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 Common-weale of the Suisse.

[ A] THE COMMON-WEALE OR [ B] THE CANTONS AND LEAGVES OF THE SVISSES.

The Contents.

1THe description of S••isserland. 2. Of the Grisons countrie, and the limits. 3. Of the Valaisiens. 4. Diuision of the Suisses into thirteene Cantons. 5. Of the Canton of the Vry, called Toreau in Caesars time, from whence it tooke the name. 6. Vry, a village diuided into ten communalties, and first of Suitz. 7. Of [ C] Vaderual. 8. Of Lucerne, and what places are vnder the iurisdiction of this Canton. 9. Of Zurich. 10. Of Zugh. 11. Of the countrie of Glaris. 12. Of Bearne, when it was built: of the townes and dependances. 13. Of the Canton of Fribourg. 14. Of the coun∣trie of Schasuse, and whence it tooke the name. 15. Of the countrie of Appenzel, why it was so called and diuided into twelue communalties. 16. Of the Valaisiens diuided into high and low, into free, and subiect, and of their communalties. 17. Of the Canton of the Grisons diui∣ded into three leagues. 18. Of the fertilitie of Suisserland, and wherein it abounds, and what the countrie of Zurich and other Cantons do bring forth. 19. Of the nature and manners of the auncient Suisses, and of their valour in war in Casars time. 20. Of the disposition of the Suisses at this day, and of their inclination to armes and wine. 21. Barrenesse of Suisserland [ D] except pastures. 22. Scituation of the countries of Suisser land naturally strong, by reason of the Alpes which serue as rampiers and desences. 23. Common-weale of Suisses consisting of three parts: and how many Cantons euery part containes. 24. When and how the Suisses cantoned themselues, and framed their Common-weale. 25. Of the league of three Cantons made at Bare•• in the yeare 1325, and what it contained. 26. Of an other league of foure Cantons of L••cer•••• Vry, &c. and the articles. 27. An assemblie made at Saint Gal betwixt the foresaid Cantons hauing the force of a law and league. 28. The league of Zurich, with the foure Can∣tons, and the articles. 29. The league of Zugh with the fiue Cantons. 30. The league of Gl••••is. 31. The league of Berne with the three Cantons. 32. The hereditarie league made betwixt the Emperor Maximilian, Charles duke of Austria, and the Suisses. 33. The vnion [ E] of the three leagues of the Grisons with the Cantons. 34. Conclusion and articles of the com∣mon right with the Lords and countries of the Valaisiens. 35. League of Saint Gal and the form. 36. The last peace made with them of Zurich, on Saint Octauians day in the yeare 1531. 37. Peace of Berne in the yeare 1537, and the articles. 38. The meanes which the most fa∣mous Common-weales, both auncient and moderne haue held, to inlarge their Estates. 39. Of two 〈◊〉〈◊〉 councells, established in the townes of Zurich and Basil, and of how many persons they consist. 40. Of the generall diet and assemblies of the Suisses. 41. Of the diuersitie of their religion.

WE are now to treat of many Estates, which are as it were vnited into [ A] one bodie by the meanes of their confederation and good intelli∣gence, the which they haue maintained long, no man attempting to inuade this Nation, or if he hath, his desseigne hath not taken ef∣fect: and in truth the Suisses are at this day so vnited as any prince that should resolue to dissolue their alliance, vsing to that end all possible art, should neuer see it effected. But to come vnto the point and according to our order consider the whole limits of the countrie, I say that Suisser∣land [ I] is a Prouince of Germanie, which hath for her bounds vpon the East, the Grisons, [ B] Constance, and a part of Suabe; towards the West, Valais, and the countie of Bourgon∣die; vpon the South, the Estate of Milan neere vnto Como; and vpon the North, a part of Alsatia, for that they put Basil in the Suisses countrie, being one of the thirteen Can∣tons, and yet it stands in Alsatia. There are moreouer the three leagues of the Grisons countrie, which in former times were called High Selesia, the which are allied to the Suisses: then the abbey and towne of Saint Gal, Mulhauson, and Rotuuil.

[ II] The Grisons countrie hath for limits on the East the countie of Tirol, vpon the West, the Suisses, vpon the South the state of Milan and the countrie of Bergamo, and to∣wards the North, the king of Romanes countrie: and they haue much of their jurisdi∣ction which lies intermixt with them. [ C]

[ III] Moreouer they do reckon the seuen Wards or tenths of the Valaisiens called some∣times Sedunois, who dwell vpon the riuer of Rhosne, and confine vpon the East with the Suisses, vpon the West with Sauoy, vpon the South with the great Lake and Pied∣mont, and vpon the North with the Lake of Geneua and a part of Suisserland. All these confederat countries are diuided into three parts, that is to say, Suisses, Grisons, and Valaisiens.

[ IIII] The Suisses are afterwards distinguished (leauing the most auncient diuisions, as Er∣gouies, Turgouie, Vetland, and such like) into thirteen Cantons, the which are Vry, Zuitz, Vnderual, Lucerne, Zurich, Zugh, Glaris, Bern, Basil, Fribourg, Soleurre, Schafusen, and Appenzal. [ D]

[ V] The first Canton, which is that of Vry, hath not any towne, but the principall place and that which is head of the rest is Artolf, an open place about an Italian mile from Lu∣cerne: the jurisdiction of this countrie extends beyond the mountaine of Saint Gotard. They say that it was called Toreau, in the time of Iulius Caesar, and that the name came from thence, for that they of Sibental do at this day call Buls, Vry; and this countrie hath for armes a Bulls head in a field Sinople. The inhabitants say that they are descended from a race of Pagans called Gots and Vres, who were afterward made Christians. Hauing often changed their Lords, this part falling in the end from the Germanes, retur∣ned to Zurich, at such time as the Empire was transported into Germanie, and that all the countries which had beene sometimes vnder the Romane Empire, recouered their liber∣tie, [ E] beginning to gouern themselues vnder forme of a Common-weale, acknowledging no other Superiour than the Romane Empire; as we may see by the priuiledges which were granted them by Rodolfe of Ausbourg king of Romanes, and by other Emperors, and they were neuer subiect (as some will haue it) to the house of Austria, for that the Empire being in this house, they obaied the Emperor newly elected, but not the succes∣sors [ VI] of this house. This village of Vry is diuided into ten parts or communalties, which they call Gnossammen.

As for Zuitz, it is a towne seated vpon the bankes of the Lake of Lucerne, vpon the right hand comming from Artolf to Lucerne, and this towne doth impart her name to the whole countrie of the Suisses. This towne was built by some which came out of the [ F] realme of Suecia, which we call Sueden, to seeke a new dwelling. They haue giuen the name of this towne to the whole countrie, either that they did first fight for their libertie in the countrie of Suitz, or for that they of Suitz were first of all exposed to the spoiles

[ A] and incursions of them of Austria, and were the strongest of those three Cantons which entred into league, so as this name past to all their allies.

Vnderuald lies beneath it vpon the East, and is diuided into the higher and lower: [ VII] The ••••••est of Kernouald passeth by the middest of it, and yet all the countrie is called V••deruald.

Lucerne takes the name of the place where it is scituated, the which in old time was [ VIII] called Lucerne, by reason of a Tower in which they did set a light all night. The begin∣ning of this aboad was a monasterie, the which was built by one Vincard, in the yeare of our Lord 840. It hath bin built neere vnto the Monasterie, and partly by reason thereof. [ B] There is within the towne it selfe, a riuer called Russi, which comes out of the great lake of that towne, as the Rhine doth at Constance from the lake of that towne, and as the ri∣••er of Lindmar flowes at Zurich from the lake of Zurich. From this lake they go to the three townes of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, at the foot of a verie high mountaine, called P••ats hill. The places of the jurisdiction of Lucerne, are Vuiken, and Sempach, Vuilli∣s••••u, the valley of Entlibouch, Rotembourg, or Rot, Habspurg, Berone, Chelampt, Me∣••i••cheuanden, Ebicone, Horbe, and Krient.

The towne of Zurich is auncient, and seated in a pleasant place, at the end of the great [ IX] lake, into the which the riuer of Lindmar doth enter neere vnto Glaris. This lake diuides the towne into two parts, whereof the one is called the great Towne, and the other the [ C] lesse, the which notwithstanding are ioyned together by three faire bridges. This towne hath vnder it the gouernement of Kybourg, and Grinou, Audelfingen, Grifensee, Eglisouu, Regensperg, Vadesuillane, Vuadischouil, and Louffen, Vinterhur, and Steine, the which are two townes subiect to them of Zurich.

Zugh is a towne whereof a small countrie takes his name. This countrie confines vp∣on [ X] the North with that of Suits, and the towne is scituated vpon a little lake. This towne hath vnder it the towne of Champ, the villages of Andre, Hunelbererg, Quacheuille, Steinhuse, and S. Vuolfang.

As for the countrie of Glaris, it is a valley neere to the riuer of Lindmar. It is not ve∣rie [ XI] big, and about three German leagues long: It is so called of the chiefe towne of the [ D] countrie, which is Glaris. This countrie is inuironed of three parts, with verie high ••ountaines, and confines vpon the South, and East, with the Grisons, and vpon the West with the countries of Vry and Suits. The earledome of Hambur is in this coun∣trie, and the Barronie of Humberg, and Ringenberg. Glaris commands ouer the coun∣tie of Verdenberg, which the magistrats of the countrie bought for their Common∣weale in the yeare of our Redemption 1517.

Be••••e was built by Bertold, fourth duke of Zeringen, and earle of Verlande, who gaue [ XII] •••• the name of a Beare, which he tooke a hunting, the which in the German Tongue is called Bern. This towne is in a manner an Island, the which the riuer of Ar doth make, ••••••••ning it of three parts, and at the end of it there is a bridge of stone. Of that side of [ E] the towne which lookes towards the South, this riuer passeth in a valley from West to East, and then returning, it goes towards the West againe, within a cannon shot. If there were •• channell or trench made vpon the strait or Istmus, Berne should be an Island. Vpon the South and North parts it is verie high aboue the riuer which runs below, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the East part, there is an easie ascent to go vnto the highest part of the town. Berne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it the towne of Lozanne, which hath a strange scituation, containing two op∣p••••••••il••, and a valley in the middest of them. It hath also the valley of Hasly, the towne of ••••••••erseuuen, the high and lo••er valley of Simme, Frutengen, Sane, Aelen, Thun, L••••••e••, Signauu, Drachseluuald, Brandis, Sicomisouald, Burgdorff, Biereneck, Land∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 A••berg, Nidouu, Erlach, Vuangen, Arouangen, Arburg, Biberstein, Schenken∣ [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Len••burg, and then the free townes of Zoffingen, Arau, and Bruck.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 i•• seated vpon a mountaine supported with steepe rockes, and on the other [ XIII] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is in a valley close to the mountaines, which are not verie rough, and about the ••••••••taines, in the lower part of the towne, there passeth a riuer, which is not verie big. The seat of justice stands vpon a hanging rocke. The mountaines support the walls, but

vpon the East part there are no buildings except Towers and Forts. Wheresoeuer they [ A] go through the towne, they must ascend or descend.

Soleurre, which in old time was but a castle, is at this day growne to be a towne of good commaund, and hath vnder it both land and men. It is seated in a plaine, and is the place whereas Saint Vrse of the Legion of Thebains suffered Martyredome, with six∣tie six of his companions.

[ XIIII] The countrie of Schaffuse lies vpon the frontiers of Germanie, neere vnto the riuer of Rhyne, and the blacke forrest. This countrie takes his name of the chiefe towne, whose walls are washed vpon the South side by the Rhyne: behind towards the North there is a little mountaine, and within the towne, there are many goodly fountaines. Neere [ B] vn∣to this place is the towne of Bade.

