An Account of the present condition of the Protestants in the Palatinate in two letters to an English gentleman.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE Present Condition OF THE PROTESTANTS IN THE PALATINATE In Two Letters to an English Gentleman.

Foelix quam faciunt aliena pericula cautum.

LONDON, Printed for Richard Parker at the Vnicorn under the Royal Exchange, and Sold by A. Baldwin near the Oxford Arms in Warwick-lane, 1699.

A True Account of the Sad Con∣dition of the Protestants in the Palatinate.

SIR,

I Agree with you, that the Palatinate is one of the best Countries in the World; whose natural fertility and plenty is such, that there is none that recovers itself sooner after a War than it. But affairs at this time are such, that it cannot be expected that we should see it in that flourishing condition it was formerly, when you saw it in your Travels. During the War, our hopes to have our condition better'd by the Peace that shou'd insue, made us cheer∣fully suffer, hoping to enjoy our Estates and Religion as formerly, when hostilities should cease. But our expectations proved vain, for though the War is ended, yet the Wild Boars are ravaging our Vineyards. But these

blood-thirsty Zealots for Religion, though they differed from us in opinion, yet we suf∣fered them to dwell among us, and were used kindly: for requital of which kind usage, they are now turning us out of our Houses, and Churches. Thus those whom we tolerated and protected amongst us, are for extirpating and depriving us of that shelter and counte∣nance that we afforded them; by which means a new fire is kindled here in the Palati∣nate, so that we Protestants are in as ill a case, as the French Reformed are in France, and worse than you were in England under the late King James; In this, that you had only the storm hanging over you, but this is fallen on our heads, to the extirpating the Protestants, and their Religion out of their Native Coun∣try, and this is to make way for Popery, aad a crew of indigent Romanists who seek but for occasions to profit by the ruin of such of their neighbours, that cannot adhere to them in their superstition.

With permission I would here make some reflections how little consonant it is to the Princes Secular Interest to countenance Inno∣vations

contrary to the saith and practice of his predecessors, by which we may observe that none of the Romish perswasion are to be trusted, but they will when opportunity offers itself omit nothing to propagate their Religion, to effect which they will wade through all difficulties, though they thereby sacrifice the Peace and Riches of their Country, and their faith given; so inherent is persecution to Popery that to be a Papist and a Persecutor may be looked upon as convertible terms, that imply the same thing.

These are those who are for Damning all that are not of their opinion, a true mark of a bad Cause, that dare not trust God to convert Souls his way, but to assist him in his work will use Fire, Faggots, Dragoons, Force, Ter∣rors, and all to constrain those that differ from them, to a complyance; but they con∣sider not that Conscience cannot be forced, tho the Will and Body may consent and yield to for∣bid compliances, yet the Conscience will ever bear inward testimony against all such sinful consents, let the imposing be never so dreadful to Na∣ture; for we are taught not to fear men, but him that with the body can destroy the Soul also.

But this is the sad State of those Countries that fall into Popish hands, who suffer them∣selves to be byassed by a bigotted Clergy, by whom they are influenced to become unnatu∣ral to their Subjects, and instruments of over∣turning the established foundation both of Church and State. Thus the Popish Clergy be∣comes in a Commonwealth, what Vermine are to the fruits of the earth, whom they de∣stroy and consume, and so become the plague of the Age and Country where-ever they got foot∣ing.

The long experience of these truths might open the eyes of Soveraigns, and let them see the selfishness of these Catterpillars: How have they devoured the Laity? and cloathed themselves with the fattest, and fairest of their effects. How many Families have been impoverished to inrich Monasteries and Abbeys, and Religious Societies, who are so many Nur∣series of Pride and Idleness; so that that most nu∣merous part of the Subjects are become the most useless members of the Commonwealth where they reside.

