BEfore I launch out into the maine of this large Sea of matter , and that my Sayles be filld with the gentle breezes of your favourable attention , I have something to say , while I remain yet in the Port , of Perigrination , or Forren Travell , which your Excellency hath already approved of , and applauded in such a high straine of Eloquence . Yet for my part I wold after the example of the Chineses , were I worthy to give Counsell herein , prohibit Forren travell , under pain of a penalty , as the times go now , or at least I wold prescribe som exact Lawes to regulat Peregrination . Now whereas the young Traveller shold apply himself principally to the knowledg of that which might prove pertinent and profitable to the publique good of his own Countrey ; let him make account before hand that he cannot find that every where as he passeth : For as a man cannot expect to find out in a Taylors Shopp in Hungary a suite of Clothes that will fitt a Spaniard , or in Spain a suite that will fitt a Frenchman , though his next Conterranean Neighbour , their modes of habit being so different . So every Countrey hath som municipall constitutions and customes peculiar and proper to themselfs , which are not onely disagreeable , but incompatible with the Goverment of other Nations ; and one of the chiefest curiosity and care the prime judgment of a Traveller shold be to distinguish betwixt such Lawes . But helas , how many go now abroad , of whom ther are high hopes conceav'd that at their return they might act the part of Agamemnons ; but having so journed som yeeres in Italy and other hott Countreys in the flower and spring of their youth , they com back grown old men before their time , bringing home Winter in their faces , and so are rather fitt to act the part of Thersites then Agamemnon . How few do rerurn true Germans ? having habituated themselves to softness , Effeminacy , and Lux , or to some il-favour'd posture ; either by shrinking in the Shoulders , by cringing with the k●…ee , and sweeping the earth with their feet , or by ducking down their necks , by poudring their Dublets , by extenuating the tone of their voice , after a womanish fashion , or by jetting , dancing , or pratling up and down the Streets , with other loose , and affected Modes . Now , as Paris in Homer , when he went abroad , fell enamour'd with Helen , which was the onely fruit of his Travels : So these never looking after serious things , hunt after toyes , and bables ; Or as Physitians observe of Horse-leeches , that when they apply them to the body , they use to suck onely the ill , corrupted blood : So these Travellers draw in the worst things , and it were well , if it remained onely with them ; but the mischiefe is , that they disperse the poyson among others , and infest them by their touch , or breath . For where can be found a greater Lux in Apparrell , then in Germany ? where a greater vanity in cloathing dead Walls ? while poor living Soules , who beare the Image of God Almighty , go naked . Where is there greater excesse in Dyet , in Queckshoses , Made-dishes , and Sawces ? And all this may be imputed to Peregrination . Where is there more crisping of haire , more boring of Eares to hang in Rings ? where is there more dead mens haire worn upon the heads of the living ? And we may also thank Peregrination for this . How many have gone to France with some Religion , and come back without any ? How many have gone to Spain with cheerfull , and well-dispos'd humours , but come back with a kinde of dull Melancholy ? How many have gone o're the Alpes with plain and open hearts , but return'd full of cunning and mentall reservation ? How many have gone to England , ' and come home with Tobacco-pipes in their mouths ? How many have gone to Holland gentile men , but come back meer Boors ? And we may thank Peregrination for all this . The French Disease , the English Sweat , the Hungarian Scab , the African Leprosie , the Spanish Calenture came into Germany by Peregrination . The Physitians observe that if a man hath drunk Poyson , and be presently clap'd into the belly of a Mule , he may recover ; and if one Mule will not serve , another must be kill'd . I was told of one that was preserv'd so by the death of ten ; but I beleive if all the Mules of Barbary were sacrificed , they would not be enough to cure our German Gentlemen , who have suck'd in so much Venome abroad , under the tast of Hony . Now , if there be a strict Law among us , to punish those severely who import counterfeit Merchandises by way of Commerce ; And if it be death to bring in base Sophisticated Coine , how much more do they deserve to be punisht , who indroduce Vice instead of Vertue , bad Customes for good ; to pervert the manners , the dispositions , and nature of the whole Nation ? I know this itch of Travelling , and to wander abroad , is no where greater then among us : How many thousands of us are found in Paris at this time ? How many hundred in Padua , and Venice ; England is full of us , and many other Countries . Prince Rodolphus discoursing with one that had been a great Traveller , told him , Iam vidisti Orbem terrarum universum , qui nihil aliud est quam colles , Montes , Valles , Planities , syluae & hujus generis alia . I finde thou hast gone over most part of the earthly Globe , which is nothing else but Hills , and Dales , Mountaines , Vallies , Plaines , and Champians , Woods , and Groves , with such like things . Eudoxus wish'd and implor'd the Gods , that he might but have power to go neer the body of the Sun to behold his Beauty , Magnitude , and Matter , and he would willingly be content to be afterwards burnt with the Beames thereof . So many of our Country-men are so greedy of Peregrination , that they will venture upon it though they shorten their lives thereby . Let us heare how Seneca that grave Philosopher , descants upon Peregrination , when he writes thus to Lucilius . Quid per se prodesse Peregrinatio cuiquam potuit ? What hath Peregrination of it selfe profited any man ? It hath not bridled lust , attemper'd pleasure , repress'd anger , nor broke the un●…amed violence of love ; It hath ro●…ted no ill out of the minde , it hath not improv'd the judgment , nor rectified errour , but it hath detain'd us a while with new Sights , as Boyes are with Rattles : It provokes the inconstancy of the minde , and by tossing it to , and fro , makes it more light and moveable ; Therefore men use to be quickly cloy'd with those places they formerly did so much covet ; and like Birds , flye away thence almost before they have taken any footing . Peregrination will give you knowledge of Nations , it will shew you new shapes of Mountaines , of Fields , and Meadowes , with the course and nature of some River : As how Nilus swels in the Sommer Solstice , and Tygris is suddenly snatch'd away from our sight , but passing a little under the Earth recovers her former greatnesse : How Meander , which hath afforded the Poets so much matter and sport , is intangled with so many windings , and often-times rushes into her Neighbour before she can recover her selfe , but she growes thereby neither better , nor wiser . Beleive me , my noble Country-men , unlesse this strange itch of forreigne Travell be cured in us , or at least-wise unlesse there be some Lawes and Cautions prescribed to regular Peregrination , that there be better returns made , our Ancestors Ghosts will rise up against us , and Posterity will bewaile our Incogitancy , and weaknesse too late ; for they will hardly be able to finde out among us what were the Primitive manners , the continence , the constancy and nature of a true German .