[ XV] The countrie of Appentzel, so called of a village of that name, is diuided into twelue communalties, which the Suisses call Roden. There are six communalties vnder the pa∣rish of Appentzel, and the other six are vnder the rest of the parishes. They containe in all eight parishes, that is, Appentzel, Gays, Vrneschen, Trogen, Tuffen, Herisgouu, Hune, Duuyl, and the parish of Fosse. The communalties without, are Herisouu, Hunduil, Tro∣gen, Vrneschen, Gays, and Tuffen, and those within, are Appentzel, Schuuendy, Bruli∣souu, Gontes, Vuinckelbach, and Haslem.

[ XVI] The Valaisiens are diuided into high and low. These dwell at Chablais, neere vnto Saint Maurice, and the others in a valley which begins at the mountaine of Fourche, and [ C] goes towards the riuer of Rhosne, from East to West, three journeys from Saint Mau∣rice, with diuers valleys of either side. It is inclosed with high mountaines, for the space of fiue miles and more, the which are so narrow in some places, as it doth scarce giue passage for the riuer of Rhosne, as we may see at Saint Maurice, whereas the mountaines are so neere one vnto another, as they passe vpon a bridge made of one arch. The Valaisi∣ens are also diuided into free men, and subiects. The free men are distinguished into seuen communalties, that is to say, Syon, Sierue, Leuque, Baronnie, Vespach, Brigue, and Go∣mese. The subiects are diuided into two bayliwickes, that is to say, Saint Maurice, and Mont Olon: the riuer of Morge parts them. Syon the chiefe towne of Valais is seated vpon two mountaines. The riuer of Rhosne, which passeth neere it, riseth at the foot of [ D] the mountaine of Fourche, joyning to that of Saint Gotard; it runs through the valley, and then falls into the lake Leman, which extends from Chablais vnto Geneua, for the space of eight leagues. Chablais confines with the countrie of Fossigny.

[ XVII] The Grisons dwell Southward of the Suisses, betwixt La Garde, Ade, the countie of Tirol, and the riuer of Tesin. They are diuided into three Cantons, whereof the one is cal∣led Grise, the other of the house of God, and the third the Communalties. Grise con∣taines the valley of Mesolce, and Calanquen, with the lands of Rogoret and Musoc, and seuen other valleis beyond the Alpes, by the which passe the riuers of Rhyne, and Gle∣ner. The Canton of the house of God containes Coire, which they of the countrie call Chur: this is a reasonable faire towne, and the riuer of Lascar passeth by it. The [ E] neigh∣bour countrie is also vnder this Canton, the which in former time was subiect to the Bi∣shop and Church of Coire. And moreouer, it doth enioy the valley of Agnedine, aboue and beneath, and Bregaille, which make neere fiue and twentie communalties. The third Canton confines with Tirol. They place Valtelline vnder the Grisons, the which hath many castles and good places, and about one hundred thousand soules. The chiefe places and Bormie, Sondrie, Tiran, Morbegne, and Posclaue. Valtelline confines with the valley of Chiauenne, in which the towne of Puir stands. Both these were vsurped by the Gri∣sons, vpon the Visconts, dukes of Milan, as many other valleis were by the Suisses, with the townes of Brisacq, Locame, Bellinzone, and Luguam. Yet some write that Maximi∣lian Sforce, duke of Milan, made an alliance with the Suisses, and gaue vnto the Cantons, [ F] Lugano, Lucarne, Mendrise, and the valley of Madia; and to the Grisons their consede∣rats, the valley of Tellina or Volturena.

[ A] ¶ The Qualitie.

SWiss••••land containes many mountaines and valleis, whereof the last are somewhat [ XVIII] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, although the first be craggie and rough, yet their tops are as greene and as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the fairest fields; wherfore they seed great store of cattell there. The coun∣trie abounds in wild beasts and tame of all sorts, and therefore they haue great store of bu••••er and cheese. As for the aire it is good and wholesome, and the inhabitants haue bin 〈◊〉〈◊〉 industrious to manure the land, as it not onely yeelds all things necessarie for the life [ B] of man but also for delight: it brings forth wheat in aboundance, and yet in many places they should sow in vaine if they did not first burne the ground; but the labour and indu∣strie of the inhabitants hath preuented this inconuenience. There are many places where there growes so good wine, as it doth far exceed that of the Rhin, both in tast & strength. We must adde hereunto the goodly meadowes, whereas they feed great troupes of cat∣tell: this countrie doth also breed great store of beares, stags, fallow deere, wild goats, ••unces, wild boares, and other beasts which they of the countrie hunt, neither doe they want great store of wild soule.

But to the end we may come to euery Canton in particular, the countrie about Zu∣rich is very fruitfull, and yeelds great store of wine and wheat: yet the wine is most com∣monly [ C] sharpe, and doth not come to any perfect maturitie, by reason of the neerenesse of the Alpes; but being kept long it doth ripen, and growes more pleasing. The Lake of Zu∣rich doth breed great store of fish.

The soile about Basil is good, and yeelds aboundance of good wine and wheat; so as the inhabitants releeue their neighbors with their commodities in the time of dearth and necessitie: there are also in this countrie goodly pastures. The countrie of Berne beares wine and wheat sufficient: and as for that of Fribourg it doth produce all things neces∣sarie, except wine, which they setch from other places.

As for the countrie which lies alongst the Lake Leman, the inhabitants complaint of the heat of Summer, and the sharpenesse of Winter; and yet the Lake, and the riuer of [ D] Rhosne do seldome freese, neither is Summer so violent as in the neighbour countries that are in France: The soile is sit and easie to be manured, and is very fruitfull: for they gather aboundance of wine, corne, all sort of pulses, hay, oats, and barley, their ordina∣rie fruits are nuts, apples, peares of many sorts, cherries both sweet and sowre, mulberries white and blacke, chestnuts, and almonds, but figs grow very rarely: they want neither wild••••••e, fish, nor venison.

They of Lucerne haue in a manner more commoditie from the Lake which is neere them than from the land, and yet there are goodly meadowes and pastures fit for the b••eeding of cattell: this countrie is not so hillie and rough as the rest. As for the coun∣tries of Vry, Suitz, & Vnderuald, they yeeld sufficient wherewith to feed the inhabitants

[ E] In the countrie of Glaris there is great store of butter, cheese, and cattel. In the straits of the mountaines they sow little corne, neither do they plant any store of vines: there 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great orchards of fruit, and goodly meadowes: they bring wine and wheat from other places. The Lakes furnish the countrie with fish, and the mountaines with venison; and they haue also store of wild foule.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the countrie of Valais, the tops of the mountaines are alwaies white, but be∣ne•••••• in the valle is they are greene and pleasant; so as this countrie doth bring forth ple••••••••lly (if they will take any paines to plant them) pomegranets, figs, & oranges, and it ••bounds in corne, wine, saffron, butter, and cheese. There breed diuers beasts in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and amongst others a wild bucke, which is like vnto a stag in bignesse, and [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like a goat, his hornes are like vnto a sallow deere, he wil get vp into any place, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he may but stay his foot, he leapes from precipice to precipice with wonderfull 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••gillitie, he liues vpon the top of the mountaines, whereas the yee is exceeding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whenas the cold ceaseth his sight failes him. There are in these mountaines val∣le•••• of yce which haue beene long congealed, so as it cannot be distinguished from

christall: and in some places it is so deepe, as it sometimes makes admirable ••reaches and [ A] ouertures of three hundred foot thicke and more. There the huntsmen hang their veni∣son, to the end it may keepe the longer by reason of the violent cold. There are vaines of ••iluer 〈…〉〈…〉 precipides, and some of leade, copper, christall, and agaticke. In the 〈…〉〈…〉 they discouered in the yeare 1544 a fountaine of salt••: there are 〈…〉〈…〉 of many kinds, and bathes which are exceeding wholesome: there is also ••••ind of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which burne comming neere the fire.

A•••••••••• the countrie of the Grisons although it be hilly for the most part, yet there are 〈…〉〈…〉 valleis which bring forth sufficient of all things that are necessarie for the 〈…〉〈…〉 man. [ B]

¶ The Manners of the Auncients.

[ XIX] THe Suisses haue alwaies been valiant and good souldiers as we may see by the oppo∣sition which they made against Caesar, who fearing them whenas they demaunded passage to••••crosse the Romane Prouince, and to go into Xaintonge, ther to settle their aboad, he caused a wall to be made to hinder the execution of their disseigne, remem∣b••ing that this people had vanquished the Consul L. Cassius, and defeated the Romane armie. They did not care much to manure their ground, so as they found not sufficient in their countrie to maint••ine them, for want of husbandrie, not through any defect of the [ C] so••le, the which at this day they haue made yeelding, and profitable in all places. It is also most certaine that in Caesars time they were diuided into Cantons, as they are at this day, but they had but foure, whereof the chiefe was that of Zurich. They were the Suisses that first defeated the Romanes, and they were also the first that repented it. We may iudge of their resolution and the confidence they had in their forces, for that they burnt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 houses and left all things desolate whenas they resolued to seeke a new dwelling: but this was an act full of inconsideration and barbarisme. As for their quicknesse of wit •••• was not great, yet in Caesars time they found letters written in Greeke in their campe, and tables which contained the number of them which came out of their houses, and who were to beare armes, neither had they forgotten the number of their women and [ D] children, which amounted to three hundred three score eight thousand persons. This may shew that they were not so barbarous as they were held, and that they were giuen to studie the Greeke as well as the Gaules. As touching their vulgar tongue, there are many learned men hold that is was rather priuat to the countrie, than of Germanie, and that it hath beene corrupted since that straungers came from diuers places and vsurped Gaul. If I should produce all that desend the one, and maintaine the contrarie, I should trouble the reader as much as my selfe; it sufficeth to send the cou••ious to them that haue made whole discourses, who hauing labored much to proue the one and the other, haue in the end preuailed in a manner as much as if they had written nothing, like vnto those which seeke hidden reasons to fortifie their coniectures. [ E]

We must not doubt but that these people for the most part haue followed the manners of the Gauls, of whose number they were for a long time held: but afterwards it was filled with multitudes of Cimbrians, who being forced to abandon the countrie by an inaundation of the sea, ouerran Germanie, and held a part of Gaule Belgick: but this countrie not being able to maintain them, they came vnto the riuer of Rhosne, & deman∣ded lands of the Romanes, who hauing refused them, one part past into Italie, where they were defeated by the Romane armie: and the other which staied on this side the moun∣taines, remained in Suisserland in the countries of Suitz and Vry.

Some others write that, in the time of Sigishert king of Sueden, these Northern people did so abound, as part of them were constrained to seeke new countries. These hauing [ F] past the Rhin defeated the Gaules; whereat other countries being amased, sent ambassa∣dors vnto them, of whom they demaunded no other thing, but that they would suffer them to liue and till their land, without any preiudice to others: by reason whereof the Suisses suffered them to dwell in the inner part of the countrie, which is full of moun∣taines

[ A] and lakes, where they tilled the land and made it fertile. Since, Histories report, That neere vnto the German Ocean there dwelt three kind of people, called Saxons, Angles, and Vietes. The Angles, with part of the Vietes, went into great Brittaine, at this day called England, and there planted their seat. The other part of the Vietes went into Suis••erland, and stayed there, and they were called Suithes. In the end, these people tooke the manners of all these nations; so as they made a mixture, whereof we cannot speake but by coniectures, full of vanitie and confusion.

¶ The Manners at this day.

