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 Religion.

[ LIIII] GEermanie is much diuided touching matters of religion: some are Papists, some [ C] Lutherans, and others Caluinists. About the yeare 1517, Pope Leo the tenth hauing sent forth his pardons and indulgences to heape vp treasure; Luther hauing been an Au∣gustine Fryat began to exclaime against the dissolution and excesse which raigned in the Clergie, saying that the reuenues of the Church were imployed in pompe, vanities, and matters of worse practise: and withall, he did write sundrie bookes both against the Masse, and the superstitions of the Church of Rome, and also against the disordered life of the Pope, and his Clergie, so as in a short time his doctrine was imbraced and follo∣w••d by diuers princes and free townes of Germanie. In the end the Emperor Charles ••he fist was forced vnder pretext of keeping the publicke peace, to signe a decree, & to al∣low [ D] of the free exercise of the confession of Ausbourg throughout all Germanie, vntil that by a general Councell, or by some other means, they might settle some order touch∣ing matters of religion; and in the yeare 1552 in a diet held at Posse, all Protestants were forbidden to molest the Catholickes, and especially priests in the exercise of their religi∣on: and in the yeare 1555, in a diet at Ausbourg, they gaue libertie to all the Princes and Estates of the Empire to follow the Popish religion, or the opinion of Luther, and to passe from the one vnto the other, with a condition that a secular prince should not by this change loose his Estate, nor receiue any blemish in his reputation, but the eccle∣siasticall should loose his dignitie, and they to whom it did belong should presently chuse another which was a Catholike. [ E]

But let vs see in what Estate Germanie stands at this day touching Religion. It seemes in our time that the Protestants religion is much aduanced, and very strong, for that the princes that be Caluinists and Lutherans get the possession of Bishoprickes and Abbeys, and leaue them as a part of their inheritance to their successors, seeking to plant their opinion wheresoeuer they haue power and authoritie: yet in most townes there are some churches and markes of Popish religion, as at Minde (although they be all in a manner Protestants) there are Catholicke Chanoins, and in the great Church they sing Masse. At V••me, Strausbourg, Nubourg, and in the Estates of Brandebourg, Saxonie, and Brunswicke, there are many religious houses of Nunnes; yet in some places they are forbidden to admit any new, the which sometimes they cannot do for want of a Popish [ F] Bishop, or of some one which hath that charge

To returne to the purpose, they of the Palati••ar of Rhin, haue been diuers times for∣••••d to change their opinions, as it hath pleased their Earle. Augustus duke of Saxonie was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and protector of the profession of Luther, & Christierne his sonne after his fathers

〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••rought Caluinisme into Saxonie, who being dead, duke Fredericke expelled it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and restored Luthers doctrine.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the princes of Germanie follow the profession of Caluin or Luther. They that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Luther are the Marquis of Brandebourg, the Dukes of Saxonie, Brunswicke, and ••••••berg, the Earles of Mans••eld, and the free townes which confine with the ••e•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Caluin is followed by the Counts Palatins of Rhin, by them of Strasburg, ••••most of the sea townes.

••peak•• generally, the nobilitie is more fallen from the Romish religion than any 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the rich than the poore, and the townes more than the villages, and yet the free 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are more earnest than the villages. And it is a thing worthie obseruation, that of ••••••ly free townes which are in Germanie, there came vnto a diet (which was held of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yeares for the Catholickes) but three small townes of Suabe, that is Camonde, ••••••heelspille, and Vberlinque, whereas the princes of Austria, the dukes of Bauaria, ••leues (who is now extinct) with Philip of Bade, and the Lantgra••e of Leutem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue constantly continued in the Romish profession, and there hath returned vnto ••••••in Count Vlric of Elprestein, with Iames Marquis of Bade, and some others: To con∣••••••••e, all the free cities are fallen from the Church of Rome, except those three which ••••••haue named: yet there are some Catholicks at Neurembourg, Franckford, V••me, ••••x la Chapelle, and in some other places.

But to shew in what estate the Romish religion now stands in Germanie, you must [ LV] ••••••ue the Cathedrall Churches, for that the authoritie of Bishops and Chapters hath ••••••e most part maintayned their religion. Germanie hath seuen Metropolitans, which ••••••agdebourg, Treues, Mentz, Cologne, Saltzbourg, Bezançon, and Prague. The ••••••••hop of Magdebourg, with the Churches of Masbourg, Masberg, Nanbourg, ••••••ourg, Brandebourg, Lubech, Seuerine, Sebourg, Celuth, and Racenbourg (to ••••••h that of Misnia, which was exempt, hath beene added) is not onely fallen from ••••••ish religion, but is also vnder the power of Lutheran Princes, who dispose as ••••••wne inheritance.

••••••hbishopricke of Treues is the freest of all Germanie, for that not onely with∣•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but throughout all the diocesse they doe not allow of any but the Romish 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the reason for the most part is, for that this towne had neuer any Bishop ••••••as a Catholicke, and most commonly verie zealous.

