A briefe information of the affaires of the Palatinate The which consist in foure principall heads, which be 1. The acceptation of the crowne of Bohemia. 2. The difference and controuersie which hath ensued thereof, betweene the Emperour Ferdinand, and the King Frederick. 3. The proscription and bloudy proceeding that hath ensued thereof. 4. And the interposition of the King of great Brittaine, and with that which hath happened in the meane space. — Briefve information des affaires du Palatinat. English.

A briefe information of the affaires of the Palatinate The which consist in foure principall heads, which be 1. The acceptation of the crowne of Bohemia. 2. The difference and controuersie which hath ensued thereof, betweene the Emperour Ferdinand, and the King Frederick. 3. The proscription and bloudy proceeding that hath ensued thereof. 4. And the interposition of the King of great Brittaine, and with that which hath happened in the meane space. — Briefve information des affaires du Palatinat. English.

Table of contents

Title page

A BRIEFE INFORMATION OF THE AFFAIRES OF THE PALATINATE. The affaires of the PALATINATE, consist in foure principall heads.

Concerning the first head.

An Extract of the Reuersals of the Empereur RVDOLPH.

An extract of the Reuersals of the Archduke Mathias.

Touching the seco•d head.

Touching the third Head.

Capitulationis Caesar. Artic. 25.

Articulo 26.

Ex Articulo 38.

Ex Articulo 39.

Articulo 42.

Articulo 43.

§

Touching the fourth Head.

§

§

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A BRIEFE INFORMATION OF THE AFFAIRES OF THE PALATINATE.

THE WHICH CONSIST IN foure principall heads, Which be

1. The acceptation of the Crowne of BOHEMIA.

2. The difference and controuersie which hath ensued thereof, betweene the Emperour FERDINAND, and the King FREDERICK.

3. The proscription and bloudy preceeding that hath ensued thereof.

4. And the interposition of the King of great BRITTAINE, and with that which hath happened in the meane spac [...].

Printed M.DC.XXIIII.

A BRIEFE INFORMATION OF THE AFFAIRES OF THE PALATINATE.
The affaires of the PALATINATE, consist in foure principall heads.

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Concerning the first head.

FOR this many ages past the Realme of Boheme hath beene alwayes holden both within and without the Empire for electiue and not hereditarie. The Letters Reuersalls of all the Kings of Bohemia which haue successiuely beene, euen to the Emperour Ferdinand the second, haue a cleare and expresse recognition and confession that they haue, and possesse it not by any hereditary right, but by the free election, good will, and consent of the estates of the said Realme, according to the Golden Bull, their liberties and priuiledges. There hath not beene any but onely the Emperour Ferdinand the second, who hath challenged a partension of a succession hereditary, the which hee foundeth principally vpon a certaine disposition of the King Vladislaus his great Grandfather by his Mothers side, made on the sixth [Page] day of Ianuary 1510. in regard of the Dutchesse Anne his daughter, who was afterward the wife of the Emperour Ferdinand the first; the Copie whereof ensueth word for word.

Vladislaus by the grace of God, King of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatio, &c. Marquesse of Morauia, Duke of Lucemburg and of Silesia, Marquesse of Lusatia, &c. Be it knowne to all men by these presents, since that God by his diuine grace hath giuen vs heires both sonnes and daughters, and that by his diuine prouidence, as also by the aduise and counsell of our Subicots, Prelates, Princes, Lords, and all the estates of our Realmes, wee haue first caused the most excellent Prince, King Lewes our most beloued sonne, to be crowned King of Hungary, who afterward by the free will of the Barrons, Nobles, and Townes of the Kingdome of Boheme, hath beene crowned and receiued in the same Realme. But if it shall happen that the said King Lewes dye without heires (which God forbid) then the Dutchesse Anne our daughter shall remaine, and be true heire of the Realme of Boheme land, by power and vertue of the rights, constitutions, and priuiledges of the Realme of Boheme. And we hauing had regard vnto that, and considering the singular affection, deuotion, and promptitude, that our Subiects of both our Realmes shew vnto vs; we thinke and iudge it to be right and equitable to prouide for them in such sort, that for the necessities of the affaires of these two Crownes and Realmes, they may treate and negotiate in their owne mother tongues, with our heires and their future Lords. And for that cause we haue ordained, and doe ordaine, that our heires haue [Page] to make their abode in a place fit and conuenable, to the end that the subiects of the Crowne of Hungarie, as well as they of the Crowne of Bohemia, and those of the Crowne of Bohemia, as well as they of the Crowne of Hungarie, may enioy and haue their presence, and may haue accesse vnto them. They shall be also bound and obliged to entertaine neere vnto them an equall number of men and women, Natiues of the Kingdome of Bohemia and Hungarie, to the purpose that they may learne the Languages of Hungarie and of Bohemia freely, and without impeachment. And that the Estates of euerie one of the same Crownes may sufficiently and at large conferre with them in their owne Languages, touching their necessities. Moreouer, wee promise vnto them of the Realme of Bohemia, not to marry, nor to promise in marriage the Duchesse Anne, our daughter, without their counsaile. And wee promise all this which is contained in these presents, in the word of a King, and doe also promise vnto the Barons, Nobles, and all the Estates of the Realme of Bohemia, to obserue it fully and inuiolably without any cōtrauention, in any fashion whatsoeuer. In witnesse whereof, wee haue caused our Royall Scale to be set vnto these presents abouesaid. Yeuen in our Castle of Prage, on the Friday after the Feast of the 3. Kings, in the yere of our Lord 1510. and of our raigns, to wit, of Hungarie the 20. and of Bohemia the 39.

This disposition of the King Vladeslaus is set downe by the Emperour Ferdinand at this time, for the strongest Bese and foundation for the hereditarie right that he claymeth vnto the Crowne of Bohemia, forasmuch as the Duchesse Anne, his grandmother, is called heire of the Realme of Bohemia, and that (as hee sayth) [Page] by vertue of other precedent agreements. Now I will not enlarge my selfe heere to dispute vpon this Foundation (for that the Estates of Bohemia haue alreadie refuted it very amply and solidely by their Writings, and especially by their Booke called the Deduction, which they published in the yeere of our Lord, 1620.) But I would onely (as by the way) shew the manifest nullitie thereof, by the contradiction that is therein.

For first it appeareth by the Reuersalls of the said King Vladislaus, giuen vnto the Estates of Bohemia on the day of his Assumption to the Crowne, that he acknowledged and confessed, that hee obtained and receiued the said Crowne, by the pure, sranke, and free will and election of the said Estates, and not by any right hereditarie. If then hee had not any right hereditarie, much lesse had he power to conferre and giue a right of succession hereditarie vnto his daughter.

Secondly, if in regard of his person he had had such a right of succession, yet it had not beene lawfull for him to dispose thereof vnto his sonne, for that the Realme and Electorate of Bohemia was holden of the Empire only to the heires males, as the other Electorates be, and cannot fall vnto the Distaffe; Women being vncapable to performe the Functions and Offices of men, required in the Office of the Electors, by vertue of the Golden Bull.

Thirdly, the said disposition containeth a most grosse and palpable absurditie, in that the King Vladislaus saith in it, that his sonne hath beene receiuea by the free choise of the Barons, Nobles, and Townes of the Realme, and that hee addeth then by and by, that his [Page] daughter shalbe heire of the said Realme after his death: for if the sonne could not come thereto, but by the way of free election, how can it be concluded, that the daughter haue a right of succession hereditary in a estate taile vnto the heires males, which her brother had not? And to make this absurdly more euident, behold the Copie of another Letter Reuersall, which Vladislaus gaue vnto the Estates of Bohemia, when that they designed & accepted Duke Lewis his sonne for to be their future King.

Vladislaus by the grace of God, King of Hungary and Bohemia: Be it knowne vnto all men whosoeuer that shall see or heare these presents. Forasmuch as the Barrons, Nobles, the Townes of Prague, and the other Townes, together with the communalty of the Realme of Bohemia, hauing by their free choyse, and without any obligation of theirs thereunto chosen and crowned, in our life time the Serenissime Prince and Lord Lewis King of Hungary, as they before time haue done vnto vs their affection, by the said election of King Lewis our sonne, yet with this charge, that as long as we shall be in life, we shall retaine and hold the gouernment and possession of our said Realme, and the Prouinces incorporated without any impeachment of King Lewis our dearest sonne vntill our death. That on the other part we will not faile continually to acknowledge it, and will protect and giue order, that they shall be maintained without any trauerse or trouble in their rights, franchises, priuiledges, and customes, as wee haue promised and doe promise them by these presents, when that King Lewis our most deare sonne shall come vnto the age [Page] of maioritie, and after our decease shall take possession and administration of his Realme of Bohemia, hee shall be obliged to doe and accomplish all that which the Kings of Bohemia, our predecessors, as also our selues haue done and accomplished by Obligation, in such manner and forme as wee haue giuen them expresse Letters, signed with our hand, and sealed with our Scale, with this reseruation, That if King Lewes our dearest sonue doth not accomplish all that which is contained in our said Letters to them exhibited, in satisfying to all that vnto which the Kings of Bohemia are bound, they shall also not be bound on the other part to admit the said King Lewes in the possession and gouernment of the Realme, and that for so long time, and vntill that he hath made totall satisfaction, according to the more ample purport of our said Letters: but when hee hath made such satisfaction, the said Estates and they of the Prouinces incorporated shall be reciprocally obliged and bound to sweare vnto him loyaltie, and to be faithfull vnto him in all humilitie, as vnto their crowned King.

