Lewis's Head turn'd gray, tho' he was but twenty-eight Years old; which Accident made him sensible of his Guilt and of the Innocence of his Wife. As his Barbarity was great, so was his Repentance. He went on foot to Rome to beg the Pope's Absolution for his Sins, and obtain'd it on condition that he wou'd cause a Church to be built, and found a Monastery in his Dominions. Lewis returning from Rome founded the Abbey at Furstenfeldt. The first Establishment was only for eight Fryars; but the Piety of the Princes of Bavaria having wrought upon them to bestow their Favours upon this House, it now maintains thirty Fryars and an Abbot, whom the Monks have the Prerogative to chuse out of their own Body. These good Fathers are actually erecting a very stately Church, and they enjoy all the Conveniences of Life.
The Country between Munich and Augsbourg is level and intermix'd with Woods and Plains. Augsbourg which is a Bishop's See, and an Imperial City, is the Capital of Swabia, and one of the biggest and handsomest Towns in Germany. A small Branch of the Leck passes thro' it, and supplies it with plenty of Water. The Streets of Augsbourg are broad, strait and lightsome; the Houses well built, and many of 'em full of Paintings. The Inhabitants look upon Augustus to be the Founder of their City. 'Tis true that Emperor sent a Colony thither, but the Town was founded before. It is not said what Name it went by before the Name of Augusta Vindelicorum was given it to distinguish it from the other Towns that bore the Name of Augusta. The clearing up of this difficulty is what I shall leave to the Antiquarians, and confine my self to the Transactions at Augsbourg for about two hundred Years past. What will render this City for ever famous is the Confession of Faith which the Protestant Princes presented here to the Emperor Charles V.
in the year 1530. Tho' the Protestants were at that time very powerful in Augsbourg they cou'd not keep their ground, for they were drove out by the Bavarians; but Gustavus Adolphus restored them in 1632, since which time they have kept their Footing there, and share the Government with the Roman Catholics. In 1687, the Emperor, Spain, the United Provinces, and the Electors of Saxony, Brandenbourg, and the Palatinate concluded that famous League at Augsbourg against Lewis XIV. who was beginning to inforce the Claim of the Duchess of Orleans his Sister-in-law to the Succession of the Elector Palatine Charles-Lewis, who was that Princess's Brother. In 1690, Joseph Archduke of Austria King of Hungary, the eldest Son of the Emperor Leopold, was consecrated and crown'd King of the Romans at Augsbourg, at which Ceremony the Emperor, the Empress, the Electors of Mentz, Cologn, Triers, Bavaria, and the Palatinate were personally present.
In 1703, the Elector Maximilian of Bavaria, made himself Master of Augsbourg in one Week's time. This City had demanded and obtained a Neutrality, but having afterwards received an Imperial Garrison the Elector made use of that Pretence to lay Siege to it. He caused the Fortifications to be demolish'd, foreseeing, no doubt, that he should not be able to keep the Place. Augsbourg was set free again by the Battle of Hochstet, and still enjoys its Freedom under its own Magistrates, the Bishop having no Authority in the City as to Temporals. The present Bishop is of the Family of Neubourg, and Brother to the Elector Palatine. This Prince has the same Goodness of Temper which is so natural to all his Family. As his Bishoprick is not one of the most considerable in Germany, so his Court is none of the biggest, but
his Houshold is well regulated, and every thing conducted in it with Order and Splendor.
The Chapter of the Cathedral consists of Persons of Quality who are oblig'd to make Proof of their Nobility. 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.
The most considerable Building is the Town-house, a very substantial Pile built all of Freestone except the Portico, which is of Marble. The Rooms are very fine, and the great Hall especially is to the last degree magnificent. The Walls are cover'd with Painting, being such Emblems and Devices as have relation to the Government. Nothing can be more beautiful than the Cieling which consists all of Compartments whose Frames are carv'd and gilt in an extraordinary manner, the whole enrich'd with Pictures and other Ornaments perfectly well dispos'd.
Before the Town-house there's a very stately Fountain, where, among other fine Figures of Brass, the Statue of Augustus which is represented in a most noble Attitude is highly esteem'd.
The City of Augsbourg is in my Opinion something like Antwerp with regard to the Spaciousness of the Streets and the Substantialness of its Buildings; and formerly when the Venetians were Masters of all the Commerce, it resembled it in Trade; for Augsbourg was then the Staple for Merchandize, which was from thence transported to a great part of Europe. But since London and Amsterdam are become the Warehouses of the whole World, and the Commerce of Venice decays, the greatest Trade of Augsbourg consists in Goldsmith's Wares, with which this City furnishes Germany, Poland, and in general
almost all the North. These Wares are much cheaper here than elsewhere, and when the Patterns are furnish'd People are well serv'd. Notwithstanding the Decay of its Commerce there are several very rich Families; but whether any can do what Fugger did to the Emperor Charles V. is a Question. That Monarch passing thro' Augsbourg lodg'd at Fugger's House, who entertain'd him like an Emperor. The Fewel he burnt in every Chimney was Cedar, and after the Repast, which was extraordinary sumptuous, Fugger took a Bond for a very considerable Sum which the Emperor ow'd him, and threw it into the Fire.