THE TRVE COPIES OF SVNDRIE LETTERS Concerning the Affaires of Bohemia as they haue beene seuerally writen in High Dutch Latine and French to Princes and other men of account Newly translated and printed M. D. C. XX. The Contents of that which orderly followeth in this Booke 1. A Letter from Prague April 1. 1620. concerning the Christening of the young Prince borne there 2. A Letter sent into France concerning the Emperour Ferdinand his Ambassage into France to desire ayde of the French King 3. A Letter written by Christian Duke of Saxony to the Emperor Matthias by way of friendly admonition not to beleeue the Iesuites shewing how hee ought to carrie himselfe towards those of Bohemia and the other incorporate Prouinces 4. A Letter from Gabriel Prince of Transiluania to the Emperour Ferdinand 5. A Letter from Gabriel Prince of Transiluania to Christian Prince of Anhalt 6. Another Letter from the said Transiluanian Prince to the Prince of Anhalt 7. A Letter from Gabriel Prince of Transiluania to the Duke of Bauaria A Letter written from Prague the first of Aprill 1620. concerning the Christning of the Kings Sonne borne at Christmas last AFTER the King by way of Embassie had intreated the Prince of Transiluania to Christen his Childe the young Prince I meane borne so auspiciously in Prague about the end of December 1619. to the vnexpressable comfort of all the Kingdome and confederate Prouinces hee made a iourney to Proslaw the principall towne of Silesia the effect whereof tended to this purpose that by his personall appearance amongst them he not onely corroborated their good opinions of him but rectified certaine disorders and from that excellent diuision of Commutatiue and distributiue Iustice opened a larger hand of bountie to such as stood in need of his fauour and shewed a stronger arme of Maiestie to those that neglected his power But vnderstanding that the Transiluanians were alreadie on the way toward Prague hee hasted thither and by the middle of March was welcommed with many happie relations of seuerall victories both in opening the passages and defeating the Emperours armie as if Philip of Macedon should haue newes at an instant that the Spartanes were subiugated Olympia bare him a Sonne and his seruants carried away the games of Hercules So that to make him more way to his ioy about the end of March Count Henricus Turzo with other Noble-men in the name of Bethlem Gabor came to bee God-father to the young Prince there were diuers Lords of Hungarie in his companie and thirtie Hussaros as they call them exceedingly wel mounted six Caroches each of them drawne with sixe Horses and an hundred horses besides with good equipage and well appointed Notwithstanding such was the pleasure of the King to keepe correspondencie with his owne magnificence that he sent them twelue Coaches more with diuers officers of the Crowne among whom was principall the high great Steward the Baron of Lobcowitz a man grateful vnto them as hauing formerly been in Hungarie and now of sufficiencie to put an equall recompence in the other scale against many fauours by them extended toward him In this manner they came to the great Citie and the verie next day had audience wherin as an ouer plus to their embassie they assured his Maiestie that about the 1. of May which was the Diet of Newsnak the Crowne of Hungarie would be determined and those forces he had requested accelerated vnto him When the day of solemnitie approached wherein I passe ouer the concourse of people and many remarkable accidents tending to the expatiating the Bohemian glorie his Maiestie sent his owne Caroch by the Baron of Buslwitz the better to accommodate the Earle to the Court and so the King with Count Turzo the Duke of Wittenbergh and the Prince of Orange his Ambassador who were the other God-fathers went to the Church with the Lords of the States of the Countrey and the Ambassadors of the incorporated Prouinces Doctor Scultetus did preach taking his Text out of the 15. of Iohn I am the Vine And when the Sermon was finished other religious ceremonies began the yong Prince being brought into a place of sequestration yet publique enough for the satisfaction of the people by the greatest Ladie in the Land called Ouerburgrauen who supplied the place of Godmother and had on her right hand his Maiesties brother and on her left the Duke of Weymar The Lords and Officers went before them and the Ladies and Gentlewomen followed behind At euerie entrie or change of places the trumpets sounded and the drummes beate till they came vp to a stately marble table whereon a bazon of Gold stood seruing in steed of a Font to dip the Child in The Count Turzo held him in his armes all the Christning time and gaue him the name of Robert as intimating that the first Roman Emperor of his Maiesties Family was so called but questionlesse this was the direction of both the Councels and a policie of the Prince of Transiluania to induce the people to conceiue or apprehend that there might once againe be Emperours from their now Bohemian King After the Prince was named he was deliuered to the rest of the Ambassadors there present and so the deputies of the three