The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz

Renew：Volume IV Part 16
Author：Karl Ludwig von Pollnitz
Update：08-15-2023
Tags：Biographies Memoirs
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Chapter List

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter of _Magdebourg_ is still, bating the change of Religion, on the same footing as before the Reformation. The Canons must all make Proof of their n.o.bility; tho" "tis a _Punctilio_ with which the King, who confers all the Prebends and Dignities of the Chapter, sometimes dispenses. The present Provost is the Duke of _Saxe-Barbi_, who succeeded his Father in that Dignity, which brings him in 12000 Crowns a-year. He lives in a fine House on the great Square, fronting the Palace, built by the Order of King _Frederic_ I. who also caus"d a Citadel to be erected here, on the other side of the _Elbe_, over which there is a Bridge. That King began likewise to fortify the Town; and King _Frederic-William_, who carried on, and finish"d the Fortifications, has now made _Magdebourg_ one of the most important Places in _Europe_. M. _de Walrave_, Chief Engineer, had the Direction of those Works, which are a Proof of his great Ability.
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter and Canons who must prove their n.o.bility both by the Father"s side and Mother"s side, by sixteen Descents. When this Bishop.r.i.c.k was seculariz"d it was said that no Catholic Prince could ever be possess"d of this State. Therefore when the last Duke of _Saxe-Zeits_, Administrator of _Naumbourg_, turn"d Catholic, the King of _Poland_ as eldest of the _Saxon_ Family and Executor of the _Pacta_ or Conventions made between the Princes of that Family, took possession of _Naumbourg_. The Duke"s being reconciled to the _Lutheran_ Communion was to no purpose, the King did not restore his Dominions to him, but still possesses them, tho" he is more a Catholic than the Duke of _Zeits_ perhaps ever was. You know that this Prince has left a Nephew who wou"d have been his Heir, if he had not been a Catholic and a Priest. This is the Prince who, I acquainted you from _Dresden_, was Bishop of _Konigsgratz_ in _Bohemia_. He was born a _Lutheran_, as are all those of his Family. His Uncle the Cardinal of _Saxe_, Brother to the Duke of _Zeits_, made him embrace the Roman Catholic Religion when he was very young, and afterwards persuaded him to enter into Ecclesiastical Orders, by which step he deprived his Nephew of the glorious Prerogative of being a Sovereign Prince, and transferred his Rights to the King of _Poland_ his distant Cousin.
Chapter of the Abbey Church in 1726, in the room of _Constantine_ Baron of _Buthler_, who died suddenly, and not without suspicion of Poison. _Fulde_ is a dirty little Town open on all sides, and has nothing remarkable but the Abbey Church, and the Prince"s Palace, which are two Freestone Buildings that make a very grand Appearance. The Apartments of the Palace are very richly furnish"d. The last Abbot being a Man of good Understanding and great Views, caused this Palace to be so adorn"d as to demonstrate the Wealth of the Abbey.
Chapter consists of Persons of Quality: It has the Right of chusing the Bishop; and "tis he who governs in the Absence of the Prince. Such a Resort as here is of the n.o.bility makes the Time pa.s.s away agreeably; but they drink as hard here as at _Fulde_ and _Wurtzbourg_, so that it looks as if Drinking was an inseparable Function of the Ecclesiastical Courts. Having some Relations in this Town I stay"d there three Days, during which I had the Pleasure of Drinking every Day with one of my Cousins out of a great Goblet of solid Gold which weigh"d to the Value of a thousand Ducats. You can"t imagine how well the Wine went down out of a Cup of that Value. I heartily wish"d that my Cousin wou"d have dealt by me as _Joseph_ did by _Benjamin_, and that he had put up his Cup in my Portmanteau, provided he wou"d not have sent to fetch me back again, as the Governour of _Egypt_ did his Brother; but this was what my dear Cousin did not think fit to do.