[ B] IT seemes that nature hath fashioned the Suisses to armes, and necessitie hath forced [ XX] them to applie their minds seriously vnto it: The countrie, which is full of rockes and mountaines, rough, and hard to manure, and in old time desart and sauage for the most part, doth not onely harden the inhabitants to endure all toyle and labour, but also makes them more strong and vigorous, and consequently more fit for warre. They are ••one (as a man would say) all souldiers, and there is not any Suisse, being growne to age and disposition of bodie, but you shall see in him the markes of a souldier. They are com∣maunded throughout all Suisserland to haue armes, according to their meanes, and there are certaine prizes propounded in publicke for them that shoot best with the har∣quebuze, [ C] not onely in towne, but also in villages. All their other expences, whatsoeuer they be, sauour of warre, they are so naturally inclined to armes. At certaine times of the yeare, the chiefe magistrats make generall musters of all their men in armes, as if they were to go against the enemie, although there be no bruit of warre: and these musters are sometimes made at the dedication of Temples, and sometimes in faires, and in many places when as the subiects take the oath vnto a gouernour that is newly sent into a Bay∣liwicke. The Suisses practise swimming more than any other nation: being idle, they spend their time in hunting, through the high mountaines and rockes, which are in a manner inaccessible, after wild goats, buckes, beares, wolues, boares, and such like, and they hold it a great honour, hauing taken any of these beasts, to fasten their heads at the [ D] entrie of their gates, and the seigneurie doth sometimes reward him that hath taken them. The Suisses which be professed souldiers, are commonly well furnished with armes in their houses: and sometimes the townes doe furnish them out of their store∣houses with armes, the which are the harquebuze, the pike, the halbert, and the two∣hand-sword: they are much giuen to warres, and obserue good order; they loue the corselet and pike, with a long sword and a dagger, and they also serue with a harque∣buze. They are of meane stature but strong. The countrie, which is not verie fruitfull, is the cause why they giue themselues to liue of their industrie. They spend little in clothes, or in their feeding, vnlesse it be in bread and wine, as for the rest, they content themselues with what they haue, & do not regard what they want, yet they haue good store of flesh, [ E] butter, and cheese: they desire to haue a stoue, where they may defend themselues from the cold. They haue small store of moueables in their houses, and are rude in their con∣uersations, and in a manner void of all ciuilitie.

They are much giuen to drinking, wherein they spend whole daies and nights, and they are growne to that excesse, as before they will dispatch any businesse, or contract any friendship, they will drinke extreamely: and they that drinke most, or are drunke, are held freer and honester men than they that refuse it; yea they will quarrell if any refuse to drinke with them. Yet we must confesse that they are wittie, and well aduised, seeing they haue beene able to maintaine themselues so long in libertie, and to liue peaceably among themselues, notwithstanding that they differ in religion. Moreouer, they carrie [ F] themselues in such sort, as the greatest princes of Europe seeke their alliance, and enter∣taine them with great yearely pensions.

Inregard of learning, notwithstanding that they haue good Vniuersities, yet are they ••••so much giuen to studie as in other Countries, but their chiefe profession is armes. T•••• haue had learned men, and haue at this day, but the number is verie small, and I

••peake onely of that which is generally practised in the countrie. Also, to speake the [ A] truth, they haue no excellent wits, but sauour something of the roughnesse of the moun∣taines: yet when they studie or meditat of any thing, they conceiue it well, although it be with much paine. There are few that liue out of the countrie, but the•• still retaine something of the behauiour of the countrie, and they seeme to affect it in their apparrell and other things: yet they that haue liued out of Suisserland, grow polliticke, and are harder to circumuent than other people which are held more subtile. In former times the Colledges of Saint Gal and Coire among the Grisons were verie famous, but of late yeares they are much decayed. Pope Pius (called before Eneas Syl••ius) erected an vni∣uersitie at Basil, from whence haue come many learned men, as their writings doe [ B] wit∣nesse. There are publicke Scholes at Zuriche and Berne: and there is one also at Lau∣sanne, built by the seigneurie of Berne. There are faire Printing-houses at Basil, Zurich, and Geneua; the which hath a perpetuall and strict league with them of Berne. Moreo∣uer, the Suisses are louers of vertue, especially of justice, the which maintaines peace. Their lawes are grounded vpon great equitie and iustice, like vnto other Common-weales, whereas crimes and offences are seuerely punished without respect of persons. They make their alliances with all integritie and fidelitie, seeking that euerie one may enioy his owne quietly, and that all violence may be banished. The Suisses are Prote∣ctors of the oppressed, and many strangers haue had recourse vnto them, and haue made them arbitrators of their controuersies. They haue beene a••waies recommended for [ C] hos∣pitallitie, and haue beene charitable towards the poore.

¶ The Riches.

[ XXI] WE must not speake of Suisserland, as of a rich countrie, and abounding in all things, for that the scituation doth hinder it, but it is rather to be much esteemed for that it is able to nourish all the inhabitants. If they did liue there as they doe in ma∣ny other countries whereas all things abound, they should soone be brought to ex∣treame miserie and pouertie: But their great sparing is a good reuenue, and withall the money which they draw from neighbour princes, keepes them from those wants which [ D] they should endure, if they payed not deare for their alliance; I must confesse that many times they owe them great arrerages, but in the end they are payed after some sort: and and the verie children, who haue no knowledge of that which is giuen them, are enter∣tained by forraine princes, who seeke by all meanes to draw this nation vnto them, and then to keep them. But to speak something of the profit which they make in the country, for that I haue made some mention thereof, describing the qualitie, I will only say, That they do sometimes make much mony of the feeding of their cattel, and of their pa••tures. They sell so great aboundance of wheat at Zurich, as it is almost incredible. Basil hath also a great concourse of Merchants, and the riuer of Rhyne is verie commodious: they carrie many printed bookes out of this towne into all other parts of Europe, for the [ E] which the Merchants receiue great summes of money. Lucerne is a passage for all mer∣chandise which they carrie from the Franche Countie, and other neighbour countries, into Italie, and for those which they bring out of Italie into other countries; for that it is the way from Italie to passe by Mont Saint Gotard, and the merchandise of Italie des∣cend by the lake, and the riuer of Russe into the Rhyne, and then into the Sea. But all their wealth is not to be much regarded.

¶ 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.

¶ The Gouernment.

WE are now come to the principall peece of the Suisses Estate, which is their [ C] go∣nernment, [ XXIII] euery Canton hauing their distinct officers and magistrats for the go∣uernment of the said Canton. The chiefe magistrat of euery towne and communaltie is commonly called Aman, he is chosen by the peoples suffrages, and continues three yeres in his place; who although he be the chiefe among them, yet doth he differ little from them in his habit, onely he hath some more attendance: next vnto the Aman, is the offi∣cer of justice, who is like vnto the Chancellor, and the second person of that State: next vnto him are certaine Councellors, men of experience in affaires of princes: then comes the Chamberlaine who hath the charge of the munition and publicke treasure: and next to him are four Deputies, who are greater in authoritie than the Councellors, and may do many things in the absence of the Aman, if the Chancellor be present: these with the [ D] Aman make a Councell of fifteene, which gouerne the State both in peace and warre, and are euer present at the hearing and deciding of all causes that arise in the jurisdicti∣on of their Canton.

These in effect mannage all the affaires of the Communaltie: they are confirmed from yeare to yeare by the people, and yet they continue in their offices three yeares, as the Aman doth. They appoint captaines and gouernors of places, and for the deciding of pet∣tie matters they allow of ten persons chosen out of the meaner sort; but the parties con∣tending may appeale to these fifteene, aboue whom there is no other Iudge nor appeale. The partie condemned is seuerely punished, neither will they suffer any of their subiects to appeale out of the countrie, but to the great councell, which is a great offence and [ E] sharpely punished. There is no place in the world where lawes are obserued with lesse partiallitie; for they are neuer altered according to the inconstant humor of the people, nor violated, without due punishment.

In matters of importance which concerne the generall estate of all the Cantons, they appoint a generall Diet, which is to be held in one of the cities which they thinke most co••uenient, wherunto euery Canton sends two or three embassadors or deputies, wher∣as they consult and treat of all ma••ters touching peace and war, or any thing that con∣cernes the generall good of their whole Estates, and they giue audience and answers to embassadors of forraine princes: where all things being debated at large, they conclude according to the pluralitie of voices. For these many yeres their generall Diet hath been [ F] kept at Bade in Ergouia, which is one of the fiue Cantons, whereof the Seigneurs of Zu∣rich are the chiefe. But let vs examine euery Canton in parti••••••are the countrie of the Suisses is diuided into four parts, which they call Gov••••of a German word which signi∣fies countrie: these four parts are Zurichgovu, Vuis••••purgergovu, Argovu, & Turgovu.

[ A] And this Common-weale is composed of three parts: In the first are the thirteene Can∣tons, which the Germans call Ort; these haue alone that power among all the allies, that they deliberat of all matters which belong to the Common-weale in their publike assembl••es, and giue their voyces, and doe participat of all commodities and discommo∣dities of the alliance. In the second part, they doe reckon the Abbot and Towne of S. Gal, the Grisons, Valaisiens, Rotuueil, Mulhusen, and Biel. In the third they put those pl•••••• ••••ich are come into the power of this Common-weale, either by free will, or by force, as Turgouu, which was reduced vnder the Suisses dominion, in the yeare 1460; Bade (not the Marquisat which lies in another place) subdued in the yeare 1415, and [ B] subiect to the eight first Cantons; Rhegust conquered in the yeare 1513, and gouerned by the thirteene Cantons; Sarungans sold in the yere 1483 by George earle of Vuerden∣b••••g to the seuen first Cantons; The free Prouinces taken in the yeare 1415, acknow∣ledging the authoritie of the seuen first Cantons. Lugan, Locarne, Mendre••e, and the valley of Madia, are come vnder the Suisses jurisdiction by the liberalitie of Maximilian Francis Sforce duke of Milan, who gaue these vnto them in the yeare: 1513 These places o••ey all the Cantons, except Appenzel. Bilitone and Bellinzone obey the three first Cantons.

But to vnderstand after what manner the Suisses haue thus cantoned themselues, and [ XXIIII] haue framed a common-weale so much redoubted and scared: After many changes of [ C] command, the countries of Vry, Sui••z, and Vnderuald, came in the end to acknowledge no other superiour but the Roman Empire, as we may see by the priuiledges which were graunted vnto them by Rodolphe of Ausbourg, king of Romans, who raigned in the yeare 1201, and by other Emperours his successours: neither were these people euer subiect, as some affirme, to the house of Austria, but the Empire being in this house, they onely obeyed the Emperour being chosen, and not his successours of the house of Austria.

These valleis being then in libertie, the Emperour sent them German gouernours, who not medling with the gouernement of the Common-weale, should doe justice to the people: whereof some of these gouernours were expelled, and others slaine for their insolencies; for that many times they vsed many strange outrages against the people, as [ D] the gouernour of Vnderuald did, commaunding that one of them should be put into a yo•••• with oxen, the which he refusing to vndergo, he commaunded that he should be dra••••e vnto it by force, but the man ranne sodainly away, whereat the gouernour was in such a rage, as he caused his fathers eyes to be pulled out that had so escaped.

The••e happened another in the said valley, whereas the gouernour pressing a woman in the ••••••ence of her husband, to prepare him a hot bath, and to enter into it with him; thi•• ••••••an hauing delaied the time vntill her husbands returne, the gouernour being ful•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉; slew her with a hatcher.

••oreouer, the gouernour of Suitz and Vry, pust vp with vanitie and pride, planted a ••••affe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the which he set his hat, commaunding, That all which past by, should doe ho∣nour [ E] vnto it: there was one William Zen, who refused to doe it; whereupon he called him be•••••••• him, and commaunded him to take an apple from off his sonnes head with his Cross•• bow: the father refused to doe it for many daies, but in the end (not being able 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he obeyed, and (by the helpe of God) stroke the apple from his sonnes head, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hurting him•• and for that he had brought two arrowes, the gouernour deman∣de•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to what end ••e had brought the other: to whom Zen answered, That in case ••e 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his sonne with the first, he was resolued to shoot the second at himselfe: the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hauing heard these words, caused him to be taken, and hauing put him into a 〈…〉〈…〉 carrie him vnto a Palace of his, betwixt Vry and Bruch, he escaped, and fly∣ing [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the mountaines which are about the Lake, he prepared himselfe for reuenge. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 people of these three valleis, being incensed at these outrages and many others, 〈…〉〈…〉 their gouernour, and so freed themselues, and then the Emperour sent them 〈…〉〈…〉 Iudges, which should be of their owne seigneurie.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 growing a diuision in the Empire, in the yeare of our Lord 1314, for that some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ectors had chosen Lewis duke of Bauaria for Emperour, and the rest, Fredericke

Archduke of Austria, they contended for the Empire: These valleis refusing to [ A] acknow∣ledge Frederic for Emperour, for that he had sewest voyces, he made warre against them, and sent Leopold his sonne to inuade the countrie of Suitz, assuring himselfe that Lewis should not be able to releeue them. Leopold entring with a good armie into the countrie of Suitz, which is enuironed of all sides with water and mountaines, and being come to Marguten, he was defeated by the men of the three valleis of Suitz, Vry, and Vnder∣uald: whereof the narrownesse of the countrie was partly the cause, and the season also, for that there was much yce in the wayes, so as the horses could doe no seruice in this battaile, and the Suisses casting stones onely from the mountaines did so amaze them, as they did willingly leape into the lake.