States of the Crown the Lords of Silesia Morauia the higher and lower Lusatia with many other Ladies of estimation had the sight of him by turnes and blessed him extraordinarily euen in his cradle But time is the determiner of all things and so in time after some accomplishment of ceremonie they returned in order as they came except the King and some speciall Lords and Ladies who followed by themselues making as it were another shew of State but it should seeme the reason of the Kings protraction was to entertaine a present which the Count Turzo offered at the going out of the Church a verie faire and well shaped Turkish Horse richly caparisond the saddle and all things appertaining were pounced with floures of Gold-smiths worke interlaced with many precious Stones the verie couering was richly embroydered and the Horse as if he had knowne his owne glorie grew want only proud againe to shew his brauerie to the companie The royall dinner was solemnised in a great Hall builded on the Riuer for that purpose some call it the Mew some Moldan and some Moldauia as it maketh seuerall windings thorow the Cities The Feast lasted so long that that night they could doe no more but retyre into a house of pleasure scituated in the priuie Garden and for this purpose made as it were to shew a new countenance with great varietie of refreshing as guilding painting and vnvsuall pargetting He 's here They passed the residue of the time with musicke dances and another banquet The next day the States of Bohemia presented a gift to the young Prince of 2000. pounds in valuation and the other Ambassadors and Lords offered verie largely so that a man may well crie out of the warres as a consumer
in their Declaration are sufficiently iustified against this accusation Finally To omit nothing which may carrie any speciousnesse with it there is proposed the feare lest the Turke may make vse of this diuision But on which side hath he beene alreadie inuited but by the Emperour Ferdinand who hath not onely caused the King of Spaine to sue to him for peace but hath caused his Ambassadour to make exceeding great instance foure seuerall times to the great Lord at his gate to giue him succour which hauing beene refused him he comes now to our King out of despaire of all other assistance But if this apprehension be seriously taken it is that that should inuite the other Princes of Christendome to leaue Bohemia in Peace and to order the grieuances done vnto the Empire and vs not to exasperate against France in all the allies kindred and friends of the King of Bohemia who are neither so few nor so weake but that they ought to be taken into consideration See here Sir What is our iudgement concerning this vndue request made of succour to our King by his inueterated enemies against the most certaine and vsefull allies of his House and Crowne Wherein we esteeme that all his good and faithfull subiects will agree with vs and that they will call to minde the meanes vpon which the State of France our common Countrey is founded and hath subsisted for so many yeares not to permit that a new Counsail which among the Iesuites they call of Conscience should not onely taxe all other Counsellers as if they had no Conscience but vnder this pretence doth ouerthrow all order both diuine and humane For I pray what would haue become of the State of France during the warres of the League when these Inducers of Counsels of Conscience did rage against our Kings did pursue their ruine Let them remember that by such Counsels and Counsellers there hath hitherto arriued all misfortune to those Princes which haue hearkned to them and beene serued by them The King of Poland for his part could tell how hee came to lose Swethland so could the house of Austria it selfe speake of the Low-Countries many yeares since and that which is now to be seene in respect of the realmes of Bohemia and Prouinces incorporated Hungarie and Austria This is enough to cause other Princes to beware at the least henceforward And I pray God with all other good French-men to giue our King the grace both to testifie in the view of all Christendome which hath her eyes vpon him the stedfastnesse of his word to his good friends and allies against their common enemie for their protection and the repose of his subiects and his iust indignation against those who doe counsaile him to the contrarie I am SIR Your seruant Neighbour and faithfull friend François de Saincte Foy. From Prague this 20. of Ianuarie 1620. An Aduertisement written in forme of a Letter by the late deceassed Prince Christian the Second Elector of Saxony to Matthias King of Hungarie Archduke of Austria and afterwards Romane Emperour Translated out of high Dutch into Latine out of Latine into French and lastly out of French into English CHristian Elector of Saxonie greeteth you happily We receiued your Letters most illustrious King dated at Vienna the 27. of September of this yeare present Wherein according to your accustomed manner of friendly imparting your selfe vnto vs by Letters you giue vs to vnderstand that the happie euent of cheerefull homage yeelded vnto you by the States of Morauia the twentieth of August