THE DECLARATION OF THE Hungarians War Newly published by the Most Illustrious Michael Apafi Prince of Transilvania against his Imperial Majesty 1682. To the Kings Princes Common-wealths of Christendom to all States and Ranks of the Sacred Roman Empire and lastly to the People of the unfortunate Pononian or Hungarian Nation groaning under the burthen of oppression to everlasting memory Michael Apafi by the Grace of God Prince of Transilvania Lord of part of the Kingdom of Hungary Count of Sic do manifest and bear testimony in simplicity and purity of Faith and Truth AFter that by frowning destinies and destructive idleness of Nobles discording among themselves the ensigns of regal dignity were devolved from Princes of Hungarion Blood to persons of the Austriack Family whence sprang the Fountain of our wounds and miseries they did endeavour by counsels connected and circling in themselves to procure and establish to themselves absolute and hereditary dominion over Hungary destroying and trampling liberty continued inviolate for several Ages before Who though they were oblidged by the sanctity and Religion of a solemn Oath according to the Foundation of free Election which from the very rise of the Kingdom was the first and fundamental Law amongst the Hungarians to presume nothing in prejudice of the Nations Laws and priviledges did notwithstanding seek out various Pretexts that by Liberties distruction the Spirits of the Nations Inhabitants should be made bitter they did esteem sowing and fomenting matter of Dissention for engaging more capacious Souls inclined to Liberty dissatisfactory and repugnant to them against each other to facilitate their overthrow and suppression a mistery of domineering effectual and suitable to their purpose Nor did the preposterous Lust of Dominion contain it self in those Limits but persons of all Ranks were Vehemently pillaged and oppressed by excessive Calamities and intolerable rigour the Barrs of Faith and Solemn Oaths being broak asunder The design and determinate purpose of their intentions was to evert the Fortresses of the Nations Laws and priviledges by gradual and ingeneous machinations and those not succeeding by open force the secret Providence of a displeased God permitting the same Whither because a fatal period was approaching a most Flourishing Kingdom or because the refusers of due obedience to a Lawful Prince of their own Blood were to feel the weight of a Strangers Domineering These miseries received increment by the contempt and dishonour of the Nations Peers and Nobles who contrary to the strength of Law were gradually excluded or removed from Dignities and publick Functions and subjected to insolent Government and Dominion of Strangers so by daily growth of injuries and prevalancy of force the state of Hungary was so far precipatate that scarce a shaddow or vestage of Antient Liberty could be perceived whatsomever once appeared high and glorious was now neglected and trod under Foot ruine and overthrow was prepared for all suspect Vertue Petitions and Complaints were no way prevailent Appeals to Regal fidelity were in vain will Occupied the Chair of Reason whatsomever they pleased or seemed to them expedient was practiced Complaints were sometimes received in show and appearance but in Conformity to the rule of extravagant Authority and for further Torment returned with vain and irrit Words and often eluded by Ludibri and upbrading reproach The Ambition of Governours and Kings Officials their insatiable avarice and Bloody practices of Cruelty did accrew to such a hight that Men were rendred suspect against the King and Noxious to the publick because of their Riches hence were they Robbed by most wicked pretexts their Goods divided and dragged from them either that the Blood-suckers might satiate their voracious Appetites or the Exchequer a place for pillaging the Poor and most infamous receptickle of Horrid Rapines might be cram'd Now the congruous and true names of things were banished to conferr other mens Goods in reward of Treachery was called Clemency to destribute the fortunes of the wandring and illegally exiled amongst Bastards Liberalitie pardoning of Innocents coloured with the name of Mercy in short all things Divine and human was at the disposal of the Germans In the Kingdom was Want Dammage Dishonour and a most Abominable Scheme of affairs When Souls vigorous and impatient of Servitude were burthened above measure with those and innumerable injuries at length the excess of Patience inclining to revenge did betake them selves to just and allowed Remedies calling to mind they had chosen a King by free suffrages not a Master they endeavoured to reduce the extravagent and indirect manner of Governing to its ordinary Channel A