At the same time (by the commaundement of Frederic) they were inuaded by the [ B] Earle of Stambourg, who remained at Veldane, neere vnto Vnderuald, but the Suisses comming thither, would not suffer them to passe a place called la Bouche. All these things they did without the assistance of any forraine forces: Hauing maintained this warre for the space of two whole yeares, they resolued, for their greater safety and quiet, to vnite themselues together, making a league, which was called, of the three Can∣tons, as followeth.

¶ The league of the three Cantons of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald.

[ XXV]

IN the name of God, &c. For as much as the memorie of man is weake, and doth soone [ C] forget the successe of affaires; and for that it is verie profitable and necessarie that those things which bring peace, rest, profit, and honour, should be set downe in writing.

For this cause, we the countriemen of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, make it knowne to all that shall read or heare these presents, that to prouide for and preuent the difficul∣ties and inconueniences of times, and the better to remain in peace and concord amongst our selues, and to the end we may the better defend our selues, and maintaine our bodies and goods, we haue tied our selues by a perpetuall and firme oath one vnto another, and by this oath we doe promise to counsell and assist one another with our persons and [ D] goods both within and without the countrie, against all that shall wrong, or attempt to wrong any one of vs, either in his bodie or goods, so as it may be pre••udiciall to any one of vs, to whom we are to giue all the aid we can, causing the wrong and losse to be repai∣red either by accord or by some other meanes.

Secondly, we haue ordained amongst vs of this league, That not any of our countries or Cantons, and much lesse any priuat man, shal make himselfe lord, nor receiue any lord, without the consent and counsel of the rest; but euerie one both male and female shalbe obedient to his true lord or seigneurie, in all due and honest seruices: but not to any lords that shall seeke to take any of our countries by armes, and force vs to any vniust thing, in which case they shall not doe any seruice whilest they are in discord with vs. [ E]

We haue also agreed, That not any of our Cantons, nor allies, shall aid any stranger without the aduice of the other Cantons and allies.

None of the confederats shal treat with the said strangers without the knowledge and consent of the rest, whilest that the Cantons are not subiect. If it happen that any one be∣tray one of the Cantons, & deliuer it into the hands of another, or shal not obserue what∣soeuer here is written, he shall be held for a traytor, and a man without faith, and his per∣son shall be deliuered into the hands of the Cantons, and his goods shall be confiscat.

Moreouer, we haue agreed, That not any of vs shall support or receiue any Iudge which buyes his office for money or any other thing, but he shall be of the countrie.

If there grow any quarrell or warre betwixt the con••ederats, the best and wisest shall [ F] pacifie this discord, and end the quarrell by accord: and if one of the parties be obstinat and refuse, then the rest of the confederats shall assist the other at his charge that doth contradict. If any one of the allies doe kill another, he shall loose his life, vnlesse he can proue (the which is allowed him to doe) that he had committed this murther for the de∣fence

[ A] of his person: and if the murtherer slie, he that lodgeth him or defendeth him in the countrie shall be banished, and shall not returne into the countrie but by a common consent of the Cantons.

If it also happen that any one of the allies shall set fire of anothers house, he shall be for euer banished, and he that shall lodge him or assist him shall be bound to pay the da∣mages of the partie interessed and complaining.

No man shall distraine another but for assurance, the which he cannot do without the permission of his Iudge: and euery man shall be obedient to his Iudge, and shall present himselfe before him when it is needfull. If any opposeth himselfe against his Iudge, and [ B] is disobedient, or shall preiudice any one of the allies by his disobedience, then they of the league shall force him to make reparation.

Wherefore, to the end that this present league and capitulation, and all the causes therein contained may remaine firme, and in force foreuer: We the countrimen of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald haue set our seales to this present, made at Baren, in the yeare 1325 the first Tuesday after S. Nicholas Feast.

In the same yere all their priuiledges were con∣firmed by the foresaid Emperor Lewis.

The discentions of the Empire being pacified, some other countries moued by the bad vsage of their gouernours, and drawne by the sweetnesse of libertie, entred into league with the said three Cantons: Lucerne entred first in the yeare 1332, then Zurich [ C] in the yeare 1351, and in the yere 1352 Zugh, Glaris, and others. The contract of the four Cantons was after this manner.

¶ The League of the foure Cantons of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald.

WE the Senate, Councellors, and Citizens of the towne of Lucerne, and we the [ XXVI] countrimen of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, do make knowne to all that shall read or heare these presents; That to the end we may defend our persons with lesse difficulty, we haue reciprocally promised to aide and councel one another, in all the matters here vnder written, and in all others that shall be honest and reasonable, we of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald haue excepted the Emperor our Lord, and the Romane Empire, [ D] and that whereunto we are bound in his behalfe, as we haue beene accustomed in all an∣tiquitie: and moreouer we the said of Lucerne haue reserued our towne, the Councel∣lors, and all their Estates, with the good customes towards the citizens and strangers, as they haue beene obserued by our auncestors.

We the said doe also reserue in our selues a particularitie in our bounds and limits ac∣cording to our statutes and good customes, as our predecessors haue formerly done: and we the citizens of Lucerne shall content our selues with such rights, towards the three Cantons, as hath beene formerly said.

We the said citizens of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald shall rest satisfied of the citizens of Lucerne, as before: but if it shall happen (which God forbid) that any one of vs, either [ E] within orwithout, shal wrong or preiudice another; then the partie offended shall vpon his faith consider if this preiudice was done wrong fully vnto him, and then the said par∣tie shall aduise the other, and both with the towne of Lucerne shall assist him against whomsoeuer, with their persons and goods.

We the citizens shall at our owne charge aid the said Cantons: and contrary wise, we the said Cantons shall at our owne change assist the citizens of Lucerne, all which shal be done faithfully and without contradiction.

If by chance there shall grow any controuersie among vs, in that case they shall chuse the most discreet and best aduised, who shall friendly reconcile all our controuersies, and in case that the one partie shal contradict this accord, the other allies shall assist the other [ F] at his charge that disobeyeth.

If there shall happen any disorders betwixt the three Cantons, and that the two were agreed, in that case we the said citizens of Lucerne shall helpe to reconcile the third vnto the other two, if we the said citizens of Lucerne do know and find any thing which shal seeme better vnto vs for the two Cantons.

We haue also agreed that we the said citizens, and for the abouenamed countrimen [ A] of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, and likewise the abouenamed for the citisens of Lu∣cerne, may be warrant one for another, and that no one of vs shall enter into league or capitulation with any one either within or without, without the knowlege and consent of the rest of the allies.

None of the allies shall distraine another but for rent, the which shall not be done but after sentence giuen.

Whosoeuer of the allies shall contest against a sentence giuen, or shall disobay, if this disobedience be preiudiciall to any of the allies, he shall be forced to make reparation of the damage.

If any of the allies shall commit an offence for the which he shall be banished out of [ B] his jurisdiction, so as this banishment be signified vnto the other jurisdictions, with let∣ters patents, & the seale of the countrie or of Lucerne, he shall also be banished from the rest, and if any one doth assist him, or giue him meat, being knowne, he shall vndergo the like punishment, but he shall not incurre death.

And moreouer we haue iointly resolued that if any one of the allies shall not obserue all the articles abouementioned, and euery one of them, he shall be held for a man which hath broken his faith and word: and to the end these things may be inuiolably obserued by all and euery one of vs, as it hath beene concluded, we the said senat, councell, and citisens of Lucerne, haue with our common seale, and of euery particular Canton, cau∣sed [ C] these presents to be sealed, in testimonie of al things abouewritten. Made and past the first Saturday before Saint Martin in the yeare 1332.

¶ An Assemblie made at Saint Gal, betwixt the foure Cantons, which hath the force of a law and league.

[ XXVII] WE the Senate, and Councell of a Hundred, which they call the great Councell of Lucerne, and we the Amans, Councell, Countriemen, and all the Com∣munalties of the three Cantons of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, aboue and beneath Silue, are fallen into question betwixt vs the three Cantons, and the other partie; for that ac∣cording [ D] to the tenor of the article of our league, which speakes of Will and Accord, be they made or treated of, or a law, suit, or sentence: that as many men, as we the said of Lu∣cerne, shall put into any garrison, or imploy in any businesse, we the abouenamed three Cantons shall be bound to put as many of euery particular Canton. The which we (I say of Lucerne) haue thought very vnfitting, dishonest, and vniust, and these words hauing not beene well explained in the perpetual league, for that there was no mention made of these aides, haue for this cause in this present diet, by a common consent, willingly agre∣ed, that in regard of this article, we of Lucerne shall place as many persons, as the said Cantons of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, and all three together shall yeeld to all questi∣ons and businesses that shall happen, ••and no partie shall be more or lesse than the other. [ E] In like manner if there should euer happen any controuersie betwixt vs the three Can∣tons, and that it were needfull to expound the tenor of this perpetuall league, in regard of these words Wil, Accord, and Writ, these controuersies shal be ended with equall aid, as hath beene said.

And if such disorders or controuersies should grow betwixt vs of Lucerne, and any one of the Cantons, they shall be ended with equall ayd as before. And to the end the said things may last perpetually, we haue confirmed them by an oath, and haue bound as well our selues as our successors to obserue them inuiolably, and to that end we haue sealed them with the seale of Lucerne, and of the three Cantons of our countries, and haue caused foure to be dispatched with the same words and the same seale, one for vs, [ F] another for Vry, the third for Suitz, and the fourth for Vnde••uald, all of one forme. Made the Wednesday before Palme Sunday, in the yeare 1481.

[ A] ¶ The league of Zurich with the foure Cantons.

WE the Bourgmaisters, Councellors, and common Citisens of the towns of Vry, [ XXVIII] Suitz, and Vnderuald, make knowne vnto all, &c. That with good Councel, and mature deliberation, in regard of a good peace and defence of our goods and persons, and of all our townes and countries, and for the generall good, haue assembled together, and sworne before God and his Saints, as well for our selues, as our successours, whom we will haue to be perpetually comprehended in our league, especially to haue and ob∣serue [ B] an euerlasting confederation, which hath beene, and shall for euer be firme and stable.

And for that things that are inconstant, are subiect to forgetfulnesse, and all things in this world change; for this cause, we the said Townes and Communalties, giue this per∣petuall faith and testimonie one vnto another, by letters and writings; so as we will be readie to succour one another without any contradiction, as well with our goods as per∣sons, against any one that shall seeke to wrong any one that is comprehended in this league, in his person, goods, or honour, be it present, or to come, within the limits aboue written.

First of all, whereas Are doth rise, which is called Grialel, and from thence downe∣ward, [ C] and those of Berne, whereas Are falls into the Rhyne, and from thence vnto that part where it riseth, and from that bridge by the Grisons, to the Fort called Reingem∣bourg, beyond S. Gotard, vnto the mountaine of Platier, and from thence vnto Torsel, and Crinisel, whereas Are or Arole hath his spring.

