To go forth with the princes of Italy next in Duke of situation. The great duke of Tuscany, FranTuscany. cisco de Medici, son to Cosmo, and the third duke of that family and province; of the age of forty years, of disposition severe and sad, rather than manly and grave; no princely port or behaviour more than a great justicer; inclined to peace, and gathering money. All Tuscany is subject unto him, wherein were divers commonwealths; whereof the chief were Florence, Siena, and Pisa, Prato, and Pistoia, saving Lucca, and certain forts on the seacoast, held by the king of Spain. He retaineth in his service few, and they strangers, to whom he giveth pensions. In all his citadels he hath garrison of Spaniards, except at Siena: in housekeeping spendeth little, being as it were in pension, agreeing for so much the year with a citizen of Florence for his diet: he has a small guard of Swissers, and when he rideth abroad a guard of forty light horsemen. The militia of his country amounteth to forty thousand soldiers, to the which he granteth leave to wear their weapons on the holy days, and other immunities. Besides, he entertaineth certain men of arms, to the which he giveth seven crowns the month. He also maintaineth seven galleys, the which serve under his knights, erected by his father in Pisa, of the order of St. Stephano: of these galleys three go every year in chase. His common exercise is in distillations, and in trying of conclusions, the which he doth exercise in a house called Cassino in Florence, where he spendeth the most part of the day; giving ear in the mean season to matters of affairs, and conferring with his chief officers. His revenues are esteemed to amount to a million and a half of crowns, of the which spending half a million, he layeth up yearly one million. But certainly he is the richest prince in all Europe of coin. The form of his government is absolute, depending only of his will and pleasure, though retaining in many things the ancient offices and show. But those magistrates resolve nothing without his express directions and pleasure. Privy council he useth none, but reposeth most his trust on sound secretaries, and conferreth chiefly with his wife, as his father did with one of his secretaries. For matter of examinations, one Corbolo hath the especial trust; he doth favour the people more than the nobility, because they do bear an old grudge to the gentlemen, and the people are the more in number, without whom the nobility can do nothing. One thing in him giveth great contentment to the subjects, that he vouchsafeth to receive and hear all their petitions himself. And in his absence from Florence, those that have suit do resort to the office, and there exhibit their bill indorsed; whereof within three days absolute answer is returned them, unless the matter be of great importance, then have they direction how to proceed. He is a great justicer; and for the ease of the people, and to have the better eye over justice, hath built hard by his palace a fair row of houses for all offices together in one place. Two years sithence he married la Signora Bianca his concubine, a Venetian of Casa Capelli, whereby he entered straiter amity with the Venetians with the pope he had good intelligence, and some affinity by the marriage of Signor Jacomo, the pope's son, in Casa Sforza. To the emperor he is allied, his first wife being the emperor Maximilian's sister. With Spain he is in strait league, and his mother was of the house of Toledo; his brother likewise, D. Pietro, married in the same house. With France he standeth at this present in some misliking. With Ferrara always at jar, as with all the dukes of Italy for the preseance in some controversy. All his revenues arise of taxes and customs; his domains are very small. Ferrara. He hath by his first wife one son, of the age of four or five years, and four daughters; he hath a base child by this woman, and a base brother, D. Joanni, sixteen years of age, of great expectation. Two brothers, D. Pietro, and the cardinal. The duke of Ferrara, Alfonso d'Este, the fifth duke, now about forty years of age; his first wife Lucretia, daughter to Cosmo de Medici, whom they say he poisoned; his second, daughter to Ferdinand the emperor; his third wife now living, Anne daughter to the duke of Mantua. He hath no child. The chief cities of his state are Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio: he is rich in money, growing as the most of Italy, of exactions; of all the princes of Italy alone inclineth to the French; with the pope hath some jar about the passage of a river. The Venetians and he fall in great