in the Citie of Prin putting you in liuely hope of the like successe from the people of the lower Austria you haue notwithstanding found the quite contrarie that is to say you finde there is no pressing the States of this Countrie to any oath of fidelitie before their iust complaints be heard and their ancient rites and priuiledges confirmed although your Maiestie had many times promised to redresse their agrieuances according to the equitie of their cause as the custome in this case is On which bare promise the Inhabitants beyond the Ens would not relie but perseuered constantly in the former resolution And therfore you require that wee would not giue credit to those which go about to settle some sinister opinion in our mind but rather that we should perswade them to lay aside their obstinacie and so to come vnder the obedience which they owe vnto you with the surplusage of all that which is further comprehended in the same Letters Your Maiestie certainely may be assured that you are no waies deceiued in the good opinion you entertaine of our fidelitie towards you in that from our first entrie made vpon the Electorship we may confidently auerre without any vaine boasting that all our Counsels aimed at the preseruation of the greatnesse reputation and authoritie of the house of Austria in maintaining the securitie thereof against all their enemies And therefore we cannot without singular discontentment apprehend the discommoditie accrewing thereby to you which daily augmenteth in euerie mans sight and other affaires proceeding continually with the same contrariety seeme further to threaten you with worser successe And though it no waies beseemeth vs to prescribe you vnlesse of an happie and fortunate reigne notwithstanding you manifesting daily the great amitie and confidence you repose in vs we will not feare to deliuer vnto you freely our opinion and aduice touching this matter humbly intreating you to take it in good part whereof we assure our selues from your accustomed humanitie and clemencie And first of all who knowes not how the house of Austria hath hitherto beene eleuated aboue all other Princely Families vnder the sacred Empire with how many seuerall dignities it hath beene augmented to euerie mans satisfaction and contentment so that many persons both of high and meane calling haue voluntarily come vnder her tutelage and protection being verie well entreated and with all wished clemencie But there is no man how faint a louer of truth soeuer he be which must not needs confesse how your Family of long time hath met with no more violent aduersaries then the Court of Rome and Sect of Iesuites together with those that adhere vnto them with their turbulent and immoderate Counsels which the States of the Empire neither could nor can any wayes support Your Serenitie otherwise conceiues that no other reason mooued the so many goodly Prouinces of the Netherlands to shrinke from their hereditarie and naturall Lord then these so intemperate and precipitant courses which haue planted such irradicable defiance between Subiects and their Princes and Magistrates that no Treaties can remoue or supplant the same As in verie truth all those consulted Treaties could neuer confirme those Estates in any setled peace Furthermore what hath so extenuated and dishonoured so many renowned victories obtained by the sacred Imperiall Maiestie against the Turke as Belioyeuse by a secret instinct out of the Iesuites Schooles For the common enemie being
of Treasure and impouerisher of Kingdomes For I am sure here was so great remonstrance of abundance that a man would sweare they neyther wanted men nor money To morrow is a preparation to celebrate the Baron of Donaws marriage and the next day an expectation of a Tilting and euerie day an inuitation of iollitie For in truth they that saw the noble customes and princely iollity of King Frederick his Queene his Brother the Duke of Weymar and the rest of the Lords and Ladies more then solemnitie of Prayers and giuing thankes vnto God would little imagine they had such intanglements of affaires abroad or at any time discomforts at home A Letter written by a French Gentleman being in the Armie of the King of Bohemia To a friend and neighbour of his in Poicton vpon the occasion of the Voyage of the Ambassadour of the Emperour Ferdinand sent into France SIR I Haue receiued yours wherein is contained the request of succour propounded by the Ambassadour of the Emperour to our King and hauing communicated it to those of our Nation which are here as I am I doe here represent vnto you the iudgement which wee doe all make of what may and ought to be answered to those who are of opinion to yeeld the succour which is required by an inueterate enemie to France and to the House of our Kings against the King Frederick of Bohemia one of our ancient Allies and one whose House hath deserued so well and so often of the House of our Kings and of France in generall Wee say then that if these Inducers are not more Spanish then French at the least they doe heauily offend against the Principles of our State by a grosse folly by a remarkable basenesse and by a manifest iniustice By