THE troubles of Europe proceed origi­nally from two causes: the one is the af­fectation of a Spirituall, the other of a Temporall Monarchy. That is the Pa­pall, this is, or hath been, the Spanish, and may be from henceforth, the French ambition. The Pope doth labour to uphold his tottering Hierarchy, and to regaine the power which hee had over the consciences of all Men, before it was cried downe as Antichristian by Protestancie. The House of Spaine did labour to erect a new State in Europe, under the pretence of upholding and propagating the Catholicke Religion against Pro­testants, till the French and Bavarians have pulled down his old one. These two, and their pretensions have di­vided the affections of all men, either in respect of con­science, or of civill interests. Each hath his owne way; but that of the Pope is most considerable, because it is without resistance, and hath assistance of both the others, where­as each of the other pretenders to the Monarchy of State, doth oppose his Fellow. The Popes way to preserve him­selfe, and to regaine the power which he had lost, is to work the overthrow of the Protestant Religion, and to trouble the States wherein that Religion is planted. To do this, [Page] hee maketh use of two advantages which hee hath above protestants; the one is Civill, the other Ecclesiasticall. The Civill is, that he is able to set all the Popists [...] ces, and their chiefe Counsellors aworke, to intend joyntly the same thing against Protestants, as well in generall to oppose them, as in particular to weaken them in their e­steeme and power. As for example, he hath moved them all to contribute to a league against them, to divest them every where of all dignities; and particularly to weaken their voyces in the Electorall Colledge. And to effect these and such like things, he can infuse into their coun­sels all the Maximes of state, which are opposite to the faith and fundamentall grounds of the liberties of Pro­testants in the publicke profession of their Religion, and to perswade the use of these Maximes, hee findeth out meanes to make every one apprehend hopes of advantage for himselfe by the ruine of Protestants. For he knoweth, that it is not so much zeale for Religion, as interests, which moveth States. The Ecclesiasticall advantage is the po­wer which he hath to breed and send forth Emissaries to­wards the common sort of Protestants, and to set treaties on foot towards the more learned, such as are most for his owne advantage. The Emissaries are bred in his Col­ledges, of severall Nations, but espcioally in his Colledge de propaganda fide, which is founded to undermine the states of Protestants, by sowing or fomenting the seeds of division amongst them. And to this effect also, the more learned of his Clergie are imployed to treat with the lear­ned Protestants for an agreement, which may bee patched up with some, or with all Protestants, by meere authority of Superiours, upon generall termes, and in outward superfici­all [Page] rites, salvo iure Primatus Pontificii, that is, with an acknowledgement of his Primacie for orders sake a­mongst the [...]gie [...] which i [...] Protestants upon any terms will but grant, he for a time will leave them to their li­berties, but afterward by degrees bring them in subjecti­on to his usurped power in all things both of Faith and Pra ctise. Now his great advantage to work out all his plots irresistably is this, that amongst the severall Bodies of Protestants, there is none that taketh the matter of their common interest and preservation to heart, to labour to disa [...]point his plots by meanes opposite to his designes, therefore it is certaine, that so long as Protestants have no such aime to maintaine joyntly the common interest of Religion and Liberties, but are divided in their coun­sels, that in humane appearance their states must be weak­ned & in the end overthrowne; but if a joynt purpose could be wrought amongst them for their common safety, and a good Correspondencie setled in their Churches and States, to prosecute the meanes thereof, towards all those whom it doth concerne, there is no doubt but hee would lose his la­bour, and the Consent of protestants to maintaine the light of the truth, and the liberty of the Gospel, would fully ac­complish his overthrow. Now to set this Correspondencie in a joynt intention a foot amongst Protestants, none have so great cause as the state of great Britaine, and the present Parliaement of England, against which all the Popish Po­wer of Europe is bent to hinder by all possible meanes, the Reformation now begun in that Island, therefore it will be altogether necessary, for the said Parliament to move all other Protestants to joyne with them for the mainte­nance of the Protestant Cause against Popery. This cannot [Page] be done otherwise, but by the meanes of a good Correspondencie, which may be first begun with the State and Church of Scot­land, and then joyntly with them prosecuted towards forraigne Protestants: And to this effect fit instruments should bee cho­sen, and made use of these should bee joyned in a Committee or standing Counsell at home to attend the work of a publick Corre­spondency with forrainners, and to unite them in the prosecuting of their true interests and common quarrell against Papists. And to this end they should ta [...]e the Palatine cause in hand, to make that House (whose interest and right is greatest among forraigne Protestants) considerable; and to assist it in recovering the right thereof, which it hath lost in defence of the Protestant liberties in Germany.

Now the way to make that House considerable and by it to up­hold amongst forrainners the Protestant cause, is to assist the Prince Elector first with Counsell and then with Strength. To assist him with Counsell, they should joyne to him some of their owne Counsellors, to help him to manage the worke of a publick Correspondencie with Protestants in their name; and they should furnish him with meanes of support requisite to maintaine other Councellors and Agents fit to negotiate in his owne name, his owne cause▪ and to keep afoot the publicke interest with the Pro­testants of Germany, and neighbouring States.

To assist him with Strength, by [...]secuting of this Correspon­dencie with forraigne States, they should make a League for him, and when their troubles should be set led, joyne with others their forces to re-establish him in his lands and dignities, to uphold in the same the Common Cause.

If this ground-work of Counsell whereof in respect of forrai­ners chiefly in Germany, the Prince Elector could bee made the head, be not first laid, it is sure that no Army nor treaty with Austria will ever prevaile to settle matters. But if such a Nego­tiation be (as it easily can bee, even in the midst of these troubles in England) set afoot, and thereby all those that have a reall in­terest [Page] in the welfare of Protestants, made to concurre Counsels with great Britaine, and the Palatiue House in Germany then it is not to be doubted but that with the supply of small forces from England and Scotland, the Cause and Rights of all Protestants in the inerest of that House, may be gained; and the whole Pa­pall and Spanish power as well in the Empire, as elswhere, irresi­sistably overthrowne. Perhaps the Austrian power in Germany may be moved to bend their Counsels for the true? Palatine Ele­itor against the Bavarian and French Designe, to keep up a Pro­testant party, that in ballancing the one by the other, it may stand. But as for the French, it is certain, that they in all things, and chifly in zeale for the Papall interests, doth emulate the Spa­nish power, and is no lesse active; and as now matters are brought about, more powerfull to advance the same, then Spain is: and therefore in the aime of a Common Correspondencie amongst Protestants, must be as much looked into, or more, then any other State.