Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

13. The KINGDOM of BOHEMIA.

The Kingdom of BOHEMIA, containing Bohemia it self with the incorporate Provinces, is boun∣ded on the East with Poland and Hungarie; on the West with the Vpper Palatinate, Voiteland, and Mis∣nia; on the North with the Marquisate of Brandenberg, and some part of Misnia; and on the South with Austria and Bavaria. It comprehends in it besides Bohemia it self, the Marquisate of Moravia, with the Dukedoms of Silesia and Lusatia.

1 BOHEMIA, encompassed about with woodie Mountains, part of the Hercynian, is bounded on the East with Moravia, on the West with the Vpper Palatinate, and Voiteland; on the North with Misnia, Lusatia, and some part of Silesia; on the South with parts of Bavaria and Austria. It took this name from the Bemi, or Boiemi, the old Inhabitants hereof, of whom more anon: and containing in com∣passe about 550 English miles.

The soil is indifferently fruitfull, and enriched with mines of all sorts, except of gold. Tinne they have here in good plenty, the mines whereof were first found out by a Cornish man, banished out of England, anno 1240. which discovery of Tinne in these parts, was, as saith my Author, in magnam ja∣cturam Richardi Comitis Cornubiae, (he meaneth that Richard which was afterwards King of the Romans:) and no marvail, for in those times there was no Tinne in all Europe, but in England. Wood they have here good store; and in some of their Forrests a Beast called Lomie, which hath hanging under its neck a bladder full of scalding water; with which, when she is hunted, she so tortureth the Dogs, that she easily escapeth them. Of corn they have sufficient for their own use, and sometimes also an increase above their spending, wherewith they do supply their neighbours of the Vpper Palatinate:

but they want wine, the Air here being too sharp and piercing to produce a good Vintage. And it yeelds also store of Saffron no where to be bettered; with plenty of medicinable drugs.

The principall Rivers hereof, are 1 the Elb, or Albis, having here its spring; of whose course we have spoken elsewhere, 2 Egra, 3 the Muldaw or Muldavius, and 4 the Warts; all three exonerating themselves into the Elb, which runneth through the midst of the Country.

The Kingdome is not (as others) divided into Counties and Provinces; but into the Territories and possessions of severall Lords; who have great authority and command over their Vassalls. The figure of the whole in a manner, Circular, the Diameter whereof reacheth every way some 200 miles: containing in that compasse 700 Cities, walled Townes and Castles; and (as some say) 30000 Villages. Inhabited by a people given to drink and gluttony; and yet valiant, and with sense of honour: this last belonging to the Nobility and Gentry; the former to the common people; but more moderately then most others of the German Nations. All of them, Princes or Plebeians, rich, poor, noble and base, use the Sclavonian language, as their mother tongue.

The chief Bohemian Captain that ever I read of, was Zisca; who in eleven battels fought in the defence of the Hussites, against the Pope and his confederates; prevailed and went away victorious: insomuch, that at his death he willed the Bohemians to flea him, and make a drumme of his skin; per∣swading himself, if they so did, they could never be overcome. A fancie like to that of Scipio African, and Vortimer, King of Britain, spoken of before. Scholars of most note, John of Hus, and Hierome of Prague, two eminent Divines, of whom more anon.

The Christian faith was first here preached by one Borsinous, anno 900, or thereabouts: Borzivoius, the 8 Duke from Crocus was the first Christian Prince; and next to him Wenceslaus the second. This last most cruelly murdered by Boleslaus, his brother, at the instigation of Drahomira, an obstinate Heathen, mother to them both: who having caused the Ministers of the Lord to be butchered, and their bodies to lie unburied for two years together, was swallowed, coach and all, in that very place where their bodies lay. Confirmed by this prodigy, they continued constant in the Faith to this very day; though not without the intermixture of some notable vanity. For one Picardus coming out of the Low-countries, drew a great sort of men and women unto him, pretending to bring them to the same state of perfection, that Adam was in before his fall; from whence they were called Picards, and Adamites. They had no respect unto marriage; yet could they not accompany any woman, untill the man coming to Adam, said unto him; Father Adam, I am inflamed towards this woman: and Adam made answer, Increase and multiply. They lived in an Island which they called Pa∣radise, and went stark naked; but they continued not long: for Zisca hearing of them, entred their fooles Paradise, and put them all to the sword, anno 1416. But to make amends for this folly, they were exceeding zealous of the Reformation. For much about the same time the works of Wickliffe were brought into Bohemia, by a certain scholar who had been Student in the University of Oxford; which hapning into the hands of John Husse, and Hierome of Prague, two men whereof the Country may worthily boast, wrought in their hearts a desire to reforme the Church: A businesse which they prosecuted so earnestly, that being summoned to the Councell of Constance, they were there con∣demned for Hereticks, and burned, anno 1414. yet had their doctrine such deep root in the hearts of the people, that it could never be destroyed by the Tyrannies of war or persecutions (though both were used) to this very day, (multitudes of the Professours of it living in this Kingdome under the names of Calistini, and Sub utraque, as before is said) though perfected by the writings of Luther, Me∣lanchthon, Calvin, and such other of the Protestant Doctors as travelled in the work of Refor∣mation.