folly first in setting themselues against those who serue for a counterpoyse for the State of France to balance it against a power so great as is alreadie become fearefull to all the States of Christendome particularly in this that by the Instrumencie of the Iesuites it pretendeth to be erected into a fift Monarchie by the ruine of other Kings and Princes The second follie were to goe with such facilitie to the succour of them who in the life time of Henry the fourth did refuse his interposition to accommodate the differences risen betweene certaine Princes of the Empire allied and confederated with France one of the principall Officers of the Emperour Rodulph hauing dared to say that the King should trouble himselfe with the affaires of his own State and in the difference now in question while it was yet in termes to bee accōmodated my Lord the Duke of Neuers being then at Vienna and hauing charge from our King to offer his interposition it was neglected and contemned And now after the Turke hath refused to giue them succour sued for at his gate foure seuerall times they come to our King and State against which they haue continually practized during these last fiftie yeares which they haue deuided by ciuill warres and thereunto cōtributed their armes and practises and made vse of our miseries as farre forth as they could This is far from taking hold vpon the occasion which is presented as it were by the hand and conduct of God to regaine Cambray Nauarre and other Demesnes of France vsurped by this House and to take from them the means to vse the like courses hereafter and to ouercome the Allies of France The third folly were out of meere iollitie to intangle our selues in a quarrell to reestablish that which it seemes the will of God is that it should not bee whose workes doe appeare in the sudden consent of so many Nations and the vnanimous cōciliation of so different inclinations all swaying to cast off the yoke of a domination violent and cruell and tending to the ouerthrow of all right both diuine and humane The fourth folly were to drayne the reuennues of the King to weaken him in Men by the diminutions which such warres doe bring and to reduce the harts of the French to the affection of that Stranger from whose faction the preceding Kings haue had pain enough to diuert them and into which they had beene throwne by wicked inducements The fifth were in that our King taking a resolution to beare his Armes against his Allies in fauour of the common enemie it might cause so great an hatred against him that they might grow to accord with this enemie thrust on by an indignation which could not bee in this case but very forcible ioyntly to turn their forces against the State of France which they should find drained of money weakned in men and no way prepared for such an inconuenience Whereas the true Counsell of State were when the Neighbours are in warre to make a stock of money to furnish the frontiers with men and munitions of warre and to keepe our selues on our Gard more then euer So should it likewise be a great ingratitude and basenesse to perswade a most Christian King to render euill for good to those Princes who haue so often so readily and so vsefully succoured him with Men Armes and Money for which hee is yet indebted in sums of very great importance employed for the conseruation of the House Royall and State of France against the attempts and assaults of those who are not now ashamed to demand succour against our Benefactors Herein likewise are they answered that would succour the Emperor vnder hand for that which is naught being done openly is not better by being done in secret and to commit a basenesse in secret is as much as to commit a theft without witnesse Besides that it is vnworthy of the dignitie of our King to counsell him to such actions which haue need to be concealed and yet cannot be being subiect to disaduow and reuocation when hee shall bee required thereto by his Allies Finally there should bee a great wickednesse in such a proceeding and a great iniustice in the maine matter for as to the first who is it that can approue that one should runne vpon his friends vpon the simple report of his enemies Must not both the parties be heard and haue leisure to informe the King of their actions or if you will not belieue them to send vnto the place to know the truth And as for the maine cause it will be found very good on the side of the Bohemians For first the Emperour Ferdinand was neuer chosen neither could be King of Bohemia then when it is pretended that hee was chosen hee was not chosen because the States of Morauia Silesia and Lusatia were not called vnto it and the principall persons of Bohemia had no voice in it but this pretended Election was made by the surprize of certaine Pensioners of Spaine who on the other side could not proceed to a new Election during the life of the Emperour who was also King of Bohemia for hee that liues hath no Heire But supposing the Election of Ferdinand
