The present state of the affaires betwixt the Emperor and King of Bohemia, and their confederates as it hath beene very truely related, by certaine letters sent by persons of extraordinary qualitie, &c. Together vvith the occurrents lately happened in the armies of Generall Veere, and the princes of the Union, and Spinola. Translated out of the French, and High Dutch coppies.

A Briefe Collection of certaine Rea∣sons to diswade the Emperour from giuing Credit vnto those violent Counsailes which hath beene giuen him, to proceed by way of Ban and Proscription a∣gainst the Vnited Princes and Protestant States, especially against the Elector PALATINE; being Presented and deliuered vnto the Ambassadours of France, at the Assembly of the saide Princes and States, which was held at Vlme. 1620.

FIrst, It would bee a manifest injustice, for the Emperour to proceed so extreamly as by way of Ban and Proscription to Denounce against the Princes and Protestant States Vnited, and namely against the Prince Elector Palatine, at this present King of BOHEMIA: Because his Ma∣jesty in accepting the Crowne which was Presen∣ted vnto him by the Estates of the said Kingdome, hath committed neither Crime nor offence against Emperour or Empire: Hauing alwayes beene of the opinion and still beleeuing so; that the King∣dome of Bohemia was vacant at the houre of his Accepting of it: which by a Declaration publi∣shed in the Assembly of the said States and Incor∣porated Prouinces hath beene manifested out of the groundes of their natiue Law and free Electi∣on, as also for many other reasons amply expres∣sed in their last lustification lately set forth, enrich∣ed with many Discourses and proofes to make vp

the better a finall Answer vnto all Objections and Informations giuen or published to the Contrary, as also to all false Suppositions, Apoligies and other discourses Printed or Diuulged within the Empire or without.

Secondly, because in the Accepting of the saide Kingdome, his Majesty hath not so much looked vpon his owne Greatnes, Profite and particular Cōmodity, but vnto the preseruation rather of the said Crowne, which by the extremities & miseries it was now reduced vnto, was thereby in danger to fall into the hand of a Stranger, and vnchristian Enemy, to the prejudice of all Christendome and especially of the Holy Empire: Thus the now King of Bohemia finding himselfe bound by Oath and duty vnto the Empire, to take Care thereof as farre as in him lay, and perceiuing that their Extre∣mities and miseries had made them take a resoluti∣on neuer to Admit or acknowledge the Emperour for their King, as also for the safegard of many In∣nocent soules, dayly and hourely exposed vnto all the miseries and cruelties of a Warre and barba∣rous Souldier, thus was perswaded to accept of the Crowne, by which followed a cessation of Warre and the Effussion of so much Christian Blood: for which hee seemeth rather to deserue well of his Countrey, then to bee lyable vnto any aspersion or imputation.

Thirdly, his Imperiall Maiesty beeing a Party, cannot be Iudge in this busines, neither as King of

Bohemia not as Emperour: But suppose it were not so, yet could hee not vndertake the decission of a busines of this Consequence, against a principall member of the Empire without the rest of the Ele∣ctors should there Preside and concurre: And howsoeuer, although some of the Princes Electors excluding others, would pretend to haue taken these thinges into their Electorall Consideration, yet will not that serue the turne: For the States of Behemia and the Incorporated Countryes, haue Protested before GOD and Men, against that vn∣just proceeding that was held by the said Ecclesi∣asticall Princes Electors, against the aduice and Counsell of the Ambassadours of the secular Prin∣ces Electors, neither lending their Eare nor Endea∣uours vnto the Grieuances and Complaints of the Ambassadours, and Deputies that were sent vnto them, at their last meeting or Dyete at Franckfort: Insomuch as denying them all Iustice contrary to the Law of Nations they were rejected and sent backe: Nay which is more, all their remonstrances and grieuances which they exhibited by Bill vnto the Prince Elector of Mense, Chancellour of the Empire, were by him suppressed & not deliuered vp vnto the Electorall Colledge to aduise of, as had been very fit and necessary for the publique Good.