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter of the Cathedral consists of Persons of Quality who are oblig"d to make Proof of their n.o.bility. The Canons have the Prerogative of chusing their Bishop, who like all the Prelates of _Germany_ is a Sovereign Prince. He dwells at _Augsbourg_, tho" he ought to reside at _Dillingen_. The Episcopal Palace is old, and not very commodious: It joins to the Cathedral, which is a _Gothic_ gloomy unwieldy Fabric, but its Ornaments are very rich.
Chapter 16
Chapter who ought all to be Princes or Counts, are not of very great Service, because most of "em holding other Benefices, only come to _Strasbourg_ to pa.s.s away three Months there of their Residence, and by consequence they are here as Strangers. The best Houses therefore are the Intendant"s and the King"s Lieutenant"s. There are always a great many Officers here who are indeed amiable Fellows, and know how to serve, and to be good Company too upon occasion. The Commandants of the Corps are in Years, and Officers of Experience, and the rest are clever smart Youths who long sadly to be fighting, and would fain make you believe the four Corners of the World will quickly be on fire. I have not seen finer Infantry than the _French_ Infantry at this present time. There are very fine Gentlemen too in the Cavalry, but then they are not near so well mounted as ours. You know the Cry with us is that the _French_ are ruin"d, and not able to do any thing more. How the Case stands with them, I really know not, but if one may judge of it by Appearances, it cannot be so. No Troops were ever better cloathed, better paid, more spruce, nor finer. The Officers are splendid; they game, divert themselves, and eat and drink well, which does not seem to me to be the Life of People in want. Upon these terms, I would be content to be in such want all my Life long.
Chapter of _Worms_, which is wholly compos"d of Persons of Quality, is now the chief Glory of the Town. The Bishop of it is the Elector[142] of _Mentz_, who was chose _July_ 12, 1694. This Prince has built a new Episcopal Palace, the Contrivance of which is beautiful. It joins to the Cathedral which is ancient, and built very substantially. The _Lutherans_ have just built a fine Church, the Roof of which is painted.
Chapter 19
Chapter is compos"d of the Archbishop, a Provost, a Dean, and twenty four Canons, all Men of Quality, who are only oblig"d to four Months Residence, and the rest of the Time they may go where they please. Both the Provost and Dean have the Crosier and Mitre[158]. The Archbishop, as well as the Elector of _Cologn_, has the Privilege of dressing in the Habit of a Cardinal. This Prelate has the Directorship of the College of Princes at the Dyet of the Empire alternatively with the Archduke of _Austria_. He is moreover _Legatus natus & perpetuus_ of the Holy See, and Primate of _Germany_. His t.i.tles are these, "_Leopold_, by the Grace of G.o.d, Archbishop of _Saltzbourg_, and Prince of the Empire, perpetual Legate of the Holy Apostolic See of _Rome_, Primate of _Germany_, descended of the ill.u.s.trious Family of the Barons of _Firmian_."
Chapter 21
Chapter has fix"d the Election for next _May_. A great many Travellers highly extol the Bishop"s Palace, but for my own part, I was not so fortunate as to observe any thing in it that was worthy of Attention.
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter to kiss his Foot. He was from thence carried into the Church, and put down at the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament, before which he made his Prayer kneeling, as did also the Cardinals. After this Prayer, he was carried to the Chapel of St. _Gregory_ the Great, where he made another short Prayer prostrate before the Altar. Then he was placed in a Throne on the Right-side of the Altar, and the Cardinals seated themselves upon Benches, on both Sides of the Chapel. While the Musick was performing a _Tercet_, they put on their white Copes, embroidered with Gold, and their Mitres of white Damask, and the Archbishops and Bishops did the same. After this, they went all, both Cardinals and Prelates, to perform Homage to the Pope, with this Distinction, that the Cardinals kissed only the Hand of the Holy Father, but the Prelates kissed his Hand and his Foot too. When this Ceremony was ended, the Pope caused the Crucifix to be elevated, and gave his first Blessing to the Standers-by, and the Populace, thereto annexing a plenary Indulgence _in articulo mortis_. He afterwards descended from his Throne, put himself again in his Chair of Procession, and was carried before the High Altar. He was the only Person that had then the Mitre on his Head; for the Cardinals and Prelates held theirs in their Hands. While he was thus carried in Procession, a Master of the Ceremonies went before him, burning Flax three times, calling out aloud at each time to him, _Sancte Pater! sic transit Gloria Mundi_: i. e. _Holy Father! so pa.s.seth away the Glory of the World_. This Exhortation to the Remembrance of the Frailty of human Greatness seemed to me to touch the Pope"s Heart; for he lifted up his Eyes to Heaven, and the very Tears trickled down his Cheeks.
