nature herein I believe it is necessary for their content by way of prelude thereto unanimously and in a publick way to demand a Session of the States General of France to effect the establishment of the Common Liberty which will be unanimously embraced by the three Orders of that Estate and in the consequent explication of the means of Security for its maintenance it will not be absolutely impossible to attain our purpose of the second part of my Proposal Now all the Confederate States with the House of Austria and that Illustrious House are more than positively concluded of this point in this present Conjuncture not to hearken to any Peace but in doing what heretofore the Kings of England and Dukes of Burgundy practised in common with the Kings of France and States General of his Realm for this Imperial House and all its Allies have more than sufficiently proved by what succeeded upon the Pirenean Peace that no security can be re-established by any Treaties made with the present Ministers of that Realm by the most solemn Oaths and straitest ties of Consanguinity which were not strong enough to hinder the violation of that Peace there is therefore a necessity to reduce him thereto in the manner aforesaid and no other way which will infallibly draw after it such consequences as will be wholly for the advantage of the said Confederation and the Protestant Party in France These Propositions are too advantagious to the House of Austria for them to reject them and it is certain that if all the aforesaid States act in Combination and with a perfect Union to procure all these benefits they will be able fully to attain them and bring all France perhaps into a mutiny to make their Monarch consent thereto But as it would not be just that the Protestant States should act in the foresaid Union to bring about all these benefits for the Illustrious House of Austria and all the People of France and forget themselves but that at the same time they should procure for those of their Body all the advantages that so favourable a Conjunction could procure I am bold to say that all those States by the Principles of their Faith of their Interests and of their Glory should bring them to an Unanimous Resolution to labour in this Conjuncture two things in favour of the Electoral House Palatine of the Rhine with a pure and truly politick respect unto the said Confederation and other particular Managements The first is to procure to this Illustrious House a Justice that speaks sufficiently for it self it being certain that the same Reasons which caused it to lose part of its Establishments ought to cause a Restitution thereof to be made unto it in this Conjuncture and if the League of the Protestant States were solidly made and they would act with necessary vigour they would without doubt be in an Estate to do all things that were just and reasonable in this point The second is not to neglect by pressing Instances to urge his Palatine Highness Prince Robert to a suitable Marriage which might give hopes of Successors to this Illustrious House least by an unpardonable neglect the Estates and Electoral Dignity may fall into the hands of a Prince of the Roman Communion And these are two Capital Points whereunto all the said Protestant States as well they who have openly armed themselves as those who have been content to supply their several Quota's to the Arms of the Circles as being all naturally interessed in the Cause ought to apply themselves as to a point which capitally concerns them all and whose consequents if not prevented must needs be fatal to the whole But as there is no Rule so general that admits of no exception it may be gathered from all that I have written above that notwithstanding my Scruples against Confederations made with Princes of the Roman Communion I am far from blaming those Protestant States who in this last Conjuncture embraced the Interests of the House of Austria I am perswaded they could not dispense therewith without betraying their true Interest it being certain that since the Providence of God hath suffered the Houses of Austria and Bourbon to ascend in Europe its necessary that all the Protestant States should since then be Confederated and should put themselves into a condition to ballance these two that whensoever the one should invade the Estates of the other his Corrival he might not be able to subdue all the rest to his blind obedience and as it is manifest that France at the present is the unjust Aggressor and by the principles of a devouring ambition alone without any Right but that of his own Honour or bienseance would raise to himself the Title of the Conquerour by invading the Soveraign Dominions of his Neighbours the Empire Austria Holland and Lorrain it may be truly said that all the Protestant Princes who have listed themselves with the opposite Parties by all the Rules of a judicious and strict Policy have ranged themselves without contradiction in the Line of their true Interests First of all it ought to be considered that in the Modern Irruptions which the Arms of France made into Holland four years since by the manner whereby France attempted it and management