Remedy by War is concluded upon immediately sudden meetings a Soul uniting society arising from common hazzard and loss of Liberty together with the justness of their Cause did animate that most Noble Nation to lay hold on necessary and just Arms and endeavour restitution of now buried Liberty to former splendor and integrity without the stain of Rebellion or infidelity according to the tenour of the Decree of King Andrew the 2d surnamed of Jerusalem The magnanimous Hero Stephen Bocskai a man of excellent Ingene famous for War-like Vertue and sagacity repute more than a private person while private did first assault this luxureant force who iritate with excessive injuries with a small number of Assistants but great and undaunted resolution of Soul opposed himself to rageing violence with a high and Heroick spirit assaulted a part of the Emperial Army with happy success did rout and chase the same and persuing his first victory did fill the Kingdom and the World with admirable progress having gained the Honour to be by common consent of the people of Hungary declared Prince of Transilvania and Hungaria and Patron of Liberty which he did not only revive from the dust of Death but did also prescribe due measures to the King then Reigning viz. Rodulphus the second and his successors Circumscribing their Power according to the Laws Limitations Now there appeared most excellent and conducible provision for peace and publick tranquility most ample conditions were ratified in a Treatise by which safety integrity and security of Liberty Civil and Ecclesiastick were assured to the Subjects by Regal Faith and Letters Patents But not long after the Inhabitants experienced Hope to be salacious and humane expectation to be founded upon an unstable bottom for not long after the Peace the most illustrious Bocskai paying his last debt by his untimely death did afford sorrow to the Hungarians and a new occasion for ambition while almost they by the same Burial performed Funeral Solemnity to the Memory of the great Patron of their Liberties and their decaying Liberty a passage to be memorate to all posterity that as it were by a new Funeral their lately regenit Liberties were overwhelmed immediately contrary to Faith and conditions of Peace occasions were catched for breaking the late compacts as if they they had been extorted by force of Arms which were notwithstanding of free choice and
voluntary consent Which unbridled License breach of Faith and solemn Oath the discreetly intelligent Freemen of the Nation sustaining with indignation and displeasure that they might apply new and effectual Medicaments to reiterate Maladies did betake themselves to their Ancient Priviledge of resisting their oppressing Kings and directed their eyes towards the protection of my Ancestors The Atrosity of most exquisite oppressions and eversion of Priviledges Divine and Humane did promove the zeal of those pious purposes by which also my Ancestors Gabriel Betlen and George Rakoci the first a Prince of glorious memory here I conclude double injuries and a twofold Warr in one compend to evit the recital of particulars did imploy all endeavours to suffocate an approaching mischief in its birth reverberate the vehement pressure of incumbent violence and esteeming the afflictions of a dejected Nation their own either to mitigate or remove the same with design always to compress insolent and extravagant dominion within the boundaries of Laws and Priviledges least Liberty and Religions final overthrow should tend to a most flourishing Kingdoms total eversion and damnifying prejudice of all Christendom Arms are again Levied for the Defence of that most righteous Cause so countenanced with Blessings from Heaven the Austriack Kings frighted with increment of Arms and unexpected success of their own accord proposed and did conclude a Peace ratifying the same by Faith and publick Chartour but this Peace confirmed and registrate in the houdge bulk of Two Treatises afforded not to Hungary expected tranquility or continuing Peace The Kings in such respits did rather lay hold on all occasions that in a state of imaginary and fraudulent Peace they might by their accustamary infatuating Machinations infect and divide the minds of Peers and Nobles which they could not infringe by force and War It were tedious and more than necessary to memorate in a prolix gradation calamities of former times which since comprehended in the monuments of Histories I shall not recapitulate laying aside therefore the precedent I shall shortly relate the grievousness of the present that the whole world may judge and cognoss the Hungarians who have sustained violence and injuries are stript of their whole liberties contrary to Regal Obligation and Faith the contents