The first Inhabitants hereof, of whom there is any good record, were the Benni, whom Pomponius Mela placeth in this tract, with the addition of Gens Magna: By Tacitus they are called Boiemi, who makes them the descendents of those Boii (a Gallick nation) who, to avoid the servitude which they feared from Rome, put themselves into these Hercynian deserts; which from them was called Bolohemum, and by which name it occurs in Velleius Paterculus. And though the Marcomanni first, and the Sclaves and Croatians afterwards became masters of it; these last continuing their possession to this very day: yet it retaineth still the name of Bohemia, amongst the Latines; as that of Bohemerland amongst the Dutch.

Places of most importance in it, are 1 Budweis, (conceived to be the Marobodurum of Ptolemy) a town towards Austria. 2 Augst, neer the head of the Elb. 3 Tabor, a strong Town built by Zisca, to be a retreat for the Hussites. 4 Jaromir; and 5 Molmuck, both upon the Elb. 6. Littomissell, an Episcopall See, bordering on Moravia. 7 Pilsen, the last town of this Kingdome which yeilded to the prevailing Imperialists, in the late long war about that Crown: and then also betrayed to Count Tilly for a some of money, by some of the Souldiers of Count Mansfield, who was then ab∣sent, and had so long defended it against the Enemy. 8 Elbogen, much esteemed for the hot medici∣nable Bathes, situate on the River Egra. 9 Egra, so called of the same River, off which (neer to the borders of the Vpper Palatinate) it is strongly situate: a large fair City, containing three miles in compasse; Imperiall once, but sold by the Emperour Ludovicus Bavdrus to John, King of Bohemia for 400000 marks of Silver: in compasse lesse, for sweetnesse of the place, elegancy of the build∣ings, pleasantnesse of site, and richnesse of soil, superiour far to Prague it self. 10 Prague, the Metropolis of the Kingdome, situate in the middest thereof, on the River Muldaw: consisting of four severall Townes, each of which hath its severall Customes, Lawes, and Magistrates. The principall is called the Old Town, adorned with many goodly buildings; a spacious Market-place, and a stare∣ly

Counsell-house: the second called the New Town, separated from the Old, by a Ditch of great depth, and widenesse. The third, called the Little Town, is divided from the Old, by the River Mul∣daw, joyned to it by a beautifull Bridge consisting of 24 Arches: and in this part thereof is the hill Rachine; on the sides of which are many fair and stately houses belonging to the Nobility, over-look∣ed by the strong Castle of S. Wenceslaus (situate on the top thereof) a magnificent Palace, wherein the Bohemian Kings, and the later Emperours have kept their Residence. The fourth town is that of the Jewes, who have here five Synagogues, and live according to their own Law. The whole City ra∣ther large then fair, the streets being in winter very dirty, of ill smell in the summer; the build∣ings for the most part of clay and timber, clap up together without Art, and of little beauty. And though incompassed with walls and Ditches, it is conceived to be but an open town (so poor and weak are the defences) insomuch that whosoever is master of the Field, will be master of the City also. And yet besides the honour of being the Royall Seat; it hath also of long time been an Arch∣bishops See, and by Charles the fourth Emperour, and King of Bohemia made an University. Neer unto this town was fought that memorable battell, between the Duke of Bavaria, and Count Buc∣quoy, Lieutenant for the Emperour Ferdinand the second, with 50000 men on the one side; and Frederick newly elected King of Bohemia, with the Prince of Anhalt, the Count of Thurne, and 30000 men on the other side. It was fought on the eight of November, stylo novo, wherein (such was the un∣searchable will of God) the victory fell unto the Imperials: the young Prince of Anhalt, Thurne, and Saxon Weimar, with divers others, being taken prisoner; the Bohemian Ordinance all surprised, Prague forced to yeeld unto the enemy, and King Frederick with the Queen, compelled to flie unto Silesia: a most lamentable and unfortunate losse, not to this people onely, but to the whole cause of Re∣formed Religion: yet is it not unworthy of our observation that this great battell was fought upon a Sunday, the 8 of November, about the time of the morning Prayer: in the Gospell appointed for which day (being the 23 after Trinity Sunday) is that famous passage, Reddite CAESARI, quae sunt CAESARIS, i. e. Render unto Caesar, the things which are Caesars; which seemed to judge the quar∣rell on the Emperours side.