It were to be wished, that Princes in this Age, as in the times of Reformation, knew their Interest so effectually, as to banish that Vermine, and as in England convert those in∣comes to better uses; this is it that hath made your Island so powerful and wealthy, as it is at this day, as also other Countries and places where Church Lands are possessed by the Laity, whereas in Popish Countries the Clergy pos∣sesses one half, in some three parts, and in o∣thers more; which revenues, if otherwise dis∣posed of as in Protestant Countries, the Prince and People would be proportionably rich ac∣cording to the rest of their reformed neigh∣bours. But our Prince, not content to find a Country lately fallen to him by inheritance, disposed so advantagiously for his interest by the constitution of its government, but he must bring in innovations, and not satisfied to en∣joy such a Principality as his Predecessors left him, but he must act so prejudicially to his own interest, and the ruin of his Subjects, by settling his Religion at the cost of what is ta∣ken from the right owners. It was not so with Charles Louis, the former Elector Palatine, who

though a Protestant, would not suffer the Protestant Ministers, nor indeed any other of the different perswasions to inveigh one against another, altho it might be expected that this our Prince might have retained a tincture of such Principles, more especially being descended from a Protestant off-spring. But this consideration hard for the Romish party is this day required with ingratitude. Would to God that our Prince would but make reflection on the advantage and benefits that did accrues to the Son of that Prince, viz. Charles the last Protestant Elector Palatine. He found the Country in a flourishing condition, with a great Treasure in Monies, all which were marks of his Fathers prudence, by which means he was enabled to support his Countrey, and protect those of different perswasions, that flocked to him from all parts, as they use to do as soon as a peace is established, by which means his Country was replenished with inhabitants, which so long a War had unpeopled, and ha∣ving suitable priviledges granted them were thereby incouraged to be Inhabitants, and to increase Trade.

Thus the Palatinate was replenished with In∣habitants, the ruined Cities rebuilt, and new ones erected, as Manheim and Fredericksbourg: this effect had Toleration and that in a short time, for the Protestants had that incourage∣ment, that their Religion was the Religion of the Country, and others were drawn thi∣ther by their being tolerated and countenanced by publick Authority, where all finding pro∣tection were incouraged to Trade and gather riches, since they were assured to dwell quiet∣ly in the profession of their different perswa∣sions.

But what incouragements is there now to live here, where promises are violated? The Natives that have been frighted from their Ha∣bitations, and scattered into other Countries by the War, dare not now return, seeing our Prince is for introducing Popery and its profes∣sors, who being less numerous and rich than the Protestants, the end of repeopling, and reinsta∣ting the Country in its former glory cannot be expected, for they shew to have nothing in view but the violating the rights and properties of the Protestants, as will appear by this following Narrative.

At Heidelberg and Manheim they have built very much, since his Electoral Highness hath published a Proclamation, wherein he pro∣mises a freedom of thirty years, and assures them that their priviledges shall not be altered, but that he will maintain them all, which did incourage us to carry on our buildings, so that the work advanced very much; but having since issued out another Proclamation, by which the Popish Holy days are injoin'd to be kept through the whole Palatinate, and that the Protestant burying places shall be common, our Buildings are at a stand, and we see the Romish Religion introduced by Authority, and exer∣cised in our Churches through the whole Pala∣tinate. Also his Electoral Highness has taken from us the seven Latin Schools, with the Cloyster and Church at Heidelberg, where they are erecting Cloysters for the Franciscans, Augu∣stins, and Capuchins, with a Seminary for the Jesuits; and are very busy to get into their possession the Holy Ghost or Cathedral Church, as also the Collegium Sapientiae As they have done with the Cathedral Churches at Wein∣heim and Ladenburg and other places, and

has taken from the Ecclesiastical Council, and the Verwaltung their ancient priviledges and rights, and the revenues, Liberties and proper∣ties, and the Freedom of disposing of their Ecclesiastical Incomes, so that the Lands which belong to the Ministers and the Tythes, which make a part of their Salary, are given to the Roman Catholicks, which proceedings have cast us into so great aconsternation, that we have lost all courage, even our desires are cooled from going on with our Buildings.