of Charter and publick Laws have taken up just warrantable and allowed Arms. It must of necessity be granted and ought not to be reflected upon without intimate and hearty sense of grief that his now Sacred Imperial Kingly Majesty immediately after his being installed in the Government by free suffrage according to the ancient use and custom treading the footsteps of his Predecessors did decline from legal procedure in Government to burthensom and absolute domineering In the whole Tract of his Government he remitted nothing of the customary inveterate endeavours of prejudging Liberty and nothing but what pleased was granted to Addressers and Supplicants according to publick Law An Umbrage of Liberty and ostentation of Regal Clemency portended Slavery to the Malecontents In this state of expiring and vehemently depressed Liberty there wanted not highly generous Spirits among the Hungarians thorowly grieved with the fraudulent machinations and counsels practised to the overthrow of the publick who modestly represented the violence and breach of publick Faith but with more zeal than success for as his Majesty had received the supream Honour of Government impared and deflowred by others and ought according to Faith and Obligation to have restored the same to former Lustre and Integrity so managed he the same according to Lust and Illimited Dominion Hence from respect and obedience due to Regal Majesty of which the people of Hungary have still been most observant mitigation of rigourous Master-ship was first essayed by Addresses and Supplications but while neither complaints nor volumes of grievances often composed and rejected could put any stop to the currant of inordinate Power a plaister for Wounds was to be found out by the Sword which a publick Law doth pronounce Lawful and Just and to be laid hold on when any of the Kings not observing the true Ballance of Ordinary Power do proceed to a prepostrous Licentiousness of domineering contrary to the Nations manifest Laws and priviledges and the interest of the Inhabitants And I heartily wish the Arms once taken up in defence of Liberties had been continued in better Order and with more vigorous endeavours it had been more Glorious more Vertuous to have recovered the over-clouded splendor of Liberty by constant and generous Achievements than be subjugate to most reproachful Slavery by too much Credulity and fatal discord But an Inclination to Dissention natural to the Hungarian Nation together with the Word and Promises of His Sacred Imperial Kingly Majesty which most effectualy bewitched them did suddenly put a stop to so considerable Commencements So soon as it was notified to the Court at Vienna that thirteen Counties had Levied Arms for recovering their Liberties immediately by an exquisite artifice for renting their minds Letters were directed to the foresaid Counties in which Pardon was granted to all repenting their defection should desert the Racocian party in due obedience to their King Moreover it was added that already committed delinquencies should be liable to no punishment by Law or Judicatory whatsomever that all should be continued without hurt or Damage in Life Liberty and Fortune in possession of moveables and immoveables at the report of this immunity publickly ratified by Regal Faith their minds were rent affunder to the loss of vigour and motion and laying down their Arms with indiscretion they again betook themselves to Peace of too short continuance esteeming a spacious door of superaboundant benignity opened to all who pleased to enter who indeed were preserved for a more secure Vengeance for the future for some forfeited their Lives others their Fortunes and some were punished by perpetual Imprisonment this never enough to be lamented inconstancy did open a Gate and furnish the Imperialists with sufficient occasions to effectuate all their purposes who liberate from fear under the conduct of General Sporkius invaded Hungary and rushing into the Heart of the Nation without loss of Blood or Man did seize Towns Castles and Fortresses neither were there any to resist the people being scornfully cheated with the promised benignity By these means they did proceed to all manner of afflictions rapines and Libidinous baseness which the unbridled Soldiers committed every where contrary to the tenour of the foresaid Letters and Regal security Churches were abused and pulled down Castles demolished Noble-mens Courts everted and the Nobillity who inconsiderately confided in promised Oblivion drag'd to Judgement at Posonia yet many of the more discreet forseeing fraudulant machinations couched under the mask of Kingly Clemency and Grace did evit prepared shares betaking themselves to my protection in this Province The report of so lamentable calamity and unexpected alteration struck me with grievous and unspeakable astonishment and because I understood this storm would
