Their Statutes were compos'd after the Model of thofe of the Knights Hofpitalers, and Knights Templars, at this Day, the Knights of Malta; but nevertheless to distinguish them from thefe Orders, their Habit was ordained to be a White Mantle, with a plain black Crofs on the Breaft. This Crofs they were alfo to have upon white Banners, as likewife upon their Shields in their Coat of Arms. They were moreover enjoyn'd to live conformable to the Orders and Rules of St. Auftin. Their firft Number was Twenty Four Lay-Brothers, and as many Priests, tho' they are fince increased to feveral Hundreds. They both were allow'd to wear Armour and Swords, and might celebrate Mafs in that Habit. None of them fhaved their Beards, but by their Order were obliged to let them grow, and to Sleep upon Sacks 'of Straw. But however, this, with other mortifying Injunctions, were foon of no manner of Force.

This Order being Established after the manner which I have fhewn before, all Christian Princes endeavour'd to give them Encouragement; and among the reft, his Holiness (as the People of this fide of the World call the Pope) and the Emperor gave them particular proofs of their Favour and Liberality. Philip King of France also being willing to do the like on his part, made them great Prefents, and moreover granted their Grand Mafter a Liberty to wear the Flower de Lis on the four Extremities of their Mantles or Robes.

d 2

Their

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Their Power and Force in War will appear, by the Efforts which Albert Marquifs of Brandenburgh, and their 34th and laft Great Master there made to keep his Footing in Poland. He was Nephew to Sigifmund 1. and Elected in the Time of Maximilian the Emperor, and Pope Julius. The Chapter of this Order chofe him, in hopes that being fo near a Kinfman, he might prevail upon his Uncle to restore to them, what had been taken from them by the Poles. But this Great Master was fo far from Anfwering their Expectation, that having refused to Swear Allegiance to the King of Poland, he Fortified all his Towns for his Defence, and gave occafion to a War to break out between him and his Uncle, in the Year 1519, whereupon fome few Places were taken and loft on both fides. But in 1529, Wolfang Duke of Schonenburgh, General of the Teutonic Army, which confifted of about 20000 Foot, and 8000 Horse, fat down before Dantzick, and from the Bishop's Hill (vulgarly fo called) threw away near 4000 Bombs into the Town, to little or no purpose, while the Besiegers were very much incommoded by the Cannon from the Town; for a Man durft fcarce fhew his Head, but he had forty shot at him. This fo difcouraged the Befiegers, that the major part of them foon discover'd their Inclinations to be gone, and for that purpose began to Mutiny against their Officers. Whilft they were thus wavering in their Refolutions, and fcarce doing any Duty but by Compulfion, the Polifh Army appear'd, being 20000 Horse, fent by

the

the King to raise the Siege. It was now bigh time for the Befiegers to scamper, which they immediately fet about with fuch precipitation, that the Poles found it no difficult Matter to overtake them, and to kill and make Prisoners great Numbers of them.

After this, the King's Army took in Dirfchow, Stargardie, and the ftrong Castle of Choinicz, and proceeded in their Conquests with fuch Vigour and Diligence, that most of the Cities and Caftles of the Order furrendred themselves. By thefe means the Teutonic Knights were totally expell'd Pruffia, which their Great Mafter Albert perceiving, as likewife that he was no longer able to contend with fo powerful a Monarch as his Polish Majefty, (tho' his Predeceffors had formerly done it for many Years, when they were in a better Condition than he was) refolved to fubmit himself and his Order to his Uncle's Mercy; which he not long after did, in the publick Market-place of Cracow.

A Throne being erected for the King, much after the fame Nature of that wherein he is wont to take the Oaths and Homage of his Subjects after his Coronation, the Marquifs deliver'd up the Enfigns of his Order to the King, and fwore all manner of Allegiance to him. In confideration of which, his Majefty return'd him the Enfigns of Pruffia, quarter'd with the Polish, and at the fame time created him Duke of that part of the Country, which from thenceforward has had the Name

of Ducal Prussia, and continued all along in his Fa mily to this Day.

The Teutonic Order being thus expell'd Fruffia, they Transfer'd their Chapter to Marienthal, where they continued to chufe Mafters as the Vacancies happen'd; he that is the Chief of that Order, now being the 45th Mafter, and Duke of Newburgh. The Ceremony of Creating one of thefe Knights, is after this manner. The Perfon that is to be invested with that Dignity, is to be conducted by the Great Master and Knights, out of which Three Commiffioners who have been to inspect the Titles of Honour, are to make their Report upon Oath, that they have Examin'd and found his Honour to be unquestionable. After which he is to be Sworn to Chastity, Poverty, and to go to the Wars againft the Infidels, whenever Occafion fhall require. When they give him the White Mantle with the Black Crofs, which are the Enfigns of this Order, they pronounce these words according to Cuftom. We promise to give you as long as you Live, Water, Bread, and a Habit of our Order.

The Teutonic Order at prefent confifts of Twelve Provinces, which are Alface, and Burgundy, for one, Coblentz, Auftria and Etfch, thefe four ftill retain the Name of Provinces of the Jurisdiction of Pruffia, as the Eight following do that of Germany, being the Provinces of Franconia, Heffe, Breffen, Weftphalia, Lorrain, Thuringen, Saxony, and Utrecht; altho

this laft is now altogether under the Dominion of the Hollanders. Every one of these Provinces has its peculiar Commanderys of the Commendadors, of which the Provincial is Chief. Thefe Commendadors, compofe the Chapter of the Electors; amongst whom the Great Mafter has two Voices, and a decifive one, in cafe the Numbers are Equal. This Great Master's Place of Refidence is to be at Mariendal in Franconia, where thefe Affemblies are held.

Having carried you out of Poland, into the Heart of Germany, and led you out of your way many Leagues, give me leave to put you into the Road again, and to bring you back to Dantzick, which is the last Place I undertook the Description of, and which I fhall be the more particular in, on Account of my longer Stay there, than in any other Place.

DANTZIC (in Latin Dantifcum, or Gedanum) is the largest, strongest, and most Wealthy City in all Royal Pruffia, and is fcituated in one of the Three Islands (of which Regal Pruffia confifts) called by the Germans, der Dantzicher Werder; this der Werder implying properly fo many Pieces of folid Ground encompaffed by Fens and Bogs.

By whom this City was firft Built, it remains as yet undetermin'd. Becanus will have the Danes to have been the Founders of it, and from them to have been called Danes-wick, i. e. Danes-Town. But