When his Electoral Highness came into the Palatinate, and chose the Castle of Weinheim for his residence, he then promised, and assured both Laity and Clergy, that he would main∣tain all their priviledges, but we find these were but Popish promises, which do afflict us very much, and the more in that his Electoral Highness refuses to fill up the vacancies in the Ecclesiastical Council, which consists at present but of two persons, whereas their number ought to be six, and a President. It is true he promises to allow the Protestant Mini∣sters something out of their income for their Subsistance, but without doubt, it will be little enough.

At Creutznach the Church that stands upon the Egg Market, they converted to their own use with the Latin Schools, which were thirty year since built at the Protestants cost, and were endowed with a Subsistance for their Ministers and Schoolmasters, out of the Carmelites re∣venues, that was secularized by the Treaty of Peace made at Munster, which income they injoyed ever since before the troubles in Bohe∣mia to this time. They detain likewise a Fund of a 1000 Rix-dollars made by the Protestants and with it also the interest of the principal, borrowed of the poors Stock, all which they imploy to pay Popish School-masters, and for Popish uses.

It is also forbidden upon pain of Death to expound the 80th question in the Palatine Catechism, which treats of the difference be∣tween the Lords Supper and the Popish Mass. At Hackenheim three quarters of an hour from Creutznach, a Roman Priest went into the Protestant Church, and did not only pull the Minister out of the Pulpit, where he was preaching, but beat him out of the Church also, and he, and those that were with him

handled most barbarously, those of the Con∣gregation who being wounded, were obliged to go out of the Church, to have their wounds dressed. About a German mile from Creutznach a Roman Priest set on those who were with him to kill a Protestant Barber, because said he, he is a Protestant Dog to effect which they knocked him down with their clubs, tho the poor man begged upon his Knees for mercy, and his Life, they would not grant it, but while the wretch was crawling on the ground, they shot him thro the head with small shot. Notwith∣standng all this the Murderers go free, nor do the Magistrates take any notice of it; tho he has left a poor Widow with five small Chil∣dren, who can obtain no justice, which seems as if the Magistrates approved this inhuman murther, seeing those who committed this Cru∣elty were no strangers, but the Barbers neigh∣bours, and very well known.

All the Houses that belong to Protestant Alms, and Hospitals are taken away by force, with those belonging to Protestant Ministers and School-masters, whom they molest and di∣sturb in the executing of their functions, com∣pelling

them to deliver up their Schools and Houses, to be employed for Popish uses. Nei∣ther will they grant that the Protestant Clergy be any longer under the Ecclesiastical Council, but will have them wholly to depend, and be govern'd by the Elector's Secular Officers. When one of the Parents is a Roman Ca∣tholick, there the Children are compelled to embrace the Popish Religion, though it be both against the Parents and the Childrens will; neither are Ministers permitted to admit any of them to be brought up in their Religion, upon pain of Imprisonment, and 50 Rixdollars fine, nor will they suffer any Roman Catholick to turn Protestant. And when the Protestants with all submission make complaints, humbly representing how all these proceedings tend to their ruin, and demonstrate how it is against the Peace of Munster, and those articles of Agreement that were made, they answer, and publish abroad, that that the Ecclesiastical Councils orders are against the Elector's and Country's interest, and tend to Rebellion, and that they assume a Despotick power against the Government, which tends to Sedition. Also

that the Protestant Ministers were Seditious Rebels, Disturbers of the Peace, and as such they Imprison them, thinking thereby to strike terror into others. To remedy which, tho complaints be never so submissively made of these their Grievances, representing also, that through these Ministers confinement, people are deprived of their Teachers, and Divine Service is obstructed, yet they are so far from working any good effect, by appeasing these Incendiaries, that it animates them rather to proceed to make them more uneasie, by quar∣tering on them numbers of the Electors Troops, who use them cruelly, living in their houses after a Military manner. And when some of the Parishioners by their Superiours complain against such proceedings, and crave Relief in favour of their Ministers, they fall on them in a cruel manner, beating them in such sort that they are often taken for dead out of their hands: Neither does their inhu∣manity end here, but bloody and wounded as they left them, they throw them into Prisons, where they run the hazard of perishing. Moreover, they send to quarter upon those.