But whether of the two Pretendents had the juster Cause, may best be seen by convassing the Re∣cords of that State and Nation (for the successe of War is no standing Rule for measuring the equity, and justice of the causes of it: by which it will be clearly seen, that since the erecting of this King∣dome by the Sclaves or Croatians, it hath been evermore disposed at the will of the Emperour, or by election of the States and People. But I intend not at the present to dispute that point, but only to lay down the story of the Kings and People, as in other places; since the first coming of the Sclavi. A Nation not known by that name till the time of Justinian; at what time they inhabited on the banks of the Ister, but on the further side thereof, opposite to Illyricum and Thrace, imperiall Provinces. Grown famous by their good successes against that Empire, their name was taken up by the rest of the Sarmatians of Europe; who either wanting room, or not liking of their colder Countries, passed on more Westwards: and by degrees possessed themselves of those parts of Germany, which formerly had been inhabited by the Almans, Burgundians, and Boiarians; but were then either quite forsaken, or but ill inhabited by the drawing down of those people to the Roman Provinces, which they better liked. Divided at, or after their coming thus far west, into four main bodies; that is to say, the Winithi, possessed of the (now) Marquisates of Brandenbourg, Misnia, and Lusatia, as also of the Durke∣domes of Mecklenburg and Pomerania; the Moravians, inhabiting in Moravia, the Lower Austria, and the Vpper Hungary; the Poles, possessed of Poland, and the Dukedome of Silesia; and finally the Bohemian Sclaves, confined within the limits of that Kingdome onely. Under what forme of Government they lived at their first coming hither, is not certainly known: but being setled in these Countries of Poland and Bohemia: it was not long before they were erected into severall Kingdomes, occasioned by the coming of a new body of Sclaves, Croatians, and others of those scattered Nations, under the conduct of Zechius, a great Prince amongst them, who about the yeer 640. together with his bro∣ther Leches was banished Croatia for a murther. And being very acceptable to the Sclaves of Bohemia, who looked upon him as a Prince of their own Original extraction, one of the same Language, Lawes or Customes that themselves were of, they admitted him to be their Chief, or supreme Governour, by what soever name he was called at first: in honour and memory of whom, the Bohemians in their own language doe call themselves Zechians. After his death, the State relapsed again into a confused Anarchie, till the yeer 670. at what time not respecting the Progeny of Zechius, the founder of their Common-wealth and first estate, they fastned upon Crocus, a man of good esteem amongst them, and elected him to be their Duke. Crocus vir justus, & magnae apud Bohemos opinionis Princeps electus est, as Ber∣tholdus telleth us. Crocus being dead, the Bohemians elected Libussa, his youngest daughter; and of her government soon wearied, they made choice of Primislaus for their Prince, and made him husband to Libussa. A man taken from the Plough (as their stories tell us) to espouse the Princesse: it being or∣dered and agre•••• on by her many Suiters, that he (whosoever he was) before whom an horse pur∣posely let loose did first make a stand, should be the Husband of the Lady, and have the government of the State. The Horse first makes a stand before Primislaus, being then at plough (having perhaps some Mare in his Teeme▪) and he accordingly is received and admitted their Prince. These with the other Dukes from the time of Crocus the first Legislator of the Bohemians, take in order thus.

The DUKES of BOHEMIA.