But if within these bounds there were any one comprehended in this league, that were damnified in any sort, either in his goods or person, then the Councel and Communaltie of the towne or countrie where he hath receiued wrong, shall take knowledge thereof: And when as this Councell or Communaltie, or the greatest part of the towne or coun∣trie which hath receiued the wrong, hath considered what succour shall be needfull for this businesse, they shall aduertise the other townes and countries comprehended in [ D] this league.

And when this aduertisement shall be made, they must aduertise by a Post, or by let∣ters from the Councell, or the Communaltie of this towne or countrie, the Councells of the three Cantons, without any intermission, to the end they may giue aduice vnto the townes of that whereof they haue beene faithfully aduertised: And they shal sodainly prepare themselues withall that shall be needfull to assist them that haue beene damni∣fied: And no one of vs of the said Cantons shall treat in any sort with any of this present league, nor doe any thing in word or deed, whereby these succours may be stayed or hin∣dered: And euerie towne or countrie shall make readie these succours at their owne charge without any question.

[ E] If it should happen that any one comprehended in this league should receiue any wrong, which requires present helpe, then must we all presently succour him, in such sort as the wrong may be repaired or reuenged without any delay.

But if the matter were of such importance as it should require an assemblie of a Diet, and that in the meane time if one of the townes comprehended in this league should need succours, they must sodainly go vnto the Diet, at the house of God, in the Abbey of S. Marie, & aduise what shalbe most fit to releeue them speedily that haue sent vnto them.

If any one were besieged, they should entertaine them that did aid them, or that they haue receiued for their succours, and these charges shall be in regard of raising the siege.

If any one without iust cause should doe wrong vnto another comprehended in this [ F] league, and that this man shall dwell out of the foresaid bounds, when as they haue com∣plained of him that hath done the wrong, or graunted any letters of reprisall, and he shall fall into the hands of our consederats, they shall distraine and sequester such a person, and them that shall ayd him, and their goods, and force him to make speedy reparation of the damages.

If it should happen that we the aboue named of Zurich, should haue any controuer∣sie [ A] with our aboue named allies of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, or with any one in particular (the which God forbid) we shal come for that cause to the Diet of the house of God in the towne of Lucerne, the three Cantons altogether, or else one in particular which hath this controuersie with vs of Zurich: there they shal chuse two discreet men, and we two others, and these foure shall sweare before God and his Saints, to dispatch this businesse presently, either by accord, or by justice, and that which shall be concluded by these foure, or by the greatest part, shall be obserued by both parties without any in∣termission.

But if it did happen that these foure which should be chosen to such a businesse were [ B] equally diuided, or that some question were growne among them, then shall they vpon the faith which they haue sworne, chuse a man out of our league, which shall be held in∣different, and not to incline to the one or the other. And as for him, whom they haue voluntarily chosen, they of that towne or countrie shall commaund him to attend this businesse with those foure, and endeauour vpon his faith to end it speedily. And in regard of money which is due, euerie one shall pursue it by law in the towne or country where∣as the defender dwells, whereas they shall presently judge and dispatch those affaires.

None of those that are comprehended in this league shall be arrested or sequestred one for another, vnlesse the suretie which the creditor hath accepted be not allowed: ha∣uing also agreed that no confederat comprehended in this league shall be distrained for [ C] another in any sort.

If any person comprehended in this league should for any offence be banished out of this jurisdiction, and that notice were giuen therof by the seale of such a countrie to ano∣ther jurisdiction, he shall be also banished out of the same Communaltie: and he that shall then lodge him, or giue him meat, if it be knowne, shall incurre the like punishment, but he shall not be in daunger of his life.

We haue also reserued for our selues together, or for any one of our townes or coun∣tries in particular, that would allie themselues with any Lords or Citizens, that they cannot conueniently doe it, but this league of the one with the other shall be perpetual, firme, and stable, and they shall keepe all the things declared in this present writing. [ D]

We haue also concluded and declared, That if any one would molest the Seigneur Ralfe Bruiren Knight, who is at this present Bourgmaister, and the Councellors of this towne in their judgements, and the laws which they haue made, being comprehended in this league: When as we the abouenamed of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, shal be onely aduertised by a Bourgmaister, or a Councellor of Zurich, then vpon our owne faith we shall be readie to ayd them, in such sort as the Bourgmaister, Councellors, and Tribunes shall enioy their power, laws, and judgements.

We the said of Zurich, Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, haue reserued vnto our selues in this league our Lord the King, and the sacred Empire, and that whereunto we are bound by all antiquitie and good custome. [ E]

And moreouer, we of Zurich haue reserued our confederations, leagues, and approab∣bations which we haue made before this league.

And we of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, haue reserued the leagues and vnions which we haue together, the which shall go before this.

After this, they must vnderstand that we haue plainly concluded in regard of those which are of this league, that they remaine in their full liberties, rights, and customes, as they haue done vnto this day, in such sort notwithstanding, as no man shall molest or hinder another.

It is also particularly concluded, to the end that this league may be alwaies firme, that ten yeares hence, about the moneth of May, before or after, without any delay, as the [ F] said three townes haue ordained, we shall cause this league and vnion to be renewed by words, writings, and oaths, and that all things necessarie shall be done, and all they that shall exceed the age of ten yeares shall sweare to obserue this league, and all the Articles therein contained, without any contradiction.

[ A] But if it should happen that all things were not done precisely within the time prefix∣ed, and that they should prolong the businesse vpon some consideration, it should bring no preiudice to this league, seeing it is plainely concluded that it shall remaine firme and stable for euer, with all the points and present articles.

In like manner with good and mature consideration we haue reserued, that if for our good by a common consent, either now, or hereafter we shall doe or say otherwise than we haue done or written in this league, we may do all this one with another, for that we who are comprehended in this league will alwaies take councell together, and resolue vpon that which shall be held most profitable.

[ B] And to the end that all that is written by vs at this present, and shall be hereafter, as well by vs, as by our successors, may remaine firme and stable foreuer; we the said towns and countries of Zurich, Lucerne, Vry, Suits, and Vnderuald, haue caused our seales to be set to these presents, at Zurich, the first day of May in the yeare 1351.

Zugh entred into league with the said Cantons in the yeare 1352, as followeth.

¶ The League of Zugh, with the fiue Cantons.

WE the Bourgmaisters, Councellors, Citisens, and Communaltie of the towne of Zurich, Councellors, Citisens, and Councellors of Lucerne, the Amans, [ XXIX] Coun∣cell, [ C] and common Citisens of Zugh, and all that beare office: the Amans, Councellors, and Countrimen of the three Cantons of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, make knowne vn∣to all, &c.

The articles contained all that was concluded betwixt Zurich, and the foure Cantons, giuing the same confines; and this league was all one with the other, there was onely Zugh added. It was concluded at Lucerne in the yeare 1352, the first Wednesday after Saint Iohn Baptist.

Glaris allied it selfe with the other confederates in the yeare 1357, as followeth.

¶ The League of Glaris.

[ D] WE the Bourgmaisters, Councellors, and common Citizens of Zurich, the Amans [ XXX] and Commons of the countries of Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, & Glaris, make known &c. as in the praecedent.

And we the said of Zurich, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald in regard of a good and parti∣cular friendship, do giue leaue vnto them of Glaris to allie themselues at their pleasure with our confederats of Berne, Lucerne, and Zugh, or with any one of them in parti∣cular; vpon condition notwithstanding, that this league shall precede the other, and shal be perpetuall: and we the said of Glaris shall not allie our selues with any, be he Lord or other, without the consent and leaue of our said confederates, of Zurich, Vry, Suitz, and [ E] Vnderuald. In witnesse wherof, as in the other letters, putting Glaris &c. Giuen the Mon∣day in Whitson weeke 1357.

¶ The League of Berne, with the three Cantons.

WE the Senat, Councellours, and the two hundred Citizens, Commons of the [ XXXI] towne of Berne in Heucheland, and we the Amans, and Commons, conntrimen of Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, make known &c. It containes the same in words and forme that the league of Zurich with the four Cantons: but the place of diet is Riembolt.

We the said of Berne may aduertise the said three Cantons against them that would [ F] annoy vs and our citizens, or them that are vnder our protection, and are properly ours, and none others, and against such they shall be bound to ayd vs, and in all those cases we the said three Cantons shall send our succours by the Brunigh vnto Vndersuuen, and they of Berne shal giue pay vnto all our men that we shall send armed vnto them, for the time that they shall retaine them in their seruice, wherewith we shall rest contented, and

that our men shall leaue their seruice at Vndersuuen: And if we of Berne shall send our [ A] men to succour the said three Cantons, or any one of them in particular, the same article shall be obserued vnto Vndersuuen. And if it did happen that they should be generally besieged, then we of Berne shall send vnto them at our owne charge.

And if there should fall out any war which should concerne all, and that we the said of Berne, or the three Cantons should go against the enemies & annoy them in any place, for all this, none that shall be comprehended in the league shall reckon any charges to the other.

If we of Berne doe inuade our neighbours countrie aboue, then the three Cantons shall be bound to assaile the enemie, and for this faction we shall not reckon any charges [ B] one vnto another: and contrariwise if we the said three Cantons shall inuade, they shall obserue the same article.

We the said of Berne haue bound our selues, that if they of Zurich, and Lucerne haue need of ayd, and require it of the said three Cantons their allies, whenas we shall be ad∣uertised by the three Cantons, we are bound to send our succours speedily at our owne charge, who shall go as far as the rest.

And if they of Lucerne and Zurich should not send succours, together with them of the three Cantons, to assist vs of Berne, we shal not pay any thing to them of Zurich and Lucerne: and if it should at any time happen that we of Berne, and we the said three Cantons should send our men to succour one another, we haue concluded, that if one [ C] part should go and annoy the enemie &c as in the second article.

If any one comprehended in this league shall haue any complaint, or demaund against an••ther, he shall go vnto the Diet as before: and the Elector shall chuse a man out of his countrie or towne, who shall be indifferent, and they of his partie shall entreat him to imbrace this businesse faithfully, and then the parties contending, shall either of them ch••se two for his part, and these fiue shall speedily dispatch the businesse, either by Ac∣cord or Iustice, without any contradiction. The rest is as in the other articles.

If any one comprehended in this league be in possession of any thing, no man shall take it from him without reason, but euery one shall ayd and defend him in the countrie.

After all these leagues and alliances, the Suisses had great wars by reason of the great [ D] league of Suabe, which was made against them and their libertie: and on the other side the better to resist and make head against their enemies, they made a perpetuall league with the Grisons; and about that time Lewis the twelfth(who desired to recouer the du∣chie of Millan, which he pretended to be his right) sought the friendship and alliance of the Suisses, who haue alwaies fought so valiantly for their libertie, as they haue forced their enemies to come to composition, and to seeke a peace vpon condition, that they should enioy their full libertie, and should be confirmed in all the places which they had formerly taken from them of Austria, and that the jurisdiction of Turgow in criminall causes, which they of Constance had enioied, should be giuen them: they had war with the Grisons against Iohn Iagues of Medicis, lord of Muse, to maintaine the libertie of the [ E] countrie. A while after the peace made betwixt the Cantons, and the house of Austria, Vlrich duke of Wittemberg made a league for twelue yeares with the Commonweale of the Suisses: and the Emperor Maximilian renewed the hereditarie alliance made be∣fore with duke Sigismond, wherein the house of Bourgondie was included in the yeare 1517, as followeth.

¶ An Hereditarie League made betwixt the Emperor Maximilian, and Charles Archduke of Austria, and the Suisses.

VVE Maximilian by the grace of God, Emperour of Romanes, alwaies August••s, [ F] king of Germanie, Hungarie, Dalmatia, and Croacia, Archduke of Austria, Bourgondie, Brabant, Count Palatine, &c. for vs, that is to say, in our owne proper name, and also as Protector, and in the name of the most famous Charles, Archduke of Austria, and duke of Bourgondie and Brabant, Prince of Spaine, earle of Flanders and Tiroi, &c.