hatred; with Florence hath enmity; with Lucca little skirmishes every year for a castle he buildeth on their confines, to raise a great toll in a strait passage, by reason of his mother a Guise. Mantua. William of the house of Gonsaga, the third duke of Mantua; his wife Barbara daughter to the emperor Ferdinand, by whom he hath a son of twenty-two years of age, and a daughter. His son is called Vincentio, his daughter Anne married of late to the duke of Ferrara; his son likewise married a year sithence to the prince of Parma's daughter. The duke his self very deformed and crook-backed, well in years. Montferrat likewise appertaineth to him. Divers of his house have pension always, and serve the king of Spain; his brother the duke of Nevers remaineth in France. He only seeketh to maintain his estate and enrich himself; his greatest pleasure is in horses and building. where embark and land all men, and whatsoever is sent between Spain and Milan. house, not so great exactors as the rest of Italy, there- | hath great need of their friendship, for their ports, fore better beloved of their subjects, which love restored their house, being displaced by pope Leo X. His wife Leonora, sister to the duke of Ferrara, by whom he hath no children, and now is divorced. | He hath two sisters, the one married to the duke of Gravina, the other to the prince Bisignano, and a third is to marry, whose name is Lavinia. Ottaviano, first duke of Castro, then Parma. of Camerino, and after of Parma and Piacenza, with great trouble restored to his estate; now is aged and liveth quietly: his wife Marguerite daughter to Charles the fifth, first wife to Alexander de Medici first duke of Florence. He hath one son called Alexander, now general for the king of Spain in the Low Countries; his daughter Vittoria was mother to the duke of Urbin. The cardinal Farnese his uncle, of great credit in that college, long time hath aspired to be pope, but withstood by the king of Spain; on whom though now that house depend, yet forgetteth not, as he thinketh, the death of Pier Luigi, and the loss of Parma and Piacenza, restored to their house by the French. The young princes of Mirandola, in the government of their mother Fulvia Correggio, and under the protection of the king of France, who maintaineth there a garrison. The duke of Savoy, Carlo Emanuel, Savoy. a young prince of twenty-one years, very little of stature, but well brought up and disposed. His territory is the greatest of any duke of Italy, having Piemont beyond the Alps, and Savoy on this side; divers fair towns and strong holds, richly left of his father, who was accounted a very wise prince. This duke, as is thought, is advised to remain always indifferent between Spain and France, being neighbour to them both, unless some accident do counsel him to declare himself in behalf of either. Therefore both those princes go about by marriage to have him nearer allied to them. His mother was sister to king Francis the Great; his father being expulsed his dominions by the French, was restored by the king of Spain, with whom while he lived he had strait intelligence. As yet his inclination doth not appear; he retaineth his father's alliances with Venice, especially in Italy, and with the emperor. With Florence he hath question for pre-eminence. His revenues are judged to be a million of crowns yearly; now he is in arms against Geneva, and guarded against Bern. Lucca. Of free estates, Lucca the least, is under the protection of the king of Spain: small in territory; the city itself well fortified and provided, because of the doubt they have of the duke of Florence. They hold Corsica an island, and Savona a fair city, and the goodliest haven in Italy, until it was destroyed by the Genevois; the which now make no profession but of merchandise. There is a dangerous faction amongst them, between the ancient houses and the new, which were admitted into the ancient families. St. George is their treasure-house and receiver, as at Venice St. Mark. Venice. Venice retaining still the ancient form of government, is always for itself in like estate and all one; at this time between the Turk and the king of Spain, in continual watch, seeming to make more account of France, not so much in hope of any great affiance at this present to be had in him, but for the reputation of that nation, and the amity always they have had with the same, and behoving them so to do. They use it with good foresight and speedy preventing, sparing for no charge to meet as they may with every accident. Of late they have had some jar with the pope, as well about the inquisition as title of land. With Ferrara