• 1 Crocus, the Law-giver or Lycurgus of Bohemia.
• 2 Libussa, youngest daughter to Crocus, with Primislaus her husband (a second Quinctius) Founder of Prague.
• 3 Neramislaus, sonne of Primislaus and Libussa.
• 4 Mnoatha, one of the sonnes of Neramislaus, Cotemporary with Charls the Great.
• 5 Voricius, sonne of Mnatha.
• 6 Wenceslaus.
• 7 Bela.
• 8 Nastricius sonne of Bela.
• 9 Bozzivoius, the first Christian Prince of the Bohemians: Contemporarie with the Em∣perour Arnulph.
• 10 Sbitignaeus, sonne to Bozzivoius.
• 11 Vladislaus, brother to Sbitignaeus.
• 12 Wenceslaus II. surnamed the Saint, slaine by his brother Boleslaus.
• 13 Boleslaus, a wicked and ungodly Prince.
• 14 Boleslaus II. sonne of the former, a great advancer of Christianty amongst hi•• people.
• 15 Boleslaus III. one of the sonnes of Boleslaus the second.
• 16 Jaromir, sonne to Boleslaus the third.
• 17 Vdalricus, brother of Boleslaus the third, and Uncle of Jaromir.
• 18 Predislaus, sonne to Vdalricus.
• 19 Sbitignaeus II. sonne to Predislaus.
• 1061 20 Vratislaus, brother of Sbitignaeus, whom for his manifold deferts, the Emperour Henry the 4. created the first King of Bohemia, anno 1608. whose Successors take thus out of Bertholdus and Dubravius.

The KINGS and DUKES of BOHEMIA.

• A. Ch.
• 1086 1 Vratislaus, the brother of Spitignaeus, Duke of Bohemia, was by Henry the 4. at Metz crea∣ted King.
• 2 Conrade, brother to Vratislaus, notwithstanding that his brother had 3 sons, was elected Duke of Bohemia.
• 3 Brecislaus, son to Vratislaus, the two sons of Conrade being rejected, is by the Bohemians chosen Duke.
• 1100 4 Borivorius the 4. son of Brecislaus, is chosen by the Bohemians, his eldest brothers then all living.
• 1109 5 Sutopulcus, Cousin german to Borivorius, by the consent and favour of the people, depo∣sed Borivorius, and caused himself to be elected in his place.
• 6 Vladislaus II. brother to Borivorius, preferred by the people to the throne, before Otho the brother, and Henry the son of Sutopulcus, the last Prince.
• 7 Sobeslaus, brother to Vladislaus, promoted to the State before the sonne of Vla∣dislaus.
• 1159 8 Vladislaus III. son of Vladislaus the 2. (the four sons of Sobeslaus omitted) is chosen and crowned the second King of Bohemia by Frederick the Emperour, but deposed by the States, because he was not by them formerly elected, according to their priviledges and customs.
• 9 Vldericus the third son of Sobeslaus, his elder brethren yet living, was by the people elect∣ed in the room of Vladislaus and his son Frederick: whom the Emperour Frederick had by force established in the throne.
• 10 Sobeslaus II. second son to Sobeslaus, was by Frederick above named expelled; and he al∣so by the Bohemians.
• 11 Conrade, Grandchild to Otho the brother of Sutopulcus, elected by the Bohemiam in place of Frederick: between which two Princes there was continuall war.
• 12 Wenceslaus, Uncle unto Conrade, and son of Otho aforesaid, was preferred before many nearer the succession. Him Primislaus expelled; but fearing his return, quitted Prague.
• 13 Henry Bishop of Prague, a stranger to the bloud, was by a generall consent elected Duke.
• 14 Vladislaus IV. brother to Primislaus the son of Wenceslaus, being put by, succeeded Hen∣ry, and soon after resigned.
• ...