[ A] of the one part, and we of the league of the Suisses, that is to say, of Zurich, Berne, Lu∣cerne, Vry, Suitz, and Vnderuald, aboue and beneath Silue, Zugh with the officers with∣out, Glaris, Basil, F••••bourg, with the Abbey and Towne of Saint Gal, and the countrie of Appensel on the other part, confesse, publish, and doe make manifest to euerie one by the tenor of these presents, That Wee Maximilian, elect Emperour of Romans, vpon our bountie and speciall grace, and by duetie, are readie (as it is fit) to gouerne all our subiects, and those that be of the sacred Empire, in peace, tranquilitie, and concord, especially out hereditarie and faithfull subiects, of what degree or condition soeuer they be, to encrease their goods, and to fore▪see that hereafter they receiue no harme; hauing [ B] to that end gratiously considered of the commoditie of our noble houses of Austria and Bourgondie, being neighbours vnto the said league of Suisses, and may much auaile them, notwithstanding that it hath beene courteously done by our vnckle Sigismond of Austria, as hauing had a perpetuall vnion by our deare brother Lewis the French king, for himselfe and the said Suisses, the said letters were giuen at Macklin the tenth of Iune, in the yeare 1474, and in sorme of an hereditarie vnion.

Of that which was made at Zurich the Monday before Saint Gal in the yeare of our Lord God 1477, with accord, That the Suisses should be subiect, and shew themselues faithfull, and full of loue, and be good neighbours to the said Emperour of Romans, as it is fitting, and to the said houses of Austria and Bourgondie, and that for the honour of [ C] Almightie God.

We Emperour Maximilian, as Archduke of Austria, by reason of the countries which are come vnto vs by the death of our said vnckle Sigismond, and for the appurtenances thereof, as Protector of our deere and welbeloued Charles Prince of Spaine, by reason of his countie of Bourgondie, with good and mature counsell, true knowledge, and full de∣liberation haue ordained the perpetuall vnion of king Lewis, and the following heredita∣rie vnions one with another, as followeth.

First, we the said parties, and in like manner all our heires and successors, subiects, and countriemen, and all they that shall descend of vs, may and ought for euer hereafter haue part in the said vnion, with true defences and promises, and all other things that may [ D] Assist them, by euerie of our Principalities, Earledomes, Seigneuries, Towns, Countries, and limits, and they shall haue right to buy, and to trust one another, without danger or preiudice of enterprises, and they shall be assured in their persons and goods, and they may also treat and deale in all places without any let, burthen, or innouation of any of our or∣dinances in any sort whatsoeuer, and without any fraud or preiudice.

In like manner, we the said Emperour, and Charles, ordaine, That none of our succes∣sours or subiects shall doe any thing in generall or particular against the general league, nor shall doe wrong to any of the consederats, whereby any warre may grow.

Also we of the common league of the Suisses ordaine, That we, and our successors, as well those that are ours at this present, or shall hereafter any way belong vnto vs, both [ E] men, townes, and castles, with all our subiects, shall not doe any wrong, nor commit any scandall whereby any warre may grow with the gratious Emperour, and the Archduke Charles, their heires, successors, and subiects, comprehended in this league, or others that shall be their adherents in generall or particular.

And to the end that this commendable conclusion and vnion betwixt vs the said par∣ties, and our successors, and subiects, may continue with greater intelligence, we haue de∣clared, That if it should happen within any short time, that We the Emperour in our countries comprehended in this vnion, and We Charles Archduke in our countie of Bourgondie, should be assaulted, or our heires and successours, That we the said Suisses shall haue a faithfull regard vnto the Emperour and to his, to the end they may not be [ F] vniustly molested.

And for a better peace and tranquilitie, we the said parties haue specially consented That We the Emperour Maximilian, and Charles the Archduke, with our countries and subiects comprehended in this perpetuall vnion, with all those that hereafter shall be

vnited and belong vnto them, shall not doe any thing that may breed warre, and we the [ A] said Suisses shall doe the like.

They that in generall or particular, at this present or hereafter, shall haue need of pro∣tection and defence, and which are, or shall be hereafter vnited, and belong vnto vs the Archduke of Austria, and to our principalities, townes, and jurisdictions comprehended in this league; or those which in the same forme, at this present, or hereafter, in generall or particular, are, or shall be, vnited, or belong to vs Suisses, and which shall haue any complaint, suit, action, or pretention, if the parties may with reason be reconciled, the plaintise may require his aduerse partie to come vnto reason, and to that end the defen∣dant shall present himselfe without any delay before the Bishops of Constance and [ B] Basil, present, and to come, vnlesse the lawes doe otherwise ordaine, and this businesse shall be ended within three moneths: after it is begun and if the partie doth not appeare nor obey, then their sentence shall be put in execution without any appeale, or request, vnlesse he doth make it appeare that he was hindered by some vrgent and necessarie let, or otherwise.

The controuersies for hereditarie fees, immoueable goods, violences, small debts, and such like, shalbe pleaded after the forme following: these fees shalbe pleaded before the lord of the fee, and according to the right of inheritance: and other causes shall be tried in those places where the goods are, and where the violence hath beene done, vnlesse that he which had done the violence had retired himselfe out of the said jurisdiction, and [ C] meant to flie, then euerie man may seeke further for justice against him that flies: other suits and controuersies shall be pleaded before the ordinarie Iudges of those places whereas the defenders dwell, and whatsoeuer shall be adiudged reasonable in the sayd causes, shall be obserued by all the parties without any delay, appeale, or request.

And to the end that hereafter euerie man may be preserued from violence, it hath beene concluded, That before they enter into law, according to the ordinance, that either partie shall giue securitie, that (loosing his cause) he shall make satisfaction of the damage.

The parties which shall plead, shall bind themselues by writing vnto the Iudges which shal be chosen to end the suit, not to conceiue any bad opinion: as it was concluded by the [ D] most Christian French king Lewis, in the perpetual Intelligence, and in the Hereditarie vnion made by our vnckle the Archduke Sigismond, where the eight Cantons of Zu∣rich, Berne, Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, Zugh, and Glaris, are compre∣hended.

But we the said townes of Basil, Fribourg, Schaffeusen, with the said eight Cantons of the said league, and also we the Abbot, with the Abbey and Towne of Saint Gal, and the Countrie of Appentzel, with other Townes, Castles, Countries, and places are of late come with the said twelue Cantons, and the countries adioyning, &c. as before.

And We the Emperour Maximilian, and Charles the Archduke &c. doe accept into this perpetuall vnion, as before, the said Cantons of Basil, Fribourg, Soleurre, and Schaf∣feusen, [ E] with the Abbey and Towne of S. Gal, like vnto the other aboue named Cantons.

And to the end that in the said place all discord may be taken away, it hath been con∣cluded, That of all sides, all dishonest words and deeds shall cease, and whosoeuer shall infringe it, shall be condemned according to the manner of his speech, without any fauour.

In like manner, euerie ten yeare, either of the parties shall cause this present vnion to be read, the better to vnderstand what must be obserued.

And also we the said parties haue reserued in this vnion the holie See, and the sacred Empire, with all others to whom we are bound. We haue also reserued, That the league, vnion, and intelligence, ciuile law, and right of parties, and this our hereditarie [ F] vnion, declaration, renewing, with all benefits, shall, both in generall and particular, by vs the said parties, and by our heires, successors, subiects, &c. be for euer hereafter inuio∣lably obserued without any fraud.

[ A] And hereupon, by speciall grace, we haue consented, We the Emperour for vs, and as Protector to Charles the Archduke, for the increase of loue, to giue yerely vnto euery one of the said Cantons of Suisses two hundred florins of the Rhin, to be paied in the towne of Zurich on the day of the holy crosse in May; and to the Abbot of S. Gal, and to the countrie of Appentzel, one hundred florins euery yeare to either of them, vntill that the said Archduke Charles shall enter into possession of his hereditarie Estates.

And We the Emperour will, that the said Charles being come to the age of maturitie, shall confirm•• this present vnion with an oath, &c.

In witnesse of these presents, sealed with the seale of vs the Emperour and the Arch∣duke [ B] Charles, and the heires and successors of vs two, we bind our selues inuiolably to ob∣serue all the articles and points of the league, and to that end we haue set our seales and sworne, &c.

Giuen at Buda in Hongarie the seuenth of Februarie 1517, of our Empire the fif∣teenth, and of our raigne of Hongarie the one and twentieth.

The three Cantons of the Grisons entred into league first with the seuen Cantons of [ XXXIII] Zurich, Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, Zugh, and Glaris, vpon the conditions aboue mentioned, and it was concluded in the yeare 1393. But afterwards there growing great controuersies betwixt the said Grisons and the countie of Tirol, in the yeare 1471, for their greater assurance they allied themselues againe with all the Cantons of the Suisses, [ C] with the French king, and some other princes: and these Cantons do enioy the valley of Voltolina in Italie.

The Grisons were in former time called Rhetiens and Canines: for Bello Nesus hauing past into Italie, with a great number of Gaules, about one hundred eightie seuen yeares before the comming of Christ, he ceased vpon a great part of Tuscanie and expelled the inhabitants, who vnder the conduct of Rhetus came to dwell in the steepe and craggie mountaines of the Alpes, where are the two springs of Rhin and Tesin, building certain castles for their aboad in the mountaines and valleis, and called the countrie by the name of their Leader. In time they multiplied, and extended their limits vnto the Lake of Con∣stance; and in Italie, they enioied Como, Verona, and Trent.

[ D] In the yeare of our Saluation 357, the Emperor Constantine before he would make war against the Germanes, led his armie into Rhetia, and staied in the plaine at the entring of the mountaines about a mile from the Rhin; and this part tooke the name of Curia, of that stay: and the armie being parted, they began to build a towne, called in their lan∣guage Chur, and by the Italians Coira. The Bishop of this towne with his colledge, vni∣ted themselues and made the first league for their defence against strangers, and this was in the yeare 1419: by their example the Abbot of Zizatis, the Earle of Mauan, and the Baron of Bezuns, made also league, and it is called Grise: and in the end all they that dwell in the valley of Segouia allied themselues, and were called the ten jurisdictions, but afterwards they were all three vnited, and made one bodie.

[ E] The Valaisiens entred into league with some of the Suisses in the yeare 1517. All this [ XXXIIII] countrie of the Valaisiens hath for their Prince and Lord both for spirituall and tempo∣rall, the Bishop of Sion, by a grant from Charlemaine, and confirmed by other Emperors vnto this day: and this bishop is chosen by the Chanoins of Sion, and by certaine depu∣ties of the seuen Communalties, to whom they do afterwards giue a Iudge for ciuile causes, who is called Captain; and euery two yere at Christmas, the Bishops deputies and the communalties chuse a new captaine. In the yeare 1528 the league was renewed by the Bishop, the Chapt••r, and the seuen communalties of Vallois, with Vry, Suitz, Vn∣deruald, Lucerne, Zurich, Fribourg, and Soleurre: and in the yere 1475 they had allied themselues with Berne.

[ F] Besides the thirteene Cantons of the Suisses, the Grisons, and the Valaisiens, there was [ XXXV] another league and perpetuall alliance made by the Abbot and towne of Saint Gal with the Cantons of Zurich, Lucerne, Suitz, and Glaris, in the yeare 1454, notwith∣standing that Saint Gal is a feudatarie to the Empire. This towne is not far from the Lake of Constance, and is aboue the said towne of Constance towards the Grisons in a rough

valley: the Abbots of that place obtained many great priuiledges from Emperours and [ A] Kings, whereby they enlarged their jurisdictions, so as they affected the name of Prin∣ces, and were more giuen to armes, than to a monasticke life, and they did often make warre against their neighbours, especially against Appentzel, seeking to make them pay vnreasonable charges; but they were often defeated during the space of seuen yeares: since which, they made this league with the Suisses.

Mulheuson is a countrie in Sauoy neere vnto the riuer, not far from Basil, and it be∣longs vnto the Empire, the which made a perpetuall league with all the Cantons of the Suisses in the yeare 1515.