Chapter of St. _John de Lateran_, conducted him to the Throne which was erected on the Right-side of the great Gate. The Pope being there seated, array"d himself in his _Pontificalibus_, and put on the Mitre, after which he admitted the Chapter to kiss his Foot. Then the Cardinal Arch-priest harangu"d him in the Name of the Chapter, and presented him the Keys of the Church, one of which was of Gold, the other of Silver, in a Silver gilt Bason adorn"d with Flowers. During this, the Cardinals put on their Copes and their Mitres. Then the Pope rising from his Throne, advanc"d towards the great Gate of the Church. The Cardinal Arch-priest perfum"d him with Incense thrice, and presented the Sprinkler to him, which the Pope dipp"d into the Holy Water, and therewith sprinkled the Clergy and Laity. Then he seated himself in his Procession Chair, and was carry"d thro" the Body of the Church to the High Altar, the Members of the Chapter holding a Canopy over his Head. The Pope kneeling before the Holy Sacrament, made a short Prayer, and went and plac"d himself upon a Throne erected at the Bottom of the Choir facing the Entrance. There he receiv"d the usual Obeisance of the Cardinals, Bishops, Prelates and other Clergy, and then gave his solemn Benediction to the Standers-by, being a.s.sisted in this Ceremony by two Cardinal-Deacons, who put on his Mitre, and took it off, just as the Service requir"d. Then his Holiness descended from the Throne, and being seated in his Procession Chair, was carry"d to the _Lateran_ Palace. During this, the Musick play"d Anthems, and the Cardinal Arch-priest read several Prayers. When the Pope arriv"d at the great Pew fronting the s.p.a.cious Square that opens towards the City of ROME, he ascended a very high Throne, and gave his Benediction twice to all the Christian People. Then he saw some slight Medals scatter"d among the Populace, which were struck with his own Die. After this, he was carry"d in a Sedan to his Coach, in which he took with him the Cardinals _Banchieri_ and _Olivieri_, and thus he return"d to the Palace of _Monte-Cavallo_, attended by his usual Train.
Chapter 27
Chapter of St. _Peter_, and all the Prelates and Bishops. Three _Tiara_"s, and as many Mitres, adorn"d with Pearls and Diamonds, were carry"d before the Holy Father. The Pope was environed with the hundred _Swiss_ of his Guards, all in Armour, and by the Officers of his Chamber; and the Procession was clos"d by the Light-horse, and Cuira.s.siers on Horseback. The Colonnade of St. _Peter_, and the Streets, were hung with Tapestry, and cover"d with Canvas, to keep off the Heat of the Sun. As the Pope pa.s.sed by the House where the Family of the _Stuarts_ liv"d, he gave to those Princes the Blessing of the Holy Sacrament. The Holy Father"s Nieces were in a neighbouring House; but they did not receive that Honour, it being reserved only for Sovereigns.