• 1199 15 Primislaus, elected by the Bohemians, and by the Emperour Philip, crowned the 3. King of Bohemia at Mentz, was brother to Vladi••laus the 4.
• 1248 16 Ottocarus, notwithstanding that Winceslaus his elder brother had been crowned in his Fa∣thers life time, was acknowledged King. He was slain in battle by Rodolphus the Em∣perour.
• 1278 17 Wences••aus II. son to Ottocarus.
• 1284 18 Wenceslaus III. sonne to Wenceslaus the last of the Bohemian Princes of the ma∣sculine race.
• 1304 19 Rodolphus, son to the Emperour Albertus, is by the potencie of his Father, and the ele∣ction of the States seated on the Throne, being otherwise a stranger to the bloud-royall of Bohemia.
• 1305 20 Henry Duke of Carinthia, husband to Anne the second daughter of Wenceslaus the 2. is chosen by the Bohemians: but being weary of his Government, they elect John Earl of Luxenbourg. Finally, Henry was murdered by one of his Ne∣phews.
• 1311 21 John Earl of Luxenbourg, sonne to Henry the 7. Emperour and husband to Eliza∣beth youngest daughter to Wenceslaus the 2. is elected, the Lady Anne yet living.
• 1346 22 Charls sonne to John, and Emperour of that name the 4. the Author of the Golden Bull.
• 1362 23 Wenceslaus IV. Emperour, also in whose time the troubles of the Hussites, and the va∣lour of Zisca was famous.
• 1418 24 Sigismund, brother to Wenceslaus, maketh himself King by force, and at his death com∣mendeth Albertus Duke of Austria, the huband of his daughter Elizabeth, unto the States of the Kingdom.
• 1437 25 Albertus Duke of Austria elected upon the commendation of Sigismund by the Bohemi∣an Lords.
• 1440 26 Ladislaus, son to Albert, who being the brother of two sisters, commended yet one George Pogibrachius unto the States as fittest to succeed him.
• 1458 27 George Pogibrachius, neither by affinity or consanguinity of the bloud, succeeded. And he though he had three sons, yet for the benefit of his Country, he advised the No∣bles after his death to elect their King from Poland.
• 1471 28 Ladislaus II. son to Casimire King of Polvnd, and to Elizabeth, the younger daughter of Albert Duke of Austria, the issue of Anne the elder sister still living; elected King of Bohemia.
• 1516 29 Ludovicus son to Ladislaus, elected and crowned by the means of his Father, then living, King of Hungary also.
• 1526 30 Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, brother to Charls the 5. and husband to Anne sister to Ludovicus, by his letters reversall, acknowledged that he was chosen King of Bohemia not of any right, but of meer free-will, according to the liberties of that King∣dome.
• 1565 31 Maximilian eldest son of Ferdinand, was in his Fathers life time, and at his suit, elected King, anno 1540. into which he actually succeeded on his Fathers death.
• 1575 32 Rodolphus Emperour of Germanie, and eldest son to Maximilian, elected King.
• 1608 33 Matthias brother to Rodolphus, was at the joint suit of them both, nominated and ap∣pointed King of Bohemia by the generall consent of the States, during his brothers life time, anno viz. 1608. which denomination they both protest in their letters re∣versall, should not be to the prejudice of the liberties and ancient customs of that kingdom.
• 1618 34 Ferdinand II. Archduke of Austria, of the house of Grats, was by Matthias adopted for his son, and declared Successour to the Crown of Bohemia, but never formally and le∣gally elected: for which cause amongst others, he was by the States rejected in like case as Vladislaus the 3. had formerly been.
• 1619 35 Frederick Electour Palatine, the strongest German Prince of the Calvinists, and most potent by his great alliances; was elected King of Bohemia, and crowned at Prague, together with his wife, on the 5 day of November. This Prince derived his descent from the Lady Sophia, sister to Ladislaus the 2. King of Poland and Bohemia; and married Eli∣zabeth, daughter to James King of Great Britain, and Anne of Denmark, which Anne descended from the Lady Anno daughter of Albertus of Austria, and elder sister to Elizabeth, mother to Ladislaus the 2. above named; from whom the claim of Au∣stria is derived.
• 1621 35 Ferdinand III. son of Ferdinand the 2. elected King of Bohemia during the life both of his Father and of Frederick, the Prince Elect••ur also; after whose death he succeeded in this kingdome both in right and fact; King of Hungarie also, Archduke of Austria, and Emperour of Germanie, now living, anno 1648. more moderate in his Coun∣sels then his Father Ferdinand, and more inclinable to peace; (though honoured with a more signall victorie against the Swedes in the battell of Norlingen, then his

• Father was in all his life;)* 1.1 which the Conclusions made at Munster are sufficient proof of.

Of the Revenues, Arms, and other things which concern this Kingdom, we shall speak here∣after, when we have took a view of the rest of the Provinces which are incorporated into it.

