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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94148	The Swedish cloak of religion: or, A politick discourse between two citizens of Elbing. Occasioned by the publishing of a proclamation, by the Swedish governour of that city. Wherein is laid open to the view of the world, how the whole palatinate of Marienburgh in Prussia is made desolate, and brought into slavery, by the Swedish religious pretexts, and introduction of a new church-government. And consequently, the grand mistake of all such as have conceived an impression that the present King of Swedens martial undertakings were really intended for or towards the propagation and defence of the Protestant cause. First printed in the German language, and now faithfully Englished.		1659 (1659)	Wing S6245; Thomason E993_5; ESTC R207770	8,002	16

hindered by our lawful Lord and King yea on the contrary he granted and graciously confirmed our Privileges for the same conformable tot he Confession of Augsburgh and at all times did protect us therein Our Neighbours do no less adhere to the Ausburghs Confession then we yet they to their perpetual praise remain loyal to their King whilst we on the other hand by revolting from him have contracted a more hainous blot of Infamy then can be washed off or obliterated by the whole Baltick Sea Simplicius What we have done was out of necessity because our King was fled the Country and the Enemy standing upon our neck Constantinus There was no such necessity our Fortifications were good and strong we had of levied men and Train Bands sufficient the Elector of Brandenburgh offered to protect and assist us Marienburgh did the same really but all in vain Our walls are defended Arms and Souldiers ordered not as against an Enemy but as to the reception of a Friend our Reliefs were rejected partly betraid and when we should have proved most faithful to our King in defending his and our own Rights we basely revolted from him and ingaged our selves in slavery and for this amongst other motives because the Enemy was Lutheran which I can neither justifie nor defend but you may if you please for your further satisfaction read the printed Copy of an Epistle lately publish'd wherein this Question is resolved whether the Evangelical States which adhere to the Augsburghs Confession may fall off from their Liege Lord in hopes to advance Religion where expresly you will finde that to do so is neither Just Christian nor Lutherish Simplicius I will upon your recommendation take occasion to read that Epistle and then answer to this point But in the interim I hope you are not displeased with the discharging the singing of the Psalms of David translated by Lobwasser Constantinus I mind not to question Lobwassers integrity nor am I anxious whether his translation of the Psalmes be sung amongst us or not yet could I never relish these great contests and debates upon this subject from whence so many inconveniencies did arise fearing and foreseeing the bad consequences that have come to pass Plato and other Philosophers have taught and observed that the very changing of Musique hath commonly produced the change of Government which holds true amongst us for those itchers after change and novelty did first begin at Lobwassers Psalms but finding the Magistrates unwilling to countenance their factious inclination they endeavoured to make a party among the people in the mean time the Swede coming before the City they and their new-fangled complices ventilated their debate with greater animosity then before and so prepared the way in a tumultuous manner to such an casie surrender of this strong City to the King of Sweden Simplicius By your expressions I perceive you differ from the judgement of the most part of the people in this City and I confess I know not how to defend all these passages handsomely However I doubt not but you approve of this That we are put in possession of the Cathedral Church and that the Roman Catholiques are expelled Constantinus Had we attained this possession by lawful means should relish it very well but believe me it had been more commendable and advantagious for us to have followed the footsteps of our neighbours of Thoren and as they did suffered the Catholiques to enjoy their Priviledges with our selves Moreover in our own Church we had more room then we could take up so when we go to the great Church the other is empty whereby we make our Cause worse and render our selves hateful to others For whereas heretofore those our Catholique Neighbours did modestly exercise their Devotions in that Church they now since they were expelled have no publike meeting nor Divine Worship at all but go up and down at random And let me tell you When we deal so ungratefully with the Roman Catholiques contrary to the true intent of our Priviledges which we had from them we lead them by the