The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

¶ The Forces.

[ XXII] THe Suisses countrie is so inclosed of all sides with the Alpes, the people so valiant, [ F] and so obstinat to defend their libertie, and they that haue attempted against this na∣tion, haue had such ill successe, as there is not any prince in Europe that would vnder∣take to make war against them, and to make himselfe maister of those places which they ••••••bit. Moreouer, they should reape so little benefit by this countrie, hauing taken it, as

[ A] they that should dare to attempt it would alwaies flie that enterprise as indiscreet, the which would breed them more losse than contentment. They do also maintaine them∣selues so vnited, as it would be hard to force them, and to obtaine an absolute victorie. They haue some townes and strong places, which want no kind of necessarie prouisi∣on and ••unition for war: they are able to maintaine long sieges, and to endure all hard∣nesse and discommoditie: but they are not fit to besiege a place, nor to go vnto a breach. I•• any one should attempt to force them in their owne countrie, without doubt they would raise an armie, and if it were possible giue him battaile, as they haue often done to their aduantage; and euery man should feare to speed ill in his disseignes, seeing that in [ B] the beginning, whenas they were not vnited and in league together, handfulls of men haue vanquished great armies: what may they not expect or rather feare of a whole na∣tion which knowes not what flying meanes, but are resolued rather to die than to shew themselues cowards. All these Cantons together are able to make fiftie or sixtie thou∣sand foot: whereof the thirteene Cantons of Suisses leauing their townes and forts well furnished, are able to send forth sixteene or seuenteene thousand foot: the three Can∣tons of the Grisons are able to send forth ten thousand foot: the Valaisiens can send forth about six thousand foot; and the Abbot of Saint Gal, foure thousand. But for that they differ in religion, they are all very warie how they send great numbers of souldiers out of their countries to serue a forraine prince, fearing least the contrarie partie should [ C] make some attempt against them; yet they liue in good peace among themselues, and are so strictly allied, as they are very well able to defend their countrie; but they are not fit to make any attempt for the foresaid reason, neither haue they any publicke reuenues, able to entertaine ten thousand foot for three moneths space. These people liue with as great libertie and assurance, as any nation whatsoeuer: they are no friends to the house of Austria, by the reason of the old quarrells and war which they haue had with the house of Haspourg their predecessors: and for the outrages receiued, and the battailes fought with the house of Bourgondie; and last of all, by reason of the spoiles committed by the duke of Sauoy.

All these people obserue this custome, in giuing their footmen to him that demaunds [ D] them: They first of all chuse in euery communaltie the souldiers and captaines which are demaunded, hauing still a principall care to leaue their places furnished with men of fashion, and the communalties stand bound to pay these men, in case that he that enter∣taines them doth not content them: after this choise, the communalties suffer them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they haue chosen to aduance their standards: neither may any one of the com∣mu••••tie (of the which that standard is) carry armes against them, vpon pa••ne of death, and confiscation of all their goods: and these standards are diuers and many in number.

First the thirteen Cantons of Suisses, the Grisons, Valaisiens, & Abbot of Saint Gal, haue altogether one standard generall, the which may not be aduanced, if in the armie which is raised, there be not souldiers and captaines chosen throughoutall the cou••••••••u∣nalties [ E] of the said places, for that they must all consent together; the which doth sel∣dome happen, for that it is not the custome of the said communalties to send forth their men together. This is called the generall standard of the league. When it is aduanced, there is not any souldier subiect to the communalties, that may beare armes against it, without incurring the confiscation of goods and losse of life; and the Armes of all the c••••••nalties of the leagues are painted in it. Besides this generall standard, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cantons of Suisses haue one amongst them, with the Armes of all together; and th•••• ••ay not be aduanced but with the consent of the thirteen Cantons, as hath bin said, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Suisse may go to battaile against this standard. There is also a particular standard [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the three Cantons of Suitz, Vry, and Vnderuald, which is giuen by these three ••••••••alties as the rest, and no souldier of those communalties may go against it. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Valaisiens, and the Abbot of Saint Gal haue either of them a standard, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••re not giuen but to such souldiers as they haue chosen, neither may any of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 take armes against them: so as by reason of this custome obserued by these 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ it is a hard matter for a prince to leuie any souldiers or captaines of this Nation,

if they be not chosen by their communalties, and haue their standards deliuered vnto [ A] th••m as I haue said. Pope Iulio for the succours he receiued from the Suisses against the French, gaue them the title of Defendors of the Church: he enricht their standards with certaine images, and publickely gaue to the whole nation of the Suisses two great stan∣dards, which they call Paner, and also a sword and a cap for markes of libertie. As for their inrolling of souldiers, if they make warre within the countrie, all that are able to beare armes, furnish themselues, and run to succour it, as to a generall fire which all must quench: and in time of peace, euery Canton hath certaine captaines, ensignes, and men chosen, which must be readie for all euents. They are forbidden vpon paine of death to abandon their rankes or troupes, vntill that the enemie be in rout: and then whenas their [ B] captaines haue giuen them leaue to spoile, all the bootie is brought in common and di∣stributed among them. The Cantons hauing made war together, do also diuide the pub∣licke spoiles by equall portions, as artillerie, castles, and countries conquered, tolles, and other reuenues. The souldiers are extraordinarily recompenced which haue done any braue exploits in war aboue their companions. The battallion of Suisses is much estee∣med, consisting of pikes crost, resembling a hedgehog.