to be good hauing after it against his solemne Oath violated the Lawes of his Countrey endeuoured to abolish the Priuiledges and so to make it of an electiue Kingdome hereditary failed in his faith and word giuen to the States of the Countrey not to meddle with the gouernment during the life of the Emperour Matthias exercised all kinds of violences and cruelties against the Inhabitants his domination being degenerated into Tyranny those whose had right to elect him King might reiect him hauing rendred himselfe vnworthy Now against all these reasons there are made fiue Obiections to wit that this war being made for the subiect of Religion that the most Christian King ought to vndertake it that the Emperour Ferdinand is Vncle by the Mother to the Queene that succour in distresse is a mutuall office which Kings doe owe one to another that the example of reuolt against the Prince ought to be repressed and lastly that it is to be doubted that the Turke may make his vse and benefit of these wars among the Christians his neighbours As for the first it may bee remembred that when the house of Austria did inuade France they did sticke this calumnie vpon our Kings that they were Heretikes or fauourers of Heretikes And now to disunite them from their friends and ancient Allies they doe coniure them by the protection of the Church of Rome which from all antiquitie they haue cherished and peraduenture would not stick to tell the King with Saint Gregorie the first Pope of that name that the Kings of France doe alone deserue the name of Catholike which doth not belong to any else But this pretext of Religion is the ordinarie Maske of those who would ouerrunne such as are of a beliefe differing from them and beg the assistance of them which are of their owne opinion This is that olde Cloke of two sides which shewes on the one side the publike good of Christendome and sets forth on the other side a fayned zeale of Religion thorow which notwithstanding is nothing to be seene but ambition and hypocrisie It is question say they of Religion but may not that bee preserued but vnder the Empire of Austria Will you beleeue the accusers only shall wee condemne our Allies without hearing them vpon this point And if it were true would not the Catholike inhabitants of the Countrey send to request the Kings assistance And yet in this case were it fit to thinke of the matter For since euery King and Soueraigne in his Territorie is not accountable of his administration to his Neighbours and that wee our selues would not approoue that others should come to controll vs in this point wee ought to feare the example of such a proceeding in time to come Secondly if you pronounce a iudgement that it is a warre of Religion you giue leaue thereby to the greatest part of the Emperours Armie to depart home who are Protestants of the Countries of Stiria Carinthia Austria c. And you doe put the Duke of Saxe and other Protestants out of doubt who haue not hitherto taken this warre for other then a warre of State Besides there doe follow two inconueniences First that you doe taxe of desertion of the Catholike Religion those Princes and States Catholike who doe assist the King of Bohemia The second that you doe alarme deuide and put into euill agreement the Subiects of this State the inclinations of whom cannot be too wel vnited for the repose of this Kingdome But to take away this Maske of Religion you need but to consider the matter how it hath passed for at that instant that the Iesuites were driuen out of Bohemia by the aduice of the Catholikes themselues all the other Orders of Priests and Religious persons were receiued into the protection of the States of the Countrey Since that the King Frederick the first both at the time of his Election and Coronation hath confirmed it and hath moreouer published it in his Declaration and lastly hath written it to our King by his Letter of the 20 of October last By which it followeth that this feare cannot fall into the conceit of any but such as hauing no certainly in their faith and word doe iudge of others by their owne proceeding The second perswasion of the Partisans of the Emperour is to say that he is Vnkle by the mother to the Queene but they leaue out that the alliance of State doth extend farther then any personall alliance as they could well say when it was contracted that marriages were but particular contracts to take away all shadowes from diuers who did enter into ielousies at that time and now they would haue it cleane contrary that particular pactions should preiudice the publique right of State so as it may serue for their purpose But when this alliance it selfe was in question the stipulations renunciations and other clauses which they themselues caused to bee inserted without any other occasion then through the ielousie which they beare against the State of France and the feare which they had that it might haue been augmented by this alliance doe sufficiently exclude the Queene particularly not to interest her selfe in the quarrells of State betweene these two houses The third obiection is taken from the common interest of Kings and from the support which the afflicted doe request which is a cleane contrarie Style from that which they did endite during the warre of Piemont during which they did pursue as criminals those who did assist