2 MORAVIA is bounded on the East with Hungarie, on the West with Bohemia, on the North with Silesia, and on the South with the lower Austria, and the river Teia: fenced on the West by the Woods and Mountains of Bohemia, parts of the Hireynian Forrest; on the North by some spurs or branches of it called Ascibu••gius by Ptolemie, on the two other sides open like an half moon, or se∣mi-circle. The most fruitfull place of corn in all Germanie, and hath no small store of Frankincense, which contrarie to the nature of it, groweth not on a tree, but out of the earth: and that too (which addes much to the miracle, if Dubravius do report it rightly) in the shape and figure of those parts which men and women do most endevour to conceal.

The former inhabitants of this Province were the Marcomanni, and part of the Quadi, against whom, when M. Antonius the Emperour made war, he had unawares run himself into such a straight that his army was environed with Mountains one way, and enemies the other. To this (as cala∣mities seldom go alone) was added the extraordinary heat and drought then being. To the Emperor thus put to his plunges, came the Captain of his Guard, telling him that he had in his army a legion of Christians (Melitens he calleth them) which by prayer to their own God could obtain any thing. The Emperour sendeth for them, desiring them to make supplication for the Army; which they did, and God almighty that never turneth a deaf ear to the prayers of his servants, when they are either for his glory, the Churches, or their own good, scattered and vanquished the Quadi with thundershot and artillery from heaven, and refreshed the faint and dying Romans with many a gentle and pleasing showre. This miracle purchased to that legion the surname of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. e. the thunderer; and induced the Emperour to honour men of that holy profession, and to make an end of the fourth persecution, A. Ch. 174. Thus Xiphilinus hath it in his Dion; which coming from the pen of an Heathen, as his Author was, is of more credit in a matter of such concernment un to Christianity then if it had proceeded from Socrates, Sozomen, or any other Ecclesiasticall Writer.

Places of most note herein, are 1 Olmunts, on the River Marck (or Mora) the chief town of the Countrie, and a small Universitie, near which out of the hill Odenberg bordering on Silesia, spring∣eth the great river of Odera, whose course we have before described. 2 Brinn, on the river Schwats, the seat of the ancient Marquesses. 3 Radisch, and 4 Cremser, both upon the Marck or Mora. 5 Zwaim on the Teia; 6 Niclasberg (Mons Nicolai in the Latine) bordering on the Lower Austria. 7 Iglaw, 8 Newberg, 9 Weiskorchem, 10 Boserlitz, of which little memorable. 11 Gradisco, near to which (and to this place onely) the Frankincense is found to grow in the shape and forme before mentioned.

The old Inhabitants hereof (as before is said) were the Marcomanni and the Quadi; after them that Tribe or Nation of the Sclaves, who from their habitation on the river Mora, called themselves Moravians, and the Country which they dwelt in by the name of Moravia (the Dutch call it Merhe∣ren.) Extended at that time over all the Lower Austria, to the banks of the Danow on the South, and as far as to the river Tibiscus•• (over spreading a great part of the Vppet Hungarie) towards the East. Governed at the first by their own Kings, the first, whose name occurs, being Raslai, in the time of the Emperour Lewis the Godly, by whom taken Prisoner, and his Realm made Tributarie to the Em∣pire. After him succeeded Harmodurus, and then Suantopulcus, in whose time the Moravians and other Nations of the Sclaves, received the Gospel, by the preaching of Cyril and Methodius two Grecian Do∣ctours: officiating all divine services in the Sclavonian or vulgar Language. For which being af∣ter called in question by one of the Popes, they re••••rned no other answer then this (and enough in that) Omnis Spiritus laudet Dominum. It is written that every thing which hath breath should praise the Lord. Suantobegius son to Suantopuleus, succeeded next, deposed or rather beaten out of his Countrie by the Emperour Arnulph, for denying the accustomed tribute. A Prince of great spirit, and of as great command, having at one time under him, not Moravia only, according to the largest limits, but Silesia, Bohemia, and Polonia also. Arnulph not able otherwise to effect his purpose, cal∣led in the Hungarians (though at that time Pagans) by whose help the Moravian was subdued, and his Kingdom shattered into pieces; seised on by the Hungarians, Poles, and other Nations: and final∣ly reduced to the present limits. Afterwards it was made a Marquisate, (but by whom we finde not) one of the Marquesses hereof being Jodocus Barbatus, elected Emperour anno 1410. After whose death Sigismund his next heir, Emperour and King of Bohemia, gave it to his son-in-law Albert Duke of Austria, anno 1417. who in the end succeeded him in all his Estates, since which time it hath alwayes gone along with the Crown of Bohemia.