break out in tempests most dangerous and prejudicial to the Christian World immediately from an upright and sincere intention I sent my Ambassador to his Sacred Imperial Majesty representing the hazard which might follow the Application of too corrosive Medicaments to this Malady and that remiss and mollifying Plaisters were conducible that Souls might be engaged to hope and confide in Regal Clemency least driven to dispair they be prompted to extremities of dangerous consequence to Hungary and all Christendom But this my proposal again and again reiterate and sincerely upright endeavours for publick advantage were heard but with difficulty and returned without a suitable or desired answer the lust of absolute dominion had taken deeper roots than could be pluckt up by words and perswasions The compleat progress and all the actings in the Kingdom did savour violence not Kingly Government nothing required according to Law procured no mans state secure delinquency attended Riches Neither now was the proceedure gradual but with precepitate rage to all manner of affliction It evidently appeared an occasion of converting a free Kingdom to a hereditary long sought after was now voraciously snatched Immediately Violence is practised the glory of liberty undone the Peers and Patriots of Law trod under foot the Nobility banished their predecessors habitations their goods confiscate dignities honours and places of publick trust conferred on Strangers in prejudice of the Kingdoms constitutions moreover a Council of rigorous inquisition institute against liberties assertors or any suspect opposite to their illegal endeavours three Counts judged by a most illegal Process and murdered by the hands of bloody Executioners a memorable instance to the World of their savage cruelty but all this was defective to satiate revenge for the misery of Orphants was augmented by redacting the Children of the slain and banished to Beggery Their seasing the Churches of the reformed was an accessary of this Tragedy in which Fury and excessive madness did rage so impetuously that men might have imagined they waged War against houses set apart for pious uses and the Walls had been Guilty of Rebellion suddenly the Ministers were thrust out from their Congregations and expelled their native Land others forced by the terror of threats to give security no more to Preach did obtain their Lives and Liberties to depart the Nation and many as piacular Sacrifices were condemned to the Gallies a horrid and ever to be abominate presedent that their leading an anxious and miserable Life they might be consumed with grief want of cleanly accomodation hard Labours and Hunger A violent Torrent of Persecution and cursed Tyrannizing over Consciences went on a pace no Marriage to be solemnized nor Baptisme administred but by Roman Ministers men drag'd by Force and Arms to Masses and Processions every where endeavourers to draw back were affected with excessive penalties and pecuniary Mulcts Neither were women exempt from danger who not chargeable with lese Majesty were accused for tears it was a trespass and of dangerous consequence to sigh under misery and weeping over the Sentenced by Death a thing discharged Money was extorted privately and publickly from the misrable Commons by various Stratagems and feigned Names Garisons removed and setled Laws irrogate at pleasure Rapines Plunderings and innumerable Oppressions over all The Exiled Lords provoked by these and other Inexplicable Injuries brought to the Precipise of final overthrow of Life and Fortune destitute of all help from Christians and perceiving no hope of mitigating His Majesty did resolve in this extream necessity to betake themselves to the benignity of the Illustrious Ottoman Soveraignity and implore his Protection against most unjust violence for the relief of the Kingdom and safety of many Innocents Neither was their resolutions in vain their requests ware admitted with small difficulty and whom a hard Lot and extream Rigour had rendred Exiles the Generosity and Condescention of the Ottoman Soveraignity did furnish with refuge security and means for Sustenance Often are the works of the Divine Soveraign so ordered that sudden punishment overtaketh rageing cruelty when secure in success it self least straying should at any time be removed from the wicked or hope utterly detained from afflicted vertue I know many do misconstruct this Act of Extream Necessity and prepostrously slander the Hungarian Nation as degenerate and making defection from Christians but such are either ignorant of the Hungarian Liberty according to fundamental