precedent to it or which followed on the Enterprize the Monarch of this Nation hath plainly taken off his Mask and made us visibly to know that he ought to be considered in this Conjuncture not only in the same Character of Conquerours of former Ages towards all Estates who had the unhappiness to have Dominions adjacent to their Frontiers but that he ought also formally to be look'd on as the declared Protector of the Tyrannick Designs of the Papacy and so the premeditated and positive Enemy and Destroyer if the matter had been possible for him of all the States and People whose Faith is naturally opposite to that Tyranny The second thing is that the Imperial House of Austria forced by the threats of its utter ruine having in this occasion now Leagued and Confederated its politick Interests with the greater part of the Protestant States of Europe to oppose it self by a joint endeavour and force to the ambitious Designs of France it is for the Honour of all these States to cause this Imperial House in this Conjuncture to acknowledge that Justice Reason and Equity hath been the Base the solid and unmoveable Foundation whereon they have laid all their motions and that it is also in the Protestant that all the oppressed Powers of Christendom may find the Bulwark of their Security For Considerations of this force serve to confirm the respects of Interests and Glory which establish the Justice of these motions of all the Protestant States in favour of the House of Austria in a solid manner and these motions are so much more glorious for these Princes and they may draw from thence so much the more happy Events because the Houses of Austria and
Discourses ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Protestant Princes OF EUROPE Exhorting them to an UNION and LEAGUE amongst themselves AGAINST ALL Opposite Interest From the Great Endeavours of the Court of France and Rome to Influence all Roman Catholick Princes against the Protestant States and Religion and the Advantage that our Divisions give to their Party Wherein the General Scope of this Horrid Popish Plot Is laid down and presented to PUBLICK VIEW By EDMUND EVERARD Esquire Kept four years close Prisoner in the Tower by the Contrivance of some English Subjects plotting against us in France whom he five years since discovered and was lately justified and released by his Majesty LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the King's Arms in the Poultrey 1679. May the First 1679. I have appointed Dorman Newman Citizen and Stationer of London to print this Treatise EDMUND EVERARD ESSAYES of Politick Discourses ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Protestant Princes OF EUROPE Exhorting them to an Union and League amongst themselves against all opposite Interests PART I. THe Ancient and Modern Histories furnish us successively with very good Examples that the greatest part of the Monarchies Kingdoms Common-wealths which have heretofore flourished with great Glory and have afterwards for the most part been entirely demolished fell into that miserable destruction by two defaults especially First by degenerating and totally abandoning their pristine virtues and a soft negligence in not applying themselves to those means which might have re-established them in the practice of the same virtues as the principle whence their former puissance was to be derived and from the practice whereof they might be in a condition to preserve it And secondly by internal Divisions which Ambition Jealousie Avarice or Vain glory fomented by the Artifices of their Enemies have frequently produced amongst Princes or the Directors of their flourishing Estates Now then since these pernicious courses have caused the ruine of all the greatest Puissances of the World I conceive that no man will be so imprudent as not to be of accord with me in this point That it is the wisdom of those in whose hand God hath trusted the direction of any soveraign and lawful power diligently with all their care and might to avoid falling into such accidents And I also believe that every wise man will likewise agree That they more especially have the strongest Reasons to keep themselves most exactly on their guard who cannot be ignorant by many pressing experiences that they have on their necks very many both secret and publick armed subtle powerful and active enemies who are perpetually in motion to take advantages of all favourable conjunctures to procure their ruine which they endeavour with very great care and by all sorts of means to procure and foment This foundation being laid let us briefly examine whether in the modern conduct of the Protestant States in Europe they have strictly guided themselves in every thing which may be called the Interest of their Preservation according to such Rules as are sufficient not only to contribute to their maintenance in their Estate but to procure unto them the most considerable Augmentations therein or whether a good part of them have not rather been visibly engaged by the Modern Artifices of their natural enemies into such paths as are capable not only to enervate their principal Forces but by consequence to draw