the Duke of Sauoy whose State the King of Spaine did inuade without any more apparent subiect then for the alliance which he had treated with the late King Henrie the Fourth But these men doe now preach charitie for their owne profit and yet doe they retaine Nauarre of which they spoyled one of the Kings Ancestors who came to assist our King nor will they yeeld vp the places which they vsurped during the league which they stirred vp entertained as long as they could But if this argument to succour the afflicted be good were it not more to purpose to assist the King of Bohemia whose Predecessors haue contracted alliance with our Kings and haue assisted them with men and money against the League and the house of the Emperour who haue this word by writing in many of his Letters and the Acts and Registers of his owne Chamber of Accounts for proofe of their good deeds and good offices towards our Kings and their States Nor is it to any purpose here for them to alledge in the fourth place the euill example of the reuolt of subiects against their Prince who haue stirred vp and entertained the same amongst vs and who doe now receiue by the diuine chastisement and for a lawfull subiect the experience in their owne Countries of the disorders which they haue produced in the States of their neighbours And on the other part the Bohemians both in regard of what is said before and of the reasons layd downe
seated in the nauell or center as it were of Hungarie with mightie forces both of horse foot at that verie instant it was when fire was giuen to the most outragious persequutions nay and in so many seuerall places that his said Imperall Maiestie by this means lost Strigonium Transiluania Hungarie Valachia and Moldauia the recouery of which Prouinces cost our deare Germaine Countries many millions of men and an infinite treasure in Gold and Siluer During this cruell warre these tumultuous people were not satisfied in partly dishonouring and making fruitlesse the victories of his Imperiall Maiestie and partly opposing and crossing them but the Iesuites further by all manner of wicked stratagems wittingly perseuered in their persequutions in Carinthia Carmola and Stiria exposing the principall Inhabitants of the said Prouinces to cruell Proscriptions while the Turke in the meane while toooke in Camsa For what other cause was there why the States of the Sacred Empire after the last Dyet of Ratisbone without any laudable effect or any firme and mutuall reconciliation separated themselues but onely the Iesuites and their importunities who did nothing but exclaime that the most pious Constitution of the peace of the Religion was nothing but a meere delay a truce an Interim or tolleration scandalizing in this case euen the Counsell of Trent and this they divulged all ouer in their writings From which and many other occasions superfluous here to write many complots and practises being vndertaken to the great preiudice of the house of Austria your Highnesse may euidently discerne the truth of what we produced to wit that your illustrious Family hath met with no more capitall and deadly enemies in all the world then the Court of Rome the Iesuites and their Societie I speake nothing of so many pernicious practises and disastrous assaults which the Iesuites haue attempted against other Kings and Monarkes in France England Poland Sweden Venice and other places without all remorse or shame that if God had not euen by way of miracle preuented their diabolicall dessignes they had turned entire Kingdomes topsie turvie whole Countries with their Inhabitants and had reduced them for euer to a finall and absolute ruine For wheresoeuer this Sect or rather insect kind of Creatures plant they bring with them all manner of disasters and miseries To conclude if by their Counsells and instigations which I must tell you are no wayes grounded vpon any true politike foundation but rather as Spiders wouen out of themselues their venemous passions and Scholasticall Dreames they haue excited Subiects yea and the entyre Prouinces of some Princes to mutinie and reuolt they can create no new Inhabitants or Subiects themselues flye away into Italy or somewhere else leauing behind them a mortiferous stinke and the Impressions of an horrible and vast desolation But admit your Maiesty may haue beene perswaded by some that you are in no sort tyed to ratifie and confirme vnto your Subiects their ancient Rights and Priuiledges aboue others those that concerne the free exercise and practice of the Confession of Auspurg which were granted to the people by the Emperours of famous memorie Ferdinand and Maximilian for no small summes of money and therefore vpon no beneficiall tearmes but those very burdensome and chargeable wee are willing to excuse your Highnesse innocence herein and naked sincerity beleeuing rather that this was performed by the enemies formerly mentioned who seeme to affect your Highnesse ouerthrow and to depriue you of your Prouinces exciting and drawing eyther by malice or grosse stupidity the generall enemie of the Christian name into the heart of the Countrey who without any great difficulty is like to be Master of all