The Arms of the old Dukes or Princes of it, were Azure, an Eagle chequered Or and Gules, membred and langued of the same.

2 SILESIA, (or SCHLESI, as the Dutch call it, is bounded on the East with Poland, on the West with Lusati••a, on the North with Brandenburg, and on the South with Moravia. Wholly encompassed with Mountaines, except towards the North; which lets in a sharp aire upon

them:* 1.2 the midland parts being full of Woods, but withall of Mineralls.

Chief Cities are Jagendorse, or Jegerndorse, of late the Patrimony of John Georgius of the family of Brandenbourg, commonly called the Marquesse of Jagendorse. The lands and Estates in his possession, first given by Ladislaus King of Bohemia, to George surnamed Pius, one of the sonnes of Frederick of Brandenbourg, the first Marquesse of Auspach of this house, for the many good services hee had done him. But his posterity being extinct, they fell to the said John Georgius, brother to Sigismund the Ele∣ctour: proscribed by Ferdinand the second, for adhering to the partie of Frederick Prince Elector Pala∣tine: A Prince of great note and activenesse, in the beginning of the late German & Bohemian wars. 2 Mun∣sterberg, which gives the title of Duke to the posterity of George Pogebraccio, once King of Bohemia ad∣vanced by him unto this honor and a fair Estate. 3 Glatz or Gletz, the last Town of Bohemia, which held out for Frederick the Electour against that Emperour. 4 Glogaw, a strong Town on the River Odera. 5 Niess, on a River so named, an Episcopall See. 6 Breslaw, in Latine Vratislavia, so called from Vra∣tislaus, the founder of it, once one of the Dukes of this Province, by whose procurement it was made an Episcopall See, anno 970, or thereabouts. It is situate on the River Odera, all the water wherein could not save it from being burnt down to the ground, anno 1341. but it was presently reedified with fair Free strone, and is now one of the prettiest Cities (for the bignesse of it) in all Ger∣many: fair, populous, and well contrived with open and even streets; the chief of the Countrey. 7 Op∣polen, on the Odera also, well fortified both by Art and nature, barricadoed by the River on the West, and on the East with good out-workes, strong walls, and a fair Castle. 8 Straten, 9 Reichenbach, both made Townes of war, since the beginning of the Bohemian troubles.

There are also within this Province the two Seigneuries of Priguitz, and Crossen, so called from the chief Towns thereof, belonging to the Electour of Brandenbourg: the two Dukedomes of Oswitz and Zator, appertaining to the Crown of Poland: as also the Dukedome of Lignitz, and Sue inits, all of them bearing the names of their principall Towns; of which two last, Sueinits is in the immediate possession of the Kings of Bohemia, and Lignitz hath a Duke of its own, but an Homager and Tributary of that King.

The first two Inhabitants hereof were the Marsigni, Burii, Gothini, and some part of the Quadi. In the partition of the Eastern parts of Germany amongst the Sclaves, laid unto the Dukedome or King∣dome of Poland; continuing part thereof till the time of Vladislaus the second, who being driven out of his Kingdome by his brethren, was by the mediation of Frederick Barbarossa, estated in this Countrey, to be held under the Soveraignty of the Kings of Poland. Divided betwixt his three sons, and afterwards subdivided amongst their posterities according to the ill custome of Germany, it be∣came broke at last into fourteen Dukedomes, of 1 Breslaw, 2 Oppolen, 3 Ratibor, 4 Cessin, 5 Bethom, 6 Glogaw, 7 Segan, 8 Olents, 9 Steinaw, 10 Falkenbourg, 11 Sweinits, 12 Lignitz, 13 Oswits••, and 14 Zator. Of all which onely the two last doe remain to Poland; the five first being made subject to the Kings of Bohemia, by Wenceslaus the second, the five next by King John of Luxenbourg; Lignitz remaining in the possession of a Proprietary Duke (as before was said) and Sweinits given to Charles the fourth Emperour and King of Bohemia, by the will and Testament of Boleslaus the last Duke: all Schlesi by this means, (except the two Dukedomes of Oswitz and Zator) being added to the Crown of Bohemia: of which it is rather an incorporate then a subject Province.