them on like the aforesaid States into an entire destruction No man can deny as it seems to me that God's blessing was abundantly powred out on the labours of those great Persons whom his Providence was pleased to make use of in the last Age for the advancement of the work of Reformation and extirpating out of the Christian communion all the abuses and Idolatrous errours which the Spirit of darkness by the Ministry of the Papacy had established throughout the whole extent of the Western Church By this success it came to pass that two Parties were formed which in what concerns Spirituals and Temporals divided all this part of Europe which composes the said Church Now being the First-Fruits of this Reformation were such as suddenly stopped the progress of the Papacy and broke the greatest part of the measures which the Bishops of Rome had taken up successively since the Reign of the Parricide Phocas to establish a despotick and universal Monarchy over all Christendom as well in Temporals as Spirituals This Truth being perfectly well known by the See of Rome it were extreme folly to doubt of the true Resentments which those Bishops have against the Protestants and especially against the Kingdoms and States that protect and profess this Faith so that it ought to be the more observed that since the providence of God gave this overthrow to the Papal Tyranny this Beast which hath horns like those of the Lamb is in a condition to speak with the power of the first Beast that is to say the Bishop of Rome with the Title of Servant of Servants which they craftily affect to assume have so well ordered their Conduct that they have thereby been enabled no less than the ancient Caesars by sword and fire as Greg. 7. Urb. 2. Paschall 2. Boniface the Eighth did to attempt to make themselves to be acknowledged for despotick and universal Monarchs of Christendome as well over Temporals as Spirituals And to prove in a few words and in an uncontrolable manner what we have propounded we may conclude for certain as to temporal concerns that since the Reign of Charles the Bald the Roman Bishops after many Debates and cruel Wars which they caused to be raised on all hands against the Emperors of the West have not only been dispensed with from being named or approved by the Emperors themselves as the ancient custom was but having by succession of time and a thousand unjust ways so highly advanced themselves above them that these Monarchs have been forced afterwards as History assures us until Charles the Fifth inclusively not only to acknowledge the Roman Bishops for their Superiors but unless they would incur their Indignation which usually was followed with their ruine to abase themselves unto that abjectness of spirit as to go and kiss their feet in all humble prostration or as they mounted to or lighted from their Horses and the most part of them durst not take upon them to be Emperors till after their Approbation or Coronation by their or their Legates hands The chief Monarchs of all Christendom being reduced to this pass is it not true that the Bishops of Rome who hold it for a Maxim never to let go their Pretentions and to make every thing that falls out for their advantage a Prescription have really usurped and effectually enjoyed the Superiority over the Principal Temporal Dominion of Christendom And this is so true that before the holy work of Reformation this petty Priest hath been seen insolently many times to take the Imperial Crown from the Father after he had trod one of
People and the true Protector of the Liberty of his Country who had Power to deal as an Arbitrator betwixt the King and his People and to regulate and decide all their differences and in truth the ancient Kings of France were no other to speak properly than the chief Captains General of their Realm and in the Palatine resided the Principal charges of the Estate as the Chancellour Constable and Admiral and it is very true that in this manner the Authority was very well parted betwixt the King and his People who were represented as for this last regard by the Palatine but Hugh Capet knowing very well by the consequence of what he and Pepin had done that the same Palatines might one day act the very same against their Successours he with dexterity suppressed the Office of the Palatine and annexed it unto the Royalty see here the manner wherein appears the first means whereby the liberty of Estate in France hath subsisted during the two first Races of its Kings suppressed and abolished by a Palatine himself in whose Person the third Race of those very Kings did commence whose Successours have reigned in a continued Succession unto this day But as Hugh Capet could not come to this Crown but with the satisfaction of all the Principal Members and especially those of his own degree this was the cause that the evil consequences which would have arisen from the Office of Palatine were not perceived nor redressed as the interest of State without doubt required and that he might take away all resentments thereof Hugh Capet being too subtle and refined a Politician to leave any suspicion in his peoples minds he made use of this contrivance to