After the death of King Lewes, who was slaine in the battaile of Mohaz, in the yeere 1526. the Archduke Ferdinand married the said Duchesse Anne, and sent the same yeere his Embassadours vnto the Estates of Bohemia, requiring them to chuse and receiue him for their King, alledging amongst other reasons, that the said Anne his Wife was the neerest vnto the Crowne: and though that the Estates graunted his request, in giuing the Scepter and Crowne vnto him, this was not in any sort in contemplation of the pretension of his Wife, but of their free consent, as is most [Page] euidently seene by his Letters Reuersalls, which follow:

Nos Ferdinandus, Dei gratia Rex Bohemia, Infans Hispaniarum, Archidux Austria, Marchio Mora [...], Dux Lucemburgia, Silesia, & Marchio Lusa [...]a, &c. Notum faci [...]us tenore prasentium vniuersis. Quemadmodum Barones, Nobiles, & etiam Ciuitates, ac tota Communit as Regni Bohemiae, ex sua libera & bona voluntate, iuxta libertates Regni Elegerunt. Nos in Regeon Bohemiae. Quapropter recognoscimus, quod hoc ipsum ab Oratoribus ipsorum abunde intelleximus, & re ipsa cognouimus & comperimus, quod praefati status & communita [...] ill [...]us Regni, non ex aliquo debito, sed ita pront supra scriptum est, eam Electionem, eligentes Nos in Regem Bohemia, exlibera et bona voluntate fecerunt. Harmn testimonio literarum sigilli nostri, quo hactenus tanquam Archidux Austriae, vsi sumus, appensione roboratarum. Datum in Ciuitate nostra Vienna, die tertia decima Mensis Decembris, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo vicesimo sexto, Regni vero nostri anno primo.

True it is, that these Reuersalls were afterward deliuered vp by the Estates of Bohemia vnto King Ferdinand, at his instance, who put in the stead of them other Reuersalls, where many things are found to be changed, against che intention and approbation of the said Estates.

The Emperor Ferdinand the first, and the said Anne his wife had a sonne called Maximilian the second, and Charles d'Austria, the Estates of Bohemia chose Maximilian the second Emperor, who gaue vnto them Reuersals, like in substance to those which his father had giuen, in acknowledging their free election, without [Page] pretension of any right. After his death, they chose Rudolph the second, Emperour, his sonne; and in the life time of the Emperour Rudolph, they designed for their King the Archduke Matthias, who was also afterward Emperour. It is fit to be noted, that the said Emperours, Maximilian, Rudolph, and Matthias, though all descended from the said Anne, and all by right of priority to be preferred before the said Archduke Charles and the Emperour Ferdinand the second, his sonne, haue at their assumption vnto the Crowne of Bohemia, frankely confessed by their Reuersals not to pretend vnto it any hereditarie right, but to haue recceiued it by the free Election of the Estates; and especially the Emperor Rudolph hauing in his life time consented vnto the Election of Matthias his brother, gaue them a very ample and large Letter of Assecuration, dated on the Saterday after Quatuor tempora, in the yeere 1608, That the said designation ought to be holden for a free and voluntarie Election & Reception, without any preiudice vnto their Priuiledges, Rights, Statutes, Customes, and such like things. In like manner, the Archduke Matthias made his Reuersals, dated on the Wednesday after S. Iohn Baptist, acknowledging and confessing by them, repeating it often and in plain words, That it was not by Obligation, but by a franke and free Electionand wil, that the said Estates had designed and receiued him for King, after the decease of the Emperor Rudolph, his brother.

An Extract of the Reuersals of the Empereur RVDOLPH.

FOrasmuch as wee, as King of Bohemia, haue giuen our consent vnto the Estates, that at such time as [Page] the said Archduke Matthias of Austria, our eldest brother, when he shall request them lawfully and duly, according to their priuiledges and liberties, be chosen after vs for heire apparant of the Realme of Bohemia, &c.

And a little lower: Wee and the Archduke Matthias, our brother, when he shall haue obtained such prouision, will puruey and assure the said Estates by Reuersals sufficient for that purpose, That the same shall not bring presently nor hereafter any preiudice or damage vnto their priuiledges, liberties, good and laudable customes, and vsages, &c.

And yet more low: Wherefore wee for vs, our heires, and the Kings of Bohemia that shall be hereafter, promise vnto all the Barons, Nobles, Townes of Prage, other Townes, and to all the Communaltie representing the Estates of the Crowne of Bohemia, That the said free Election of the Archduke Matthias, our most deare brother, for to be heire apparant, and after our death King of Bohemia, shall not apport from henceforth, at this present, nor in times to come, any preiudice, damage, or derogation vnto them, nor vnto their Rights, Statutes, Priuiledges, Libertries, Ordinances, Benefits, neyther to all the old and other Customes, good and laudable Vsances, especially vnto the Obligations vnto them giuen by the King Ottocarus, by the King Iohn, by the Emperour Charles, by the King Vuenceslaus, by the Emperour Sigismund, by the King Albert, by the King Ladislaus, by the King George, by the King Vladislaus, by the King George, by the King Vladislaus, by the Emperour Ferdinand, and by the Emperour Maximilian, our most deare Lord and Father, &c.

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An extract of the Reuersals of the Archduke Mathias.

THe Estates haue chosen vs with one consent of their good franke will for heire apparant, and King of Bohemia, &c. And lower:

Wherefore following our said consent, we promise for vs, our heires and successors, vnto all the Lords, Nobles, and Townes of Prague, as also vnto other Townes, and all the Communaltie, representing the Estates of the Crowne of Bohemia, That this free election of our person, &c. shal not bring nor apport any preiudice or derogation vnto their Rights, Ordinances, Priuiledges, Franchises, Statutes, Benefites, nor to all their iust and ancient Customes, specially vnto the Obligations to them giuen by the King Ottocarus, by the King Iohn, by the Emperour Charles, by the King Vuenceslaus, by the Emperour Sigismund, by the King Albert, by the King Ladislaus, by the King George, by the King Vladislaus, by the Emperour Ferdinand, our gracious Lord and Father, and by the Emperour Rudolph, &c. And yet a little more lower:

Item, we promise, That during the life of our dearest Lord and Brother, not to intrude our selfe into the guidance and gouernment of the same Realme of Bohemia, nor of the Duchies of Silesia, nor of the high nor of the low Lusatia, &c. But if it shall happen, that wee will draw vnto vs the domination & gouernment in the life of his Imperiall Maiestie, or else if wee will not performe and doe (at such time that wee shall come vnto the Crowne of Bohemia) the same which the Imperiall Maiestie and the other precedent Kings of Bohemia haue done and performed touching the Oath, and all other things pertaining thereunto; [Page] The Estates shall by no meanes be likewise bound vnto vs. Then since that the eldest sonnes of the Queene Anne, and the two eldest sonnes of him, haue one after the other receiued and accepted the Crowne of Bohemia, wholy from the pure good will and free election of the Estates, and not by any succession hereditary, there is no likelihood nor reason the present Emperour Ferdinand, comming of the younger sonne of the said Queene Anne, should haue more right and pretension hereditary vnto the said Crown which they neuer had.

To the which you may adde, that after the death of the Emperour Matthias, in the yeare 1619. when it was questioned to chuse a new Emperor, the Elector of Mayence, Arch-Chancellour of the Empire, called and cited the Emperour Ferdinand (who was not yet aduanced vnto the dignity Imperiall) vnto the Dyet of Franckfort, to assist and to be present at the Election of the Emperour, as King & Elector of Bohemia, chosen, receiued, annoynted, and crowned by the said Estates, as hee hath expressedly declared by his Apologie, published and printed against the cōplaints the Ambassadours of the said Estates made in that time of such like conuocation, which they said was done vnto their preiudice, for that they were then in controuersie, and had lawfull exceptions against the said Ferdinand: In like manner, the other Electors receiued him into the Conclaue Electorall, not in respect of any right hereditary, but onely in respect of his Election, reception and Coronation that the said Estates had made of his person; this is that which they expressed one to the other in the said Dyet, and that all the three Ecclesiasticall Electors haue ioyntly with [Page] the Elector of Saxony reiterated afterwards in their Letters written from Mulhausen, as well to the King Frederick as vnto the same Estates, & vnto some other Princes of the Empire, for to let them to vnderstand that the King Frederick had not entred into a Realme void of a King, and vacant, but already prouided of another King, designed, chosen, and crowned by the said Estates: So also they in the said reception of him into the Conclaue Electorall, had not any regard vnto succession hereditary, for otherwise they had done wrong vnto the Archduke Albert, to set behinde and exclude him, for by right in that case hee ought to haue beene preferred before the Archduke Ferdinand now Emperour, his Cosin, issued and comming from the second brother.

All this sheweth sufficiently, that the Crowne of Bohemia ought to be holden for Electiue and not hereditary. As to the limitation that the Emperour alledgeth thereto, as if the liberty to chuse the Kings of Bohemia ought not to be extended out of the house of Austria, as long as there be Princes of the said house liuing. This is a pretension which hitherto cannot be debated and decided by any other way, then that of fact, in the which neither reason nor equity can haue place: for although the Estates of Bohemia haue chosen this many yeares for their Kings some of the Archdukes of Austria (which is the second of their grounds) it doth not ensue thereof, that this continuance of theirs doth import or make a prescription of time, since that the Reuersalls of euery one of them haue beene as many praecautions, to stop and hinder such pretensions, euen as the Princes Electors haue neuer [Page] yet auowed vnto the said Archdukes any succession hereditary in the Empire, though that for many yeares they haue in like manner chosen the Emperours out of that family.

Now it remaineth to touch in one word as it were by the way, the reception of the Emperor that now is, vnto the Crowne of Bohemia. In the yeare 1616. the Archduke Maximilian seriously represented vnto the Emperor Matthias his brother, by a memoriall dated the 16. day of February, how much it imported and concerned the house of Austria, that his Maiestie should be affured in his life time, especially of a successor in the Empire; as also in the Realmes of Hungary and Bohemia, that he could not propose a person more capable and fit, then his Cousin Perdinand the Archduke, and that he had already treated with his brother Albert the Archduke, for to obtaine his consent, that he ought to seeke all the meanes he could, to dispose the Estates of Bohemia, & them of Hungary, vnto the designation of his aforesaid Cosin: that it was needfull for his Maiestie to speake himselfe with the Elector of Saxony, to gaine and purchase his voyce and suffrage in his fauour; that the three Ecclesiasticall Electors were for their part enclined thereto already, and that afterward it behoued him to call a Dyet, in some conuenient place, to make an ouerture of such a succession Imperial, & to proceed with plurality of voices, though the Elector Palatine & he of Brandemburg would not yeeld thereto: and for to doe this, to keepe an Army afoot within the Empire, vnder the pretext of the war which his said Cosin had at that time in Istria against the Venetians, and aduise him to effectuate his other [Page] purposes and determinations which had beene put in deliberation betweene them: but aboue all things, that he tooke great heede that this aduice was not vented and disclosed before the time. This counsell was approued and receiued by the Emperour Mathias, and soone after divulged and communicated vnto the Elector of Saxony, and sundry Princes of the Empire, but that did not impeach and hinder the effects at all, for incontinent, some began to worke the affaire in Bohemia, by practises, corruptions, and menaces, as the Estates haue largely declared in their Writings, the Archduke Ferdinand was designed King of Bohemia: the Emperour went vnto the Elector of Saxony to Dresden, and also called an assembly at Ratisbon.