4. LVSATIA, by the Dutch called Lausnitz is bounded on the East with Silesia, on the West with Misnia, on the North with Brandenbourg, and on the South with Bohemia. The countrey rough and full of Woods, yet plentifull enough of corn, and of such fruits as naturally arise out of the earth: So populous and thick set with people, that though it be but a little Province, it is able to arme 20000 Foot, as good as any in Germany. Most commonly it is divided into the Higher and the Lower; the first confining on Bohemia, the last on Brandenburg.

Places of most note in the higher Lausnitz, are 1 Bautsen, (Badissinum the Latines call it) the first Town attempted and taken in by the Duke of Saxony, when he took upon him the execution of the Emper∣ors Bann, against Frederick Elector Palatine, then newly chosen King of Bohemia: The poor Prince in the mean time in an ill condition, the Saxon being the head of the Lutheran; and the Bavarian chief of the Popish partie, arming both against him: So jealous are both sides of the active and rest∣lesse Calvinian spirit; as to leave no means unassaied for the suppressing of it. Seated it is upon the Spre, and for the most part is the seat of the Governour for the King of Bohemia. 2 Gorlitz, upon the River Nisse, which gave the title of Duke to John brother of Sigismund Emperour and King of Bohe∣mia, and Father of Elizabeth the last Dutchesse of Luxembourg, before it fell into the hands of the Dukes o•• Burgundie. A fine neat Town, well frequented, and strongly fortified: founded about the yeare 1231. and not long after so consumed by a mercilesse fire, anno 1301. ut ne unica domus remanse∣rit, as my Authour hath it, that there was not one house left of the old foundation. But it was presently rebuilt in a more beautifull form, and more strong materialls, then before it was: both publick and private buildings very neat and elegant. 3 Zittaw, on the same River bordering on Bohemia. 4 Lauben, 5 Lubben, 6 Camitz, of which little memorable, but that together with the for∣mer they make up those six townes which are confederate together in a stricter league, for their mu∣tuall defence and preservation, but under the protection, and with the approbation of the Kings of Bohemia. Then in the LOWER Lusatia there is 7 Sprenberg, so named from its situation on the River Spre, which runneth through the whole Countrie, and in antient times was called Sue∣vus, supposed by some (and not improbably) either to give name to the Suevians, or to take it

from them;* 1.3 that potent Nation, inhabiting originally betwixt this and the Elb. 6 Trabeli upon the Nisse. Cotthuse upon the Spre, or Suevus, which together with some part of the Lower Lusatia be∣longs unto the Marquesses of Brandenbourg.

The first Inhabitants hereof are by some supposed (and but supposed) to be the So∣nones of Tacitus; in the partition of these parts of Germany amongst the Selaves, made sub∣ject to the Winithi, or Venedi, the greatest and most spreading Nation of all these People. When, and by whom first made a Marquisate, I am not able to say for certain; but sure I am it hath beene very much given to the change of Masters. It had first a Marquesse of its own. Conrade the Marquesse hereof, who dyed in the yeare 1156. being by the Emperour Henry the fift made Marquesse of Misnia, added it unto that Estate: remaining for some time united to it. After, being seized on by the Poles, it was sold by Frederick the second, Marquesse and Electour of Brandenbourg: who keeping Co••thouse and some other Townes bordering next upon him, in his own possession, surrendered the rest on composition to George King of Bohemia: claiming it from a Grant made by Henry the fourth to Ʋ∣ratislaus the first Bohemian King, anno 1087. A grant on which no possession followed, unlesse it were the Homage and acknowledgement of the Princes of it, holding it afterwards of that Crown, as the Lord in chief.

Thus have we brought these four Provinces into the power and Possession of the Kings of Bohe∣mia: remaining still distinct in their Laws and Governments (as severall limbs of the great body of the Sclaves, made up into one Estate) though joined together in the person of one supreme Go∣vernour: who is severally admitted and acknowledged by each Province distinctly, for it selfe; and not by any one of them in the name of the rest. Out of all which so laid together, there may be raised the summe of three millions of Crowns yearly, for the Kings Revenues, towards the defrayment of all charges.

The Armes of this Kingdom are Mars, a Lyon with a forked tail, Luna, crowned Sol. Which Arms were first given by Frederick Barbarossa to Ʋladislaus the third, made by him King of Bohemia, in re∣gard of the good service hee had done him at the siege of Millain. And though Ʋladislaus was de∣posed by the States of that Kingdome, because never formally and legally elected by them: yet his successours keep those Armes to this very day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Moravia.
• * 1.2

  Lusatia.
• * 1.3

  Branden∣bourg.