an ancient Constitution of the Empire, that none should be admitted to lodge in the Town where the Election is to be held, but the Prince's Electors themselves and their train, which come to near upon two thousand horse; But the Germans are more sensible and startled, that the French should draw such forces to their frontiers as to Metz, Philipsburg, and Brisack (for brisack-bridge makes now France and Germany one continued piece,) as if there were a design hereby to control the Electors in their choice, and embroil Germany again in a war; which puts the young King of Hungary to extraordinary expenses, 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 wondered there should be any ambition at all, of aspiring to the Roman German Empire in statu quo nunc, it being but an airy bare shadowy title, or a Skeleton of part of the old Roman Monarchy, therefore 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 ado there is used about the election of an Emperor, as in Venice to create 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 tied to so strict an obedience, there is not that exact relation, and reciprocation of subjection, and protection twixt the Emperor and his Vassals, as useth to be twixt Prince and people 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 said, 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 attribute inhaering in the very bowels of government, 'tis a quality infixed in the very bones thereof, Insomuch that Protection and government is adjudged to be the self same indivisible thing: 'Tis not so in the Imperial Government, where there is a looser kind of Clientele, and Protection; Nor is the submission of the Liegeman so absolute, for an Imperial Ban is not so much obeyed there as an Edict in France, a Prematica in Spain, a Proclamation in England, or a Placart in the Netherlands, where there is a more punctual obligation twixt Prince and people, the one to obey, the other to defend their persons, and maintain their privileges; Though some do hold, that a Country giving herself to a Prince, what privileges soever the people reserve to themselves 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 public good is concerned, and that those privileges by the said subjection pass into the nature of concessions of Princes afterwards, which they may stretch, restrain, or revoke according to the urgency of their public occasions; And when there is a necessity to do so, the people are not allowed to revolt, or right themselves by violence; 'Tis true, that in all private particular Treaties the unobservation of the Conditions, acquitts the parties from the Obligations of the contract, but this doth not reach to sovereign Princes, when the people 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 acknowledge the kaiser for their sovereign, yet are they not obliged in that strictness of obedience to him, as their own people are to them; These Princes may be said to be rather his colleagues, and associates 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, every state of the Empire within his own Territory, may do as much as the Emperor in the whole Empire; They have power of life and death, they may coin money, send Ambassadors abroad, and make confederacies, and leagues with foreign Princes, with other Territorial prerogatives; But that power of making leagues was restrained in the late Treaty at Osnabrug, for the Instrument says, 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 said confaederacies be not against the Emperor, and the Empire, with the public peace thereof; Nay further, the Princes of the Empire have such a latitude of power that they write se regnare Dei gratiâ, that they reign by the Grace of God; And that within the verge of the Empire the Prince's Electors are not to give precedence to any other foreign Prince, or potentat whatsoever; Therefore when Charles King of Scotland, was a few years since at Frankfurt, the Count Palatin of the Rhin sent him word that he desired 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 would please to come to any of his own Territories he would then respect his Majesty in that point accordingly.  
The states of the Empire have also a territorial authority, to change their Religion at pleasure, by a late Constitution, where 'tis said, Religionis mutatio est sequela Territorialis jurisdictonis, ac inhaeret Territorio sicut nebula paludi; The alteration of Religion is a sequel of Territorial jurisdiction, and is inhaerent in the Territory as a cloud in a pond. By what hath been spoken it appears what a small extent of power the sacred Caesarean Majesty hath over those that profess obedience to him; Nay, when there is a King of the Romans 'tis a question who hath the greater power the Emperor or he; For the Emperor and the King of the Romans may be said to be like two suns 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 been pointed at in this Section, a conjecture may be made, if not a judgement, who stands fairest to be the next Emperor; 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 increase and amplitude of power, for he hath not only the large Kingdom of Bohemia with the great Territories annexed thereunto now as hereditary by way of conquest, but there is an owerture, if not an offer and private Treaty a foot that the Crown of Poland will be entailed upon him, and his successors for the future; Though this augmentation of power be good for the Christian commonwealth in general, because it enableth the Emperor to bear up the better againg'st the Common Enemy the Turk, yet not only the Electors, but some other Princes of the Empire conceive some jealousy of this enlargement of the Imperial power, not without some apprehensions of fear, that if the Eagle should ranew his bill, and have his feathers come home to make his wings full summed again, he might seize upon, and make a prey of sundry Towns, and Territories which divers of the said Princes hold from the Empire but by crazy weak titles; Nay it puts a flea in the Venetians ear also, who have been always jealous of the Austrian greatness, in regard of contiguity of Territories they both have in Dalmatia, Croatia, and other places. But it may be well expected that the Prince's Electors will rather look upon the general good and incolumity of the Christian commonwealth, as their Oath doth bind them, which is as astringent, and conjuring kind of Oath as possibly the wit 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 runs thus.  