At the same instant that the Electors prepared them selues for the said Assembly of Ratisbon, they receiued newes that the Estates of Bohemia, driuen to impatience by so many violences and oppressions, continually and incessantly made against them, had cast downe headlong out of the window of the Councell Chamber two of the principall Officers of the Emperour, and a Secretary for many great reasons by them deduced and published, which to be short, are, That they were conuinced by their owne Letters and Writings, to haue betrayed their owne Countrey, and serued as instruments to depresse the said Estates, and to depriue them of their Religion, liberty, felicity, and happinesse.

The Emperour Mathias being offended with this procedure of the Estates, sent his Armies into Bohemia, for to take reuenge thereof, and they stood vpon the defensiue, whereon ensued a pernicious warre.

[Page] The Elector Palatine, after the commencement of these troubles, sent his Embassadours vnto the Emperour, to request him to giue peace vnto his Realme, whereby to preuent the ruine of that Countrey, and other inconueniences; but in vaine: for answere was made by some, that his Maiestie in reputation could not permit such an affront to goe vnpunished.

The Archduke Ferdinand, at that time defigned King of Bohemia, was resident and abiding at the Court of the Emperour Matthias at Vienna, who for his great debilitie and weaknesse meddled not much with the affaires of Estate, but all was directed by Ferdinand.

A little while after the Emperour deceased, and the Elector of Mayheme called an Assembly of the Electors at Francfort, for the election of another Emperour, and called thither (as I haue said) the Archduke Ferdinand, as King and Elector of Bohemia: The Estates of Bohemia sent thither their Embassadours also, for to protest, and to make their exceptions against the said Archduke Ferdinand, whom they said they could not acknowledge for King: but the Electors Ecclesiasticall would not by any meanes suffer them to enter into the Towne, much lesse giue them audience, and heare their griefes; alledging, that it was a particular businesse, and that by the authoritie of the Golden Bull, it was not lawfull to treat of any other Affaire in such an Assembly, as that which concerned the election of the Emperor: the which excuse had some faire apparence outwardly, but if it were well and narrowly seene into, and marked, it was erroneous, in the regard of the Estates of Bohemia; [Page] for they maintained, that the Archduke Ferdinand ought not to be admitted vnto the Colledge of Electors; and that therefore it was not a matter particular, but a point concerning all the Electors, and in generall all the bodie of the Empire.

The said Embassadours not obtaining hearing, and Audience, returned without doing any thing, and Ferdinand was receiued into the Colledge of Electors by the hastie promotion of the three Electors Ecclesiasticall; which thing imported the Estates of Bohemia to take the resolution to reiect Ferdinand. The Abdication was made in a solemne manner; and some few dayes after, the Estates passed vnto a new Election.

The causes of the said Abdication are found, and are extant, with all the Circumstances, in the Booke of the Deduction (made by the Estates) and be very many, of the which I will recite some few as briefely and succinctly as possibly may be: The Estates affirmed, That Ferdinand did violate his Oath, and his Reuersalls, in that during the life of the Emperor Matthias, hee intruded himselfe, and meddled in the affaires of Bohemia: That he carryed himselfe like an enemie toward them: That hee gaue authoritie and gaue order to make warre against them: That he sollicited the Estates of Morauia to giue passage vnto the Armie of the Emperor: That he himselfe caused his Troupes to come out of Styria, and sent them into Bohemia: And that in their greatest necessities he would not fauorize them with one good word toward the Emperour, though they had requested him instantly in their often Letters so to doe; but that, vnto the contrary, he hath [Page] made them seele the effects of his euill will and mallice in sundry matters: That after the death of the Emperor, in stead of restoring peace vnto them, and of taking due notice of the bad comportments of the said Officers, to doe iustice thereof, hee hath written vnto them, and that by his Letters, as by manner of approbation, and ratification of their offences, he hath restored and put them againe into their Offices and Charges, sending vnto them from time to time the confirmation of the Priuiledges of the said Estates, for to receiue them at their hands: which thing the said Estates could not doe, for that after so many euill offices and acts of hostilitie, and rigorous demonstrations of Ferdinand, they had need of an assecuration better founded then on a simple Writing. To all the which motiues, and many others, they adioyned the transaction Clandestine, made by Ferdinand with Fhilip the third, King of Spaine, the sixt of Iune, 1617. By the which it is treated, concluded, and decreed betweene them, of a Succession hereditarie, and of the continuation of the same, first in the family of Ferdinand, and afterward in the family of the King of Spaine, according to the agreements and conditions, as appeareth in the said transaction more at large: Which was kept very secret, and concealed from the Estates of Bohemia, till after the designation of Ferdinand, but it was afterward of it selfe discouered by another meanes. And in as much, that it taketh away from the said Estates the libertie to elect, (giuing vnto them Kings, by way of intrusion, without their knowledge and aduice) and ouerthrowing as much as it can, the Lawes Fundamentall, vnto the [Page] obseruation of the which, all the precedent and former Kings haue beene bound by solmne Oath; they inferre, that by the same, and by his other deeds aforesaid, Ferdinand is made incapable of the Crowne.

After this Abdication, the Estates of Bohemia founding and relying vpon their ancient Rights, Priuiledges, and Liberties, proceeded some few dayes after vnto the election of another King: and some hauing giuen their Suffrages to diuerse Princes, they chose by the most voyces, and proclaymed the Elector, Fredericke the fift, Count Palatine, for their King. This was on the 16. or 26. of the moneth of August: and on the next day, being the 17. or 27. of the said moneth, the Archduke Ferdinand was chosen and declared Emperour by the Colledge of Electors, at that time being assembled at Francfort, as is alreadie said.

The said Estates gaue notice incontinent vnto the Elector Palatine (by a person sent vnto him of purpose) of this his Election, approued and ratified by all the Estates of the Prouinces incorporated, requiring and earnestly beseeching him to accept it: which thing he did not at the first, but called together a great part of his friends and allyes, and sent Embassadours vnto them who were further off, to haue their aduise; in which space of time, the Estates redoubled their most humble instances, by their often and iteratiue Letters, and finally, sent vnto him into his own Countrey a solemne Embassade, composed of the Deputies of euery Prouince, for to present the Crowne vnto him, and to dispose him to accept it, as he did.

[Page] One may then see by this veritable and irrefragable information, that the intention of the Prince Palatine hath not beene to intrude, nor thrust in himselfe by force, nor by practise into the Kingdome of Bohemia, much lesse to thrust any other, out of that which was due or appertained vnto him, but that hee friendly and without doubt belecued by the circumstances abone mentioned, and other most pregrant reasons already set downe in other places, That the Crowne vnto him so solemnly offered, was totally vacant, and his Election very lawfull. Also there hath not bin any other marke or but in the accepting of the Crowne, for no other cause, but to succour the oppressed, to preuent the ruine of the Realme, and to hinder that it should not fall into the hands of a S [...]ranger, vnto the great disaduantage of the Empire: And for that the effects had fallen out otherwise, we ought to remi [...] the iudgment vnto God the director of all things, who will dispose of them as shall seeme good vnto him.

Touching the seco [...]d head.

FOr to vnderstand the diference and controuersie the better, it is good to vnderstand and know well the quality of the subiect or matter, and the quality of the persons.

The subiect of the controuersie, is the Realme and Electorate of Bohemia, the which as it is said, for these many former ages to this time, hath beene holden to goe by Election, and though it hold in fee of the Empire, yet it doth not appertaine immediatly vnto the [Page] Emperours no more then the Electors, as well Sec [...] lars as Ecclesiastiques, and many other as well Electiues as hereditaries, appertaine not in propriety vnto the Emperours, for there hath beene many Emperours of Germany, that haue not been Kings of Bohemia, and that the Electors are not bound by any meanes to chuse the King of Bohemia for Emperour. Also, he hath its priuate or perticular lawes, and is not in any thing subiect vnto the constitutions of the Empire: and likewise the Archduke of Austria, after the battaile of Prague haue begun to maintaine publiquely as well by their pen, as by their sword, that the said Realme and Electorate doth appertaine partieulerly vnto their house in propriety. It also appeareth by the transaction of Spaine, mentioned before in the first head, that the Archduke Ferdinand now Emperor, attributeth particulerly to him and his sonne, not as Emperour, but as in the quality of Archduke, in the which yet there is one remarke very considerable; to wit, that after the [...]aking of the said Transaction, vnto the day of his designation, made by the authority of the Estates of Bohem [...], he durst neuer vsurpe the title of King, nor make any mention vnto them of any such agreements or couenant, [...]nowing too well, that for that the same was directly contrary to their priuiledges and rights of free Election they would haue opposed themselues, and neuer receiued him: So that the question, if the Crowne be Electiue or hereditary, is not debated with the Estates of Bohemia by the Emperour, in the quality of Emperour, but as Archduke.

Likewise one cannot say, that by the reiection of [Page] the Archduke Ferdinand, the Estates haue reiected the person of an Emperour, for that then the Empire was vacant, and without Emperour, he comming afterward to the Imperiall dignity; yea and more, if in that same very time, the body of the Empire had from it selfe offended with such a Reiection, the iudgement had no [...] belonged vnto the Archduke Ferdinand, but rather vnto the Elector Frederick, as chiefe Vicar of the Empire, representing in that time the person of the Emperour: And therefore it followeth, that the said Reiection is an act particuler, which doth no [...] touch the person of the Emperour, nor the body or corpes of the Empire, who neuer at any time medled or had to doe with the affaires betweene the Kings, and the Estates of Bohemia: now if so be that the Reiection is a particuler act, so also is the new Election which ensued the same a little while after, an act particular, of the like nature and condition.

