is de capite for which they seeke their owne ends not yours and though some of your puritan Subjects will dare to contradict it yet let traffique be heard and consult with your merchants who can best tell where entercourse and commerce is to be for their most advantage And I am sorry that so religious a King and so magnanimous as the King of France for privatum odium singulare commodum I should lay any block in the way of peace yet your highnesse knoweth that France hath their particular exceptions and piques against Spaine which no way concerne England and pretend what they will for your good it is their owne they seeke and keepe Spaine low and draw dry their finances but you shall shew to the world both great policy and vertue to glorifie your judgement if you can keep them both your friends albeit è duobus milibus utrum 〈◊〉 tibi ut your Majesty and Councell can best judge Therefore I beseech your Majesty consider what inconveniences may happen to England if either you should bee councelled to restore the Palatine or revenge his quarrell in despight of justice whom the law and justice have cast downe For cui bonos it can be no honour to defend a mans errours who might have said with Albinus Arma ameus capio let not a non putaram be laid to your charge The Realme hath no such interest in the quarrell of Forreigners but by alliance and I should pitty that Councellours weaknesse who should advise your Highnesse to the contrary for nothing is so neere and deare to a King as his Crowne and solus populi supreme lex est it is not your case but by consequence and participation and if you would attempt to restore or revenge him by indirect courses how are you provided to performe it Vana est sine viribus ira and to breake with Spaine and doe the Palatine no good is to damnifie England undoe your merchants and blemish the honour of your judgement CHAP. 7. Reasons why the Count Palatine is not to bee restored by Armes CAll therefore most gracious Prince true polici experience and vertue to give you councell and consult whether that your attempt be honourable falsible and for a King of England Cicero at Rome the best schoole of civill government being asked his opinion in a case like to this whether it were good for Lentulus and the common-wealth to undertake the charg to restore Ptolomy and put him in possession of his Kingdome out of which he was ejected he gave this advise li 1. epist familia si exploratum tibi sit posse te illius regni potiri non esse constandum si dubium non esse conandum and why totius facti tui judicium non tam ex concilio tuo quam ex eventu homines esse facturos si cecidisset ut volimus et optamus omnes te sapientur et fortiter si aliquid est offensum eosdimillos te et cupidè et temerè fecisse dicturos apply this to your selfe and you cannot erre Ptolomy was a Prince deposed and to be restored by force of armes who had cast his self into the protection of the Romanes and yet the danger hazard and uncertainty of that action did disswade and discourage the whole state I will shew another president to guide your judgment neerer to your case Christian the second King of Denmarke was deposed by his uncle Fredericke and his owne subjects his wife Isabella sister to Charles the 5th as the Palatines wife is to your highnesse and afterward hee was betrayed by Canutus Gulderstein who promised him in Fredericks name security and capitulations but notwithstanding he was taken and imprisoned many yeares yet the Emperour his brother maintained her and her children very nobly but though his cause was just his title without question his case lamentable Halfnia Malbogia and both Burgers and Paisants seeking his restoration and his cause depending in suite at Spires where he was like to have judgement for him as is manifest by the acts and records there Denmark contra Denmark in causa spolij as Melchior Geldastus testifieth yet for divers causes the Emperour resolved not to hazard himselfe and his people in a war so dangerous and unnecessary and for a man of forlorne hope and especially he himselfe being engaged in other occasions of more importance touching his honour and safety hee neglected this which though it were a crosse to his friends yet for their good hee was not to neglect himselfe and his State But if the practises of your predecessours may bee thought best to guide you Queene Isabell wife to King Edw. 2. flying to her brother the King of France for succour against the Spencers the Kings minions the French Kings Councell advised him to give her money and leave her to solicite such friends as she could procure but in no sort to appeare in the action nor give commission to levie men against the King of England for so he should give cause to renue the warre and set France in an uproare and danger which were a thing incommodious to himselfe and inconvenient to the State such was their warinesse and providence to preferre the place safety and prosperity of their Country farr above the respect of particular persons not regarding the Queene his sister so much as his crowne and safety And afterwards when Sir Iohn Heynault Lord Braumont undertooke to restore her both the heart of Heynault and his cheife officers opposed it as an enterprize of more courage then wisedome and although good successe made it seeme good yet it was not so of it selfe but by accident for the Queene having strong