substitute the Sessions of the States General of the Kingdom under the name of Parliaments of which we find very little mention during the Reign of the Kings of the two first Races for in as much as the Deputies of the three Estates compose this Assembly it may seem at first view that Hugh Capet had not suppressed the Office of Palatine for other purpose then to diffuse all the Authority of this Eminent Charge upon the particular Members of the said Assembly but these good souls did not reflect that the Office of Palatine was perpetual and that the Session of the Parliament was only then held when the King had a fancy to assemble them albeit it is true that the States General of France if they were in possession would understand it otherwise notwithstanding by the consequence we may understand how dangerous it is to change under what pretence soever the Fundamental Laws of Estate let the appearances be never so specious that the same advantage is retained it being certain that they who have the courage or dexterity to modulize or conquer Sovereign Estates know better than any other by what Maxims their Successours may be enabled to maintain themselves therein for when the French first conquered the Gauls they chose a King out of the number of their Generals they also wisely devised as I touched above all that might hinder their Kings from ever becoming Tyrants Now in the Estates Generals or Parliaments consisted the second means whereby the publick Liberty in France did subsist so long as their Sessions were frequent but in process of time Lewis the Ninth having reunited the greatest part of the particular Principalities which were in France unto the Crown Charles the Eighth having accomplished that great Work by his Marriage with Anne the Heiress of the Dukedome of Britain these Princes believing and finding themselves above all accidents the assembling of the Estates General of the Kingdom hath been so long discontinued that at length all use of it hath been as it were quite lost and thereby the second means of maintaining the liberty of France through the whole extent thereof is vanished and dissipated as the former then the publick liberty was in a pitiful Estate until such time as the Reformation began to get footing in France for as the Reformation of Luther was doubtless the means of saving the German liberty so the Reformation of Calvin in France did not help a little to revive the dying liberty of that Estate Now by the following cruel and bloody persecutions wherewith the reformed were thereupon pursued in France the Head of that Party being inclosed in Rochelle and from thence giving life to the rest of the Party through the whole Extent of France it may be truly said that Rochelle in the defect of Palatines and General Assemblies with the rest of its Party did little less in France then what a pit or excellent Cistern of pure water doth in a dry and parched place in the times of greatest heat for the use of water being of an indispensable necessity for the service of life and these dry places in the most ardent heat being destitute of Fountains or Rivers as in the defect of these natural means we think our selves happy in the comfort of Cisterns though they be means extraordinary so of the like nature was the subsistence of the Protestant Party in France for the Palatines and Sessions of the States General in France by their total or tacite suppression being not able to sustain any longer the liberty of the State Rochelle and its Partisans as an extraordinary means so long as it subsisted did in one manner or other maintain this accidental Liberty which hath entirely disappeared since the reddition thereof so that at this day all France is wholly fallen into a domination purely despotick and to speak the truth being a Body sick of ill humours which subsisted by one only sort of nourishment and wholly excluded from it its death by consequent is inevitable As to the tacite interest which the greater part of other Powers of Europe might have had to oppose themselves against this rendition with as much vigour as Spain England Holland and France it self ought to have done if they had followed their true Interest for this they need only in the first place see into what Estate all the Potentates of Europe would have been reduced if the irruption into Holland had succeeded and if the Sovereign Lord of all things had not taken away their light and spirit from the Ministers of France after they had taken Utrich and Narden to make themselves Masters of the Town of Amsterdam which might have been done for some days more easily than the Commonwealth of the United Provinces could by means of this place alone preserved have recovered unto it self in a small time the possession of the greatest part of their conquered Estate In the second place we must examine what by the loss of the Liberty of the People of France this Monarch disposing absolutely as I have said before of the wealth and industry of all his Subjects is able to do and execute against all his Neighbours with relation thereto against all the Potentates of Christendom and by this Reflection all the Powers concerned to deliver