So then, if the Estates of Bohemia cannot be accused to haue committed the haynous crime of Treason, against the person of an Emperour, nor against the corps or body of the Empire, by such an Abdication and new Election: what reason is there to accuse the Elector Palatine Frederick, of Treason in the highest degree, for that hee hath accepted the said Election.

And it is an obiection very absurd, to alledge, as some of the other side haue done, that the Archduke Ferdinand, and the Emperour Ferdinand, is but one person, and that hee who reiecteth the Archduke, reiecte [...]h the Emperour. This is not but one and [Page] the same body, which doth neuerthelesse represent diuers persons, and it hath beene already said, that when the Archduke Ferdinand was reiected, there was no Emperour Ferdinand at all. The King of Denmarke is Duke of Holstein, and because of that Dutchie, hee is a member of the Empire, hauing a place of sitting amongst the Princes of the Empire, and yet the said sitting doth not represent the King of Denmarke, but onely and seperately the person of a Duke of Holstein, inferiour to many other Princes of the Empire. The King of Spaine is comprised amongst the Estates of the Empire, by reason of his Prouinces of hase Burgundy, and yet is not therefore admitted in the Sessions of the Estates of the Empire, in quality of King of Spaine. The Emperour himselfe maketh vse of this distinction; For when complaint is made, that he vseth the people of the King of Spaine, and bringeth strange Souldiers into the Empire against the ordinance [...] of the Empire, and his owne Capitulation: he answered, that he made vse of the Duke of Burgundy, and of his assistance, as of a Prince of the Empire though yet that he is holpen in this assistance of the money and meanes of all his Realmes, and not of his Prouinces of Burgundy onely: So the Emperour made not long since a like distinction about the King of Denmarke, saying in his answere to his Ambassadour, that the King of Denmarke could not helpe nor assist the circle of the lower Saxony, as King of Denmarke, but onely as a Duke of Holstein.

It is very true that the Palatine Elector is accused by some, not onely for that hee hath accepted the Crowne of Bohemia, but also for that hee hath made [Page] an Hostile inuasion into the territory and dominion of Austrich, and by that meanes violated the publique peace of the Empire: but that is manifestly false, for euery one knoweth that it is not he, but the house of Austria, who haue kindled the warre in Bohemia, and constrained the Estates of Bohemia, to put and stand vpon the defensiue: and God, (before the entry of him into Bohemia,) hauing blessed their Armes so farre forth, as to repulse the Countesse of Bucquoy, and of Dampiere with their Armies, and driuen them backe into Austria, from whence they were come, to inuade and make great hauock in Bohemia, they were obliged (and so they thought themselues) vpon compulsion to keepe their forces and Armies within the said Countries and Dominions of Austria, thereby to impeach their enemies, for comming and getting within the Realme of Bohemia, and it was not in the power of the Elector Palatine, to make them retire and goe backe, although he desired it neuer so much, forasmuch as that had beene to expose the said Estates, into the danger to see themselues againe incontinently assayled, within their owne borders and confines, by their said enemies, euen as they had without that beene very shortly after.

But as concerning the persons, who be at controuersie for this affaire and businesse of Bohemia, euery one of them hath without comparison his more eminent qualities peculiar to himselfe. But not to stay here to describe that of the Emperor, who is the head and chiefe of all the Electors, Princes, and Estates of the Empire, whose person is sacred, and ought after God to be honoured and respected aboue all others. [Page] It is sufficient to know, that the Empire is not an Estate Monarchique, where the Prince ruleth absolutely, and that the Emperours doe not inherite their dignities and authorities, but that they be conferred vpon them, by the hands of the Electors, who, when they shall abuse themselues therein, haue the like power to depriue them, that they had to giue it them, euen as it is verified by the fundamentall lawes, and by the examples of the deposition by them made at other times, of the Emperours chosen by them. Also it is found in the auncient Letters and documents of Germany, that the Emperours be called soueraigne Administrators and Tutors of the Empire, whereby is gathered and collected, that they cannot attribute the propriety thereof vnto themselues, nor dispose thereof absolutely according to their owne fantasie, but that they are obliged and bound to yeeld and render an account, and reckoning of their administration. And on the other side, the Princes Electors be called by the constitutions of the Empire, and by the Imperiall Capitulation (which is holden for a fundamentall law) the principall Colomnes of the Empire, they hauing as Ephori, superintendencie and ouersight ouer all the body or corpes of the Empire, and bee also obliged, by the duty of their Offices, to maintaine, in all, and through all, the obseruation of the said Constitutions.

They haue a Colledge apart from others, and may assemble and meete whensoeuer they thinke good, to entreate of affaires of State, and bee furnished and endued with (as be also the other Princes [Page] and Estates respectiuely) with many priuiledges, and immunities, which are confirmed by euery Emperour, whensoeuer and as often as they chuse and elect and Emperour: before all other things, they prescribe vnto him the conditions, vpon which, they put the Scepter in his hand, and make him to promise by a corporall and solemne oath, the obseruation of them, and after that, they reciprocally doe vnto him the oath of fidelity, as to their chiefe head and superiour by them chosen, of their franke and free will: By which it appeareth, that there is a very great difference betweene the Emperours, and the Electors, and betweene the Kings Soueraignes by nature or birth, and the Princes and Lords to them immediately Subiects.

And especially the Prince Palatine hath dignities of great eminencie, which are allotted vnto him pecnliarly, by the Golden Bull. First, in that, when the Empire happeneth to be vacant, by the death of the Emperour, or that the Emperour tranaileth out of the Empire, hee then is to haue the administration of the affaaires of the Empire, in the Countries of the Rhine, of Sueuia, and of the law Franconien. Secondly, in that by the same Golden Bull, he is constituted and ordained Iudge of the Emperor: when a third person hath any different or controuersie with him, in the occurrences concerning the Empire.

Neuerthelesse, for all this, hee doth not leaue to acknowledge the Emperour that now is, for his head, and superiour, chosen and confirmed in this dignity, [Page] by the plurality of the Electorall voyces: he doth not dispute any thing whatsoeuer appertaining vnto the said Imperiall dignity; Hee (as hee from the beginning hitherto hath done) doth offer and declare publiquely to account and respect him for such, and in that quality to giue him all honour, reuerence, and obedience, conformable and agreeable vnto the Constitutions of the Empire.

The Crowne of Bohemia in controuersie betweene them is, (as it is apparant and euident by the aforesaid proofes) a particuler difference, or controuersie, which is in question, not as betweene an Emperour and an Elector, but as betweene two Princes of the Empire, of the which in this action, the one neither can nor ought to haue preheminence aboue the other, but haue neede of a Iudge impartiall, such as the Emperour that now is, with the Colledge of Electors might be, if he were not interessed in the same, as party principall: And as for the Electors, the most part of them bee, from the beginning of these troubles, made suspected, and incapable to interpose their iudgement: For first, and to begin, the three Ecclesiasticall Electors fauourizing the Archduke Ferdinand, euen from before his Election Imperiall, would not by any meanes heare the griefes of the Estates of Bohemia against the said Archduke, when they sent for that purpose their Ambassadors, vnto the Colledge of Electors, at that time assembled at Franckfort, (as hath been said) but reiecting them, as comming about a particular difference (though by reason of the Electorate annexed vnto that Crowne, all the said Colledge, [Page] yea, the generalitie of the Empire hath interest therein) neyther ceased they, vntill the said Archduke was brought into the Conclaue of the Electors, as Elector of Boheme. It is very true, that after this Introduction, and Election Imperiall, which ensued thereupon, the Emperour that now is, remitted and gaue ouer the decision of this Affaire vnto the arbitrage of all the Electors, who assigned a day and place vnto the said Estates of Bohemia, for to treat thereof. But they would not then submit and yeeld themselues thereunto, forasmuch as the matter was not now entire, and in the same estate it was, for that the said Electors, by the said bringing and introduction of him into the Colledge of the Electors, had giuen an aduantage vnto their counter-partie. Where it is to bee remarked, that as well in the said Introduction as in the Election of the Emperour, the Elector Palatine did by his Embassadors make an expresse reseruation for the said Estates of Bohemia, of their right that did belong vnto them. As concerning that after the acceptation of the said Crowne of Bohemia by the Elector Palatine, the said three Electors Ecclesiasticall, and the Elector of Saxony, wrote from their Assembly holden at Mulhausen, as well vnto the said Estates, as to the said Elector Palatine, and others, that it appertained vnto them as Electors, to take knowledge of that fact, as of an Affaire of the Empire; there is a contradiction to be found therein: for at Francfort, the three Ecclesiasticall Electors declared, That they held the griefes and pretensions of the said Estates for a particular fact, and would not by any meanes, that it should be decided by the [Page] Colledge of Electors: yea, which is more, they wrote vnto the Elector Fredericke, which at that same time was in the high Palatinate, to pray him to come in person to Francfort; and amongst other points of their Letters, openly declared, That they would neuer suffer the Estates of Bohemia to dispute or question Ferdinand about the Crowne of Bohemia: How could they then, in the interposition of their authoritie, vpon that difference, auoid the suspition of partialitie? Also it is to no purpose, to alleage in this difference the authoritie of the Emperor, to better and gaine the suit; for the authoritie Imperiall, which the Archduke Ferdinand hath obtained after his abdication in Bohemia, hath not meliorated his particular cause, or made it more iust. For example, if two Souldiers goe to Law, or contend for some Debt, or some other Quarrell, and if that one of them is made Captaine, and hath obtained authoritie ouer the other, his cause is not any way bettered by this new authoritie. If two Citizens be at Law for a piece of Land, and if two Princes be in controuersie for a Crowne, and one is made Emperour; shall he carrie away the Crowne by his new Imperiall authoritie? Or else is it not lawfull in all causes for an inferior to pretend any right in a particular fact against his superior? Behold then, as concerning the difference and controuersie of Bohemia; the decision of which, the Prince Elector Palatine hath beene alwayes, and is, readie to remit, eyther to a Sentence of vnpartiall Iustice, or to the Arbitrage of eminent persons, capable of the cause, and not adherent and leaning vnto the other partie alone.

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Touching the third Head.