partie in England as now the Palatine hath in Germany the Barons sent over the Archbishop of Canterbury to assure her of their assistance and besides she carried over into England with her solem orientem Prince Edw. the Kings sonne and heire It was lately objected to me that the famous blacke Prince aided Don Pedro King of Castile against his Subjects who rebelled and wrongfully expelled him and therefore King Charles ought to doe the like for the aide of his sister I denie that he ought and I say also that the consequence is not good for the Prince aided a lawfull King against rebels you shall aide a usurper against a lawful King and an Emperour so in the cause there is odds Besides have you a blacke Prince the mirrour of all martiall Princes to be imployed in this expedition Or have you in Spaine or Ger. such a Rendezevous to let in your Forces with facility as he had in Aquitaine And besides you shall break a treaty of peace solemnly sworne which the Princes did not I adde also that valiant Candâ—is disswaded the Prince from undertaking the action you ought saith he to be content with the state you have and not to pull upon you the malice of forreign Princes but Prince Edwards owne reason why he
causes evill effects of an evill spirit evill motions proceed I cannot marvayle of the tumults of Bohemia of the many battayles and rebellions in Fâ—ance and the horrible treasons in Scotland and I may well doubt that the like which hath been in other places may fall out in England knowing by whose doctrines they were all guided and bred by what furies they were inspired and what God they served and adored who was the Authour of sinne the badge of Calvinisme But to leave the persons and their errors and come nearer to the matter let us enquire what remedies these zealous brethren prescribe to cure the wounds of the State and salve the Kings honour You have two occasions saith Tom-tell-troth to have the honour of your Mayden Armes for which the old Martyrs would have suffered death first to reestablish your own Children in Germany and next to preserve Gods Children in France And there is no way to vindicate your honour but by fighting with him that hath Cozened you and by driving the Enemy out of their Country For men hardly think you are their father for the lamentable estate you suffer them to runn into How violent and ignorant are these discontented Empericks who appoint remedies worse then the disease For no wise man would counsell you to hazard all by taking armes against the two greatest Monarches in Christendom against whom you have no just quarrell of your own part or for the Common-wealth And yet I know that Anno 1623. a pamphlet was published without the Authors name intitiled Certaine reasons why the King of England should give over all treaties and enter into war with Spaine and that for two causes the one for the prescription of the Palatin which he calls the head of all these evills And the other for that the Spaniards possesse by force the patrimony of the Infants and eject the Palatin and his wife out of the same contrary to hopes and promises made for their restitution and therefore there is just cause why the Father should vindicate the honour of his Sonne So here are two motives to perswade the King to breake off all amity and further negotiation with Spaine only and in post to proclaime war against them The prescription of the Palsgrave and the invading and detaining of his Estate War and hostility are the meanes prescribed for this restitution and the finall end of all is to breake off all treaties all entercourse and correspondencie with Spaine A Colerick course certainly whereof King James approved not and although they seeme to vilifie and abuse his Judgement yet his speech uttered in Parliament was more solid and provident then the precipitation of these projectors For said he in matters of this waight I must first consider how this course can agree with my conscience my honour and the justnesse of the cause And next how I shall be enabled to performe the same a breif speech sound and methodicall For surely if the title and Crown of Bohemia was unlawfully usurped by the Palsgrave which his wisest and greatest Friends sought ever rather to excuse then defend then his prescription was well grounded upon lex Talienis aquum bonum and reason of State And so they would perswade you to undertake the patronage of a quarrell unjust and dishonourable which would lye as a heavie and sinfull burthen upon the conscience of a pious and just Prince Therefore I take this to be the foundation of all these controversies whether the Palsgrave were lawfully and justly elected King of Bohemia For if he were not you altogether loose and not vindicate your honour to fight for him being not a King injured but an injuror For no war can be justifiable but that which is begun upon just and urgent occasions wherein Justice prudence honour and safety shall beare the standard of England Neither were it convenient that England which hath so long triumphed in her peace and prosperitie should now thus rashlie be drawn fatally to maintaine the errors of ambition and a quarrell unnecessary for you not properly pertaining to England nor to your Majestie but by consequence and participation CHAP. 2. That Ferdinand was lawfully Elected King of Bohemia ANd although I doubt not but that your Majesty hath read