where his last attempt on Portugal deserveth exaet 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 Franch 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 atchieve, 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 to sixteen The Turks millions. 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. reve- thought D. Antonio, elect king of Portugal, thrust out by Portugal. the king of Spain, of forty-five 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 con sidering 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 Batoaye, a baron of Poland. 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 shewed 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 there 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 Denmark. Sweden. part of his education in Turkey, after served the last emperor. 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 daughters and two sons, Christianus and Ulricus, the eldest of five years of age. The chiefest about him, Nicolas Cose his chancellor, in whose counsel he doth much repose. He hath always 800 horse about his court, to whom he giveth ten dollars the month. His father deceased in the year 1559, after which he had wars ten years space with the Swede, which gave him occasion to arm by sea. His navy is six great ships of 1500 ton, and fifteen smaller, ten gallies which sail to pass the Straits. His revenues grow chiefly in customs, and such living as were in the hands of the abbeys, and bishops, whereby he is greatly enriched: his chief haven is Copenhagen, where always his navy lieth. His brother John, duke of Holst in Jutland, married to the daughter of the duke of Inferior Saxony. Magnus, his other brother, bishop of Courland, married the daughter of the Muscovite's brother. The chiefest wars that the king of Denmark hath is with Sweden, with whom now he hath peace. The duke of Holst is uncle to the king now reigning; they make often alliances with Scotland. John, king of Sweden, son of Gustavus. This Gustavus had four sons, Erick, John, Magnus, Charles. Erick married a soldier's daughter, by whom he had divers children, and died in prison. John, now king, married the sister of Sigismond late king of Poland. Magnus bestraught of his wits. Charles married a daughter of the Palsgrave. Five daughters of Gustavus. Katherine married to the earl of East-Friseland. Anne to one of the Palsgraves. Cicilia to the marquis of Baden. Sophia to the duke of Inferior Saxony. This prince is of no great force nor wealth, but of late hath increased his navigation by reason of the wars between him and the Dane, the which, the wars ceasing, they hardly maintain. The Muscovite emperor of Russia, John Basil, of Muscovy. threescore years of age, in league and amity with no prince; always at wars with the Tartarians, and now with the Pollake. He is advised by no council, but governeth altogether like a tyrant. He hath one son of thirty years of age. Not long sithence this prince deposed himself, and set in his place a Tartar, whom he removed again. Of late sent an ambassador to Rome, giving some hope to submit himself to that see. Their religion is nearest the Greek church, full of superstition and idolatry. MR. BACON'S DISCOURSE IN THE PRAISE OF HIS SOVEREIGN. No praise of magnanimity, nor of love, nor of knowledge, can intercept her praise, that planteth and nourisheth magnanimity by her example, love by her person, and knowledge by the peace and serenity of her times. And if these rich pieces be so fair unset, what are they set, and set in all perfection? Magnanimity no doubt consisteth in contempt of peril, in contempt of profit, and in meriting of the times wherein one liveth. For contempt of peril, see a lady that cometh to a crown after the experience of some adverse fortune, which for the most part extenuateth the mind, and maketh it apprehensive of fears. No sooner she taketh the sceptre into her sacred hands, but she putteth on a resolution to make the greatest, the most important, the most dangerous that can be in a state, the alteration of religion. This she doth, not after a sovereignty established and continued by sundry years, when custom might have bred in her people a more absolute obedience; when trial of her servants. might have made her more assured whom to employ ; when the reputation of her policy and virtue might have made her government redoubted: but at the very entrance of her reign, when she was green in authority, her servants scant known unto her, the adverse part not weakened, her own part not confirmed. Neither doth she reduce or reunite her realm to the religion of the states about her, that the evil inclination of the subject might be countervailed by the good correspondence in foreign parts: but contrariwise, she introduceth a religion exterminated and persecuted both at home and abroad. Her proceeding herein is not by degrees and by stealth, but absolute and at once. Was she encouraged thereto by the strength she found |