NOw that wee haue heretofore made it apparant, and euident, by the qualitie of the Controuersie, and other circumstances, that the Emperour could not interpose therein his Imperiall authoritie, to his owne proper aduantage, and to the preiudice of the Prince Elector Palatine; this conclusion followeth thereon, without contradiction, that the Proscription is praecipitated, and vnlawfully done: The which is deduced, showne, and prooued so apparantly, in many other Writings published, that it should be superfluous to make any great or long discourse; but it sufficeth to adde in this place some example and instance of the euident Nullities which are found in the said Proscription.

First, the Emperour (from the beginning) bore himselfe as Demaundant and Plaintife against the Prince Palatine, and in stead of pursuing him by the way of vnpartiall Iustice, hee hath pursued him with all Hostilitie, with Fire and Sword, shewing by all sort of violence, that his principall Butt and Marke was no other, but to reuenge himselfe, and to ruinate the other vtterly, as by his Letters and Writings, as well particular as publique, and aboue all things, the effects which haue ensued thereof, haue verified, that such haue beene his Designes. Hee could not then bee Iudge and Partie at one time, [Page] much lesse could hee pronounce the Sentence, that should be vnpartiall, and exempt from the appetite of bitter reuenge.

Secondly, the Emperour hath commenced this Proces, to wit, by the execution, and the afore-mentioned Hostilities, without citation, without iudiciall recognition of the cause, and without hearing the defence of the Prince Palatine.

Thirdly, the proscription hath beene precipitated, and published, against the Constitutions of the Empire, without the aduice and approbation of the Electors ioyntly: For though that this Arrest and Decree hath beene deliberated on with the knowledge and consent of the Ecclesiasticall Electors; so it is, that that which was done, was done in particular and in hugger mugger, the secular Electors neuer giuing their consent thereunto: Neyther was the resolution of the same taken Collegiately, for it was taken in the house of the Count of Ogniate, Embassadour of Spaine, at Vienna, as it appeareth by the Letters of the said Count of Ogniate; and information is had thereof by other meanes also.

For the fourth, it is founded partly vpon certaine ancient Constitutions of the Empire, made against the breakers of the publique peace, who would not submit themselues vnto Iustice, nor be reduced vnto Peace, except they were constrayned by force of Armes. The said Constitutions doe not any way touch the Prince Palatine, for that hee did not rayse the Warre in Bohemia, and meddled not therein, but for their defence; being alwayes readie (as hath beene said) to vndergoe the decision of his Cause, [Page] eyther by way of Iustice, or by an vnpartiall interposition: And as to the authority absolute, to proscribe a Prince Elector without the vniuersall consent of the Electors, without recognition of the cause, without citation, and without the hearing of the iustification of the party accused, that is in one word a thing neuer heard of in the Empire. And though that the Emperour had had such an authority absolute, and that it had beene founded vpon the said Constitutions: so it is, that hee cannot make any vse of it without infringing the Capitulation, and his oath, which is quite contrary, as it apparantly and euidently appeareth, by the ensuing extraict of the 25. and 26. Articles of the said Capitulation of the clause, comprised in the 28 Article, and of the last Article.

Capitulationis Caesar. Artic. 25.

SImili modo debemus et volumus Electoribus, Principibus, Pralatis, Comitibus, Dominis, alijs (que) Sacri Romani Imperij Ordinibus nullam violentiam inferre, ne (que) alijs vt idem faciant, permittemus, sed vice versa, si quis rem versus alium habuerit, ad seditionem discordiam, omnem (que) intemperiem, in S. Romano Imperio pracauendam, ambas litigantes partes, in consueto Iudicio, audiemus, ne (que) cniquam per mittemus, sub quocun (que) rei praetextu, etiam illud fieri posset, vt alter ab altero, rapinis, bellis, alijs (que) incommodatibus infestetur, vel obruatur.

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Articulo 26.

DEbemus et volumus etiam pra [...]a [...]ere et nullo molo committere, vt in posterum, quisquam, tam superioris, quam inferior is sortis homines Hloctores, Principes vil alii Ordires, abs (que) causa, inauditi, proscribantur; sed multo magi [...], in illic Casibus, ordinarii processas, et S. Romani Imperii Constitutiones ex praescripto eiusdem Imperii, Anno C.M.D.L.X. reformatae Imperialis Camerae, et subsequuti Comiti [...]rum Recessus, ordinario legitimo (que) modo obseruentur, attamen, vt laesae parti, iuxta pacis prouincialis requisita, legitima sua defensio reseruetur.

Ex Articulo 38.

SVi sutem contra modo commemoritos Articulos, & punctae, aliquid susceptum vel molitum fuerit, illud nullum, irritum, at (que) tnualidum pronuntiamus, quemadmodum etiamea omnia iam [...]emelpro semper irrita at (que) inualida pronu [...]tiamus, et vrgenie necessitate oneratae grauatae (que) parti, literis testimontasibus succurrere non grauabimur.

Ex Articulo 39.

ET in rebus seriis, Sacrum Romanum Imperium concernentibus, mox ab initio, corundem Electorum consi [...]um et considerationes minime aspernabimur.

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Articulo 42.

QVo mel [...]us etiam [...]am intimum, quam Imperio Aulicum consilium, huius Capitulationis certieres reddantur, et iux ta iliam, in Consil [...]s et alias etiam, actiones suas inslituere queant: idcirco non duntaxat [...]us rei ipsos certiores reddemus: verum etiam sub praestando officia [...] suo iuramento ipsis serio iniungemus, vt eandem (capitula [...]ionem) assidue in oculis, quasi circumferant, nec contra illam sua forsitan consilio conferant: id quod commemorato ipsorum official [...], iuramento, expressis verbis niseri curabimus.

Articulo 43.

ET hec omnia, et quodlibet quidem in specie, nos supra memoratus Romanorum Rex, dictis S. Romani Imp. Electoribus, sub verbis nostris Regiis, nomine veritatis promisimus, at (que) tenore presentium literarum, eadem nostra verba Regia seruanda, Corporaliad Deum et S S. Euangelium praestito iuramento confirmanimus, ne (que) eadem vllo modo, qualiscun (que) etiam excogitari posses, violabi [...]us, In fidem praemissorum, Sex istas vna forma, et styl [...], ex aratasliteras, Regio nostro sigillo, confirmauimus▪ et vnas singuiis, electoribus tradi curauimus, Quae dabantur 28. Augusti, Anno a partu virgineo Domini, & saluatoris Iesu Christi, M.D.XIX. Regnorum nostro [...]um Romani, primo, et Hungaric [...], secundo, et Bohemici, tertio.

§

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ALL the other Articles of the said Capitulation doe containe also conditions and promises, so aduantageous vnto the Electors, Princes, and Estates of the Empire, that it is impossible to make as much as any one of them valuable or of force, to cloke or palliate the lest that may be of the iniustice of the said Proscription, except that any one will hold and maintaine, that the solemne oath madeby his Maiesty Imperiall in the confirmation of them, is not obligatory, and that in reading the said conditions and promises, one ought to vnderstand them contrary to the words set downe.

Behold, I say, some scantlings of the Nullities of the said Proscription; for the rest of the things that are defectiue in the same, I remit you vnto the Treatises and deductions, more amply set downe in print, and published vnto the world.

And besides the said Nullities, the text of the Proscription is farced, and stuffed, with many false narrations, by the which, some labour to deingrate the Prince Palatine, and to make him more odious, and to giue some colour of Iustice vnto this vniust proceedings: For hee is accused to haue practised with the Turke, and to haue exposed thereby Christendome, vnto extreame danger, the which calumnious slaunder is drawne out of that, that the Estates of Hungary and Bohemia, conioyntly with the Prouinces incorporated, sent in the yeare 1620. an Ambassade vnto Constantinople. But it is not enough to accuse him, but it is reason rather to haue proofes: the depeach and the instruction of the said Embassade (the counter-partie whereof is in [Page] mens hands) sheweth the quite contrarie. And since that they of the other partie dare not shew, nor publish it, because that the said slander cannot be verified thereby, the good compatriotes haue caused it not long since to bee published, and imprinted, that it might bee communicated vnto all the World, who may see by the same, that the Butt and end of the said Embassade was for no other end and purpose, then to obtaine a firme peace with that puissant Neighbour, and Borderer, and redoutable Enemie of Christendome, and by that meanes to impeach and diuert him, to make vse and benefit of those occasions that the vnfortunate Warre, raysed and begun by them of the House and Family of Austria, presented vnto him, of inuading and piercing into the said Realmes, and Prouinces: And that was done the more, for that the said House of Austria had vnarmed and disfurnished the Fortresses and Frontiers of Hungarie of their Munitions of Warre, for to employ them against the Estates of Bohemia, where indeed they should haue made them to serue against the inuasion of the Turke, vnto the which they were destinate and appointed, and vnto which the Estates of the Empire had contributed, with the expences of their owne money.

Now to giue some apparance and colour vnto this vniust Proscription, the contrarie partie maketh a great shew, with rehearsing the example of the Elector Iohn Fredericke of Saxonie, who in the yeere one thousand fiue hundred fortie six, was proscribed by the Emperour Charles the fift; by the execution of the which, hee was despoyled of one part of his [Page] Countreyes, and of his Dignitie Electorall, wherewith the Dukes, Maurice, and Auguste of Saxonie, and their descendents, were inuested, with the exclusion of his three sonnes, and of his brother. But this example hath no resemblance with that of the Prince Palatine.

For first, after the declaration of the Ban, hee was offered a Treatie of Peace, by the entermise of the Elector Fredericke the second, Count Palatine, and of Doctor Eck, Counsellor of the Emperour Charles the sist; but hee vtterly refused it. On the contrarie, the Elector Palatine hath sought by all meanes an equitable peace, and cannot obtaine it.

Secondly, the Elector Iohn Fredericke and his Confederates made open Warre against the Emperour Charles the fift, whom they would not acknowledge for Emperour, calling him Charles of Gaunt, who named himselfe Emperour; and that which is more, they sent him a Cartell, or Letter of Defiance, and in solemne manner renounced the Oath they had formerly made vnto him. But it hath beene demonstrated here before, that the Elector Palatine did not meddle, nor had any contention with the Emperour Ferdinand, as with an Emperour, but as with an Archduke of Austria; who, before that hee came to the Crowne Imperiall, had alreadie commenced and begun the Warre. And as for the Dignitie Imperiall, the Elector Palatine hath alwayes protested to recognize him for Emperor; and in this qualitie, to render and to giue him all obedience and respect, in conformitie vnto the Constitutions of the Empire.