constitution or too active promoters of the Austriack interest It aught to be considered the Austriack Kings were advanced to Crown and Scepter by the suffrages of a free Election the most ancient and righteous form of Government amongst the Hungarians and obleadged by Faith and solemn Oath which solemnity according to custom was performed under the open Heavens to maintain the Nations Liberties from this Faith and Solemn Oath ariseth a formal and true obligation not only necessary for exercing Government-according to the prescript of Laws and tenour of Regal Charter but doth authorize the Palatinate of the Kingdom as the Guardian of Liberty with the Inhabitants to contradict and resist the King degenerating from ordinary and allowed power to savageness and unjust Licence of domineering therefore in case of despairing reduction to due measures Liberty was not annihilate nor the priviledge of procuring protection from whomsoever even from the Ottoman as a neighbouring Monarch Many years are now past since this unfortunate Kingdom placed betwixt two Potentates cut short by the one and trod under foot by the other hath exhibit a most lamentable Tragedy to the World the first never levied War against it nor laid aside Arms without increment to his Empire and the diminition of this counter-mure whence it hath been almost equally subjected to its most potent Neighbour Seeing then this Kingdom bordering on either side with a most potent Monarch is necessitate to sustain their first assault and Force and that the House of Austria hath hitherto sought or intended nothing by Governing but the depression of Hungary and the eversion of its Liberties especially his now Imperial Majesty hath redacted a free People of themselves liberally moderate to dishonourable pusillanimity and most miserable condition whom desparation efficacious in straits and intricacies did Arm and since for the time of Eleven years Banishment they could see no relaxation or hope for removing oppression it did seem more conducing in the case of extream and inevitable necessity to betake themselves to the protection of a most potent Prince and make use of his help than inevitably precepitate the remainder of the Kingdom Neither are the Hungarians the first who have implored Ottoman assistance in their defence Henry and Fredirick Brethren to the King of Castil in the time of Pope Clement the 4th when associate with the Sons of Conradus did call the Saracens by Sea and Land not to defend their Country but to expell the French from Italy Maximillian of Austria that he might repell Force carried on against him but
especially that he might destroy the Venecian Common-wealth was active to procure the Turks assistance Francis the first of France when he perceived the ambition and dangerous Power of Charles the fifth did not question the accepting help from the Turk neither was it unglorious in our time for the famous State of Polonia to call the Tartars to their defence against Christians Let therefore the Christian World judge by the foresaid Reasons whether the Hungarian Nation of a most free constitution priviledged by their fundamental Laws with a share of Supream Power reserving in conferring Government natural Liberty exempt from Regal Authority viz. to resist the King in a case hath acted iniquiously in submitting themselves to the illustrious Ottoman Soveraignty engadging by Imperial Faith the restoration of Liberty the security of Religion Life and Honour and maintenance of all Priviledges As for my self who am by off-spring and descent a Hungarian originally the same with that Nation and do acknowledge my self to be erected to a Princely Throne of an Hungarian Dominion by God the founder of Kingdoms and placed as it were on a Watch-Tower to manage the defence of Civil and Religious Priviviledges and repell according to my Power Injuries inferred against a most free people without evidence of any just Cause These causes and respects prompted me to lay hold on Righteous and Necessary Arms to restore Liberty and reduce oppressed exiles Therefore let no discreet and sober person admire my undertaking the Righteous cause of a most renowned Nation especially of my own Blood My scope is that an once most Flourishing Kingdom may be by the help of divine Benignity restored to desired Tranquillity and a most free Nation to the immortal Liberty of their Ancestors it is most Righteous and Conform to Reason to defend Liberty violate against Faith right being granted by express Laws It is just to undertake a defensive War for Friends and Relations violently afflicted the Universal relation of Mankind were a reason of it self sufficient for granting assistance neither is the right of Humane Society suffocate when Kings exerce injuries approveable