Bohemica iura defensa. = The Bohemian lawes or rights defended, against the informer or an answer to an information, falsly so called, secretly printed and divulged against the writings published by the states of Bohemia. Translated out of Latin by I.H.

The Translators Preface.

HOw hard a thing it is to translate from one language to another, and make the same word for word to answer one another, as face an∣swereth face in a glasse; the right sense, phrase, grace, and proprietie thereof obserued, is not vnknowne to the learned, who haue acknowledged, and found by experience, this so great a difficultie. Much more hard (I say) then to compose a thing anew, and bring forth a mans owne free conceptions: which yet is both hard and painefull, as all new births be. Neither is it to be expected, or possible for any one, alwayes so exactly to expresse the very words & phrase, which in diuers languages are different: a libertie therein left to all Transla∣tors, which here I challenge. Nor haue I varied much from the Authors words herein, but only in some few places (and that consulting with better iudgements then my owne:) which had I translated verbatim, might haue remayned very obscure. And so I referre it to the censure of all those who fauour the equitie of this so Christian a cause. Being an answere to an In∣formation (or rather mis-information) of the Aduersaries both of Truth and Religion, who

are now growne to that height of impudency, as they will Informe, affirme, yea and contra∣dict and denie almost any thing, though as cleare as the Sunne, either in matter of right or fact, to maintayne their owne desperate cause. Witnesse all those idle rumors wee haue heard with our eares, from time to time dispersed amongst vs, and daily heare: which Time al∣readie in part hath shewed to bee palpable and false, and (I hope) will doe more and more; comming from the father of lyes, and his mali∣cious instruments: with such contumelious and vnworthy aspersions, vpon that most Noble and Heroicall Prince, now King of Bohemia, and his proceedings; whereby they endeuour by all meanes to disable, disgrace, and dispa∣rage him, (and so haue done euen from the time of his Nuptials to this last Action, which hath set them all on fire) as (I hope) God in due time will make all the world eye witnesses and iud∣ges thereof by the euent; Exitus acta probat: and hereupon wee will ioyne issue with them. If Rome be not Babylon, and Babylon fall not, then are we palpable lyers (as they call vs) like themselues, neither hath the Lord spoken by any of his Prophets: but if it bee, then let them bee lyers (as they are, and the children of their fa∣ther the Deuill) and God only true, as it is writ∣ten: in the meane time, desinant maledicere, I say no more. If there bee any escapes either in this translation, or the former impression of the

Latin (whereof I was an ouer-seer) as also of the other Reasons and Relations, formerly published, (wherein was promised further sa∣tisfaction, and iustification of the cause, since made good, both by the King of Bohemia him∣selfe, and other his seruants and well-willers) I say as then: Me, me adsum qui feci; I hope the Christian Reader will pardon and passe ouer them. If those of the aduerse part, friends and well-willers to the Informer, perhaps meete and quarrell with such small matters, they shall but only bewray their distrust, and weaknesse of their owne cause, not finding greater matters to challenge, therefore carping at the least: re∣membring that saying (whereof they make good vse) Calumniare audacter, semper aliquid haeret. And so I conclude with the Author in this his prooeme following, referring (as before) the further censure hereof to the discreete and iudicious Reader: let the wise iudge whether is more solid; and let the pru∣dent Reader adhere and cleaue vn∣to that which is the plainer, and grounded vpon best proofes.