The glory of England, or A true description of many excellent prerogatiues and remarkeable blessings, whereby she triumpheth ouer all the nations of the world vvith a iustifiable comparison betweene the eminent kingdomes of the earth, and herselfe: plainely manifesting the defects of them all in regard of her sufficiencie and fulnesse of happinesse. By T.G.

CHAP. XI. GERMANY compared.

SHall wee come neerer home, and * 1.1 with prying eyes (like the Censors of Rome ouer offenders) looke into the Empire of Germany: or if you will, the countrey it selfe, as it might make a glorious Kingdome indeed. You know how I haue already stept into her enclosures, and opened the very gates of her secrets. The Princes are too absolute, and he himselfe not able to raigne, as Ahasuerosh did, from India to Aethiopia, ouer 127. Prouinces: nor doth the Queene of Saba, come to heare his wisdome, or view the ordering of his palace, the attendance of his Nobles, the sitting of his seruants, the prouision of his tables, and the charity of his deuotion: nor doth the Kings of Arabia send him presents, the Kings of Aegypt wiues, and all the con∣federate Princes admire his magnificence, nor Hiram of Tyrus contract a league, or the nauy of Tharsus ioyne with his, to fetch gold from Ophir: nor will the Marchant bring him horses and fine linnen from remote places, or supply his wants according to the prerogatiue of Kings, or glori∣ous abundance of opulent countries: nor are the cities or∣dred by the appoyntment of his ministers, nor can he send his charriots to this place, nor horse-men to that, nor his army whither he list, nor fill the streets of Ierusalem, when hee would solemnize a Passouer. For heere the cheefest

townes liue in freedome, and the Burgers boast of their wealth and policy, in manumitting themselues, and (as it were) sealing the honour of cheefe commanding; yea, sometimes contesting with the Emperor himselfe on their owne gates. As for the countrey commodities and pro∣uision tending either to necessity or pleasure; alas, the commutation consisteth in enriching particular persons, and smally to the augmentation of the Emperours Maie∣sty, wherein all the tracts of auarice, corrupt mixtures, o∣uer-reaching one another, and putting off either refuse things, or paltry trifles, as the Italians call them Baggatini: are trod amongst them, and euen beaten smooth with con∣tinuall entercourse. So that their marts and faires are so many boothes of drunkards, and instead of ships at sea, fill the fields with waggons of such strange creatures, who make their bellies as great deuouring gulphs as the sea, so that their eating and carowsing is farre from the moderati∣on of mirth, which the Israelites accustomed, or the Per∣sian banquet, where none were compelled: but letting that passe, as an imperfection proprietory to the countrey and nation. I can traduce them further, for mangling the bles∣sings of God bestowed vpon them, by the cuttings and hackings of many grosse sinnes, as vsury, rebellion, con∣tumacy, prophanation, swearing, drunkennesse, murthers, and such like: but especially for vilipending the high com∣mission of the Almighty in two principall matters. The one, in murmuring and repining at strangers, not suffering any to haue any commorance, or dwelling amongst them. For how euer in some of the cheefest townes there is a glo∣rious shew and formall entertaining of Marchants and passengers, who come stored with crownes to powre them into the laps of Inn-keepers, and houses of wantonnesse:

yet will they neither releeue the wants of indigent beg∣gers, nor permit Gentle-man or Artificer to dwell amongst them, or be entertained as a free Denizon, being a stran∣ger of another countrey, except in some sparing cases, and times of necessity, wherein a bribe or great Princes com∣mendatory letters preuaile, by way of entreaty and insinu∣ation. The second is, their grossenesse and simplicity in refusing the right of Kings, and succession of their Em∣perours, debarring so the best of gouernments, which is the Monarchy, from ruling ouer them, and whereas they may alledge, that the suffrages of men are vncorrupt, and a Prince so chosen shall be the worthier, in regard his ver∣tues must be eminent, whereas the father may leaue a son compounded of so many vices, which ouerruling his ver∣tues, shall make him odious: or otherwise he may prooue simple, tyrannous, dishonest, or irregular. First, it is meer∣ly erroneous, because we are not to contest with the dispo∣ser of Kingdomes about his Vice-Gerents, in regard, that sometimes as a fatherly correction hee permitteth a defe∣ctiue Prince, rather then folding vp a sorer mantle of ven∣geance, to spred it abroad to their more greeuous punish∣ment. Next they haue failed in this also amongst them∣selues: for many of their Emperours thus elected, haue prooued doltish, lasciuious, cowardly, and rather mang∣lers of the Empire, then prouident stewards to augment the wealth and reputation of the same: nay, the best of their Caesars haue beene affrighted at the fulmination of a tyrannous Pope, and seduced with the imposturing cun∣ning of deceiuing Priests, and a corrupted religion, nor could they goe with the wise King to view his nauies, visit his cities, fortifie the townes, erect store-houses, or come neere the six steps of golde on Salomons throne, which was

most apparant, euen the other day, in one of their glorious Princes, from whom the house of Austria hath taken such firme rooting, that it hopes to spred so largely, and so high, that no daring hand shall presume to lop a bough, or breake off a principall stem. I meane Charles the fift, who for all his seeming corroborated mightinesse, quickly lost the loue of the Princes, and for want of ceremonies main∣taining the glory of a King, was euen scorned of Pesants. The story is breefly thus. Vpon the report of the losse of his gallies at Argier, he had a purpose to re-enforce his na∣uy, * 1.2 and as the Poet sayes, saepe premente Deo, fert Deus alter opem, to hope, that as one misfortune had ouerclow∣ded the faire shining sunne of his glory: another happy winde would ouer-blow the threatning storme, and make a serene element, which caused him to come into Italy, for his better and speedier passage, either at Ligorn or Genoa: but entring into Millane, a leane olde man in a blacke cape cloake, the people thronging to see a glorious Emperour, or at least some magnificent shew and pompous ceremo∣nie: they were so daunted to be thus frustrated, and in a manner scorned to bee so disesteemed, that they neither gaue him a Viue le Roy, nor scarse opened a window to looke toward him: nay more, when hee set forward for Spaine, indeede there scarse went a voluntary Gentle-man with him, and the very Waggoners put their thumbs be∣tweene their fingers, in contempt of his troopes, which is as disgracious a thing in Italy, both amongst themselues, and against strangers, as either the lie in France, or Beco to the Gentle-man of Venice, whereat hee tooke such a con∣ceit, that he neuer returned into Italy or Germany againe, howeuer some would impute it vnto his greefe, for not preuailing against the Mahumetans: or deuotion, as desi∣ring

to giue ouer the world, and not be entangled any fur∣ther with disaduantagious encombrances. And thus you see, why Germany cannot match our example, especially as the Eagle flies now, with broken wings and bruized sides

Notes

• * 1.1

  The imper∣fect conditi∣on of Ger∣many.
• * 1.2

  The Empe∣ror Charles the fift, de∣spised for his meane habit.