Browne, Edward: A Brief Account Of Some Travels In divers Parts of Europe, Viz. [Sp.1:] Hungaria, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thessaly, [Sp.2:] Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Friuli: Through a great part of Germany, And The Low-Countries ... ; With some Observations on the Gold, Silver ... in those Parts ; As also, The Description of many Antiquities, Habits, Fortifications and Remarkable Places (London: Tooke, 1685)

I


A Description

were first put to a Retreat by the French Cavalry .For at first the Turk)
seemed to prevail, and had ssain a great part of two Regiments of the
Auxiliaries which came out of Franconia, and after their custom, had
cut off their Heads.
But his later wars have been Rill more fortunate, wherein he hath
not only relieved Vienna, ahd taken divers cities from the Turks ; but
remains Bill Master\of the Field in Hungary. Among the many no-
table things in Vienna, the Imperial Library is vbry remarkable. He
who hath seen the Bodleian Library at Oxsord, and the Vatican, at
Rome, would be tnuch surprized to find such a notable one here,as may
compare with them; espeeially upon the extreme Borders os the Learn-
ed part of Europ*.
The number and nobleness of the Books doth much exceed the re-
ceptacle or place which contains them,as making no fair shew at the en-
trance,and somewhat wanting light. But as for the number and value of
the Books, they are of opinion here that it yields unto none,but rather
excels any other Library in Europe. There was a place designed for
the building of a fit receptacle for them; but, I know not how, a Thea-
tre for Comedies is now built in that place.
It is divided into eight Chambers or Rooms,which are so well filled,
that many Books are fain to lie upon the Floor ; and the Shelves Rand
so close, that there is but just room to pafs between them. The Ma-
ri u sen pts, stand distindt from the printed Books,according to their Lan-
guages, being divided into six Classes, Theological, Juridical, Medical,
Philofophical, Hiftorical, Philological. There can scarce be a more ad-
mirable Collection than the Manuscripts in part of the first Chamber,
of Hebrew, Syriack, Arabick, Turkifb, Armenian, AEthiopick, and Chi~
nefe Books.
It was begun, at lead the Books began to be placed in this recepta-
cle, by Maximilian the First, but hath been much encreased by Ex-
ceeding Emperors, most of them, since Rodolphus the First, being much
addicted unto Learning, there having been large accessions from many
noble Libraries, and most upon the cost of the Emperors. The choi-
cest Books in the famous Library of Buda, of King Matthias Corvinus,
Son unto Huniades, are now in it. The notable Library of Wolsgan*
gus Lazius, who was Library-Keeper, was brought hither, and
Three thousand Books of Johannes Sambucus are now in this Reposi-
tory.
Augerius Busbequius, sometime Library-Keeper hereof, added much
Unto it; and in his two Turkifh Embasiies procured a great number os
noble Greek Manuscripts at Const ant inop le, which are inseribed with
his own hand, Aug. de Busbeck. emit Conjlantinopoli. A great many
were added from the Library of the Learned Johannes Cufpinianus,
Library Keeper, and Councilor unto the Emperor. The notable Li-
braries and Mathematical Instruments of Tycho Brahe, Kepler, and
GaJJendus, were purchased for it. But the largest accession was made
by the noble Library of Count Fugger, which consisting of sixteen
thousand Volumes,was purchased by Ferdinand the Third. Many were
brought, some few years past, from the Ambrasian Library by Inspruck,
by the Learned Petrus Lambecius, Library-keeper, Historiogra-
pher, and Councilor unto the present Emperor; who hath also an ex-
cellent Library which is like to be added unto the Imperial He then
reckoned

of Vienna;