WEE have during this Parlia­ment, fallen upon the debate of the greatest, and most impor­tant affaires concerning our owne good and welfaire at home, that ever were agitated, and discussed at one meeting in the house of Commons. And we are at this present, by the gratious invitation of his Royall Ma^je. expressed in his most just Manifest read unto us, resolved to take into consideration, the most sublime, and [Page 4] most difficult busines of the Christian World a­broad: which hath for the space of above twen­ty yeares last past, drawen all the Kingdomes, and States of Europe, into an immediate or mediate in­gagement: In which, there have beene twenty pitch't Battles fought, a Million of Men, Wo­men, and Children destroyed by the Sword, by the Flames, by Famine, and by Pestilence; and that sometimes populous and fertile Empire of Germany, reduced to a most extreame and calumi­tous desolation. I have in those few spare-houres I could borrow yesterday, from the publike ser­vice of the House, recollected some particulars, which may conduce to the clearing of this great cause, being drawn out of the Autographs them­selves, or out of our Records at home, or out of the Writings of our very Adversaries, and others abroad. I shall therefore beginne at the Originall it selfe, of the never enough to be lamented losse of the Prince Palatines Domino [...]s, and Electorall dignity: that so wee may take along with us, in our intended disputes; not onely our affections, but our consciences. It is therefore very manifest, to all that are but meanly verst in the Cabinet af­faires of Christendom; that the Iesuites have con­sulted for many yeares last past, as well before, as [Page 5] since the furious Warres of Germany, by what meanes to ruine the Evangelicall Princes and par­tie there. Their cheife aime hath beene, so to di­vide the Protestant Princes amongst themselves, as they might be made vse of each against other, for the ruine each of other. The first occasion that offered it selfe within our memories, was the pre­tences of severall competitors to the Dukedomes of Cleve and Iuliers, and they sailed but a very little to have executed th [...]ir intended designe upon that occasion. But their hopes failing in it, they ap­ply themselves integrally to Ferd [...]nand of Austria, Duke of Gratz, a Prince not long since so poore, and of so meane a consideration to adde the waight of but one graine, to the down-ballanc­ing of the affaires of Christendome, as his name was scarce heard off.

They find him a fit subject for them to worke upon, having from his Cradle been bredd up in an extreame hatred of the Protestant par [...]y, who professed the truth. They resound nothing into the eares of the old Emperour Matthias, but his Cousin Ferdinands high merits, so as hee passing by his owne naturall brothers, and the head of his house, the Spanish King adopts Ferdinand of Gratz for his sonne, so to prepare a way to make [Page 6] him the successor of his Scepter, Crown, and Pur­ple.

Then were the sacred Dyets of the Empire, the ancient meanes to reconcile differences, and prevent jealousies, as often dissolved abortively as called insincerely. Rumours were spread of practices and designes against the Protestant Prin­ces and Citties. And that those rumours might not vanish in smoake, the Liberties of the great and ancient Citie of Stratsburgh were opprest. The Protestant Princes seeing materials and engins on every side, prepared for their ruine; were necessi­tated to meete at Heilburn, and there to conclud an union amongst themselves.

This gave the Iesuites an assured hope, of ma­king Germany speedily miserable by a calamitous Warre; for not onely the Pontifician Princes, tooke the opportunitie to settle a Catholike league, as they call'd it amongst themselves: but also, the E­lector of Saxony, like a true Pseudo-Lutheran, nei­ther Protesttant nor Papist, shewes as good an affection to the Catholike league, as the Evange­like union. The old Emperour Matthias begins now to act his part, and the Iesuites spurre on their ready Scholler Ferdinand of Gratz, to ascend the bloody Theator they had so long designed [Page 7] him. Through the old Emperours intercession, abusing the Bohemian Protestants credulity, with Sugred flatteries and large promises, he is admit­ted to the Crown of that rich Kingdome; which soone after made way for him unto the Crowne of Hungary also. The Iesuites and the Spaniard did now onely want a faire occasion to begin a Warre in Germany. The Emperour Matthias la­bours with the Protestant Princes, to dissolve their Vnion; which not taking effect, the Bishop of Spiers is encouraged under hand to pick a quar­rell with the Prince Elector Palatine, and to build a strong Fortresse upon his nighbours Territories, pretending hee had right to that plott of ground, upon which the said Fortresse was raised: but an higher providence did not suffer this Sparke to set Germany on fire, though it had been kindled at the Prince Electors own doore (to affront and pro­voke him) for he by an incredible celerity, did cause the said Fortresse to be demolished before the Enemy could sit and furnish it for his inten­ded use, which made him sit still, and studie for a new occasion, which that it might not be long wanting; the Liberties and Priviledges of the Protestants in Bohemia, contrarie to their new King Ferdinands oath, were temerated; and by [Page 8] that meanes in the Yeare 1619. the greater part of the Estates of that Kingdome were necessitated after mature deliberation to abdicate him, and to elect, Frederick Prince Elector Palatine for their King.