The Solemn Oath that's administered to the Prince's 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 gospel of God put here before me, That I by the Faith wherein 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 people, 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 shall direct me; and according to my foresaid 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 called; So help me God, and all his Saints.   
This tremendous Oath is pronounced in Latin, the Language of the Empire in all Negotiations with foreign Princes; though the Electors be enjoined 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 eagle's egg again, as 'tis recorded that Homer's Iliads were once put into a Nuttshell, and as Falconers observe the Eagle can lessen herself into a Lark by her high Soaring, so we may say the Roman monarchy hath lessened herself by her stooping.  
Therefore this small volume is not unsuitable unto herein point of proportion as the case stands with Her now, being shriveled a large Folio to a Decimo sexto, and mouldered away from a Castle into a Cottage, or rather from a Mountain to a molehill. Such is the Method of the all-ruling Providence with whom the greatest kingdoms are but as Kittlepins which he tipps down at pleasure. Ludit in humanis divina potentia Rebus  
'Tis He who transvolves Monarchies, tumbles down Empires, and cantonizeth them into petty commonwealths at pleasure, whereunto the Pagan Philosopher seemed to allude when being asked what Jupiter did in Heaven? He answered Magnas ollas rumpit, et ex frustis earum parvulas componit, He breaks great pots, and of their Fragments makes little pitchers; And remarkable it is how symbolising in point of sense and similitude, the Holy Psalmist is with the Philosopher herein, when he sayeth Tanquam vas Figuli conteres eos, Thou shalt bruise them in pieces (viz. the Potentates of the Earth) like a potter's vessel, which shows the brittleness, the Lubricity, and unfixedness 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 quit me of that obligation I owe to your commands, which shall be always to me as Favours and I look upon your Favours as a considerable part of my happiness, 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 contained in this Treatise.  

A  
THe Arms of the Empire Fol. 64  
Alarick the Goeth sacks Rome. 5  
An extraordinary providence watcheth over Rome. 5  
Austrian family enjoyed the Empire more than any that ever was. 16  
Archbishop of Mentz Prime Elector and Arch-Chancellor of Germany. 21  
Archbishop of Colen Arch-Chancellor of Italy. 23  
Archbishop of Triers chief Chancellor of France. 23  
Archbishop of Magdenburg primate of all Germany. 39  
Archduke of Austria chief Prince of Germany after the Electors. 39  
A maga animous Speech of the Lady Elizabeth. 69  
Augustus a Title solely given by the Pope. 81  
The Austrian House● six stories high, and how. 90.   

B  
Brennus' the Britain first ransacked 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 pronounced by the Imperial Diet, and not obeyed. 45  
Boors carry Chairs, and noblemen dogs 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 piece. 92   

C  
Caesars' issue enjoyed the Empire for 6 Descents. 7  
Consulary government thrice in Rome by Retrogradation. 6  
Claudius Caesar first began the pernicious way of enhancing the Soldiers pay. 9  
Constantine's policy to the Soldiers. 10  
Constantin gives Rome to the Pope. 10  
Charlemagne the first Western Emperor. 13  
Charles Martel and his Story in brief. 13  
Charlemains exploits. 14  
Charlemagne proclaimed Emperor in Rome upon Christmas day. 14  
Charlemains issue degenerated. 15  
The Civilians exalt the Emperor by high Titles. 31  
The Crown of England called an Imperial Crown by Act of parliament. 33  
The Crown of France not tied 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 Emperor 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 Julius Caesar. 36  
The division of Germany. 36  
The Diets of Germany, or Imperial parliament. 39  
Duchess of Bavaria a courageous 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 Emperor 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 devolved to the Germans. 15  
Electors first constituted. 21  
Emperors but thoued at first. 29  
The Emperors next to God Almighty on Earth. 32  
Edgar an Emperor, 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 declared Monopolists in Germany. 45  
The Empire now but a feather in ones Cap. 55  
The Emperor's 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 patriarchs 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 Archbishop of Mentz. 55  
A facetious answer of the Lieflanders to Charles the fift. 63  
The famous siege of Winsberga. 57  
The Title of Emperor but an eagle's feather in ones Cap. 78   