Complainants Dragoons, who break their Doors and Windows making forcible En∣tries, then turn their Wives and Children out of doors. These crying evils induce the In∣spectors to make complaints to the Deputy Lieutenants against those barbarous proceed∣ings; but they receive no other answer, but that the Ministers were Rebels, and therefore they ought not to meddle or concern them∣selves for them, lest they incur themselves his Electoral Highnesses displeasure.

When the poor people, taking the part of their innocent Ministers, complain to a high∣er Court, of these barbarous proceedings, humbly begging a remedy to these grievances, they receive fair promises, but never see the effects thereof. Thus the suffering party re∣ceives no relief, and the oppressors are unpu∣nished. But what else can be expected, when all the places of trust are put in Popish hands, and the Protestant Natives, though better qualified, are not regarded. This is the sad condition of our Country at this time, our troubles have so dejected our countenances that death and paleness seem painted there. The

thoughts of our sorrows are our companions night and day, our bodies are bowed down, and our spirits sunk with grief, so that it seems as if we had no more life left than to serve us to cry unto God for help. I wish all good Christians would joyn with us in this good work.

Certainly our Prince must be our great enemy, for else he could never have consent∣ed to the oppressions here mentioned, and sure no body wou'd have condemned him, for main∣taining the Country in statu quo as he found it, and is obliged thereto according to the constitutions of the Empire, and the solemn assurances given by this Electors Father, to Charles, the last Protestant Elector Palatine, when he named him his Successor, that there should be no alterations made in Religion.

LETTER II.

SIR,

SInce my last the Elector Palatine has pub∣lished a Declaration for Liberty of Consci∣ence in the Palatinate, which is mightily cry∣ed up by the Papists, as an act of the great moderation of that Prince. The Title indeed is very specious, and may impose upon such who are not acquainted with our Constitution; but those who are not altogether strangers to it, must needs be convinced, that this very Declaration is a most manifest Infraction of the Treaties of Westphalia, and calculated for the extirpation of the Protestant Religion. This puts me in mind of the Declaration of your late King James, who, under the same specious Title, aim'd at the destruction both of your Liberty and Religion. Our Prince is as much a Bigot to Rome, as your abdicated King, and as much rul'd by his Father Peters,

and therefore we might reasonably suppose that he has the same designs in view, altho we should, nor have yet any Fact to convince us of his Intentions.

You know that by the Treaties of Westpha∣lia the Popish Religion could not be exercised in the Palatinate, unless it was by a toleration of the Government, to which the Protestant Princes seem but too much inclin'd. All the Churches, Schools, Church Lands, Tythes, and other Ecclesiastical Revenues were in the hands of Protestants, but by this Declaration the Churches are to serve equally for the use of Papists and Protestants; so that this is as much a violation of our Rights, as it would have been of yours, if the late King James had caus'd Mass to be sung in Westminster Abbey; for the Papists have no better title to our Churches than they have to yours

Had his Electoral Highness been contented to give the Papists leave to exercise openly their Religion, and even to build Churches for themselves, we might be silent, tho this would be against our Privileges; but to pre∣sume to give 'em our Churches and our Ec∣clesiastical

Incomes, under pretence of Liber∣ty of Conscience, is such an injustice, that I must return again to your late King, to find any parallel to match it.

I have told you in my former how they have taken away our Schools and Colledges, and given the same to Popish Priests, tho some of them were so lately founded and endowed, that they could not have impudence enough to pretend that they did formerly belong to the Papists; I must now give you some par∣ticulars to shew the effects of this Liberty of Conscience, and how it is observed.