And thus are wee arrived at that sadd period of time, upon which so many fatalities have en­sued, in which we may see evidentlie; that the Prince Elector Palatine was not causallie guilty of any part of that Ocean of bloud, that hath beene since spilt in Germany, as the Pontifician side pre­tend he was. The Scene was long before prepa­red by the enemies of the Truth; and the King­dome of Bohemia was filled with armes and hosti­lities diverse monthes, before his accepting of that Crowne, when himselfe laboured by an earnest Mediation, to have given a peaceable issue to those bloudie beginnings. It was the Honour, and greatnesse of that matchlesse Princesse that he gained heere, and the considerable succours they expected from hence, that especially drew the Bohemians to that choice. It therefore concernes us now at length, to provide that the Prince Elect­or himselfe, and the other Princelie Branches of that great Familie (being the second without question, if not the first, and most Ancient of the Empire) [Page 9] extracted by their last match, from the Royall line of Great-Britaine, should not under couler of their Fathers accepting that Crown, to which they now pretend no title, be for ever despoiled of their ancient inheritance Electorall dignitie: to which calamitie they had never been reduced, had not the French King at that time forgotten the old Maxime of his Predecessors, which was to keepe even the ballance of Germanie, to which al­so did most fatallie concurre, the Duke of Bavarias ambition betraying his own bloud, and the Duke of Saxonies taking of Armes against the Evangeli­call partie. By this meanes and the advancing of Spinola with the Spanish Armie out of the Nether-Lands, was not onely the Kingdome of Bohemia lost in a few monthes, but the Palatinate also, ex­cepting some few places of strength invested by the Enemie, and that poore people left to slaugh­ter, calamitie, and desolation. The correspondence of some ill Ministers of this State abroad, with those of Porraine states heere, assisted by some fatall instruments at home, furthered all this mis­cheife at the instant putting this state in hope of a Match when supplies should rather have been sent from hence, to have preserved at least the E­lectorall Territories from an invading power. It [Page 10] is true, that the Spanish Match had been generally treated off, some five or six yeares before this fatall fire kindled in Germany, being first set on foote by the Duke of Lerma under Philip of Austria the late King of Spaine: but now it was effectually advan­ced and fortified with a conjoyned treatie of ac­commodating the Palatine cause without effusi­on of bloud. This and much more appeares in the Originall journall bookes of the two houses of Parliament in Anno. 21. Iacobi Regis, which I have so far perused, as so short a time would give leave; and though that matters are there set downe at large, especially in the Records of the House of Peers, yet I have abstracted it into so narrow a compasse, as may well sort with the little spare time of this House to heare it. The relation was first made at White-hall during that Parliament, in the presence of the greater part of both the said houses, on Tuesday Febr. 24. and it was afterwards Reported upon Friday the 27. day of the same moneth next ensuing, in the Lords house, by the then Lord-keeper, and in the house of Commons, by S^r. Richard Weston, at that time Chancellour of the Exchequer. It is ther at large set forth, that his M^ties. Royall Father, having had severall faire pro­mises from the Emperour Ferdinand the 2^d. and the King of Spaine, of a peaceable restitution of [Page 11] the Palatinate, caused not onely such considerable forces, as were then remaining in Germanie under the Prince Electors ensignes to disband; but procu­red also, some places of strength in the Palatinate it selfe, to be surrendered and consigned over in trust to the late Infanta of Spaine. But in the yeare 1622. our late Royall Soveraigne King Iames, up­on his Ambassadors returne from Bruxels, having discovered the Emperours intentions to be full of insinceritie and deceit, wrote his Princelie Letters bearing date at Hampton Court October. 3. 1622. to the (then & still) Earle of Bristow his Ma^ties. extra­ordinarie Ambassador in Spaine; to let him know that he now perceived little sincerity in all the Spanish Kings promises, for the peaceable restitu­tion of the Palatinate, by whose onely meanes he had suffered the same to be lost to the Emperour, and that therefore he should presently presse that King, either to give a full and direct answer, un­der his hand and seale, for the restitution thereof; or else to joyne his Armes with his Ma^tie. against the Emperour for the recoverie of the same: But this matter as it further appeares by the Originall Iournall-bookes of the Lords house, being either not throughly pressed, or notably dissembled. So many delaies ensued one upon the necke of ano­ther; as in the issue it drew his Royall Ma^tie. then Prince of Wales, to undertake that dangerous and [Page 12] remote journey unto that Nation, which hath bin the long and hereditarie enemy of England. This Iourney, was cheifly undertaken by so great a Prince to add an end, one way or other, to that unfortunate treatie, and his staie in Spaine so long, did causally proceed from his earnest desire to have effected a peaceable restitution of the Pa­latinate, and therefore I doubt not, but he shall now live to verifie that excellent, and Heroicke expression, which he made to the Conde de Oilvarez a little before his comming out of that Kingdom.