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter of _Lyons_ is one of the most haughty in all _Christendom_, and "tis not without Reason; for it is founded upon the Blood of above 20,000 Martyrs, and has always been reputed the Seminary of Popes, Cardinals and Bishops, who have been taken from thence to govern the Church. n.o.bility is inseparable therein from the Priesthood, and "tis an Observation made by several Authors, that in the third Century the Chapter consisted of seventy-four Canons, of whom one was the Son of an Emperor, nine the Sons of Kings, fourteen the Sons of Dukes, thirty the Sons of Counts, and twenty were Barons. "Tis no wonder therefore, that the Counts of _Lyons_, for they are not called Canons, made a Scruple to admit for their Archbishop _Camillus de la Neuville_, who was not of their Body, and whom King _Lewis_ XIV. had nominated to this Archbishop.r.i.c.k. _Neuville_ is known to be the Name of the Family of _Villeroi_. The Grandfather of this Prelate was the first of the Family that was of any Eminence; he had been Treasurer of the War-Office, and _Prevot des Marchands_ of the City of _Paris_; his Grandfather _Nicolas de la Neuville_ had been Secretary of State, and his Father _Charles de la Neuville_ was the first of the Family who had a t.i.tle of Honour, which was that of Marquis _d"Alincourt_, Sieur _de Villeroi_, an Estate which _Peter le Gendre_ Treasurer of _France_, had given to his Grandfather. The Marquis _d"Alincourt_ was Governor of _Lyons_ and the _Lyonnois_, and dying in the Service of the King, as Amba.s.sador at _Rome_, his Majesty gave his Son the Archbishop.r.i.c.k of _Lyons_, when it became vacant. The Chapter refus"d to admit him, because he was not of a suitable Rank, nor a Member of their Body; but the King found a way to make himself obey"d, and when the Archbishop harangu"d the Chapter, he took these Words of the Psalmist for his Text, _The Stone which the Builders had rejected, is become the head Stone of the Corner_.
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter of the Collegiate Church of _St. Mary_ consists of true Priests, who rail at one another plentifully, and are never seen together but in the Chapter-house, where they have the Diversion of abusing each other heartily; so that I dare say, were they to embrace at High Ma.s.s, they would hug so lovingly, as to squeeze the Breath out of one another"s Bodies.
Chapter is pleased with him, I know not; but the Populace are very fond of him. He governs with Moderation and Wisdom. He is very just, rarely pardons a Crime, is of very difficult Access, but in other respects good; very regular in his Affairs, and abounding in Charities; which, perhaps, are not always distributed according to his Intention. He had for a long time a _Capuchin_ to be Confessor, who directed every Thing; but the good Father was accused of loving his Brothers too well, and of being accessary to their Breach of the Vow of Poverty. This _Capuchin_ Minister died without being lamented for any thing else, by that Prince"s Domestics. He is succeeded in his Post of Confessor, by another _Capuchin_; but his Authority is more limited.
Chapter of _Cologne_ governs with the t.i.tle of Stadtholder. He is lodged in the Electoral Palace, and is served by the Elector"s Officers. During this Time, _Bonn_ is a very melancholy Place. The n.o.bility and Gentry have their a.s.semblies at the House of the Countess _de Fugger_, where there are many more of the Fair s.e.x than ours, and the Canonesses of this City make a shining Figure.
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter wherein the Catholics and the Protestants are equally admitted, and both have the Liberty of their Public Worship. The Catholics have several Convents in the Town, of which that of the Recollets is the most beautiful, and their Church is very fine. These Fryars say they owe their Foundation to the ancient Counts of _Regenstein_, who were heretofore Feudataries to the House of _Brunswic_, and whose Lands belong now to the King, notwithstanding the very fair Pretensions of the Dukes of _Brunswic_, and especially of the Duke of _Blankenbourg_, Father to the Empress, to whose share those Pretensions devolv"d. In 1709 this Prince gave a Sum of Money for new vamping the Tomb of their Founder, which they have done, and moreover added a _Latin_ Inscription to it in Capital Letters of Gold. When the King went to _Halberstadt_ he honor"d this Convent with his Presence, on which occasion the Father-Guardian preach"d before him and gave the Sacramental Benediction, because his Majesty had a mind to see the Ceremonies of the Catholic Church.