G  
GEnsericus the Vandal sacks Rome. 5  
Galba the first Emperor chosen by the Soldiers. 7  
A gear upon Rome and Venice. 11  
Of the Goths and Vandals. 12  
German Princes do carry Dogs for their punishment. 17  
German Princes feather themselves with the eagle's 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  
hanse-towns whence derived. 42  
How Hamburgh first received the English staple. 46  
A hundred and fifty millions the revenues once of the Roman Monarchy. 54  
How the Imperial Towns got out of Caesar's yoke. 59   

I  
Iulius' Caesar cemented the Empire with his blood. 7  
Julianus bought the Empire of the Soldiers. 10  
Imperial Towns. 42  
Immunities paid for moneys to the Towns of the Empire. 59  
Ibraim the Turks Ambassador his witty Parable. 64  
King James his prophetic saying. 68   

K  
KIngs continued in Rome 140 years. 7  
King a more ancient title than Emperor. 29  
Kings of Spain sometimes called Emperors. 32  
King of Denmark Archbishop of Breme 39   

L  
THe late Swedish army like to have proved 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 Emperor. 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 Mahometan Moon filled by the wane of the Christian Empire. 65  
Of the Marquis of Brandenburg his interest. 85   

N  
THe names of divers of the Emperors 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 Duchess 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 Emperor must increase the janissaries pay. 9  
Otho the third the first Establisher of the Electors. 20  
The Offers of Wenceslaus to the Electors to make his Son Emperor. 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 John the ninth, taken Prisoner, and his eyes plucked out. 20  
Palatin of the Rhin Arch-sewer of the Roman Empire. 22  
Parallel twixt the Empire passed, and present. 51  
Palatin of the Rhin adjudged to carry a Dog for his punishment. 57  
The Pope a great Temporal Prince. 60  
The poor revenues of the Empire. 53   

Q  
Quarrel twixt Rome and Germany for choosing the Emperor. 19  
Quarrel twixt Queen Elizabeth, and the hanse-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 ravished and ransacked. 5  
The Roman Emperors held their lives from the Army. 8  
The Roman Monarchy shrunk from a Giantess to a Dwarf.  
Reasons why the King of Hungary is likeliest to be Emperor. 88  
The revenues of the French Church 300 millions of livres and 20. 91   

S  
THe several kinds of governments 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 Pope's Champion. 61  
The small power of the Emperor. 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   

To  
TOtila the Hun sacks Rome. 5  
The translation of the Empire to Constantinople fatal to Rome. 5  
Thirty Emperors put to violent deaths by the Army. 8  
Two Turkish Emperors killed 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 Emperor's 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 John's Grant. 61  
Titles of the House of Austria. 89   

V  
THe vastness of the old Roman Monarchy. 54  
The vast circumference of Rome in Vopiscus time 50 miles' compass. 54  
A very witty emblem of the Turks Ambassador touching Germany. 64  
A very witty device of the Duchess of Bavaria to preserve her husband. 58  
The Vicarship of the Empire challenged by the Count Palatin, and his reasons. 74  
A very witty way found by a jesuitt to make the old Duke of Bavaria get Children. 71  
The Upper Palatinate, the County of Cham, with the Electorship conferred upon the Bavarian. 79   

W  
THe wantonness of the people 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 Emperor, deposed, and the manner how it was. 35  
Why England fell from the Roman Emperor, and from the Pope. 62    

Were not the Imperial Eagles imped with Austrian feathers they would be as bare as a Coot.  
Gloria Honorque Deo saeclorûm in saecula sunto. Chronogramma.