some partiall breviat of the cause and state of this businesse yet I will be bold to lay open the truth of it breifly without glosse or partialitie or respect to either partie fearing neither nor having any other end but that your Highnesse may not erre with the Multitude by misinformation Ferdinand Sonne of Archduke Charles and nephew to the Emperour was elected King of Bohemia An. 1617. by an Assembly of the States of Prague upon the Emperours summons when Mathias declared that seeing his glasse was almost run to leave the Kingdom setled in peace and to prevent all Civill dissention he requested that after his decease they would agree to accept of Ferdinand for his successor whom for his vertue and piety he had adopted his Sonne provided that during his life without his speciall commission Ferdinand should not intrude himself into the government of his realme and should also take his oath to ratifie and confirme the priviledges granted to the Country Hereupon the 7. of Iune the three States of Bohemia gave this answer to the Emperours proposition That for his request and for the fatherly affection that he did ever beare to that kingdom they consented and agreed to accept Ferdinand for their King and thereupon they assigned the 24. of Iulie for the day of his Coronation at Prague upon which day this decree was solemnly read and the States assembled being asked according to Custome by the cheif Burgrave if any did dislike or could shew cause to contradict this Free Election they all freely and orderly with a generall applause approved it and upon that so good warrant the Burgrave proclaimed Ferdinand King of Bohemia and offered unto him as their Custome was a certaine contribution of his inauguration So here is an Election made Frequenti Senatu plenâ curiâ the Emperours assent who was King in Esse a consent of the States in a generall assembly and modo formâ according to Law and Custome And Ferdinand himself was present and brought upon the stage to take the Oath usually ministred to his predecessors and to conclude the whole Country acknowledged his regality by doing really the homage unto him So as no defect was in the proceeding no Competitor no barre or opposition to his claime neither was there any packing or partiality in the Election and by this solemnity he was created actually King and albeit his government was not to commence untill after the death of Mathias yet the Royalty he had in Esse their Oathes at his Coronation their homages and their contribution was a full confirmation of his title in presenti and the rather because the States themselves did him all the honour appertaining to their King so he
aggravate it Aucta in immensum religionis gravamina and for the second Vi armorum hostiliter in eos saevitum magna crudelitate c. Therefore to excuse their insurrections that they might not be named rebellion hee concludeth Quis miratur si quod indesperatis morbis fieri solet extremus afflictae provinciae ad extrema remedia descenderunt These are fictions for he can produce no greivance in the State which was not bredd by their own impatience and abundance of distemper'd humours They could never produce any mandate from K. Ferdinand or nominate any who were persecuted upon that mandate and the Law requireth in rebus prejudicij plenis plenas exigi probationâ—s did ever Ferdinand deny tolleration of those oâ— the Confession of Auspurgh or did he ever revoke or disanull the grants of Rodolphus or Mathias I beseech your Majestie heare an Emperour wrongfully accused plead his own innocencie An 1620. Febr. 17. in his Edâ—ctalis Cassatio Nos saith he post omnium Regâ—â— privilegiâ—rum confirmationem quod promisâ—rimus infra quatuor hebdomadas ad manus supremi Burgravij missuros prâ—misimus At subditi nostri benevolam nostram oblationem ne responso dignati sunt Tamen dictae confirmationis diploma juxtaten-remedicti R. Mathiae tot verbis clausulis ad Burgravium transmisimus idemque etiam Baronibu Equitibu Civibus Pragae congregatis But how did they welcome this faire offer of peace and mercie The Emperour affirmeth upon his honour Non a cepârunt diploma inducias armorum suspensati nem spreverunt literas ejus epudiâ—runt that is They by contempt and defiance provoked him to use these extremities whereof they complaine being vanquished But to make a closer fight the Argument which the Palatine useth for the defence of the Bohemians will appeare in the right shape of vanitie if I may weigh it with English waights and change the name and if I may to make the Judges the better to apprehend thus breiflie draw it into forme The poore afflicted Catholiques of England have their greivances dayly multiplied their estates spoiled their persons disgraced c. Therefore being driven to such extremities they may justlie and lawfullie take Armes in defence of their Religion and Libertie how will the Judges like this reason Surelie prefeâ—r me to Newgate worthilie and yet this is the substance of their Argument one Iohn of Stile is named for the Directors The antecedent of this Argument is comprehended in his own words Aucta iâ— immensum Religionis gravamina Now if this reason be good to move compassion to the Bohemian so it may for the English If you object that the Lawes of England punish Catholiques and abolish the exercise of their Religion so likewise doth the Law of the Empire and Bohemia condemne the