and the Venetians is ancient enmity, specially because he receiveth all their banished and fugitives. They make most account of the duke of Savoy amongst the princes of Italy. They maintain divers ambassadors abroad, with the Turk, the emperor, France, Spain, and at Rome: with them is an ambassador of France and Savoy, always resident, and an agent of Spain, because they gave the preseance to France. In this it seemeth all the potentates of Italy do agree to let all private grudges give place to foreign invasion, more for doubt of alteration in religion, than for any other civil cause. There is none amongst them at this day in any likelihood to grow to any greatness. For Venice is bridled by the Turk and Spain. The duke of Tuscany seeketh rather title than territory, otherwise than by purchasing. Savoy is yet young; the rest of no great force of themselves. France hath greatly lost the reputation they had in Italy, by neglecting the occasions offered, and suffering the king of Spain to settle himself. The emperor Adolphe of the house Emperor. of Austriche, son to Maximilian, about thirty years of age; no strong constitution of body, and greatly weakened by immoderate pleasure; no great quickness of spirit. In fashion and apparel all Spanish, where he had his education in his youth. He was most governed by his mother while she remained with him; and yet altogether by his steward Dyetristan, and his great chamberlain Romphe, both pensionaries of Spain, and there with him maintained. Of the empire he hath by the last imperial diet one million of dollars towards the maintenance of the garrisons of Hungary; and, besides, his guards are paid of the empire. To the Turk he payeth yearly tribute for Hun gary 40,000 dollars, besides the charge of the presents and his ambassadors, amounting to more than the tribute; in all 100,000 dollars. The ordinary garrisons in Hungary are to the number of but evil paid at this time. The revenues and subsidies of Hungary do not pass 100,000 florins. The last emperor affirmed solemnly that the charge of Hungary amounted to one million and a half. | Bergesaber; the other three brethren have no certain dwelling-place. George John, son of Rupert, count Palatine, dwelleth at Lysselsteyn. Princes of Augustus, duke and elector of Saxony, remaineth the most part at Germany. Dresden on the Elbe; sometimes at Torge on Elbe, a goodly castle fortified by John Frederick. This elector is Lutheran, and great enemy to our profession; of sixty years of age, half frantic, severe, The revenues of Bohemia, ordinary and extraor- governed much by his wife, greater exactor than the dinary, amount to 50,000 dollars. In the absence of the emperor, the baron of Rosemberg is governor of Bohemia, who possesseth almost a fourth part of that country, and is a papist; neither he nor his brother have children: he beareth the emperor in hand to make him his heir. Of Silesia and Moravia, the emperor yearly may have 200,000 florins. Out of Austriche of subsidy and tribute 100,000 florins, for his domains are all sold away and engaged. Thus all his revenues make half a million of florins. To his brothers Maximilian and Ernest he alloweth yearly, by agreement made between them, 45,000 florins apiece, as well for Austriche, as that might hereafter fall unto them by the decease of the archduke Ferdinand in Tyrol, the which shall come to the emperor. German princes are wont to be, and retaineth in his service divers Italians; his eldest son married of late the daughter of the duke of Brandebourg. The sons of John Frederick, captive and yet in prison, remain at Coburge in East Franconia, near the forest of Turinge. The sons of John William abide at Vinaria in Turingia. Joachim Frederick, son of John George, elector of Brandebourg, at Hala in Saxony on the river of Sala, as administrator of the archbishopric of Magdebourg. George Frederick, son of George, dwelleth at Orsbuche in East Franconia, or at Blassenbourge, the which was the mansion of his uncle Albert the warrior. The elector of Brandenbourg, John George, remaineth at Berlin on the river of Sprea: his uncle John dwelleth at Castryne beyond Odera, very strong both by the situation, and fortified. The emperor altogether dependeth on Spain, as well in respect of his house, as the education he received there, and the rule his mother hath over him with the chief of his council. He is utter enemy to religion, having well declared the same in banishing the ministers out of Vienna, and divers other towns, where he goeth about to plant Jesuits. Of his subjects greatly misliked, as his house is Hildesheim, and late of Liege. hateful to