If the World desires it, it will not be difficult to give a more particular account of the Electors, and of the other Princes and Free Cities of Germany, but without that, this will be sufficient to shew the general State of Germany, which is the thing we Englishmen are most desirous and concerned to know.
I shall make no other Apology for it, because I am before hand resolved to be wholly unconcerned for its fate; the Reader is left entirely to his own liberty, to think and speak of it as he himself please.
January the 24th. 1689.
THE CONTENTS1<vii>
CHAP. I.
Of the Origene of the German Empire.
1. The ancient and present Bounds of Germany.
2. The ancient state of the German People, dangerous and weak.
3. The Franks, who are of an uncertain extraction, the first Conquerors of Germany.
4. It is highly probable the Franks were originally Germans.
5. They certainly went out of Germany, and conquered Gaul, now France, and afterwards returned back again and conquered all the other Germans.
6. An enquiry of what Nation Charles the Great was; he is proved a Frank by his Father, and was born in France, though he used the German Tongue; and an account is given of the Language of the Gauls, and of the Origene of the present French Tongue.
7. The Titles of Charles <viii> the Great to his several Dominions.
8. Germany a part of the Kingdom of France.
9. The Children of St. Lewis divide their Father’s Kingdom, by which means Germany became once more a Free Independant Kingdom.
10. A short historical account of the Roman Empire, and of its Fall.
11. Italy and Rome for some time under the Greek Emperors.
12. The Lombards feared by the Popes, subdued by Charles the Great, and he thereupon was chosen Emperor of Rome, or rather Advocate of that See; yet neither he nor any of his Successors would suffer France to be taken for a part of that Empire.
13. The Fall of the Caroline Race; Otho the first King of Germany only.
14. The Kingdom of Germany has not succeeded in the Roman Empire.
15. That Title has been damageable to Germany.
CHAP. II.
Of the Members of which the present German Empire is composed.
1. Germany still a potent State, though much diminished as to its ancient extent.
2. Which are the Members of that Empire.
3. An account of the House of Austria; how this Family gained Austria, Stiria, Carniola; it is the first amongst the Spiritual Electors.
4. It has long possessed the Imperial Crown: The Priviledges granted to it by Charles V. the Low Countries pretended to be united <ix> to the Empire by Charles V. and why, The Males of this House.
5. The Family of the Count Palatine’s of the Rhine; the Dukes of Bavaria, the Palatine Family; that of Newburg the other Branches; the present King of Sweden of this House.
6. The House of Saxony.
7. That of Brandenburg.
8. The other Princes of the Empire.
9. Savoy and Lorrain; Ferdinand II. encreaseth the number of the Princes, eleven of which are named.
10. The Ecclesiastick States once very rich, now much diminished, yet they still possess the greatest part of the Countries on the Rhine.
11. The Ecclesiastick Electors and Bishops that are Princes of the Empire; the mitered Abbats; the Prelates that are not Princes, yet have Votes in the Diet.
12. The Earls (or Counts) and Barons of the Empire.
13. The Free Cities make a College in the Diet.
14. The Knights of Germany divided into three Classes, but have no Vote in the Diet.
15. The Empire divided into ten Circles. <x>
CHAP. III.
Of the Origene of the States of the Empire; and by what Degrees they arrived to that Power they now have.
1. The Secular Princes of the Empire are either Dukes or Earls.
2. The old German Dukes military Officers, and their Grevens or Earls were Judges; but in time obtained these Offices for their Lives, and at last by Inheritance.
3. Charles the Great endeavoured to redress this Error, but his Posterity returned back to it. Otho Duke of Saxony a King in Fact though not in Title; other Princes afterwards raised to this Dignity by the Emperors; others by Purchace, Inheritance, and Usurpation.
4. Whose Power was after confirmed by the Emperors; upon the failing of the Line of Charles the Great, Germany became perfectly free; the Princes of Germany now not Subjects but Allies to the Emperor.
5. Great Emperors are well obeyed, the weaker are despised: Luxury has impoverished some of the Princes.
6. The Election of the Bishops renounced by the Emperor.
7. The Bishopricks of Germany endowed by the Emperors.
8. Who when they became very rich, refused to be subject to their Benefactor.
9. The Free Cities: Why the Germans of old had no Cities.
10. The Cities were at first subject to the Kings or Emperors of Germany. <xi>
CHAP. IV.
Of the Head of the German Empire, the Emperor; and of the Election and the Electors.
1. The Emperor the Head of Germany: The Empire of the Romans pretendedly given by the Pope: The Kingdom of France more hereditary than elective: Germany given freely to Conrade: The Empire of Rome united for ever to the Kingdom of Germany.
2. The ancient Elections not made by any certain number of Electors exclusively.
3. The Seven Electors not instituted by Otho III.a
4. Yet they seem more ancient than Frederick II.
5. The Priviledges of the Electors.
6. The manner of the Election.
7. The Electors have deposed an Emperor.
8. The Electors have some other special Priviledges.
9. What is done during the Interregnum.
10. Of the King of the Romans. <xii>
CHAP. V.
Of the Power of the Emperor as it now stands limited by Treaties, Laws, and the Customs of the Empire, and the Rights of the States of the Empire.
1. Of the Limits of the Imperial Power.
2. These Conditions are prescribed only by the Electors.
3. The usefulness of the German Capitular.
4. The