Calvinists If you say for the peace of the Realme the King cannot tolerate Catholiques experience sheweth the like for the Calvinises whom the Empire accuseth of heresie schisme and innovation which last cannot justlie be imputed to the Catholiques And touching the consequent it is the Palatines own conclusion viêª Quis miratur si quod in desperatis morbis fier solet ad extrema quoque remedia descenderant So if the Catholiques should follow the Palsgraves opinion and advice indâ—speratis morbis that is in violent persecution they may lawfullie take Armes and defend themselves but they are otherwise Catechized and better instructed in the School of true patience and humilitie and practise doctrine and conscience to draw in the Yoake of our Saviour They object also that the Emperours Councell prohibited the exercise of their Religion and pulled down two Churches lately edified for that use one in the Town of Brunaw where in despight of the Abbott cheif Lord of the Soyle they presumed to erect a Temple and the other at Clostergrap belonging to the Archbishop of Prague The Emperour Mathias upon petition delivered unto him An 1616. and haveing heard the cause debated Judicially decreed that they should be demolished because the building of them was against Law and the contempt of the cheif Lords unto whom both the jurisdiction and propriety of the Soyle appertained as the Emperour signified to Thurn and I doubt not but my Lord of Cant. would have done the like had any such attempt been made at Croydon by the Catholiques of Survey But what is this to Ferdinand who can justlie charge him with his predecessors actions Actio mâ—riturâ—oum personâ But Ferdinand shewed too much severity against those reformers in Moravia Surelie he did nothing but by the direction of the Emperour whom it was requisite he should obey and assist being chosen his â—uccessor both to support his Majesties authority and to â—acifie the troubles of those Provinces so as executing his Commission it was not his act but the Emperours But marke their iniquity they set all the Realme on fire and cry out against them that seek to quench it they gave the first blows and when they are beaten for it they complaine they are oppressed and hyperbolically exclaime in eos saevitum est tantâ crudelitate Against King Mathias was their first insurrection and after his death the Directors took Armes to barr Ferdinand out of the Realme so as he had neither time nor opportunity or occasion to exercise such cruelty whereby he should deserve to forfeit his title to the Crown or be condemned for breaking his Oath to the States And therefore the Count Palatines pretences were insufficient and goutie and to say truely Camerarius and his Camerado did but veâ—nish over the colours slovenly hid of those tumults of Bohemia and did build their Paradoxes upon weake and sandy grounds And therefore I conclude all with the Authority of learned Roclester lib. de potestate Papa in temporalibus who fetts this down as certaine as one of Euclides Elements pag. 639. Non potest Apostolus Christianos eximere à subjectione de jure naturali debitâ aut Regem quemquam privare â—ure suo cùm gratia non destruit naturam cùm Regnum in natura Evangelium in gratiâ fundatur sicut Evangelium non dat Regnum sic nec auferre potest And therefore he exclaimeth Tota haec ratio seditiosa est proditoria mulâ—â— udini fraena laxat Rebellioni viam sterniâ— And in the same opinion was Doctor Bilson in his book of Obedience and Doctor Marton Now touching the Directors who were the principall persons and agents in this Election two things are to be considered First the Originall Secondlie what lawfull authority and whose Commission they had for their warrant For their Originall it had a beginning in this manner when the Emperour Mathias languished at Vienna by a long sicknesse Count Fhurn took advantage of the time and conspiring with many of his Confederats upon a suddaine surprised the Castle of Prague the Emperours Armory and the Court and in a rage they apprehended his Majesties Lieutenants and Cheife
King of England but ultra posse non est esse It is neither the fault nor the fallacie of Spaine and for the restitution of the Palatinate your Majestie well knoweth and I think hath discovered that there is a knot in that businesse which onely the Duke of Bavaria can untie The Emperour cannot except he would hazard to loose part of his owne inheritance the upper Austria and what if that cannot during the Duke of Baviers life be yet effected will you breake of all treaties with Spaine for a matter hee cannot compasse nor prevaile to effect Will you make a perpetuall deadly feud with Spaine because he cannot yet therein fully satisfie you It is a cause neither charitable nor politique for marke the reason and project of this silly states-man pag. 13 your children saith he perhaps may have committed a fault and though you thought good to purge them yet to let them still drinke of affliction you may be thought justus sed crudelis pater Well how should the King helpe his children and shew his royall wisedome as well as naturall affection and regard the kingdome as well as his cradle A secret treasure saith he lies hid in your peoples hearts wee will contribute more to redeeme the credit of our nation then to regaine the Palatinate men and mony are the engines of war send forces that shall be