And now to the task impos'd upon me ; but before I buckle my selfe for the businesse , I make it my humble request that those touches I have given of Peregrination , may be understood in a sane sense : It is not out of any dislike I have of it , for there is no Creature on earth hath a greater esteem thereof , then my selfe , acknowledging it to be the ripest Schoole and principall Academy , for the study both of men , and manners ; and the World affoords not more gallant Students and Proficients herein , then I finde now before me in this Princely Assembly : but what hath dropt from me , was touching the abuse thereof , as also in order to the method we have propos'd to our selves , to discourse of things pro & con , and to answer in part to that incomparable Speech of your Highnesse , made in praise of Peregrination .

And now I will enter into the Province I have under-taken , which is high Germany , and for performance of your desires , most Excellent Prince , which are Commands to me , I will compose my voice and tongue accordingly ; and at the very first , will unmask my minde unto you in three words : Germania Europae Princeps , Germany is the Princesse of Europe . And truly never any Opinion proceeded more impartially , and more from the Center of my heart , then this : For the maintenance of which Tenet there wants not much Oratory , or any moving perswasions and allurements of words , which the ancient Orators both Greek , and Latine did use , when they delivered their mindes in any doubtfull or desperate matter . The greatest difficulty I finde in this businesse , is out of such a hugh heap of matter to cull out , and put before you the choicest and best peeces : And as Geographers in describing the World , use by little lines to shew the course of mighty Rivers ; as Danube , Nile , Ganges , Thames , Tyber , Tagus , with others ; As also in small points to describe Rome , Constantinople , the gran Cayre , Paris , London , and Ghent , the greatest wall'd Towne in Europe : So will I be as briefe and as punctuall as possibly I can , in setting forth the praises of this mighty Country , and Nation .