••••e Archbishop of Cologne hath with great difficultie maintayned the Romish reli∣•••••••• and would neuer admit the exercise of any other profession. In the yeare 1543, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hauing discouered that the Archbishop Herman had an intent to bring the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 religion into the towne, and into his whole diocesse, hauing to that end caused 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to come from Lipsic, and Martin Bucer; the Senat and Chapter oppo∣••••••selues, and wrought so, as in the yere 1549, Herm••n was deposed by the Popes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Adolfe chosen in his place ▪ yet could he not preuent it, but that some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whereof this Archbishopricke hath seuenteene) haue receiued the Gospell, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 place vnder this Archbishopricke the Churches of Liege, Munster, Osnobourg, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

As for Liege, the Romish religion hath continued to this day, and in like manner ••••••••••ghout all the diocesse, which is verie great.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath beene much afflicted with Anabaptists, but these being extinct, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath returned to her former estate.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church of Osnobourg hath beene greatly molested: for Luthers opinion began 〈◊〉〈◊〉 footing there in the yeare of our Lord 1521. And although tharten yeares after ••••••••••ters were expelled, yet they were receiued againe, and supported by the 〈…〉〈…〉 and Bishops. Since the yeare 1574, vnto the yeare 1586, Henrie of Saxonie vsur∣•••••• of this Church, and that of Breme.

••s for Minde, there is no markes of the Romish religion, but a part of the Chapter, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••elebration of the Masse.

Touching the Archbishopricke of Mentz, the Protestants are dispersed throughout

〈…〉〈…〉 part of the diocesse, yea in the great towne of E••ford; whereas both the gentle∣•••••• [ A] of Archbishop seeke to free themselues from Councellors that are Lutherans: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Iesuits, who haue care of the v••iuersalitie, assist them much. They haue in ••••e diocesse two others Colledges, one at Cons••ans, and another at Helegenstad. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the frontiers of Italie, Neere to Helegenstad is a place called Molius, where of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yeares the Luther•••••• haue published a kind of prayer against the Turke, the Pope, ••nd the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Although they be in a manner all Lutherans in the towne of Erford, 〈…〉〈…〉 maintained it with some others, and the Senat (which is opposit 〈…〉〈…〉 made a proclamation, that no man should presume to molest the Ca∣•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 during their preaching or diuine seruice, and by the Emperours commaunde∣•••••• [ B] the ••••••••••rans haue bee•••• forced to restore a Church which they had taken from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Catholicks. The Church of Strasbourg is of great reputation in Germanie, for that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Cha••oins must be of noble families: but they are in a manner all Caluinists. ••••••berg ••••••ided in to two parts, as well as the diocesse, where there are a good num∣•••••• of Catholickes.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spi••e, the Lutherans doe farre exceed the Papists. The Chanoins of the Ca∣•••••••••• Church being desirous to preserue that little which remaines, haue instituted a •••••• Semi•••••••• of twelue young men, by whose meanes, and of the Colledge of Iesuits, they hope to fortifie their partie.

The inhabitants of Wormes withdrew themselues first from their Bishop, touching [ C] the ••emporall ••••risdiction and afterwards for the spirituall; and the profession of Luther ••••yerie free among them, yet the Clergie are for the most part Catholickes. They of H••••bi••o••••••ane in a manner all Papists, by reason of the great care which their Bishops 〈…〉〈…〉 expell all other opinions. In the diocesse of Ausbourg they are for the most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••therans, for that there are commonly in the Citie fifteene Ministers which 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But there are two things which support the Romish religion; the one is, the ••••••••cie of the Senat in that opinion; the other is a Colledge of Iesuits which the ••••••••es haue built there. Moreouer, there are more Papists than others at Ginsbourg, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Almangauie, and diuers Conuents of religious women. As for Hyestad, 〈…〉〈…〉 haue no publ•••••• exercise of their religion. In the diocesse of Hildesie [ D] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are many Lutherans, but the Clergie of the Cathedrall Church haue alwaies maintay••ed themselues.

Comming to the Archbishopricke of Saltzbourg, it is most certaine that this towne hath in a maner•• one but P••pi••ts. But at Rati••bona, which is subiect vnto it, they make p••••••••que pro••ession of L••thers doctrine, and there are few Papists, except the Clergie, who 〈…〉〈…〉 fauour of the duke of Bauaria.

Bohemia 〈…〉〈…〉 part follows the opinion of Iohn Husse, who was burnt at the Councel of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Ier••••e of Prague, in the yere 1417, contrarie to the pasport and warrant which was giuen the•• by the Emperour Sigismond: but some write, that th•••• countrie is much infected with Anabaptists and Pica••ds, and so are the countries of [ E] M••••a••i•• and Silesia: the late•• tooke the beginning and name from one called Picard, who brought the heresi•• of the Adamits out of Flaunders into the countrie of Bo∣hemia.

As for Austria, in the towne of Vienne, they are for the most part Papists: at the le•••••• wise the Ministers doe not preach publiquely. And to conclude, in all the prouin∣ce•• and townes of Germanie, they are diuided touching religion. The countrie of Ty∣ro•• which is subiect to the house of A••stria, is most deuoted to the Romish religion. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is for the countrie of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they are all Papists. [ F]