all Germany. William duke of Bavyre, a papist, at Munich in Bavary, married the daughter of the duke of Lorrain. His second brother Ferdinand remaineth most at Landshutt. The archduke Charles holdeth Styria and Ca- | rinthia; his chief abode is at Gratz; his wife is sister to the duke of Bavyre, by whom he hath children. The archduke Ferdinand hath Tyrol, and remaineth the most part at Ilsburg. For his eldest son he hath bought in Germany a pretty state, not far from Ulms; the second is a cardinal. Now he is a widower, and said that he shall marry a daughter of the duke of Mantua. These are uncles to the emperor: besides Maximilian and Ernest, he hath two brothers, the archduke Matthias, that hath a pension of the estates of the Low Country, and a cardinal archbishop of Toledo. In Germany there are divers princes Germany. diversely affected. The elector pala tine Ludovic, a Lutheran; his chief abode is at Heidelberg. The third, Ernest, is bishop of Frisinghen and Julius duke of Brunswick, at the strong castle of Wolfenbuttel on Oker. Ericke of Brunswick, son to Magnus, uncle to Julius, remaineth at Mynda, or where the rivers of Werra and Fulda do join, making the river of Visurgis navigable. William duke of Luneburg hath his being at Cella, on the river Albera. Henry his brother at Grysorn, where, before, their uncle Francis was wont to dwell. Otho their cousin, duke of Luneburg, inhabiteth Harbourg, on this side the Elbe, over-right against Hamburgh. The dukes of Pomerania, John Frederick dwelleth at Stetin. Bugeslaus, at Campena, some time an abbey in the county of Bardruse. Ernest Ludovick at Wolgast, on the river of Panis that runneth into the Baltick sea. Barmin at Ragenwald in Further Pomerania, on His brother, John Casimir, Calvinist, at Keisers- the borders of Poland and Prussia. lautern, or Nieustadt. Richard their uncle at Symyers. During the life of the last elector, Ludovic dwelt at Amberg in the higher Palatinate. Philip Ludovic dwelt at Norbourg on the Danow, and is commonly called duke of. Casimire at Camyn, which bishoprick he holdeth, either as administrator, or in his own possession and right. Ulricke duke of Meckelbourg, remaineth most at Gustrow; his brother John Albert dwelleth at Swerin, whose two sons are in the court of the duke John dwelleth at Rypont, or Sweybourgh, or in | of Saxon. Adolph duke of Holst and Dytmarch; his chief seat is at Gottorp in the duchy of Sleswick. John his elder brother, unmarried, hath his abode at Hadersberge: John, son to Christiern king of Denmark, and brother to the duke of Holst, and to Frederick now king of Denmark, bishop of Oeselya and Courland in Livonia. William duke of Juliers, Cleve, and Bergen, hath his court at Dusseldorp in the dukedom of Bergense. William Landgrave of Hesse dwelleth at Cassel on Fulda. Ludovick at Marpurge. Philip at Brubache on the Rhine. George at Darmstadt. France. The French king, Henry the third, of thirty years of age, of a very weak constitution, and full of infirmities; yet extremely given over to his wanton pleasures, having only delight in dancing, feasting, and entertaining ladies, and chamber-pleasures: no great wit, yet a comely behaviour and goodly personage, very poor through exacting inordinately by all devices of his subjects greatly repining that revenge and hungry government, abhorring wars and all action, yet daily worketh the ruin of those he hateth, as all of the religion and the house of Bourbon; doting fondly on some he chooseth to favour extremely, without any virtue or cause of desert in them, to whom he giveth pro Ludovick duke of Wirtenburge, his chief house at digally. His chief favourites now about him are Stutgard. Frederick at Montbelgard. The marquises of Bathe: the elder Ernest, the second Jacob, the third brother yet younger; their chief dwelling-place is at Forsheim, or at Durlach. The sons of Philip at the Bath called Baden. Ernest Joachim, prince of Anhalt, at Zerbest, in the midway between Magdebourg and Wittemberg; his other mansion is at Dessau on Mylda, where he was born, new built and fortified by his grandfather Ernest he hath besides the castle of Cathenen, the which was the habitation of Wolfgang prince of Anhalt his great uncle; Ernest favoureth religion. George Ernest, prince and earl of Henneberg, at Schlewsing, by the forest called Turing. George duke of Silesia and Brieke, of the family of the kings of Poland, dwelleth at Brieke; his eldest son Joachim Frederick hath married the daughter of the prince of Anhalt; his second son, John George. Henry duke of Silesia and Lignitz, son to the brother of George, dwelleth at Lignitz; he hath no