[Page] Thirdly, the Elector Iohn Fredericke (at that time detained and kept prisoner) renounced the foureteenth day of May, in the yeere of our Lord, one thousand fiue hundred fortie and seuen, in the Campe before Wittenberg, for him and his heires, all the Rights that he could pretend vpon the Electorate of Saxonie; the which Renunciation was ratified by his three sonnes, and his brother: which thing cannot be said on the behalfe of the Elector Palatine. And though that the example of the Elector Palatine may not be compared and resembled with the example of the Elector Iohn Fredericke of Saxonie: (betweene the which, there is as much difference notwithstanding, then there is betweene Summer and Winter) so it is, that there is not any that can iustifie the said pretended Proscription, for that the Emperour which is now at this day, is obliged and bound by his Capitulation confirmed by his corporall Oath, not to doe the like thereafter.

Since that then the Iniustice of the Proscription precipitated against the Prince Palatine, is so vniust, it will not be amisse to see and view also the Iniustice, or more rather, enormious excesse of the Execution.

The Execution hath beene commenced a good space of time before the publication of the Sentence; and as well before, as after, the Palatinate hath beene made the Scaffold, vpon the which hath beene played the most horrible, the most cruell, and the most detestable Tragedies, that euer any man heard or saw, since the Empire had the Name of Christian. Some pretend, that the Prince hath offended, [Page] and for it the people haue beene punished. These poore innocent Countreyes haue beene exposed in prey vnto forraine and strange Nations, Cossaques, Croatians, and other Barbarians, who vnder the sacred Name of the Emperour, haue pilled, saccaged, rauaged, massacred them, and burned their habitations and houses; in such sort, that the Heauens doth bemoane and feele the sobbes and groanes of manie thousand Christian soules, that neuer had any knowledge, and much lesse of partaking in the Affaires of Bohemia: The Ayre is yet obscured and darkened with the smoake of so many Townes, Villages, Boroughes, Castles, Houses, and Hamlets, burned and consumed with Fire; and the Earth is yet all moist, and dyed (as it were) with a deluge of bloud, at the which the liuing haue horror, and the posteritie will haue detestation. These poore innocents are brought vnder the yoake of a perpetuall miserie: there is carryed away out of the Palatinate a great number of persons, women and children, into strange Countries; of the which, some haue beene barbarously sold vpon the frontiers of Turkie: And in most parts of the Palatinate▪ these wretched soules are dayly depriued of the exercises of their Religion, that not onely the solace of their bodies is taken from them, but they are also depriued of the consolation of their soules. The Countrey is dismembred, the Territories are diuided, and the Subiects are constrained and enforced to doe homage vnto strangers. The little that remaineth of their goods, is confiscated; and especially, the goods of Officers and seruants of the said Lord are escheated. To be short, there is done all the mischiefe [Page] and euill, that the mallice of men can deuise.

And for the execution of all those violences and excesses, the Duke of Bauyer, and those of the League, haue most passionately and furiously imployed their Armes; and the doing there of, doth violate and breake the faith and promise by them giuen and made at the Treatie of Vlmes: in the which it was accorded and decreed, vnder the Signature, Letters, and Seales of the said Duke of Bauyer, That they shall not make any Inuasion, or Act of Hostilitie, within the one or the other of the two Palatinates, vnder any colour, name, or pretext, whatsoeuer it was, nor to meddle with any thing within the said Palatinates.

But that is not all: These Outrages were not committed onely against the Elector Palatine, but they haue driuen away the Duke of Symmeren, his brother, out of his Patrimonie, his Countreyes, Goods, and Reuenues; they haue ruined his subiects, who are yet to this day incessantly euill entreated, and consumed and impouerished with all sort of Exactions, Contributions, and other insupportable Charges: And yet hee was neuer accused, much lesse conuicted of any Crime; yea, rather the Emperour himselfe hath declared him to be innocent.

The bordering Countreyes haue not beene much better dealt withall, and entreated, but extreamely molested, pilled, and rauaged, in diuers [Page] quarters, against the Treatie of M [...]tz, and of Asc [...]affenburg, made by the Commiss [...]ries of the Emperour with them of the Vnion, and ratified by the Imperiall Maiestie: by the which Treaties, it was promised vnto all the Princes, Estates, and Cities of the Empire, That vnto them there should no Hurt, D [...]mmage, Incommoditie, or Trouble bee done, for or concerning the subiect of these Affaires, nor otherwise.

And not to stand and enlarge ones selfe vpon the particulars, but to descend and come vnto the generalitie; this Proscription, and Execution so vindicatiue, hath in that manner afflicted all the Corps and Bodie of the Empire, that it seemeth to be the downefall of its totall ruine.

Moreouer, they were not content to depriue the Prince Palatine of his Estates and Dignities Electoralls, but they haue also depriued his Children, and Brother, and his other neere Kinsmen, though they were all Innocents, taking away from them the benefit of their Inuestitutes in Remainder, and Reuersion, for to giue them vnto the Duke of Bauyer, in recompence of so much bloud hee hath shed, and fire kindled; and when hee hath put him in the pretended possession of the said Estates, and Dignities, the said Kinsmen and Allyes are put vnto suite together, by way of Law, or by an amiable Composition, to whom they shall appertaine [Page] after the death of the Dukes of Bauyer: and you neuerthelesse, before the Cause come so farre, there are giuen vnto the Duke of Neaburg Letters of expectancie, for to be preferred thereto, and placed therein, before all others.

The true cause of this extraordinarie rigorous proceedings against the House Electorall Palatine, is clearely expressed in the Letters written by the Emperour vnto Don Balthazar d' Cuiuga, principall Councellor vnto the King of Spaine, dated the fifteenth day of October, in the yeere of our Lord one thousand six hundred twentie and one, to bee seene in the Chancelrie of Spaine (a Booke so called) that is to say, That forasmuch as they haue heretofore made opposition vnto the House of Austria, the which thinketh, that it cannot extend his domination so farre, as it proiccteth, if that the said House of the Palatine be not vtterly ruinated.

So also the translation of the Electorate into the House of Bauyer, expressedly declareth in the Post-script of the same Letters, That the Butt thereof is, that by meanes thereof the Catholique Romanes may haue more, and pluralitie of Voyces, in the Colledge of the Electors, and that the Empire may bee perpetuated in the House of Austria; vnto the aduancement of which, the Duke of Bauyer shall be obliged and bound, for this great benefit receiued from the House of Austria.

[Page] The Practises and secret Drifts, the Letters sent vnto Rome, into Spaine, and sundrie parts of Almaigne, the counterfeit Embassades sent here and there, vnder false pretexts and semblants, and infinite other cunning Trickes, whereof they make vse to further their Affaires, and to bring them vnto the point where they are seene to be at this day, be so many in number, that they would make a great Booke, to comprise them all: The intention of this Information, beeing onely to demonstrate a farre off the wrong that is done vnto the Elector Palatine, and his Children and Friends.

Touching the fourth Head.

IT hath beene said in the first Head, That at the verie beginning of the Troubles of Bohemia, the Prince Elector Palatine desirous to see the Peace established there, and the Subiects reconciled vnto their King, sent an Embassadour vnto the Emperour at Vienna, for to desire him to vanquish himselfe, to lay downe Armes, and surcease from violence, and to quench the fire of a pernitious Warre at the first. But that was in vaine; for the Embassadour continued his Suit instantly many moneths together, to his great charges, at Vienna; but returned, and obtayned nothing.

[Page] After the death of the Emperour Matthias, the King of great Briraine to testifie and witnesse his good intentions, toward the publique good of all Germany, sent the Vicount Doncaster, Councellor in his Councels of Estate, and Gentleman of his Chamber, in Ambassade vnto the Archduke Ferdinand, at that time designed King of Bohemia, and other Princes of the Empire, to mediate an accommodation betweene the said Ferdinand, and the said Estates of Bohemia, and by this sweet and milde way, to reduce and bring the parties vnto repose and rest, and to preuent the euils which haue afterward miserably afflicted, doe afflict, and will afflict still all the corpes and body of the fift Empire, yea and of all Christendome, if God by his grace do not giue a conuenable remedie therevnto. The said Ambassadour met the Archduke Ferdinand at Ratisbone, in the way for to goe vnto the Dyet of Franckfort, called for the Election of a new Emperour: he was giuen to vnderstand, that in that place of Ratisbone, the affaires of Bohemia could not be treated of; and that therefore hee should returne backe, and goe vnto Franckfort, where there would be better commodity to conferre with the Electors, and to take a good resolution therein; but he thinking to obtaine so much as to enter into the Towne for that purpose, was not permitted so to doe, vnder the pretext and colour, that it was against the Golden Bull, to permit strangers, Princes, or Ambassadours, during the holding of the same Dyet, to enter into the Towne. [Page] So that hee was constrayned to withdraw himselfe vnto Hanau, and there to stay a long time at great charges and expences, for that hee had a very great trayne: And though hee requested oftentimes, and with great instance to be admitted and heard; yet hee could not obtayne, vntill that Ferdinand was brought into the Conclaue Electorall, and by that meanes chosen Emperour: And for that the Emperour, after that hee was come, by his reception vnto the Colledge Electorall, as King of Bohemia, vnto the marke hee aymed, had remitted the said affaire and businesse of Bohemia vnto the Arbitrage of the Electors, the negotiation of the said Lord Embassadour was made frustrate, and hee dismissed to goe vnto the place from whence he came. Behold here the first affront made vnto the King of great Brittaine in his interposition.

In the yeare of our Lord, One thousand sixe hundred and twenty: The King of Spaine and the Archduke Albertus set on foote a puissant Armie in the Prouinces of Burgogne, in the moneth of Iuly and August, the King of great Brittaine aduertised from other places, that it was to inuade the lower Palatinate, sent Sir Edward Conway and Sir Richard Weston his Ambassadours, vnto the Archduke at Bruxelles, to exhort him not to make any inuasion into the Palatinate, with offers to interpose his good Offices for the aduancement and furthering of an amiable & friendly composition, vnto whom answere was giuen: [Page] That the King of Spaine and his Highnesse had assembled and formed an Army for the seruice of the Emperour, and that as yet the resolution was not taken, in what place that Army should he employed. Now it is a thing to be noted, that the said Army marched already toward the Palatinate, when that they made this aunswere full of mockerie vnto the said Embassadours.