Looke for neither Marriage nor friendship, without the restitution of the Palatinate.

And I assure my selfe, that the force and power of great Brittaine, which was lately by subtile and wicked instruments, divided against it selfe, being now Vnited in one again, will bee able to effect such great and considerabl [...] actions, as shall ren­der his Ma^jes. Name and Raigne glorious to all posterity. The two houses of Parliament, at that time received the before mentioned declaration, with so much resentment, as having first rendred glory to God that had so seasonably discovered the Spanish-frauds, and next their humble acknow­ledgments to their then gratious Soveraigne, for requiring their Counsels in a businesse of so great importance, they did unanimously advize him to [Page 13] breake off the said two treaties touching the mar­riage, and the restitution of the Palatinate; ingag­ing no lesse, then their persons and purses, for the recovery of the then Prince Electors ancient and he­reditarie Dominions. It appeares also in the Origi­nall Iournall-booke of this house, De a^no. I^o. Caroll, that this great busines was againe taken into con­sideration, but was finally incombed with other matters of great moment, by the fatall and abor­tive disolution of that Parliament. If therefore this great Counsell of the Kingdome, did in those two former Parliaments, account the restitution of this Illustrious and Princely family to bee of such great necesitie for the preserving of true Re­ligion broad, and securing our selves at home, as to ingage themselves for an assistance therin; cer­tainely wee may vpon much better grounds vn­dertake the same now, when I assure my selfe we may goe as farre with a thousand pounds for the present as we could have done with ten thousand at that time, for let vs but take a short view of thee state of Christendome, what it was then, and what it is now, and wee shall easily perseive a great alteration in the ballance thereof.

In France where Monsieur de Luynes did then rule all, being himselfe acted by the Popes Legate, that King contrary to the examples of Francis the [Page 14] first, Henry the second and of Henry the Great his own Father and contrary to the maximes and interst of that State and his owne safety, advan­ced the formidable power and spreading greatnes of the House of Austria: but now the same French Kings eyes have been so opened, that shaking off that former vnhappie slumber hee was in, hee hath by his armes and power to his immortal ho­nour and glory for divers yeares last past, endea­voured to restore againe that Libertie to the Ger­mane Empire, in the ruine of which himselfe had so fatallie before concurred.

The Swedes were then involued in severall warres or iealousies with the Pole and enforced to keepe at home to defend their owne, but now have a strong Armie and possesse divers peices of important consequence within the very bowells of the Empire.

The Episcopall Electors with the other Pon­tifician Princes and Prelates the sworne enemies the Protestant Religion, were then rich and potent, but since most of their Countries and Territories have tasted of the same calamities of Warre which they had formerly brought vpon their neighbours so as now they are most of them scarce able to defend their owne, much lesse to of­fend any other.

[Page 15]The Pseudo-Lutheran Elector of Saxony that is causallie guiltie more then anie other single per­son living, of all those calamities and slaughters which have for so many yeares wasted Germanie and was then so liberall of his Treasure, and so for­ward with his armes to ancillate to the Empe­rors designes to the almost vtter subversion of the true Religion in Germanie, is now after the reite­rated temeration of his faith and promises, the fatall survivor of the severall devastations of his owne Cuntrie and dominions: So as all those vast difficulties and great dangers which might well have retarded the forwardnes of those two former Parliaments the first being held in the 22. yeare of his Maiestes roiall Father, and the latter in his owne first yeare, being now removed, wee have greater encouragements then ever to con­curre with our sacred soveraigne in the asserting of this his most iust and princely Manifest.

For mine owne part I expect no good issue of the present Treatie at the Diet of Ratisbone, I know the Duke of Bavarit [...] ambition too well e­ver to imagine that he will part with those large revenues, and much lesse with the Septem-virall dignitie and suffrage hee hath obtained by the Prince Electors calamitie and misfortune; vnles it be extorted from him by force of armes. My [Page 16] humble advice therefore is, that wee send vp to the Lords to desire a speedy conference with them, in which we may aquaint their Lordships how farre we have proceeded in our approbation of his Maiesties most royall Manifest, and to move them to concurre vnanimously with vs therein.