But to speak the worst at first , I pray hear what Cornelius Tacitus , the Critique of his times , writes of it ; Quis prater periculum horridi & ignoti Maris : Who without the dangers of a doubtfull and unknown Sea would leave Asia , Affrique , or Italy , to seek Germany , an informed peece of earth , a rough clime , a Land unmanured , full of thick horrid Woods , huge Lakes , impatient of fruitfull Trees , yet full of Cattle though small : In stead of Silver Vessells they have them of the same stuff as themselves , of pure earth : They have no Cities , they are given to sleep , sloth , and gluttony , being ignorant of the secrets of Letters ; they use Dice among their serious affaires , with so much rashnesse in winning or losing , that at one cast they will hazard their bodies , and liberty . Caes●…r also saith , that the Germanes hold it a kind of policy to have large vast Wildernesse about them , wherin they permitt Robberies for the exercise of their young men , and avoyding of idlenesse , &c. Such speeches Caesar and Tacitus give of the Germans ; but will you know the reason of it ? Because the one in divers conflicts was soundly beaten by them , and the other speaks ignorantly , or partially , because he was an Officer under Vespasian in France , then a little after upon the beginning of Trajans Raign , the Emperour Nerva being newly gone out of the World , a matter of a hundred yeers after the Incarnation he scribbled a Book , De mori●…u Germanorum , of the manners of the Germans : But Caesar himselfe saw onely the Skirts of the Countrey , whence he was repelld , he never entred into the bowells of the Land , and what he delivers he took up in trust by confused rumors : But if either of these liv'd now , they wold sing another note , they wold stand astonish'd that Germany should have so many florishing Provinces , so many noble and opulent Cities , so many pleasant Villages ▪ such fruitfull Orchards , fragrant Gardens , and fart Fields , such Mines of Gold ▪ Silver , Lead , Iron , with all other Mettalls , such martiall people so many Universities , so many Archdukes , Princes , Marquises , Landgraves , Earls , Barons , Knights , with a world of Noble Families that can exactly draw their Pedigree thousands of yeeres pass'd : I say , if Caesar or Tacitus liv'd now , they wold be more enlightned , and cry out , We Romans in many things were too credulous in beleeving what was spoken of our Enemies , and in some things we injur'd them to shew our wits , but our owne senses do convince us now , and tell us that Germany is another thing : We were Trojans once , but all our glory hes buried in the dust of our Nephewes and Posterity , having with sloth , idlenesse , and foulnesse of vice , soyld all our Heroik exploits : But the Germans continu still great Heroes both in respect of their own Vertues , and their Progen●…tors . They are still magnanimous , most just , Religious , fortunat , and so bless'd , that there you cannot discover any decay at all in the age of the World . If Virgi●… were reviv'd , and again upon earth , leaving the barren theme of praysing Augustus ▪ he wold break out into the admiration of our German Emperour , and having got so rich and divine an Argument to rowse up his Muse , he wold sing ,

In lieu of the Romanes he would extoll the Germanes , who first ransack'd and ruin'd Rome . But most Princely Auditors , let us not examine as much what our Predecessors did , but how we follow their steps , and how neer [ our vigilance , vertue ▪ and valour comes to theirs : It is the practise of Providence , and the rule of divine Majesty , not to powr down all his benedictions at once , but to reserve some of them for future ages . And Homer , as blinde as he was , could discern this , when he sings ,

The Gods do not showre down all their blessings at once upon man-kinde . But how mightily have we profitted , what huge advantages have we now of our Fore-fathers ? T is true wee were once without God , because without Christ , as all Gentiles were ; but now by his ineffable grace , and immense goodnesse we are his Domestiques , we are coopled and admitted to enjoy the priviledges , and rights of Children , of his Chosen ; therefore t is fitting that every Christian heart when he falls into the contemplation of this high Prerogative , shold with pious ejaculations cry out , Sanctus , sanctus , sanctus Dominus Deus exercituum , plena est omnis terra gl●…ria ejus , Holy , holy , holy is the Lord God of Hosts , all the Earth is full of his glory . Now as there be som Rivers that presently as soon almost as they are derivd from their Fountains encrease and flow with such a force , that they can bear Shipps of burden , and drive Mills ; as Blavius in this Countrey , and the little Loire in France hard by Orleans , which within almost a flight shott from the Source , swells to such a stupendous fulnesse and depth , that ther 's a Bridg with diverse arches over her : so the glorious light of the Gospell darted from above did irradiat all Germany as it were in a moment , it dispelld all the clowds of Paganisme , and with its powerfull beams it did melt the hearts of the most frozen and remotest parts with admirable celerity : For presently there were such pious contentions who shold exceed one another in devotion and acts of Charity , that a world of Schooles , Hospitalls , Temples , Monasteries , and Religious Houses were built , and endow'd with plentifull revenues soon after .