The Elector has taken away all the Tythes and other Incomes for the maintenance of our Clergy, and bestowed the same upon Romish Priests; but to give some compensation to the Protestant Clergy, he is graciously pleased yearly to allow each Minister one hundred Guilders, which is hardly 15 l. sterling, 20 Sacks of Corn, and one Fudder of Wine. This subsistence being so small that it is impos∣sible for them to subsist upon it, no doubt but they expect that the said Ministers will quit their employment for want of a livelihood,

and that the Flock being left without a Shepherd will be either dispersed, or easily seduced. A rare and precious Liberty of Conscience, which deserveth our immortal thanks!

The very sound of the title of a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience, must needs deter∣mine any impartial man to believe, that there∣by his Electoral Highness intends that all his Subjects shall have an entire liberty to embrace and profess what Religion they please, at least of the three that are tolerated in the Empire, as it is therein verbatim expressed; but it is not to be wonder'd at, that such who pretend that we must not hearken to the evidence of our Senses and Reason, should pretend to change the genuine signification of words, as you may see in the following particulars.

A certain woman of Sekenheim, near La∣denburgh, married to a Papist Husband, hav∣ing however brought up in the Protestant Religion her Daughter, desired the Minister of the place to admit her to the participation of the Lords Supper, being in the age requi∣red by the discipline of our Churches, which the Minister did without any manner of scru∣ple.

This proceeding was doubtless very in∣nocent and justifiable by all divine and hu∣mane Laws, but it has seemed so great a crime to the Papists, that the poor Minister was ta∣ken up, committed close Prisoner, and fined 200 Florins. Would any man think after∣ward, that we enjoy a free Liberty of Con∣science.

An Inhabitant of Wiselock, a Papist by birth and profession, but a more honest man than the generality of his perswasion, marry'd some time time ago a Protestant Wife, and it was agreed and covenanted between them, that the Children should be Christned, and brought up in the Protestant Religion. His Wife be∣ing brought to be of a male child, he, ac∣cording to his promise, got him Christened by the Protestant Minister of his Parish; which so incens'd the Popish Clergy, that they got an order to carry him to Heidelbergh, where he has been kept close Prisoner, and very se∣verely used, and forc'd to pay a fine of 50 Florins to come out.

I could bring you a hundred instances more of the like nature, and of persons now in Pri∣sons

for having again embraced the Prote∣stant Religion, which they had been forc'd to feign to quit, by the violent Persecutions of the French; but I am afraid to tire your patience, and therefore I come now to the conclusion of my Letter, wherein I beg leave to examine in few words the pretence of these violent Persecutions, to shew that it is the most groundless and unjust that ever was.

The first pretence, and which was at first mightily insisted upon, is the fourth Article of the Treaty of Reswick, which was chiefly the work of the Baron de Zeiler, a famous Renegado, in conjunction with the Ministers of France. But notwithstanding what they may say, that Clause can never justifie the violent proceedings of his Electoral Highness; for, taking that Article in the largest sense that can possibly be given to it, it implys no more, but that the Roman Catholicks should remain in the possession of those Privileges they were possessed of at the conclusion of the Peace, in those Countries which were to be restor'd by the French to the Empire. Now the Palatinate, I mean that part which lies

on the Right side of the Rhine, being not then in the possession of the French and some part of it having never been in their hands, it is plain that the so much spoken of Clause cannot justifie any ways the innovations lately made in the Palatinate, which consequently are an infraction of the Treaty of Munster.

Neither is the Treaty of Reswick more re∣ligiously observed than the former, when it seems to favour us; for that very fourth Ar∣ticle, which serves to excuse their Persecution on this side the Rhine, is openly violated on the other side of the River, where the Pro∣testants would be contented to enjoy the same Liberty they had under the French, and which was secured to them by the fourth Article of the Peace. Sure this is the most unaccoun∣table thing I ever heard of, and which would put to the blush any man but a Papist. The Protestants must be deprived of their Liberty about Heidelbergh by virtue of a Clause in the Treaty of Peace, which ought to have no force in these parts, by the reasons aforesaid, and they cannot enjoy their Liberty on the other side of the Rhine, notwithstanding

that Article secures it unto them. Who wou'd have thought that the Jesuits of Dusseldorp cou'd exceed in Wit or Malice those of France?