hand teaching them how they shall deal with us in places under their power as in due time we may expect they will do Simplicius Yet for all that we are now by Authority made Uniform in Religion which many other Cities have earnestly wished but never could obtain We have one Consistory one Superintendent could better means be found out for ordering all aright setling Peace and Uniformity amongst our Preachers and People and for supplying of every vacant Charge with Men fearing God and hating Covetousness Constantinus To be Uniform in Religion to have one Consistory one Superintendent in the City all these in themselves considered are not to be rejected But whether it be intended for our good and will prove so as is pretended there is great cause of doubting and believe me good Neighbour here lurks the Serpent in the grasse Simplicius In the entry of our discourse you could not conceal your suspition wherefore I intreat you Sir shew me where the Serpent lurks Constantinus It was my meaning to discover this to you before had I not been interrupted by your digressive Questions It is likewise not without hazard for any to speak their minde freely upon this subject since every one that do not conform themselves exactly to this New Ordinance may expect no less then a Citation by the Fiscal-Royal before the Lord Generalissimus at Marienburgh and there to be severely punished according to their demerits Simplicius To act and do contrary are forbidden indeed but not to speak against it Constantinus I will then adventure to proceed and tell you in confidence to what end this present Reformation you so highly extol is undertaken by the Swede Not truly for the advancement of the glory of God not for the maintenance prosperity of the Church not for establishing of good order not for setling peace and unity amongst Preachers and people as they pretend but for their own safety that thereby in this conjuncture of time when the whole burden of War is drawing hither they may render themselves more secure Simplicius How can that be I pray you make me understand it Constantinus To tell you briefly these practises which you dignify with the name of a glorious Reformation are onely Machiavilian Campanellian and Achitophel's contrivances which are not discovered in their birth by the Multitude and do you doubt but the Swedes know very well that Religion be it true of false is most powerful and prevalent upon the mindes and consciences of men to cause them actively concur to the promoting of any Design that is presented with a religious Livery hence amongst other Arguments brought in to justifie this Invasion and breach of Truce they would have us and the world believe that their Zeal to Religion the propagation of the Evangelical Doctrine and extirpation of Papacy caused them chiefly to take up Arms. These plausible Pretexts have not only

The Swedish Cloak of Religion A POLITICK DISCOURSE Between two Citizens of ELBING Occasioned by the publishing of a Proclamation by the Swedish Governour of that City Wherein is laid open to the view of the World How the whole Palatinate of Marienburgh in Prussia is made desolate and brought into Slavery by the Swedish Religious Pretexts and Introduction of a New Church-Government And consequently The grand mistake of all such as have conceived an Impression that the present King of Swedens Martial Undertakings were really intended for or towards the Propagation and Defence of the Protestant Cause Saepius olim Religio peperit scelerosa atque impia facta Times by-past have produc'd in many Acts and Places Most impious Designes under Religious Faces First printed in the German Language and now faithfully Englished London Printed for Isaac Pridmore and Henry Marsh at the Golden Faulcon neer the New Exchange and at the Princes Arms in Chancery Lane neer Fleet-street MDCLIX The Swedish Cloak of Religion OR A Politick DISCOURSE Beeween two Citizens of ELBING Simplicius GOodmorrow Sir how are you in your health why look you so melancholy Constantinus I thank you good Neighbour all 's not well and truly in this Juncture of Affairs Mirth is become a stranger to me Simplicius What 's the matter will you alone be sad while we have so great occasion of rejoycing Hath not Almighty God mercifully visited us by bringing us under the Government of a Prince sincerely devoted to the unaltered Confession of Augsburgh who hath not onely discharged the singing of the Psalms of David translated by L●bwasser which hath been for a long time the Apple of strife in this City but also ejected the Roman Catholicks out of the Cathedral Church set up an high Consistory and thereby made the Lutheran Doctrine in great purity to shine again both here and in the Country to the grief and astonishment of Papists Calvinists and all such Sectaries as grudge and repine at the Lutheran prosperity Hence we may see the truth of that Inscription