Switzerland

Sources from old books

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

Suisserland.

SƲisserland had its Name from Switz, one of its most ancient Cantons, whether this Canton was the most considerable of the three, who began the Alliance in the Year 1308. or that in the Year 1315. they first of all fought then for the Liberty of the Country, in the Battel of Morgarten, wherein fifty of the Switzers defeated an Army of twenty thousand Austrians. When Suisserland made a part of Gaul, it was divided into four Quarters, which seem to correspond with the modern Countries of Zurichgow, Argow, Turgow, Wiflispurgergow. Since it has had two parts separated by the River of Russ, the one belonging to the Germans, the other to the Burgundians, who called it their Lesser-Burgundy, or Burgundia Trans-Jurana, as being beyond Mount-Jura. The Rhine, Rhosne, Aar, Russ, Inn, Tesin, and other Rivers, have their Sources in Suisserland, for which reason this Country is esteemed the highest of Europe. The Tesin and Russ furnish them with the conveniency of Trading into Germany and Italy. Several Lakes there are, the most considerable of which, are those of Geneva and Constance. All these Waters produce Fish in abundance, and the Mountains in this Tract afford the means of Hunting Bucks, Shamoies, or Wild-Goats and Boors. The Switzers are well shap'd and proportioned, and very strong and robust for the most part. Their best Revenue comes from the Pensions they receive from the French King, and the King of Spain: Their Cattel afford them Butter, Cheese and Milk: Their Interest is to maintain Peace, and to remain united among themselves. They speak both French and German in this Country, but have corrupted several terms of both Tongues. 'Tis held, that, upon occasion, they are able to bring into the Field sixty thousand fighting Men; the Canton of Bearn alone being capable of raising eighteen thousand. It is an Infantry which renders good service to the Prince who imploys it, as numerous as it was in the time of Julius Caesar. It seems to pawn its own Liberty by engaging it self under the pay of others; but by so doing, it preserves the freedom of its Country. The Valour and Fidelity of the Switzers have invited the French Kings, the Popes of Rome, and the Dukes of Genoa, to conside in them for the Guard of their proper Persons, and the greatest Families of Europe do not disdain their Alliance. True it is, they have not so many Nobles as formerly; but those they have are very considerable, and a mistake it is to believe that they were wholly exterminated. Several Castles were there razed, when they cast off the Yoke of the House of Austria, by reason of the ill treatments of its Lieutenants.

Under the Name of Suisserland are known thirteen Cantons of the Country, which are subject to them, and of their Allies. The Cantons, as well as the Allies, are as many Republicks govern'd by their Magistrates, whom they call Burgher-Masters, or Avoyers, or Landames. This Name is given to the chief of the Cantons, where are no Cities. The Cantons and the Allies have Ordinances independent on one another; nevertheless they Govern sometimes several Provinces together, and they have Laws almost a-like with a strict Union, they have often given them the Name of the Republick of the Switzers, or of the Lords of the Leagues. In this Commonwealth are two sorts of Religion the Protestant and Roman-Catholick. When mention is made of the Catholick Cantons, they reckon either five or seven of them: The five are Ʋri, Switz, Ʋndervald, Lucerne, Zug: The two others, Fribourg and Soleurre. Zurich, Bern, Basle, Schafouse are Protestants: Glaris and Appenzel have both Papists and Protestants. This diversity of Religion does often cause their affairs to be embroil'd, and sometimes occasions their Assembling separately. Commonly the five Popish Cantons hold their Assembly at Lucerne, the four Protestant Cities at Aran. The General Assemblies are held every Year at Baden, so called from its Baths. Each Canton is free to engage it self with whom it thinks convenient, so that the Switzers are found in different Parties; nevertheless the Switzers sharing in almost all the Wars that are made in Europe, have none themselves, and live in Peace in their own Country. As concerning succours, the Cantons have certain Treaties, they can call and summon one another: Some have no right but of calling three or five, but those who summon succours, may also cause others to come, who are allied to them; thus most commonly they all joyn therein, each according to its Forces. They have not all an equal Authority over their subject Countries, they have it only according to the Associations which they have made in divers times: And those who entred last into the Leagues have not any Right over the Countries, which have been subjected before the times of their Leagues. Amongst all these Cantons, Zurich has the Presidence: Bern is the most powerful; Basle has the finest City, the abode and the Rendezvous of several Learned Men: The Canton of Schafouse, has its City of great Trade: Soleurre has one too of the same Name, where Resides the French Embassador. Ʋri, Swits, Ʋnderwald, Glaris, Appenzel have only Burroughs. Hence follows the order of the thirteen Cantons, according to their Ranks. Zurich, Bern, Ʋri, Switz, Ʋnderwald, Zug, Glaris, Fribourg, Soleurre, Schafouse, Appenzel.

The Countries, subjected to the Cantons, have either been Conquered by Arms, or submitted voluntarily. There is about a score of them, which, for the most part, have the Title of Bailywicks, as Baden and those which lie in Italy.

Among the Allies of the Cantons, the Grisons are the most powerful. They are so called from one of their Ligues, whose Inhabitants were used to wear Grey Scarfes. Their City of Coire is the Place whither are brought the Merchandizes of Italy and Germany, by reason of the conveniency of the Rhine, which begins to bear Boats thereabouts. One of their Countries is the Valtoline, the most Beautiful and Important Valley of Europe. Wallais lies along the Rhosne. There are moreover, in the number of the Allies, four Bishops, that of Sion at Saint Maurice, Basle at Porentru, Constance at Mersbourg, and Coire at Marsoila. There is likewise the Abbot of Saint Gall, who dwells at Weil; seven Cities, Saint Gall, Neuchatel, Wallangery, Biel, Geneva, Mulhausen, Rotweil. The six first Protestants, and Rotweil Catholick. Geneva is the best Fortified of all, the Burghers, or Citizens, keep a very exact Guard for the preservation of their Liberty, and that of Religion, which is Reformed. In the Year 1663. the French King obtain'd freedom for the Catholicks to say Mass in that Town, where it had not been Celebrated in this Age. The Lake of Geneva is crossed by the Rhosne, which mixeth not with its Waters; there sometimes arise Tempests even in clear fair Weather, because it abutts at the foot of the Mountains. In the Country its said, that Julius Caesar caused his Treasures to be cast into this Lake, when he was pursued by the Switzers; hitherto they have been sought for to no purpose.