children alive. Frederick, brother to Henry, unmarried. Charles duke of Munsterberg and Olsse, his wife the countess of Sternberg in Bohemia, where he maketh his abode. Henry, brother to Charles, remaineth at Olsse. John Frederick, duke of Teschen. Charles, duke of Lorrain, his chief court at Nancy. His eldest son Henry of man's estate. Charles cardinal archbishop of Mets. A daughter in the French court. Besides, there are in Germany three electors bishops, and divers bishops of great livings. The free towns of greatest importance are Noremberg, Auspurg, Ulmes, and Strasburg: then the cantons of the Swisses, the Grisons, and Valois. The greatest trouble in Germany at this time is about the concordate, farthered by the duke of Saxon, and the count Palatine. There is at this present no prince in Germany greatly toward or redoubted. The duke Casimir's credit is greatly impaired, and his ability small. The dyet imperial shortly should be held, where the concordate shall be urged, collection for Hungary made, and a king of Romans named. the duke Joyeuse, la Valette, and monsieur D'Au. The queen-mother ruleth him rather by policy and fear he hath of her, than by his good will; yet he always doth show great reverence towards her. The Guise is in as great favour with him as ever he was; the house is now the greatest of all France, being allied to Ferrara, Savoy, Lorrain, Scotland, and favoured of all the papists; the French king having his kinswoman to wife, and divers great personages in that realm of his house. The chiefest at this present in credit in court, whose counsel he useth, are Villeroy, Villaquier, Bellievre, the chancellor and lord keeper, Birague and Chiverny. He greatly entertaineth no amity with any prince, other than for form; neither is his friendship otherwise respected of others, save in respect of the reputation of so great a kingdom. The pope beareth a great sway, and the king of Spain, by means of his pensions; and of the queenmother with the Guise; she for her two daughters, he for other regard, can do what he list there, or hinder what he would not have done. The division in his country for matters of religion and state, through miscontentment of the nobility to see strangers advanced to the greatest charges of the realm, the offices of justice sold, the treasury wasted, the people polled, the country destroyed, hath bred great trouble, and like to see more. The faction between the house of Guise against that of Montmorancy, hath gotten great advantage. At this present the king is about to restore Don Antonio king of Portugal, whereto are great levies and preparation. Duke of Brabant. Francis duke of Anjou and of Brabant, for his calling and quality greatly to be considered as any prince this day living, being second person to the king his brother, and in likelihood to succeed him. There is noted in the dispo sition of this prince a quiet mildness, giving satisfaction to all men; facility of access and natural courtesy; understanding and speech great and eloquent; secrecy more than commonly is in the French; from his youth always desirous of action, the which thing hath made him always followed and respected. And though hitherto he hath brought to pass no great purpose, having suffered great wants, and resistance both at home and abroad, yet by the intermeddling is grown to good experience, readi ness and judgment, the better thereby able to guide and govern his affairs, both in practice, in treaty, and action. Moreover, the diseased estate of the world doth so concur with this his active forwardness, as it giveth him matter to work upon: and he is the only man to be seen of all them in distress, or desirous of alteration. A matter of special furtherance to all such as have achieved great things, when they have found matter disposed to receive form. And there is to be found no other prince in this part of the world so towards and forward as the duke, towards whom they in distress may turn their eyes. We do plainly see in the most countries of christendom so unsound and shaken an estate, as desireth the help of some great person, to set together and join again the pieces asunder and out of joint. Wherefore the presumption is great, that if this prince continue this his course, he is likely to become a mighty potentate: for, one enterprise failing, other will be offered, and still men evil at ease, and desirous of a head and captain, will run to him that is fittest to receive them. Besides, the French, desirous to shake off the civil wars, must needs attempt somewhat abroad. This duke first had intelligence with the count Ludovic in king Charles's days, and