Incontinently after the publication of the Ban against the Prince Pala [...]ne, the Princes and Estates vnited, dispached their Embassadours vnto to beseech him to suspend the execution thereof, and to giue way vnto an accommodation, for to stop the euils that would ensue thereof infallibly, assuring themselues to dispose the said Prince Palatine vnto all things that should be thought conuenable and equitable for the cōmon good and repost, but such answer was made vnto them in the Emperors name, that they might vnderstand that nothing was entended and to be looked for, but fire and sword.

The King of Denmark also bestowing therein the same offices by his Embassadours, was paid with like money as the Princes and Estates vnited were.

And for that the Prince Elector Palatine had betrusted all this affaire, in the interposition of the Kings of great Brittaine, and of Denmarke, with promise to ratifie and accomplish all whatsoeuer, they concluded or accorded in his name, so that it were not against his conscience or his honour: his Maiesty of great Britaine (vnto whom he afterward remitted the negotiation thereof, & granting to do [Page] all that he shall iudge most fitting, for the recouering of his Estates and dignities, and the re-establishment of a firme peace in the Empire) voluntarily charged himselfe with this entermise, and promised, as he hath promised oftentimes hitherto, to employ therein all his possible meanes, and to expose therein, if neede be, all that God hath giuen him in this world, iudging it better, notwithstanding, it to be the better & more reasonable to search and make vse of the way of mildnesse, before that he proceeded vnto extremities.

This is the matter, why his Maiestie of Great Brittaine sent the Lord Digby, Councellour of Estate, and Gentleman of his Chamber, vnto the Emperour in the moneth of Iune, with large instructions and power, to labour to bring the affaires vnto some good composition. The Archduke Albertus had then graunted a truce in the lower Palatinate for some weekes, which began to expite, and the high Palatinate was yet in the hands of the Prince Palatine, but terribly menaced, and in great feare, by reason of the great preparations of warre made by the Duke of Bauier, to gaine and winne the same vnder the title of a Commission Imperiall to him giuen. The Ambassadour Digby vsed all his forces and diligences possible for the discharge of his Ambassade, dayly redoubling his instances toward his Maiestie Imperiall, the which declared that hee desired nothing more, (then peace, [...] the Prince Palatine would first make satisfaction, and submission, vnto the which was added, sometime [Page] one thing, and then at another time, another thing; onely (as the effects testified) for to gayne and winne time, vntill the Truce was expired: And that the Duke of Bauyer might haue an occasion to giue a blow vpon the high Palatinate, without the impeachment of Count Mansfelt, who had amazed and gathered together some Troupes, vpon the Frontiers of Bohemia. The said Truce being expired, the Spaniards recommenced the Warre in the lower Palatinate, the Emperour not abiding to giue any eare vnto the prorogation of the Truce, alledging many new pretexts: yet neuerthelesse, his Imperiall Maiestie, and they of his Councell, put the said Embassadour in hopes, by faire words, and goodly promises, That the Duke of Bauyer (whose Commission had beene suspended by the order of the Emperour, at the sollicitation of the said Embassadour) should not receiue any new Commission, and should be enioyned not to make hereafter the execution of the Ban against the higher Palatinate. And finally, vpon the reiterated instances of the Embassadour, and vpon certaine Conditions and Promises by him offered, his Imperiall Maiestie consented vnto a Treatie, and wrote vnto the Infanta of Spaine the eleuenth of September, giuing her power to agree with the King of Great Brittaine (if the Affaires in those Quarters permitted her) and decree with him a suspension or deposition of Armes, that by that meanes they might enter into a friendly and amiable [Page] conference of a peace and accommodation. The Embassadour trusting and confiding in all these Declarations, Promises, and Words, and not being able to obtaine more at their hand, tooke leaue of the Emperour, and made hast in his returne, with a purpose to bring (by the power of the Commission giuen vnto the Infanta) his Affaires to some good passe. But in his returne he was aduertised, and saw himselfe, that the Duke of Bauyer was made Master of all the whole high Palatinate, and constrained the subiects to doe him homage; whereof he made complaints vnto the Emperor by his Letters of the fift of October, making vnto him a remonstration, that the same was done vnto the preiudice of his Declaration, and against that which his Councellors had giuen him to vnderstand.

Being arriued at Bruxels, hee assayed and tryed by all meanes to obtaine a suspension of Armes: which thing was impossible, forasmuch as the Emperour had commaunded the said Infanta, by other Letters written (vnknowing vnto the said Embassador) That she should not make any accord of Truce, and that his Maiestie Imperiall had inioyned Don Cordua to proceed: So that the contrarietie of these Letters, dispatched and sent at one and the same time, vpon one and the same subiect, is euidently discouered by the answere the Infanta gaue vnto the Embassador, on the eight day of Nouember, a thousand six hundred twentie and one: which was done not to lose, but to follow the aduantage [Page] which the counterpartie had gotten by the occupation of the high Palatine, and the greatest part of the low Palatinate, and that there rested no more to take, but Heydelberg Manheym, and Frankendale, and some other small places; to the Conquest of which, the Duke of Bauyer sent the greatest part of his Armie, which ioyned it selfe vnto the Spaniards vnder diuers pretexts: insomuch, that all the endeuors that his Maiestie of Great Brittaine had made at Bruxels, for to procure some small release & ease vnto the poore Palatinate, and to mediate a treatie of Peace, were as vnprofitable as the precedent, and former at Vienna: where yet neuerthelesse was made all manner of faire semblant, and seeming to haue a desire to giue satisfaction vnto his said Maiestie, who demanded an entire restitution of the high and low Palatinate, and of the Dignitie Electorall, for his sonne in law, who on the other part promised to yeeld vp and surrender the Crowne of Bohemia; and as concerning the submission, to doe (vnto the which, they on the other side insisted strongly, without any intention to accept thereof) all that which might be done, without preiudice of the Constitutions of the Empire.

The Armie of the Papistique League, and those of the Spaniards, did extreamely rauage the low Palatinate: vpon which, the Count Palatine was constrained to goe thither in person, and to make all the resistance possible with the Troupes of the Count of Mansfelt.

His Maiestie of Great Brittaine seeing that the [Page] enemies reenforced themselues, and grew strong dayly, and had enterprised to import and to conquer all the low Palatinate, as well as the high Countrey; hee thought it good to write vnto the Emperour by a Corrieur, or Post, sent of purpose, and to offer him, in the behalfe of his sonne in law, by his Letters (which were of the twelfth of Nouember, one thousand six hundred twentie and one) Conditions of Peace, such as he thought as impossible, that the Emperor (of whose pacifique intentions all men spoke) ought or could refuse them. And to the end he might lay an assured foundation vpon the said offers, hee seriously exhorted the Prince Elector Palatine, his sonne in law, to ratifie them, and to promise the accomplishment of them, by an authenticall Instrument, signed with his hand, and sealed with his seale; the which hee did, dated the fiue and twentieth day of the said moneth of Nouember, preferring the publike peace and repose of Germanie, before all the particular considerations of himselfe and his House.

And though there was no speech in the Court at Vienna, and that of Bruxels, made vnto the Embassadors and ministers of the King of Great Brittaine, of any other thing, then of the pacifique intentions of the Emperour, and of the resolution that he had to giue all satisfaction vnto his Maiestie of Great Brittaine; so it is, that yet he did not accept the said Conditions, and so by the refusall of them, dispensed the Prince Elector Palatine not to be bound and obliged therewith, & sent the Count [Page] of Schwartzenburg into England, onely for to make all sort of complement, and gaue a new Commission vnto the Infanta to treate with the King of great Brittaine about a suspension and laying down of Armes, and also of a peace, and made in that same time, the Warre to be continued in the lower Palatinate, vnto the Princes and Estates Euangeliques of the Empire he dissimuled, and would not be knowne of the same conditions; but hee caused them to be communicated vnto the Prince Bethelem Gabor, who vpon that tooke occasion to make peace with the Emperour; whereupon it ensued, that the greatest part of the troupes which were in Austria, Bohemia, and other places were sent into the lower Palatinate, to make an end of all: notwithstanding, his Maiestie of great Brittaine was continually assured of the restitution, and offers were made of a treaty of peace: to be briefe, promises were made vpon promise, and so his Maiesty entred into a new parley, and sent Sir Richard Weston vnto Bruxels to treate with the Infanta, who ordained and appointed Commissioners for that effect and purpose, who for to gaine and winne time, exacted of the said Embassadour a plaine power signed with the hand of the Prince Palatine, to the end (as they said) they might be assured, that he would ratifie and accomplish all that they should conclude and determine: and although that his Maiestie had already sufficient power, vpon many Letters of his sonne in law; so it is, that they would see a plenipotency or full power informe, that [Page] which his Maiestie graunted them, and caused a plenipotency or full power to be dispatched by his said Emb [...]ssadour as well in his owne name, as in the name of his sonne in law, who signed the same ioyntly with his Maiesty, & sent the same to Bruxels, where the said plaine power being come, the Commissioners found therein one onely word repeated; to wit, the title of Elector, which was giuen vnto the said Prince, and prayed that the said full power might be reformed and renewed, and that title put out thereof, alledging that they could not well treate that title being in: and so his Maiestie to take away all exceptions, made the said power, with the omission of that title, to be drawne againe; but yet with an exception that it should not at any time preiudice him by any means. These commings and goings too and fro, caused by the contreparty, were for no other end, but draw out and to prolong the businesse, and to hinder and empeach, that his Maiesty (who had already promised to entertaine 8000. footmen, and 1600. horse in the Pala [...]inate, at his owne charges,) should not send thither any great succour, not make any diuersion in Flanders, nor any where else. The said power then hauing bin made, made againe, signed, and sent the second time at the instances of the said Commissioners, his Maiesty receiued Letters from the Emperour, written the 18. of Iune, by the which he gaue him to vnderstand, that the treaty of peace could not well be made nor concluded at Bruxels, since that the affaire and businesse concerned & touched all the Empire, and that therefore he had called an [Page] assembly of the Electors, and some other Princes at Ratisbone, remitting and leauing it vnto the good pleasure of his Maiesty, if hee would send any one thither on his behalfe. The which contrary and vndue procedure, his Maiesty tooke as strange, and thereof made sharp and bitter complaints vnto the Emperor in his answer. And for that the rest of the Palatinate stood in danger to be lost, not being able to resist such puissant enemies, his Maiesty in some manner to breake that blow, tooke into his protection the Townes of Heydelberg, Manheym, and Frankendale, but that was no hinderance: for the two first were besieged & furiously battered, Heydelberg taken by assault and pillaged, and that of Manheym taken by composition; so that there remayned none but the Towne of Frankendale only; for the conseruation of the which, his Maiesty seeing that it would be left in his protection no more then the other two, found it good, and at the instance & great promises of the Infanta, to sequester it into her hands, and shee gaue the gouernment thereof vnto Don Verdugo, a Nobleman of Spaine, who put therein a Garison, the which at this day menaceth incessantly the poore Burgesses, to pillage them for want of their payment, though it be not bound to satisfie them for the same.