Rotuuil is seated vpon the riuer of Necar in Suabe, it is a towne well fortified, the [ B] countrie is people with a warlike nation, which were the remainders of the Cimbrians defeated by the Romanes. This Rotuuil is an Emperial towne, the which being molested by Edward duke of Vittenbergh, was forced to make a league with the Suisses, the which was afterwards confirmed and sworne in the yeare 1519.

Bade stands vpon the riuer of Limante in Ergouia, vpon a plaine in the which there are an infinite number of hot bathes, both publike and priuat. There the confederat allies do celebrat their Diets: it was sometimes an Earledome, and came vnder the power of the Suisses, in the time of the Emperor Sigismond, and they ruined the castle.

There hath beene in our times certaine wars betwixt these two confederats, by reason of religion: but they were afterwards reconciled, as may be seene by these accords vnder [ C] written.

¶ The last peace made with them of Zurich, on Saint Octauians day, in the yeare 1531.

[ XXXVI] WE Captaines, Bannerals, Councellors of war and peace, and Communalties of the fiue Cantons of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, and Zugh of the one part, and we of Zurich, Berne, Basil, and Schaffeuse on the other, all things laid aside, are come to a true and brotherly peace together &c. This peace containes certaine articles of reli∣gion, and some that are priuat, &c. [ D]

First that the fiue Cantons shall remaine in the Romish religion, with their adherents,

That they of Zurich &c. shall continue Protestants.

That they shall not contemne one another, by reason of their beleefe.

That it shall be in force as the other leagues.

That they shall set at libertie all prisoners taken in this present war, paying reasonably.

That all controuersies, growing betwixt vs during this present war and before, shall be made void.

¶ The peace of Berne in the yeare 1537.

[ XXXVII] THis peace was concluded by the mediation of the French king, there being a war [ E] be∣twixt the said fiue Cantons and the rest, by reason of religion, for that they follo∣wed the Romish Church: where it was concluded that euery one should beleeue as he thought good: and first of all, that from the Protestants opinion they might turn Papists, or continue in the faith wherein they were.

Brengard, Maligier, and Frimon, and either of them reserues his friends & adherents.

They shall not contemne one another by reason of their bele••fe.

Both parties shall returne vnder the forme of the sworne leagues.

They of Berne shall pay vnto the fiue Cantons fiue thousand crowns of the Sunne, for the damages done to many churches. [ F]

The prisoners shall first pay their charges.

In regard of this present peace, all controuersies growing before shall be abolished, and neuer more called in question.

These are the treaties that were made among the people, where by the reader may be

[ A] in a manner fully instructed after what manner they are gouerned.

This people are diuided into nineteene members, whereof there is one entire bodie made, and these members are the thirteene Cantons, the Grisons, the Valaisiens, S. Gal, Mulhuson, and Rotuuil. Whereupon we must obserue, that all Common weales whereof there is any memorie, haue held three courses to enlarge their estates.

The first was that which the Spartains and Atheniens did obserue, who after they had conquered any cities, made them presently subiect, but being not able to vndergo so great [] a burthen, they ruined them: for it is hard to hold places subiect, by force, which haue been accustomed to be free; and this course is more vnprofitable than any other.

[ B] The other meanes was held before that the Roman Empire grew great, by the Tus∣cans, who had twelue townes, among the which were Fiezoli, Arezzo, and Volterra; and there was a league of many Common-weales, among the which there was no diffe∣rence of authoritie, but they made those places which they conquered companions of their power.

The third course was held by the Romans, who did associat vnto them many Com∣mon-weales, which did liue vnder the same law, yet the Romans reserued vnto them∣selues the sole authoritie of commaund. This manner was held the best, as doth appeare by the effects. After this, we may put that of the Tuscans with the which they held the Empire of Tuscaine, and a great part of Lumbardie, and did continue long free, and in [ C] peace, vntill that a greater power supprest theirs.

Their manner is obserued at this day by the Suisses, and their confederats, who make all one Common-weale diuided into many, amongst the which there is no distinction of degrees, hauing expelled all their lords who had any jurisdiction in their estate, and there is not amongst them any other superiors, but such as are magistrats; all the rest are equall, notwithstanding that there are some which are much esteemed among the rest for their wisedome and judgement, and among them, they do also much esteeme gent••ie, as they do at Argentine, whereas no man may be admitted to be a magistrat, or to haue any dignitie in the towne, if he doe not proue himselfe a gentleman by fource descents.

But to speake something more than hath beene said of their gouernement, you shall [ D] vnderstand, That they doe chuse out of euerie companie an equall number of persons, when there is question to go to any publike Councell.

There are two publike Councels in the towne of Zurich, and Basil, which are of great [ XXXIX] authoritie, that is to say, the Great Councell, when as many assemble in the name of all the people; and these doe not meet but for the most important and weightie ••ffaires of the Common-weale: and the Lesser, which gouernes the Common-weale daily, and takes knowledge of the controuersies of the Citizens. At Zurich the Great Councell consists of two hundred, and at Basil of two hundred fortie foure: The Lesser Councell of Zurich is of fiftie men; and that of Basil of sixtie foure, for they put twelue of euerie Companie to the Great Councell: but at Zurich they chuse eighteene from among the [ E] Nobles. They of Zurich giue three men out of euerie Tribe for the Lesser Councel, and they of Basil foure. They add thereunto two Consulls, which are chiefe of the publike Councell in euerie towne. Moreouer, they haue at Basil two Tribunes, whom they call Heads with the Consulls. Besides, at Zurich, the Companie of Gentlemen sends six men to the Pettie Councell, whereas the other Companie send but three, and the other six are chosen out of what Companie or Tribe it pleaieth the Magistrat. The Pettie Councell is diuided into old and new.

They call them the old Senat, which haue left their office for the space of halfe a yere: notwithstanding that these assemble when as they hold a Councell, yet are they not al∣waies called, and there are some things done onely by the new Senat. At Basil, the [ F] great Councell is diuided after the same manner, and the pettie Councell assembles commonly thrice, or foure times a weeke. Euerie Senat hath for head a Consull, whom they call Bourgmaister, that is to say, Maister of the Citizens, who is chosen by the great Councell. They that haue greatest authoritie next vnto the Consulls, are the Tribuns, wh•••• they of Zurich call Oberistemeister, and they of Basil Zunff••emeister. There are

three at Zurich, and two at Basil. And thus much touching the gouernement of these [ A] two townes.

[ XL] Let vs returne now to the generall gouernement. The Suisses Common-weale inge∣nerall, is mixt of an Aristocraticall and Popular gouernement, for that among all these people, whereon the whole Common-weale of the Suisses is compounded, there are some whose gouernement belongs meerely to a Democratie, where in a manner all things are done by the peoples Suffrages, as in those Cantons which haue no townes, that is, Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, Glaris, and Appentzel: and Zugh also, although it be a towne. The rest are gouerned by Magistrats or chiefe men, as the townes of Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, Basil, Fribourg, Soleurre, and Schaffouze: but for that the soueraigntie [ B] belongs vnto the people, who chuse these head Magistrats, these Commonweales con∣sist of two sorts of gouernement, whereof some are more Aristocraticall, and some more Democraticall or popular. All these Cantons liue in forme of a Common weale, for that altogether make one bodie, and being diuided they are members; yet euerie Canton hath a head taken out of the chiefe Towne or Borough: For euerie one makes his pri∣uat assemblie, but when they treat of any thing of great importance, they hold a gene∣rall Diet in one of the townes appointed by them, to the which two or three of the chiefe men of euerie Canton comes. In their consultations they agree well, neither hath one towne more authoritie than another. If it happen that warre be made for all the Can∣tons, euerie one paies his part for the charges of this warre, and that which is conquered [ C] is common to them all. But if two or three Cantons get any thing by armes, the con∣quest doth not belong to the rest, but to them onely that haue made it. And although it hath seemed in some actions that they should participat, yet could they not doe it, for that the French king did adiudge (being required by them in the like difficultie) that a priuat conquest did belong to priuat men. And for this cause when as a Canton would make a priuat warre, they leuie men in their owne jurisdiction. But if they be to raise an armie (as for example the French king) of twentie fiue thousand foot, they strike vp the drum, and all the Cantons send what men they will, and then the Captaines chusing 25000 out, or 35000, or 40000, they send backe the rest to their houses: and euerie Canton hath his Standard. [ D]

This Common-weale of the Suisses, hath no common Magistrats, vnlesse we shall put in this number, the Bailises and Gouernours which are sent forth here and there, not by the Councel of the Common-weale, but by euery Canton in particular. Their gene∣rall Assemblie or Councell is not alwaies equall in number, for that sometimes besides the Cantons, their other allies and confederates, especially the Embassadours of Saint Gal and Mulhouse, of the Grisons, & Valaisiens assemble; and then it is called the grea∣test Councell, the which is not often held, but when as they treat of peace or war, or of other affaires which belong equally to all the confederates. And most commonly there are none but the Embassadours of the thirteene Cantons which meet for the affaires of the Common weale (as hath bin said) euery one hauing a deliberatiue voice: and two or [ E] more Embassadours being sent from one Canton, they haue but one voice, for that their voices are gathered according to the Cantons, and not according to the number of Em∣bassadors and Deputies. Yet all the Cantons do not alwaies send their Embassadours to all assemblies; as when there is question of bailiwickes, gouerned by the seuen or eight first Cantons, or of other things which depend thereon; then onely seuen or eight Em∣bassadors meet, which giue their voices. But touching the bailiwickes of Italie, belon∣ging to the twelue first Cantons, their twelue Embassadours assemble. There are at this time particular assemblies, by reason of the difference of religion; so as the fiue Can∣tons of Lucerne, Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, and Zugh, which hold the Romish religion, as∣semble oftener than the other Cantons, and haue as it were a Councell a part: and for [ F] this cause when they speake of the fiue pettie Cantons, they meane the abouenamed, and not the fiue first in league: as in their generall Councell of all the Cantons they take knowledge of lawes and customes; yet euery Canton hath his particular lawes and cu∣stomes, the which remaine firme and inuiolable. If they send any Embassadours out of

[ A] the countrie to compound any controuersies, to contract a league, to congratulat any prince, or to persuade or dissuade any thing, to demaund any thing, or to denounce war, or if within the countrie they are to negotiat with any Canton or Towne; the coun∣cell determines what is to be done, whether it be sit to send Embassadours from all the Cantons, or from some of them. Whenas they are to contract any league or alliance, all the Cantons send Embassadors, but in many other affaires they name foure or fiue Can∣tons which send Embassadors in the name of all the rest. This Councell resolues of the answeres which they are to make to the Embassadors of Kings, Princes, and Common-weales: they haue charge to prouide for the Prouinces belonging to the Cantons, that [ B] they may be duely gouerned: if there be any difficult suit in any of the Cantons, it is re∣ferred to the Councell; but if the councell of the Bailife seeme vniust to either partie, he may appeale to the Councell of Suisserland. The Gouernors and Bailises are bound to giue an account vnto the Councell, of the tolles, reuenues, and fines. The annuall reuenues of Bailiwickes are distributed by equal portions among the Cantons to whom the bailiwickes do belong. To conclude, the councell takes knowledge of all that con∣cemes the gouernment of the Prouinces belonging to the Cantons; they cause gouer∣nors to giue vp their accounts; they giue audience to any that will accuse them, and pu∣nish them if they haue deserued, or depriuing them, they send vnto the Canton which had giuen them the charge, to appoint others. The Canton of Zurich (which is the first in [ C] ranke) hath power at all times to assemble the Councel, & to demand aduice of it: at this day their custome is to hold their general Councel at Bade, but they are not tied vnto it by any law or decree. The Catholicke Cantons assemble often at Lucerne, sometimes at Beckenried in the territorie of Vry, or ••t Brumen, which belongs to them of Zuits. Euery yeare about the middest of Iune, they hold their generall Councell at Bade, whereas the Bailife and Gouernours of Prouinces giue an account of their charges be∣fore the Councell, and they also attend to end the suits of Prouinces: and at the same time the Embassadors of the twelue first Cantons meete at Lugano, and make the foure Bailifes of the Prouinces of Italie giue an account: then they judge of causes of ap∣peale, so as they may appeale from them to the Councell of Bade. The Councell or Par∣liament [ D] assemble, either by an order from the Cantons, or to finish that which was left vndone at the precedent Diet; for causes of importance are not alwaies ended at the first assemblie, either for that they do not seeme vnto the Senators and Councellors to be of merit, or for that they haue not full power: wherefore by a common consent they ap∣point another day; and in the meane time the Embassadors demand aduice of the Seig∣neurs of their Canton, to know how they shall gouerne themselues. And sometimes for a matter of consequence which doth sodenly happen, the Canton of Zurich, or some other, will appoint a Diet, if it be any matter which concernes the whole Common-weale.