The French King has not as yet openly vio∣lated the late Treaty of Peace in matters of Religion, for the Protestants in Strasburgh, and elsewhere in Alsace, have the same liberty that they had during the War; but our case is very different, as I have already told you, and it seems our Prince's Zeal is above that of the French King.

Having given you an account of their pro∣ceedings, and confuted the groundless justi∣fication thereof, I must acquaint you with the measures we have taken in this sad juncture.

We applied our selves first of all to his E∣lectoral Highness, as it was our duty, and humbly represented the violent proceedings of his Officers against us, praying the redress of these grievances Our representation was as submissive and respectful as could be, but however we could obtain no Justice, and our Deputies were so brow-beaten and threatned that they did not think safe to insist any lonegr,

for an answer, and returned home without any success. Seeing therefore that the ears of our Prince were shut up against our just com∣plaints, we applied ourselves to several German Princes of our perswasion, and desir'd that they would be pleased to intercede for us, and move at the Dyet of the Empire, that the Innovations made in the Palatinate might be considered. They granted our Request, and accordingly a Memorial was delivered at Ratisbonne to the Deputies of the Catholick Princes, containing that the proceedings of the Elector Palatinate were a manifest infracti∣on of the Treaty of Munster, and that they might prove so fatal to the tranquility of the Empire, that it was highly necessary to en∣quire into that affair, and put a stop to these innovations. This Memorial was communi∣cated to the Deputy of the Elector, who de∣sired time to send it to his Master, and pro∣mised to return an answer with all convenient speed.

It was sent accordingly to Dusseldorp, and examined by the Council of his Electoral Highness; wherein it was resolved, that the

Minister of the Elector should give no parti∣cular answer to that Memorial, but only tell the Dyet in general terms, that his Electoral Highness was surprized that his Subjects should presume to make such groundless com∣plaints; that they could proceed but from a Spirit of Rebellion, and that therefore he would watch more narrowly their actions, and punish them according to their demerits, praying the Dyet not to concern themselves in this affair.

Could you, Sir, have expected such an an∣swer from a Prince, who owes so much to the Protestants, and who would have been at this day a Titular Elector had not the Pro∣testant Princes restor'd him to his Electorate? This is a piece of gratitude not to be paral∣lel'd, which sheweth the true character of a Papist, and their hellish designs against our Religion. This I think sufficient, Sir, to give you a true Idea of our sad case, which may serve as a warning to all Protestants never to trust a Popish Prince, for impose upon 'em as many oaths as you please, bind them by their Interest, these precautions will serve for no∣thing

at all, the Pope will absolve them from their Oaths, and the Jesuits will so bewitch them, as to make them act quite contrary to their Honour and interest. Happy, and thrice happy England▪ to be free from such Biggotted Princes; and that you may be sensi∣ble of, and long enjoy your present felicity, will always be the prayers of

SIR,

Heidelbergh, Feb. 7. 1699.

Yours, &c.

P. S. I have forgot to tell you, that several persons were taken up, and are still kept in Prison, for refu∣sing to admit the new stile, and to observe the Holy∣days of the Popish Church, in honour of certain Saints, who, for ought we know, had never any real being in the world, as their St Longin, &c: and of others, who were debauch'd and profligate fellows, or cruel murtherers of innocent people, as their Do∣minic's and Loyola's. The Elector finding that a great number of his Subjects are quitting their Country, has sent for several thousands of Vagabonds from the Countries of Liege and Brabant, worse than your Irish Bog-trotters to inhabit this Country, so that it is like to be peopled with a hopeful generation.

FINIS.