Fourthly, that Precipitation of Iudgment is cō∣trary vnto the Lawes and Constitutions of the Empire, and vnto the Imperiall Capitulation vnto which the Emperour hath taken a solemne Oath.

Fiftly, as his Imperiall Majesty is bound to main∣taine the Empire in Peace and repose, and to pre∣ferre the generall Good of the whole Body, before his owne priuate; So hath he Confirmed it and as∣sured it vnto the Princes and vnited States, and to their Correspondents in the last assembly at Norem∣berg, from the mouth of Count de Qollerne his Ambassadour: That hee neither thought or would that any of the said States or Princes of the Em∣pire, should bee incommoded or suffer any preju∣dice or inconuenience, for his particular assuring them that hee would auow what his Ambassadour had deliuered vnto them: as also it is Registred and recorded in the Acts of the said Assembly.

Sixtly, If the Emperour should oppresse the in∣nocent Subiects of the Palitanate, yet that is not a means to quiet the affayres of Bohemia, that would onely be able to disturbe and not to extinguish the fire that endangers the Kingdome, and probably endanger the whole Empire: which his Maiesty, could not doe with a safe Conscience, and without Contradiction to his Holy Oath, the distast of men and the displeasure of Heauen.

Seauenthly, the Princes and vnited States, can∣not well refuse to interest themselues in the defence of the Palatinate, holding the same resolution that they haue already taken, with the rest of the Prin∣ces and Correspondent States, as they haue let the Ambassadours and the Emperour himselfe to vn∣derstand: In respect of the straite Vnion and Ac∣cord

that they hold with the Palitanate, the which was principally made in respect of the euill procee∣dings of the Imperiall Court and Iustice: of which they haue so often Complained, as a thing which doth prejudice the Liberty, Priuiledges and Soue∣raignty of their Principalities and Dominions: Insomuch that it would be the griefe of Griefes, if his Imperiall Maiesty should so degenerate from his Predecessors, as to begin his Kingdome with so violent proceedings, so estranged from the forme of Law and Equity, without hearing the Reasons and Iustifications of the other party, a thing so contrary vnto the Constitutions and Decrees of the Empire.

Eightly, The said Vnited Princes and their As∣sociates are equally obliged by reason of State, as also out of the Oath they haue taken to the Holy Empire, to prouide against the introducti∣on of a Ciuill Warre, which cannot well bee ad∣mitted into the Palatinate, but it will reach forth and extend it selfe vnto the whole Empire their Goods, Lands and Liues.

Ninthly, euen as for neerenes and Neighbour∣hood sake those of the Religion could not, nor would not willingly suffer that one should make warre against the Romane Catholiques, that Con∣fine with their Countries; so out of the like Con∣sideration those of the Religion beeing so mixed and linked together cannot well permit the Fier should be put to one house for feare of consequent∣ly

burning the rest: for which cause it would be more profitable that euen the Roman Catholiques in this case should haue a fellow feeling, and suffer with those of the Religion: for all extremities are accompanied with dangerous Chanses & changes.

Tenthly, it is a great encouragement to Ingage and imbarque all Princes, Friends and Allyes, to bring their friendly Armes and Assistance vnto the heart of the Empire: The Declaration that the King of Great Britanny hath made to the Arch-Duke Albert, videlicet: That hee will neuer aban∣don, forsake, or leaue out of his care the Countries State, and Possessions his Children are borne vnto, as also hee will lend his Assistance vnto the States and Princes Vnited his Allyes and Friends: whose Maiesty if they shall Incence, may haue a iust reme∣dy, and take Reuenge vppon the Terretories of the House of Austria.

This that hath bene written sufficiently proueth that the way of Ban and Proscription, much lesse the execution of the Emperours injust mandates of Via facti & armorum against the Palatinat, cannot proue the meane to redresse or to establish a Peace & tran∣quility in the Empire, to the Care of which his Im∣periall Maiesty is so strictly by Oath called vnto: But it would rather be fit for his Imperiall Maiesty to forsake the euill Counsels of those men which ayme at nought but the rayne and destruction of Germauy, by the Introduction of a Forraine Power and Strange Nation.