The day before that a Councell or Parliament is appointed to be held, the Embassa∣dor [ E] of the Canton of Zurich sends the Lieutenant of Bade into all the Innes to know what Embassadors are come: and this Lieutenant salutes them, and receiues them hono∣rably in the name of the whole Commonweale, and the next day he calls them to come vnto the Towne-house. If the Embassadors of all the Cantons become, they are called, and they treat of matters concerning all the Cantons in generall. But if at the day ap∣pointed they of the new Cantons, as of Basil, Schaffuse, Soleurre, or of Fribourg be, not yet arriued, as it doth often happen, seuen or eight of the first Cantons assemble, and treat onely of that which concernes themselues. The Embassadors being all set in coun∣cell according to the order and number of the Cantons, he of Zurich hath the first place, [ F] who salutes all the rest: then hauing made a short speech and excuse, according to their custome, he declares what the Embassadours had in charge at the last Diet to consult of at their next meeting, the which is most commonly called to that end; and if there be any thing happened since, he doth also propound it: after which he adds what his Mai∣sters had giuen him in charge to say touching the point which was then in question. The other Embassadors do the like in their rankes, and deliuer what their superiors had com∣manded

them to say. All the Embassadors hauing deliuered their Commissions, and [ A] what they had in charge to say, the Gouernour or Bailise of Bade, of what Canton soe∣uer he be, demaunds the aduice of euerie Councellor in order, touching that which hath beene propounded; first of that of Zurich, and then of the rest in their rankes: hauing all spoken, the Bailise reckons their voices according to the number of the Cantons, and not by Councellors, for that one Canton doth sometimes send two Embassadors, who may assist in Councel, and giue their opinions, but they haue but one voice, as hath been formerly said.

They obserue the like order in priuat causes, but they that haue any causes to plead at such Diets, first demaund audience of the Embassador of Zurich, who appoints them [ B] a day, and enters their names into the Roll, and they appeare before the Councell, where they either plead their causes themselues, or by their Aduocats, whom they b••ing with them, not according vnto the ciuile law, or by the opinion of Lawiers, but with equitie, and according to the lawes and customes of the people: but the Iudges and Officers of euery Canton judge of all controuersies betwixt the subiects.

Moreouer there are Iudges of publike suits, which are controuersies which happen betwixt two or many Cantons, or of certaine priuat men against one Canton, wherein the confederats are of the same condition with the Cantons: for the decision of which controuersies, either of the parties doth chuse two Iudges, who absolued of the oath which they owe vnto their Canton, promise to judge according vnto right and equitie. [ C] The Cantons haue seuerall places of meeting, whether they send their Embassadors and Arbitrators to decide their controuersies: when the voices of these Iudges are equall, they chuse a fift Iudge or Arbitrator, whom they call Ein Obmann; this Iudge giues no sentence, but doth only approue one of those which the Arbritrators haue pronounced.

To speake something more particularly of the Common-weales of the thirteene Can∣tons, they may be referred vnto three formes; for as there are three names of soueraigne Magistrates among the Cantons, they haue also so many formes of Common-weales, not onely differing in name, but also in matter and substance. In some of the Cantons the chief of the Councel are called Amans, as at Vry, Suitz, Vnderuald, Zugh, Glaris, & Ap∣pentzel, wheras the soueraigntie belongs to the people. The Common weales of Berne [ D] Lucerne, Fribourg, and Saleurre are gouerned by a forme of Aristocratie: but the towns built by certaine princes, or that haue beene subiect vnto them, are gouerned by the Auoyer, whom they call Schulthesz, who is the chiefe of the Councell; the other towns of the Cantons are diuided by certaine companies, out of which, by their owne election, are chosen the Lords of the Councel, and the soueraign•• Magistrat & head of this Coun∣cell is by them called Bourgmaister; and after this manner the Common-weales of Zu∣rich, Basil, and Schaffouse are gouerned, whereas they haue (as I haue said before) two publike Councells, which haue the principall authoritie, and in euery one of these townes there are two Consulls or Bourgmaisters who be the heads and Presidents of these Councells. [ E]

But omitting the maner of the election of these Councellors and Consulls, for broui∣ties sake, and of many other inferior offices, and courts of justice in the said townes: you shall vnderstand, That in these Common weales, bastards are depriued of all honours and dignities, neither is it lawfull for them to come to Councell, nor vnto their Courts of justice. He that hath not beene a dweller ten yeares within the towne of Zurich, cannot be chosen of the publike Councell. They that are borne out of Suisserland, cannot be of the pettie Councell at Schaffouse: but if they haue been Bourgeffes twentie yeare, they may be admitted into the Great Councell, and into the number of the Iudges. Their publike estates and offices are of diuers sorts, in these Common-weales, and more in num∣ber according as the townes are peopled. The highest degree next vnto the [ F] Bourgmai∣sters and heads of Companies, are the Purse-bearers, and Treasures, hauing charge of the publike treasure.

The other Cantons, and Common-weales, are gouerned in like manner, by two se∣uerall Councells, but their electors are diuers, and the heads of their Councells haue di∣uers

[ A] names, for in some they are called Auoyers, and in others Ammans.

The Abbot, and Abbey of S. Gal, holds the first place among the consederats of the thirteene Cantons: The Abbots of S. Gal, haue great reu••nues, and are princes of the empire: They are lords of the countrie of Turgouu, and Wile, where they haue a great territorie wel peopled, the which is diuided into certaine Chastelenies, and Prouostships, whither the Abbot doth send his Prouost: He hath also his Ammans, and other officers, with two seuerall Councells, so as the forme of gouernement of Saint Gal differs little from that of the Cantons.

As for the Grisons, they gouerne themselues popularly in their seueral leagues, which [ B] be three, in euerie of which, they doe yearely chuse a soueraigne magistrat whom many doe call Amman, who, with the assessors, doth execute justice: There is a great Prouost of all the first league, which is called Grise, he is chosen in the generall assemblie of all the Communalties, and is President at the meetings and judgements of all the league. The assemblies of this league, are held in the village of Trumb. The second league is called of the house of God, or of Cade: the towne of Coire is the chiefe of this league and Communaltie, the which hath a Common-weale a part, in a manner like to that of Zu∣rich, and others, gouerned after the same manner. Euerie Communaltie (whereof there be eleuen) hath his Ammans, Podestats, and Ministraux (as they call them) with their laws and customes, vnder the which they maintaine themselues in libertie. The third [ C] league is called the Ten jurisdictions. Taffaas is the first of the ten Communalties, wher∣of eight doe acknowledge the Archduke of Austria for soueraigne, who appoints a go∣uernour there, yet he is chosen from among the Grisons vnto this day: this gouernour is President in criminall causes, and doth mannage and maintaine the Archdukes rights; yet euerie jurisdiction hath his particular priuiledges and customes. The ten jurisdicti∣ons allied themselues together, in the yeare 1436, vpon condition that they should assist and aid one another in all things that were iust and reasonable against their enemies, with other conditions: The yeare following, they made a perpetuall alliance with the other two leagues; and so the three leagues were vnited as it were into one bodie. So there are three leagues of the Grisons which haue fiftie Communalties, and make but [ D] one Common-weale.

The Councell of the leagues, is called the assemblies of the Embassadours of euerie Communaltie of the Grisons; whither some Communalties send two Embassadors, and others but one. If the Councell be ordinarie, the Grise league sends eight and twentie Embassadors or Councellors; that of Cade three & twentie; and that of the jurisdictions fourteene. The Councell generall of the whole nation doth sometimes assemble, but it is seldome. The Councell of the Grisons is almost like vnto that of the Suisses.

The countrie of Valais is diuided into high and low: High Valais hath seuen Iurisdi∣ctions or Communalties, which haue thirtie parishes: Base Valais hath six Communal∣ties, and foure and twentie Parishes: The higher commaunds the lower, and sends them [ E] gouernours to judge of causes, and to mannage affaires of State. The Bishop of Syon, called Earle and Gouernour of Valais, is (as I haue formerly noted) Prince of the coun∣trie; he is chosen by suffrages of the Chapter of Syon, and of the seuen Communalties of high Valais: The next dignitie vnto the Bishop, is the Captaine or Baylife of the the whole countrie, whose charge continues two yeres, and he doth judge of ciuile cau∣ses; he is chosen by the Bishop, and the Embassadours of the Communalties. Euerie Communaltie hath his magistrat, which some call Maior, other Chastelain: He doth judge of all suits, yea and of crimes, with some Councellors of the Communaltie: They haue Ammans also, which are soueraigne Magistrats in certaine Cantons of the Suisses; but they of Valais are inferiour Iudges to the Maiors.

[ F] There are other Common-weales and people gouerned in common by the Cantons of Suisses, whose chiefe officers are chosen by the generall Councell at Bade, or by those Cantons to whom they doe particularly belong, and their gouernement is like vnto that of the Suisses.

¶ The Religion. [ A]

[ XLI] OF the thirteene Cantons there are some which are wholly Catholickes, others are mixt, and some are altogether Protestants. The Catholickes are Suitz, Vry, Vnder∣uald, Lucerne, and Zugh, which ioyne one vnto another; Fribourg, and Soleurre, are di∣uided from the fiue, and among themselues, for Soleurre is for the most part Catholicke, and Fribourg Protestant, and so are Zurich, Berne, Basil, and Schaffuse; the mixt are Gla∣ris, and Appentzel: these two being betwixt the Catholicke and Protestant Cantons, participat of both their qualities. It is true that the chiefe of Appentzel, and the greatest [ B] part of the people are Catholickes. The first Canton which receiued the Protestants re∣ligion, was that of Zurich: they say it grew by reason of a certaine discontentment, for want of pay, which the inhabitants pretended to be due vnto them, from Pope Iulius the second: Whereunto they were incited by Zuinglius, so as in the yeare of our Lord 1526, they did abolish the Masse throughout all the countrie, and did bring in the Com∣munion. And this profession of the Gospel extended it selfe to the Cantons of Fribourg and Basil, so as on the six and twentieth of Ianuarie, in the yeare of our Redemption 1528 at Berne, after a long disputation before the Senat, they ouerthrew their Images, and rooted out the Masse.

As for the Grisons, they of the league called Grise, are for the most part Catholickes, [ C] and the rest in a manner all Protestants, which follow Zuinglius doctrine: yet they say the Romish seruice at Chur, and at Fustemberg, whereas the Bishop is bound to re∣maine halfe the yeare, and at Roffun, a fee belonging to the Archdukes of Austria. In the valley of Agnadine, and in the Pregalia, which belongs vnto the league of the House of God, and in many places of the eight countries, there are villages wherea•• there hath not been any Masse said for many yeres. Posclaue, a place of the league of the House of God, is diuided into Protestants and Papists; but the one haue a minister continually, whereas the Papist haue had no Priest for some yeares. It is lawfull for euerie one among the Grisons to liue as he shall thinke good, and to follow what religion he please, yet [ D] many times the Protestants insult ouer the Papists, for, notwithstanding that they are serued by Ministers of any nation, yet will they not suffer the Papist to haue any Priest that are strangers, and they of the countrie, that do their duties, are subiect to outrages.