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 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 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 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 quarters against the Treatie of Mâ—â—tz and of Ascâ—affenburg made by the Commissâ—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 Dâ—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 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
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 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 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 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 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 daughter shal be 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
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 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 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 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 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 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
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 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 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 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 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 Palaâ—â—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 coÌ„mon 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 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