written by a zealous Lutheran upon the Frontispiece of his house in the Suburbs of this City God 's Word and the Lutheran Doctorine never perish can Likewise the Proclamation of our favourable Lord Governour demonstrates the great affection our present King and Soveraign beareth to us with how much diligence and serious care he mindes the advancement of the honour of GOD and the welfare of the Churches and how on the contrary he endeavoureth the extirpation of all impious abuses There 's a Remedy for a dejected countenance wherefore chear up your self Constantinus Shall I confess ingenuously The Remedy you have prescribed for my Ease hath renewed my Grief It 's this glorious Reformation is the chief cause of my sorrow Simplicius I am very much mistaken but you are of those who pretend to be Lutherans yet are really Calvinists hence 't is you cannot relish and comply with this Reformation Constantinus You will not I hope misconstrue my freedome when I tell you that you are of that batch who aim to render all such men odious under the names of Calvinists Papists Libertines as do not sympathize with and yeild their concurrence to the promoving of these subdolous and prejudicial Designes mask'd with a shew of Reformation this believe me honest Neighbour is a Machiavilian Trap wherein the rude Multitude hath not been catch'd and cheated once Simplicius You speak like a discontented person what 's the business It it our new Ecclesiastical Government wherewith you are displeased pray you impart it to your friend I am desirous to know it Constantinus I will not conceal it from you It is indeed this innovation term it as you please which renders it self justly suspected to all prudent men since according to the common Proverb it is alwayes dangerous But passing that there are many other things couched under it which are not discovered by many good people the event whereof I wish I be mistaken will prove very hurtful and noxious to us Simplicius Good Sir let me intreat you to communicate that to me for I confess I can perceive no evil at all therein Constantinus The easier I believe you neither do I think it strange to finde you of that stamp since you lodge this perswasion in your breast That Almighty God hath mercifully visited this Province and City by bringing the Inhabitants thereof under the government of the present Swedish King Simplicius I never call'd that in question and so much the rather because the same is verbally expressed in the Preamble of the Ordinance published by our Lord Governour Is there any ground of doubt left then Constantinus The Truth of that the deplorable condition of this Country and City under these new Governors doth sufficiently declare Under our lawful King we enjoyed Peace and Quietness we lived amicably amongst our selves no Contributions Excises intolerable burdens were exacted except those which for our safety and better accommodation we voluntarily advanced the Right of Patronage was in our disposing we ordered our Garisons without the imperious commands of Forreigners and Starosts Trade and Commerce was free we kept good correspondency and were alwayes in much estimation with our Neighbours and many others abroad this condition deserved indeed the name of a merciful visitation from above But now instead of Peace behold a bloody and unnatural War a pleasant and fertile Country laid waste and desolate free Trade interrupted and at a stand Liberty is exchanged with Slavery for mutual amity we have intestine Discord and Hostilities Contribution and new Exactions that know no end are dayly extorted from us the right of Patronage of Churches and Schools is usurped by strangers who now Garison our City uncouth Starosts and Commanders rule over us at their pleasure finally we are become a reproach and hissing to our Neighbours that not unjustly seeing we have so vainly and inconsiderately violated our solemn Oath of allegiance to our lawful King and subjected our selves to a Forraigner Yet this forsooth must be interpreted Mercy when if we will allow it a name suitable to its nature it is nothing else but Gods displeasure written in capital Letters and a visible judgement broken forth out of the North upon on all the Inhabitants of the Land according to that of Jeremiah chap. 1.14 6.1 from whence I pray God no greater evil may befal us Simplicius What Sir is not this a special mercy of God that we are come under the government of a Prince who stands constant to the unaltered Confession of Augsburgh Constantinus Simply considered in it self it might justly be acknowledged a singular mercy from God but that we have so slightly set by honour loyaltie and the Oath of Allegiance renouncing our lawful Superiour for Religion sake cannot as I conceive be defended by the word of God nor yet doth it consist with the Augsburghs Confession especially since the free exercise of our Religion was never