by no Righteous and Discreet person against free Subjects Moreover I admonish and exhort yea I beseech and obtest all Ranks in Hungary to joyn with me in Righteous and Pious Arms for endeavouring the reduction of Liberties Glory to former splendor by Glorious Achievements and concording Unity Let the vertue of our Predecessors possess our Souls who with their Blood who with their Lives did defend their Liberties There is need of constant and vigorous resolution in affairs of such consequence and what is remaining must be committed to Divine disposal which hath Crowned by-past undertakings and exploits for recovering Liberty with most Blessed events Here is no private controversy nor question about Romish Religion which hath the advantage of the same Priviledge with the Evangelick or reformed our dispute is for our Country our Lives our Fortunes our Honours and the whole Nations Glory They are Hunting unjust Dominion your Blood and Fortunes persue your Liberty which no good man no vertuous man no noble or generous man will lose but with his Life For my part I am conscious of Human frailty nor am I without consideration of Fortunes force I acknowledge all my undertakings subject to a Thousand various incidents but having satisfaction and security of Conscience in serenity and composure of Spirit by Gods assistance I undertake your defence proposing nothing to my self but intrest of publick safety without hesitation I expect prosperous progress and a Blessed period But if any shall betake themselves to the adverse party to advance their Countries overthrow their own temerity trespass and error shall be liable not I to any censure if deserved punishment shall accompany their contumacy But I hope and am confident all ranks and conditions shall direct their counsels thoughts and undertakings to the safety enlargement and intrest of their Country By Blood our Ancestors at first did come to peaceable possession of their Liberties which since by blood hath been secured and maintained and now remains its vindication and recovery from oppression and eversion to be attained and effectuated by Blood I shall be sufficiently remunerate aboundantly honoured if in injoying Liberty I shall see my Countries relief or in case of overthrow my right hand patronizing Liberty shall fall among the Carcasses of my Country-men and my Soul freed from guilt be removed to a better Country The Lord God of Hosts the Just and Omnipotent God Bless from the Highest our sincere and lawful endeavours be the orderer of all our actings and counsels dispose and engadge minds alienate and dissentient to sincere concord confirm the strong encourage the faint-hearted effectuate the undertaking and terminating of all may tend to the everlasting Glory of his Name the restitution of overturned Liberties the peace and tranquility of an afflicted People to the private and publick felicity of all and every one Amen A true Coppy of the Compact and Conditions betwixt the Emperor of the Turks and the Hungarian Male-coontents THe great Emperor of the Turks upon the following conditions constitute and to be performed on both Parts hath received in protection the Hungarians who have suffered extream violence If the Kingdom of Hungary rent from the House of Austria shall become Tributary shall yearly pay the same too and ever continue in Faith and Obedience towards the Ottoman Port or Court which the Hungarians oblidge themselves to perform Hostages being yearly to be sent to the foresaid Port for the ratification of the same The Emperor of the Turks hath bound himself by Oath to restore the Hungarians to former Liberty by strong Hands to repell all violence which may be carried on against them by others and to protect them Above all that he shall exact no tribute from the Hungarians until the affairs of Hungary be reduced to good condition all Tumults being appeased That he shall draw to himself no Town or Fortress of the Hungarians that he shall disturb none in their Liberty Ecclesiastick nor Pollitick that he shall allow unto all the free Exercise of their Religion that he shall give Power to erect and repair Churches Schools and Parioches and to choose a Prince of their own Nation whom they shall judge sufficient the suffrages of the Nations Inhabitants agreeing thereto no Forrain beings to be forcibly obtruded All this is contain'd in the Ach-nam of the great Emperor of the Turks that is in the Obligatory Letters given to the Hungarians corroborate by his own Hand and the Authentick Seal Imperial which the present Prince of Transilvania hath with himself as to whom the whole affair of the Kingdom of Hungary is committed to be decided by open War or pacification with the Emperor of the Romans FINIS LONDON Printed by J. Grantham 1682.