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter which is still subsisting, tho" Protestant; and according to ancient Custom, none are admitted into it but Men of Quality.
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter of _Mentz_ consists of forty two Canons, of whom the Dean and the twenty three first are call"d _Capitulars_, and the other _Domicellaires_. The former only are those that elect the Archbishop, who from the Moment that he is chose, becomes an Elector of the Empire. The Pope confirms his Election in Spirituals, and the Emperor does the same in Temporals. The Elector becomes at the same time Great Chancellor of the Empire of _Germany_, which gives him the t.i.tle of perpetual Dean of the Electors, and an Inspection into the Aulic Council and the Imperial Chamber of _Wetzlar_.
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter of the Knights of St. _Stephen_, which was inst.i.tuted by the Great Duke _Cosmo_ I. _Anno_ 1561, after he had obtain"d a Victory. The Knights of this Order must be n.o.ble by four Descents: They make a Vow of Conjugal Fidelity; and they wear a Red Cross like the Cross of _Malta_, which is fasten"d to a Red Ribbon as the Golden Fleece is, and the Cross is also embroider"d upon the Habit and Mantle. Without this Church, in the Square, is the Statue of the Great Duke _Cosmo_ I. in Bra.s.s.
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter in a Body: A _Domicellaire_ carry"d the Banner of _Franconia_, and the Marshal of the Bishop"s Court bore the Sword of State, to denote the Sovereignty of the Duchy of _Franconia_: The Prelate being conducted to the Vestry, and there array"d in his Pontificalibus, walk"d into the Choir: His Throne was rais"d Three Steps from the Floor, and plac"d under a magnificent Canopy, all of Tapistry, with a Silver Ground: As soon as he was seated the Office began, by a very fine Piece of Music, perform"d by the Bishop"s Musicians: After a very short Anthem the Prelate took the Holy Sacrament from the Altar, and carry"d it in Procession out of the Church: He went all round the Cathedral with it, preceded by the _Domicellaire_, and the Marshal of his Court, bearing one the Banner of _Franconia_, and the other the Sword: The Streets thro" which the Procession pa.s.s"d were lin"d with 4000 Men of the Bishop"s Troops, which he had order"d into the Town to give the greater Splendor to the Ceremony: When the Procession was return"d to the Church, Ma.s.s was sung to Music, and the Bishop officiated: The Ceremony being ended, he return"d to his Palace, with the same Train that attended him to the Church.
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter of _Genesis_; the Twelfth and Twentieth Chapters of _Numbers_, and several other Pa.s.sages, and especially in that which speaks of _David_: For tho" the Prophet _Nathan_ told him, that G.o.d had forgiven him his Sin, and a.s.sur"d him that he should not die, yet _David_ voluntarily impos"d great Mortifications upon himself, and implor"d the Mercy of G.o.d in these Terms, _Psalm_ li. Vcr. 2, 3. _Wash me throughly from mine Iniquity, and cleanse me from my Sin: For I acknowledge my Transgressions, and my Sin is ever before me._ Tho" _David_ had perform"d that Act of Penance, tho" he had so earnestly begg"d for the Pardon of his Sin, yet G.o.d punish"d him by the Death of that Son, who was the Fruit of his Adultery, by the Rebellion of his Son _Absalom_, whom he lov"d tenderly, and by several other Afflictions, which he had threaten"d him with before. As to the Reason, why all the Punishments for Sin are not remitted to us by the Sacrament of Penance, as well as that of Baptism, I think it but Justice, as the Council of _Trent_ says, that they, who before Baptism have sinn"d thro" Ignorance, should be pardon"d after one manner; and that they should be pardon"d after another manner, who having been once delivered from the Captivity of the Devil and Sin, and having also receiv"d the Holy Spirit, have not fear"d to grieve it.
Chapter 74