After the taking & total ruine of the Palatinate, the Emperor made hast with the Dyet of Ratisbon, and was there in person, where he inuested publikely the Duke of Bauier with the Palatinat Electorall, to the exclusiō of the children of the brother, & the neerest kinsmen of the Prince Palatine (against the [Page] aduice and opposition of the Electors of Saxony and of Brandemburg, who pressed by their Embassadours, the entire restitution of his Countries and dignities) And gaue the King of Great Brittaine to vnderstand by his Letters, dated at Raitsbone the fift of March, one thousand sixe hundred twenty and three, in the which hee added amongst other cleare testimonies of his great good will toward his Maiestie, that his translation of the Electorate in the house of Bauiere, was made with expresse reseruation, That it shall be permitted by especiall grace vnto the Grand children of his Maiestie, and vnto his other kinsmen, to treate hereafter in some Towne Imperiall, as Nuremburg, Angsberg, Vlm, or Franckfort, touching the right that euery one of them may pretend in the titles and Dignities Electoralls: and if so be that they cannot agree and accord together, that it shall be lawfull for them to commence sute, and enter into proces before the Maiestie Imperiall, and the Colledge of the Electors, where they may assure and promise to themselues a quicke dispatch, and Iustice soone administred, if they themselues doe not hinder the same, by some act of their owne; by the which reseruation, his Maiestie of Great Brittaine may see the most sincere affection the said Maiestie Imperiall bore vnto him, and to his posterity. This is the substance of the saide Letters of the Emperour.

Now let euery one giue his iudgement of this goodly declaration. And it ought not to be passed [Page] in silence, that at his departure from the Dyet at Ratisbone, the Emperour, as it is said, made shew in the said Letters to reserue vnto the children, brother, and kinsfolkes of the Prince Palatine, some permission to dispute the right, that they would pretend after the Duke of Bauier; promised the expectancy of the Electorate vnto the Duke Wolfgang. William of Neuburg, confirmed by Letters and Seales.

And as the Emperour hath alwayes made prosession of good will toward the King of Great Brittaine, and to giue eare vnto the entire restitution which hee hath sought by friendship, and by the way of amity with great trouble and charge; but in vaine: So also hath the King of Spaine done the very same almost, vntill that the Palatinate hath beene reduced vnto the more then miserable estate, as it is at this day, and that the Duke of Bauier hath beene put in full possession of all the high, and of the greatest part of the lower Palatinate, together with the dignity Electorall: for though the King of Spaine hath oftentimes assured his Maiestie of great Brittaine, as well by his Letters as by his Embassadours, seriously to co-operate and ioyne with him, for to obtaine the entire restitution of the Palatinate Electorall, and of that which dependeth thereof, with an expresse promise for this effect to ioyne his Armes with those of his Maiestie if neede was: This notwithstanding, when hee hath beene finally demaunded by his owne Ambassadours, a speciall declaration by writing, hee hath answered, [Page] That he cannot doe it, for that, beside, that it shall be to depriue him to haue any hand in it, and the Arbitrage in this affaire, as a mediator or friend, that it may also not onely giue cause vnto the Emperour his Vncle, to take an vnkindnesse or offence thereat; but also, that if he shall mingle threates and Armes, with the Offices of interposition, it shall be an vnkindnesse and dis-office in his deportment which he ought in reason to vse toward his Imperiall Maiestie: by the which answere it appeareth euidently, that all the said promises of Spaine haue beene nothing but words.

For the closure of this Information, wee are moreouer to recount an artifice and cunning trick, whereof the contrary party doth make vse; That is: The Infanta of Spaine vnder the colour and disguise of an Imperiall Commission, and of an extreame desire to re-establish peace in the Empire, and to giue satisfaction vnto the King of Great Brittaine, made a proposition of certaine Articles of a truce of fifteene moneths in the lower Palatinate, and generally for all the Empire, to the end, that in this space of time a treaty of a firme peace might be had: So, that his Maiesty, after hee had changed some thing in the said Articles, condiscended thereunto, and signed them, sending them vnto the Prince Elector Palatine, for to signe them also; who (after he had deferred a little while to consent vnto them, because of the captious Articles he saw in them) vpon the instances that were made, and the hopes that the counterparty made him take [Page] of an accommodation, signed them in like manner: but all that came vnto nothing. For neuer since haue they ceased to exercise against the poore Subiects of the Palatinate, all sorts of rigours, and violences; neither will they obserue the Articles of truce, vnder diuers new colours & pretexts forged and framed out of their owne fantasies and braines. The Butt and end of this counterfeited & disguised truce, was, for that Austria and Spaine desired to take from the Prince Palatine the power of seeking the succours and assistance of forraigne Kings and Princes, and especially to preuent, that (peraduenture) he should not make vse of the Forces and Armies, the Duke of Brunswick, and Count Mansfelt had then on foot, and that by that occasion the Prince Bethelem Gabor should not take occasion to make any inuasion against the House of Austria. But at that same time, the Armie of the Duke of Brunswick hauing been put to rout and defeated by a fatall destinie, Austria and Spaine seeing thēselues come to that Butt they shot at, made a mockerie of the said Truce, & continuated their Hostilities, and a little after departed, and deliuered vnto the Archbishop of Mentz the Country of Bergstrate (which is one of the best Prouinces of the Palatinate) for to oblige him so much the more strictly to maintaine and defend their partie against the Prince Palatine, and haue imposed vpon the poore subiects, as well of the Palatinate Electorall, as vpon the Countrey of the Prince of Symmeren, diuers impositions, to them insupportable, which endure yet, and are augmented euery day.

[Page] It is also to be remarked, that the said Articles of Truce were communicated in the name of the Emperour, vnto some Princes of the Empire, a whole moneth before that they were concluded, and accepted in England; and that in other forme, and partly in another sence, onely for to gaine aduantage, and to render and make the Electors and Princes of the Empire irresolute, and to hinder them from fauouring the Prince Elector Palatine, whose totall ruine and extirpation being the Butt and Marke (what semblant or shew soeuer they had made to his Maiestie of Great Brittaine) vnto which they haue directed all their Actions, for to effectuate all their abouesaid Designes.

By all the which Drifts and Practises it may be seene, as in a Mirrour, with how much misprision they haue most vnworthily abused the King of Great Brittaine; and certes hee had desired much, that it might haue passed in silence. But since that Murther and Slanders be the two Instruments, whereof the adherents of the contrarie partie make vse, vtterly to ouerthrow the Prince Palatine, and his friends; it is ineuitably necessarie to represent and demonstrate all that which is before written, by this briefe Information. The Murthers be seene by all the World, and the Calumnies and Slanders are made to sound in the cares of euerie one, in accusing the said Prince and his friends of things whereof they neuer thought.

But for to auoid prolixitie, among other things [Page] it is published, written, and blowne abroad in all places continually, That the said Lord the Prince hath not from the beginning of these Troubles, hitherto showne any signe of his inclination vnto Peace; but that all his Designes hath beene no other, then to carrie and beare himselfe with extremitie of Warre, to the ruine of the Empire, and to the perill of Christendome. But before God, and them who know the contrarie, there is produced here for Witnesses and Testimonies against this falsehood, all the Interpositions, Embassades, Requests, Offers, and Declarations abouesaid.

Deuteron. chap. 32. vers. 43.‘God shall reuenge the bloud of his seruants, hee shall be reuenged of his enemies, and shall be gracious and mercifull vnto the Countrey of his people.’

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

A briefe information of the affaires of the Palatinate The which consist in foure principall heads, which be 1. The acceptation of the crowne of Bohemia. 2. The difference and controuersie which hath ensued thereof, betweene the Emperour Ferdinand, and the King Frederick. 3. The proscription and bloudy proceeding that hath ensued thereof. 4. And the interposition of the King of great Brittaine, and with that which hath happened in the meane space.Briefve information des affaires du Palatinat. English.

Edition statement

1624

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A08843

ID [STC]

STC 19126

ID [STC]

ESTC S113908

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99849136

ID [PROQUEST]

99849136

ID [VID]

14272

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A08843)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 14272)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1180:11)

Source

— A briefe information of the affaires of the Palatinate The which consist in foure principall heads, which be 1. The acceptation of the crowne of Bohemia. 2. The difference and controuersie which hath ensued thereof, betweene the Emperour Ferdinand, and the King Frederick. 3. The proscription and bloudy proceeding that hath ensued thereof. 4. And the interposition of the King of great Brittaine, and with that which hath happened in the meane space., Briefve information des affaires du Palatinat. English., Scott, Thomas, 1580?-1626, attributed name..

Extent

[2], 59, [3] p.

Printed,. [London?] :: M.DC.XXIIII. [1624]. (Sometimes attributed to Thomas Scott; these sheets also issued as part of his "Workes", 1624.) (A translation of: Briefve information des affaires du Palatinat.) (Place of publication conjectured by STC.) (Cf. Folger catalogue, which gives signatures: A-H⁴.)

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