these so renowned Regions with whole Hungarie the which except present order bee taken to the contrarie will bee enforced to come vnder the Turkish protection For your Serenity knowes that both the one and other Austria haue now contracted a verie firme League with the Kingdome of Hungarie and other Prouinces so as if you grant not fauourable permissions to the one as well as to the other they being equally interessed in the cause of offence by vertue of the Confederation by you approou'd the other parts will yeeld them ayde and succour And though as Subiects they are ready to expose their liues for their Soueraigne their bloud yea euen their second drops which is their goods and prodigally to cast away whatsoeuer they haue in their power yet what can be imagined more deplorable and miserable then to racke and torment their soules by such an extraordinary and seruile Tyranny That same Apothegme of Stephen King of Poland was very prayse-worthy who talking of some persecutions begun in his Kingdome said That he was King ouer a people but not of their consciences It seemes this good King well apprehended that Religion was not to bee planted by the rigor of Fire and Sword but leauing his subiects freely to build vpon that beleefe by which they hope for eternall life and no wayes herein disturbing them And your famous Predecessors Princes that were endued with admirable experience and wisdome plainly perceiued that those Princes of Germany and Estates of the Empire which neuer gaue way to this oppression of conscience haue beene wonderfully belou'd and obseru'd of their Subiects for this only cause enioying hereby a most happie Reigne and tranquillity Our deuotion therefore towards your Illustrious Family being to euery one well knowne and from whence this loyall simple admonition proceeds your Serenitie hauing not the least surmise to thinke that we were falsly aduertized by your Subiects but on the contrarie let all the world duly obserue what hearts they carrie to you and your thrice Illustrious Family that instigate you to these preposterous courses which common experience and the miserable euent of present affaires sufficiently testifie We therefore in all humble affection beseech your Maiestie that conformable to the trust you repose in vs hauing perused these Letters to take them in good part and according to the Lawes to the Inhabitants both of the one and other Austria ratifying those Priuiledges which they haue dearely bought you will permit them the free exercise of the Confession of Ausburge not putting hereafter their Consciences to the Rack And so relying on this Confirmation as a member and Elector of the Sacred Empire beyond all comparison we did more truely labour your owne and the greatnes of your Family then the whole bodie of the Iesuites and their Followers wherof sufficient testimonie hath beene giuen during the sixteene yeares of this Hungarian warre and that your Illustrious House hath beene more sincerely by vs affected then euer it either hath or will be by this pestiferous Sect. Otherwise if you take this friendly aduertizement in good part be sure your Subiects will yeeld you absolute obedience neither sparing their liues nor goods in your seruice no wayes doubting of their fidelitie or of any effect that can ensue By this meanes you
shall purchase immortall glorie and endlesse exaltations both amongst Strangers and the Princes of the Empire obtayning further from God all blessings both of bodie and soule and the same God will daily amplifie you with new dignities and most wished euents Contrariwise if you suffer the Iesuites and their Locusts so to abuse your bountie and clemencie which will not sincke into our perswasion Let it suffice that we innocently protest that all our reiterated Admonitions aymed at no other end but to preuent the House of Austria from those perils and dangers which threaten it and any vnexpected accidents falling out to the contrarie we are exempted herein from fault blame And thus in sincere equitie we hope to be excused by God and Men the which out of our affectionate loue and zeale wee did not thinke good to conceale from your Highnesse Dated the 6. of Octob. 1608. at Dresden To the Reader THe late Elector of Saxonie Christian the second by name who was elder Brother to him that now possesseth the Electorship and who in all times held good correspondence and amitie with Archduke Matthias afterwardes King of Hungarie and Bohemia and not long since late Emperour Defunct seeing this good Prince much grieued for the ill counsell and aduise which hee had followed in the managing of his affaires implicitely threatning himselfe and the House of Austria to lose the said Kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungarie with the Prouinces thereunto annexed hee resolued to write vnto Matthias this Letter in the Moneth of October 1608. which is to say twelue yeares since which being truly prophetical in that which afterwards ensued it hath beene thought of good importance and sufficiently deseruing to bee translated into Latine French and lastly into English for a Caueat and Instruction to all Princes and States that they neuer fall