Relations of the most famous kingdomes and common-wealths thorowout the world discoursing of their situations, religions, languages, manners, customes, strengths, greatnesse, and policies. Translated out of the best Italian impression of Boterus. And since the last edition by R.I. now once againe inlarged according to moderne observation; with addition of new estates and countries. Wherein many of the oversights both of the author and translator, are amended. And unto which, a mappe of the whole world, with a table of the countries, are now newly added.

The State of the Prince Elector Palatine.

HIs Dominion containes the Vpper and the Lower Palatinate. The Lower is the chiefe of the two, as be∣ing both the richest, the largest, and the Seat of the Elector. A goodly and a delicate Country it is, almost two hundred miles in length, and about halfe so much in breadth, lying on both sides of the famous Rhine; and watered besides with the Neccar, whose bankes are inriched with the most generous Wines. It touches upon Lorraine at the South∣west, and hath the Duchie of Wirtenberg upon the East. Of this Countrey, because of the armie of the Destroyer, may we speake in the Scripture phrase, The Land is as Eden be∣fore them, and as a desolate wildernesse behind them; her goodly

and strong Cities, her pleasant fields, and delicate vineyards, are fallen into the possession of those that reaped where they did not sow. To this Principalitie, was the Title of the first Ele∣ctor incorporate. It and Bavaria were made a Kingdome, Anno 456. which Charles the Great conquered; in whose Line it continued from the yeare 789. till Otho's time, Anno 955. whose heires continued in them (but not as a Kingdom) till the yeare 1043. at which time Henry the third deprived Prince Conrade of them: to whose heire, Fredericke Barba∣rossa restored the Palatinate in the yeare 1183. since which time (as Munster saith) it ever continued in that male Line; untill these unfortunate warres. The Lower Palatinate hath beene twice augmented; once by the Emperour Wenceslaus, who bestowed Oppenheim and two other Imperiall Townes upon the Elector for his voice in the Election. The second augmentation was by the ransome of the Duke of Wirten∣berg, and the Archbishop of Mentz, both taken in one bat∣tell by Prince Frederike, Anno 1452. out of both whose Countries lying next unto the Palatinate, the victorious Pa∣latine tooke some what to lay to his owne: For which, and other quarrels, there hath still continued a grudging in the Archbishops towards the Palsgraves; Mentz (whose Ar∣chiepiscopall Citie is also in the Palatinate) laying a claime to a Monastery, and the lands upon the Bergstraes, or moun∣taine, within two English miles even of Heidleberg. The Palsgrave hath many prerogatives above the Electors of ••∣ther sort. He taketh place of the Duke of Saxony, and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh, because Henry the first Pala∣tine was descended of Charles the Great; for which cause in the vacancie of the Empire, he is also Governour of the West parts of Germanie, with power to alienate or give Of∣fices to take fealty and homage of the Subjects; and which is most, to sit in the Imperiall Courts, and give judgement of the Emperour himselfe.

The Land naturally is very rich, the Mountains are full of Vines, Woods, and such excessive store of red Deere, that Spinola's souldiers in the late warres had them brought to

them like Beefe or Bacon. How famous the Rhenish Wines are, I need not say. Of Corne they have no want: Silver al∣so is here digged up. Goodly Townes and strong it had such store, as if they had had nothing but Cities. All which are now divided betwixt the Emperour, the Bavarian, and the Spaniard. The Prince also was said to have two and twenty Palaces. But the chiefest ornament was the incomparable, Library of Heidleberg; not for the beauty of the roome, (for it was but in the roofe of the chiefe Church, and that by a long wall divided into two parts) but for the numbers of excellent Manuscripts and printed bookes; with which it was then better stored, than Oxford yet is. The Princes Re∣venue arose first out of his owne Lands and Customes of his Manours. Secondly, out of the tenths and wealth of the Monasteries and estate of the Church confiscated: which perchance made up one quarter (if not more) of his whole estate. Thirdly, from the Toll of one Bridge over the Rhine, he yearely had about twentie thousand crownes. Fourthly, some say that one silver mine yeelded him threescore thou∣sand crownes. All together the revenues of this and the Vp∣per Palatinate (lying next to Bavaria, and some thirty Eng∣lish miles distant from this Lower) were valued to amount unto one hundred sixtie thousand pounds sterling of yearely Revenues. Finally, of the three Temporall Electors goes this common proverb in Germanie, That the Palsgrave hath the honour, Saxony the money, and Brandenburgh the land: for Saxony indeed is richer, and Brandenburghs Dominions larger, than those of the Prince Elector Palatine.