ZURICH, the capital of a canton of the same name in Switzerland, stands in a pleasant country, near where the river Aa issues from the lake that takes its name from the town, 23 miles from Schaffhausen, and 114 from Geneva. After having been ruined by Attila, the Hun, it is said to have been restored by Thuricus, son of Theodoric king of the Goths, from whom it took the name of Thuricum, corrupted afterwards into that of Zurich. The river divides it into two parts, and has two bridges over it. It is fortified in the modern way, and has wide ditches, faced with free stone. There are five arsenals in it, well stored with arms and artillery; an academy or college, having 15 professors; a museum, or chamber of rarities; a stately town-house, the pillars in the front of which are of black marble, streaked with white; and a town library. The sovereignty and administration of all affairs are lodged in the greater and lesser council, out of which are chosen the city-officers, as the councils are out of the 13 companies of burghers. There are several other councils or colleges, each of which has its particular department. Here are a great variety of silk, woollen, linen, cotton, and other manufactures, this being the place of the greatest trade in all Switzerland. Before the reformation, there was an abbey for ladies in this town, whose abbess had the title of princess; the large revenues of which are now applied mostly to pious and charitable uses. The town is well supplied with provisions by and from its lake. The streets are neat, and houses well built, but not magnificent. The college here hath produced some learned men, particularly Zuinilius and Bullinger. In the town-library are several letters to Bullinger from lady Jane Gray daughter to the duke of Suffolk. In one of the arsenals is the figure of William Tell, dressed and armed in the ancient Swiss manner, with the cross-bow, whence he shot the arrow that struck the apple off his child's head. The unmarried women here are distinguished from the married, by a particular knot of ribbons on their heads, and the men are generally dressed in black; for the young only are allowed to wear coloured stuffs, and those quite plain, gold, silver, and jewels, being forbid, and luxury and vanity of every
kind carefully guarded against. When they go to church, the men all wear bands, and, when in mourning, bonnets made of pasteboard covered with crape. Both men and women are so fond of music, that there are few of them that cannot play on some instrument. If a burgher goes out of town, or a peasant enters it, without a sword, they are liable to be fined. No persons, whatever their rank or office may be, are exempted from the sumptuary laws. The burgomasters, who are the same as the advancers at Bern, have the title of excellence. The hospitals here are very neat and well endowed; but they do not affect the ridiculous vanity of lodging the poor in palaces. Not only in this town and canton, and other parts of Switzerland, but also among the Grisons, the ministers all preach covered. The country about the town is very pleasant and fruitful; for both which it is not a little indebted to the lake, that extends 24 miles in length, and about two or three in breadth. The water is of a green colour, supposed to be owing to the melted snow that falls into it from the adjacent mountains. That part of it next Zurich is called the Lower Lake, and the other end the Upper. The cathedral, or great church here, is collegiate. The present city is said to owe its origin to a nunnery, founded by the emperor Lewis I. near where the ancient Tigurum stood.