an enterprise to escape from the court, and in this king's time joined with them of the religion and malcontents: after was carried against them; seeketh the marriage with her Majesty, so mighty a princess, as it were to marry might with his activity. He hath had practice in Germany to be created king of Romans, made a sudden voyage with great expedition into the Low Countries, now is there again with better success than so soon was looked for. The king of Spain, Philip, son to Spain. Charles the fifth, about sixty years of age, a prince of great understanding, subtle and aspiring, diligent and cruel. This king especially hath made his benefit of the time, where his last attempt on Portugal deserveth exact consideration, thereby as by the workmanship to know the master. The first success he had was at St. Quintin, where he got a notable hand of the French; he sought to reduce the Low Countries to an absolute subjection. He hath kept France in continual broil, where, by his pensions and the favour of the house of Guise, by means of the queen-mother in contemplation of her nieces, he beareth great sway. With the pope he is so linked, as he may do what him list, and dispose of that authority to serve his purposes: as he has gotten great authority in pretending to protect the church and religion. He possesseth the one half of Italy, comprehending Sicily and Sardinia, with Naples and Milan; the which estates do yield him little other profit, save the maintenance of so many Spaniards as he keepeth there always. The duke of Florence relieth greatly upon him, as well in respect of the state of Siena, as of the ports he holdeth, and of his greatness. Lucca is under his protection. Genoa, the one faction at his devotion, with their galleys: at his pension is most of the greatest there. Besides the Low Countries, he holdeth the French Comté, the best used of all his subjects, and Luxembourg: the West Indies furnish him gold and silver, the which he consumeth in the wars of the Low Countries, and in pensions, and is greatly indebted, while he worketh on the foundation his father laid, to erect a monarchy, the which if he succeed in the conquest of Portugal, he is likely to achieve, unless death do cut him off. He hath one son of the years of five by his last wife, two daughters by the French king's sister, two base sons. He hath greatly sought the marriage of the queen's daughter of France, sister to his last wife, and cousin german removed. His revenues are reckoned to amount The Turk's to sixteen millions. --- revenues are thought to be equal with his. The chief in credit with him of martial men and for counsel are He maketh account to have in continual pay 50,000 soldiers. He maintaineth galleys to the number of 140, whereof there are sixty in Portugal, the rest are at Naples, and other places. Now is on league with the Turk. D. Antonio, elect king of Portugal, Portugal. thrust out by the king of Spain, of fortyfive years of age, a mild spirit, sober and discreet: he is now in France, where he hath levied soldiers, whereof part are embarked, hoping by the favour of that king, and the good-will the Portugals do bear him, to be restored again. He holdeth the Torges, and the East-Indians yet remain well affected to him, a case of itself deserving the considering and relief of all other princes. Besides in his person, his election to be noted with the title he claimeth very singular, and seldom the like seen, being chosen of all the people; the great dangers he hath escaped likewise at sundry times. The king of Poland, Stephen Ba- Poland. toaye, a baron of Hungary, by the favour of the Turk chosen king of the Pollacks, after the escape made by the French king; a prince of the greatest value and courage of any at this day, of competent years, sufficient wisdom, the which he hath showed in the siege of Danske, and the wars with the Muscovite. The Hungarians could be content to exchange the emperor for him. The Bohemians likewise wish him in the stead of the other. He were like to attain to the empire, were not that mortal enmity between those two nations as could not agree in one subjection. Straight upon his election he married the Infant of Poland, somewhat in years and crooked, only to content the Pollacks, but never companied with her. He doth tolerate there all religions, himself heareth the mass, but is not thought to be a papist: he had a great part of his education in Turkey, after served the last emperor. Denmark. Frederick the second, of forty-eight years, king of Denmark and Norway; his wife Sophia, daughter to Ulricke duke of Mechelebourg, by whom he hath six children, four |