able to make their way thither Mark I humbly pray your Majestie how ignorance roveth and looseth it selfe and yet he saith as much as any other can object If you aske him shall they march into the Palatinate No saith he there is great difficulty to get thither the Palatinate is ill seated for us to warre in being remote from the sea and surrounded with enemies and the protestant league is beheaded which should have succoured you and therfore here solveth that you must not confirm the action to the bare Palatinate for so it will never have an end but draw it selfe into such a circle of troubles as wee may look twelve years hence to see two such armies keep one another at a bay in the Palatinate as now they doe in the low Countries So by this his Argument to recover the Palatinate you must not march thither For the reasons he wisely alleadgeth for that it is out of your way Is not this man in a labyrinth for hee wisheth a thing whereof hee hath no hope something hee would have done but he knoweth not what nor how what then qua spe quo concilis would he proceed heare a counterfeit Hanniball speak like a souldier give the Hollanders your helping hand and lend the Palatine an armie to dispose of as he shall see cause Consider well first that his plot is to relieve or revenge the Palatine but not to recover the Palatinate I hope your prudence and providence is such as you wil be assured how they wil imploy this army For if the Hâ—llanders must tutor him they will assaile Flanders or some parts of the Empire or invade Spaine or the Indies and your Majesty shall beare the name of the great Nimrod have all the blame and malice of your neighbours and yet the Palaâ—ine himselfe shall gaine nothing by these sharkers who serve onely their owne turne by you both and when you come to the account and reckoning for the charges you shall finde neither honour comfort profit thankfulnesse nor reputation by dealing with them Nay Tom T. T. in all his booke hath but one wise sentence and that touching them the Pedlers whom wee our selves set up for use are become our masters in the East-Indies and think themselves our fâ—llowes It is now given out in Holland that your Majestie meaneth not to make peace with Spaine but to confirme the treaties made with the Hollanders at Southampton before the last journey to Cales which report I cannot beleive for your wisedome may foresee many dangers and inconveniences by it it is neither for the benefit of your merchants nor for the wealth of your Realme nor the peace of Europe nor your owne safeâ—ie And I beleive France will finde in the end occasions to cast them off for the Gummarists and the Huganots draw in one line have suck't one nurse and like no royaltie Forget not your Amboyna and the imperious and cruell usage of our merchants in the east-Indies Forget not how scornefully they used Sir William Morison your Fathers Admirall of the narrow seas not without apparent contempt of your Majestie Forget not how thâ—y used your sea men and Fishers in Greâ—neland And call to remembrance how unthankfully they used Quâ—ene Elizabeth their Patrone and Protectour Anno 1594 whâ—n she seâ—t Sir Thomas Bodley to demand the mony she had laâ—ed out for them And as if they hated Royaltie and the King himselfe they cause and suffer to bee printed Tom Tell-truth and other malicious libells and scandalous to defame Majestie and bring it into contempt and secretly publish them in Brabant and Flanders Consider also how presumptuously they only use the fishing on your coasts without licence and challenge it as a due to them which the French never durst doe Besides you may discerne clearely what insolency Armata semper militia ever groweth unto and I can witnesse how falsely they dealt with the Earle of Leicester and my Lord Willoughby who was forced to write an Apology for himselfe against them And as for your glorious Father I protest for all his favours to them which were many and great yet how shamefully they spake of him both living and dead I cannot with modesty relate Nay they have dared to sheere the grasse from under their feete and laugh at his councell and therefore they have planted so many low-country-men in England to serve their turne who robbed you and transported all your gold thither that the States might make their benefit of it which your Starre-chamber can well witnesse and these men are yours externally theirs in heart and affection neither hath your Majesty cause to repose too much trust in them for their Astrologer Dr. Fink long since foretold them of a Starre rising out of the east which I perceive they long to see come into England that they might adore him But to speake freely and loyally it would be censured by forraigne Princes as a great weaknesse in so wise a Prince to hazzard your owne safety and the welfare of the Kingdome and the lives of your dearest Subjects for a cause so desperate And on the contrary part to enter into amity and league with your ancient confederates with Spaine and all men of judgement and impartiall hold it most honourable and profitable Your leagues with the house of Burgundy were ever wont to be tyed with a suâ—e knot and inviolable even by Hen. 2. Rich. the 1. and Hen 3. Edw. 1. bestowed upon Flandâ—rs and Brabant great pensions as it appeareth by the records of the Exchequer Edw. 3. loved no nation better and so did they him So long