into the like inconuenience To the Emperours most Sacred and Royall Maiestie Most gracious Lord AT what time wee sate in Counsell with our Princes and Nobilitie moued by the vrgent occasions of the renowned Kingdome of Hungarie I did at once receiue one answer from your Maiestie vnto both my Letters sent by the Illustrious Gentleman Stephen Haller as my Letters occasions so requiring were two so hauing obtained an answere which agreeable to the weight of the affaires consisted of two parts the matter was maturely deliberated by the Counsell and perceiuing present danger in delay I would not deferre to sollicite your Maiestie the more earnestly about the last declaration of your Highnesse gracious pleasure And whereas I perceiue your Maiestie doth simply and absolutely vnderstand my declaration of the truce in this sense that during the time of League no ayde may be sent by the Hungarians to the Bohemians and the rest of their Confederates the retexing of which question will much illustrate both parts of the present answere your Royall Maiestie may please to vnderstand the whole course of the matter in this sense and not otherwise In the Polonian Assembly there haue beene three contracts made with me only and in those many transactions and that for diuers respects confirmed First Truce and Conditions of Peace with your Imperiall Maiestie Secondly with the Bohemians and the other Confederate Prouinces Thirdly with the Peeres and States of the Illustrions Kingdome of Hungarie And I confesse that I seemed in the opinion of many so entangled by that parley contrarie almost and opposite in diuers passages vnto it selfe that deserued and promised equitie could not possibly bee obserued towards both parties but the one must either bee something neglected or iniuried by me which so sinister conceit of mee that I may speedily remooue from the mindes of men especially if your sacred Maiestie or Counsellors haue entertained it pleaseth it you to be informed of the certaine truth and diuerse conclusions The Hungarian Nation hath confirmed a perpetuall league with the Bohemians and we haue promised mutually by oath to liue and dye together in withstanding all enemies so as to make peace or warre with any not aduertizing the other is vnlawfull for either part This agreement and couenant betwixt vs tooke place when by notice giuen them and their consent I ratified the peace which I now haue with your Maiestie But since the second Article I being silent doth oblige your Maiestie expresly to grant the same peace vpon demand to our Complices and Confederates the Bohemians and the other Prouinces which you haue granted vs and that your Maiestie is bound to harken after my motions which doe but seeke that the cessation of Armes vpon iust and equall conditions should bee on euery side granted If I shall perceiue your Maiestie to satisfie in no part this solemne protestation but contrarily with renewed forces to sound the alarme and put your Souldiers in Armes to suppresse vs if I obserue your Maiestie as daily complaints informe contrary to the hope and expectation of all good men to swerue alreadie which be farre from you from this agreement who can bee ignorant that my selfe is no longer neither the Hungarian Nation obliged to you Nay if wee aide not without delay our friends whose protection we vndertake we shall vnworthily bee accused by them of disloyaltie I doe therefore abundantly satisfie the Bohemians and others in soliciting your Maiestie for their truce like our owne which if I obtayne of you as due by couenant or if I discerne their suspected and dangerous estate by vaine lingrings and delayes neither your Maiestie nor any other shall euer accuse mee or the Hungarian Nation of promise breaking if wee finde our most bitter enemies whom obligation tyed to league and peaceablenesse Wherefore your Maiestie is not otherwise to vnderstand my declaration of the truce placed expressely in the second Article then the writing it selfe witnesseth that this our league with the Bohemians is not neither can bee made simply common as if together at the same time and in all kindes of league wee were tyed to each other Neither are they so neglected and forsaken of vs that there is no profit procured vnto them by our confederacie Moreouer I requiring it and fauouring iust and equall conditions your Maiesty is by couenant bound to grant like truce vnto them as to vs which if you doe not we are no further to contend in the matter with words and pen. Let truth ouer sway all things Since I labour and sweate now the third time in solliciting your Maiestie in our Confederates and Friends cause and that with obtestation Thus much concerning the Intreaties had with your Maiestie and the Confederate Princes COncerning the Articles concluded in the Consultations past at Polonia the distinction is manifest enough in them both of the truce confirmed with your Maiestie and the league established and concluded by the Confederates The inward administration and gouernment of the Subiects of the Kingdome vntill the truce is expired or till the next following and proclaymed generall Assembly of State howsoeuer prescribed by the