A LETTER WRITTEN BY A FRENCH GENT: of the King of BOHEMIA his Army: Concerning the Emperor FERDINAND his Embassage into FRANCE.  
Translated out of the French Copy.  
Printed at Flushing. 1620.   

A LETTER WRITTEN BY A FRENCH GENTLEMAN, OF THE KING OF BOHEMIA HIS ARMY, Concerning the Emperor FERDINAND, his Embassage into FRANCE.  
NOT to meddle with( what every man knows) the insatiate Ambition of the House of AUSTRIA, in both the branches thereof, which all Christendom shortly will not be enough to content, as having long since prepared the way to that fifth Monarchy, which certain Religious Persons Confidents of Spain affirm to be as necessary for the preservation and increase of the Catholic Religion, as is the Pope's Spiritual Monarchy. Nor to speak of the Cruelties which the Princes of this House have given way to, in the Indieses, in the Low-Countries, and in all places where they have extended their Dominions; nor the Designs or Attempts they have had( open or secret) against England, Ireland, Venice, or France itself, wherein they have nourished partialities and endeavoured to suppress the Laws Salic. For as for Germany, Bohemia, and Hungary,( Elective Estates) who is ignorant that to perpetuate them to themselves, they have sought to make them Hereditary and Patrimonies to their Family?  
Not to mention also the scornful fashion of the two last Emperors, who would never send to France to perform office of Congratulation or Condoling, when it is well known that in their Courts, were public rejoicings for the Murders committed upon the Persons of our two last Henry's, of famous and immortal memory, refusing to acknowledge the last for a King or a Catholic, till long time after his absolution, when they saw him Victorious, Triumphant, and Absolute in his Government; And yet when that Great and good Prince, was pleased to use his Credit and Mediation, for according the difference between certain great Princes of the Empire( friends and allies of this Crown,) one of the Emperor Rodulph's principal Officers, spared not to say, that the King of France might meddle with the affairs of his own Kingdom, and let others rest: When at that time there was on foot a question, touching a certain litigious Territory, which the said Emperor pretended to be devolved to him, and lay, otherwise, very fit for him and one of his Brothers. Not I say to mention or repeat what hath fallen so often under the Pens and discourses of men, and whereof no man almost is ignorant: I will only succinctly answer to the Five principal reasons, framed to induce the King to assist the Emperor Ferdinand, now stripped of the Kingdoms of Bohemia, and Hungary.  

1.  
The first is Religion, the ordinary pretext of such as undertake to invade others, or to draw from them aid and supplies. It is true that the hard measure offered the Protestants of Bohemia, by the Officers of the Emperor,( as is apparent by the frequent Complaints and remonstrances presented by the said Protestants to his Imperial Majesty, and of late by the Apology and declaration Published in diverse Languages) gave the first hint and occasion to the last Combustion, and brought forth the fruits and changes that we now behold. But this is not the first time that the Bohemians have in general complained of the force offered their Privileges, and Liberties; and of the breach of the fundamental Laws of their Estate,( which is in very deed Elective) and that the Imperial branch of Austria, hath endeavoured to make it Hereditary, as well as the Empire; to the prejudice of the Imperial Liberties and Constitutions, and particularly to that of the Golden Bull, which expressly forbids the perpetuating of the Succession in one and the same Family. In a word then, it is a business of State and not of Religion: Besides that, the Bohemians make it appear( and they think with sufficient proof) that Ferdinand was Elected King of Bohemia by the surprise of three or four Officers of that Kingdom, Pensioners and Partisans of Spain, without calling thereto the assistance of the three incorporate Provinces, Silesia, Moravia, and Lusatia, which have ever had, and aught to have, their free voices and assents. Again it is most true, that at such time as the Estates of the said Kingdom, expelled the Jesuits( whom they charged as the Authors of that mischief) they took into their protection, all other orders of Churchmen, who even to this hour have not received any interruption in their Ecclesiastical Functions, or in the free enjoying of their revenues and Benefices. Besides that, King Frederick at his entrance, took a solemn oath for their maintenance, and protection, and signified as much to the King in his Letters, Dated at Amberg the Twentieth of October last. And questionless if he should proceed otherwise, he should be ill advised, in regard that a good and great part of that Estate consists of Catholics. It is then a mere Calumny to say that it is a business of Religion, and that the Design of the Protestants is to suppress the Catholics. The falsehood also of this assertion is proved by the Suffrages, that a Prince Catholic had in his Election to Bohemia, and in like number as had another Prince of the Lutheran profession: each of them having had six Voices: And since all this is matter of Fact, the proof or disproof thereof is most easy.   

2.  
The Second reason alleged, is Alliance: because the Emperor Ferdinand, is by the Mother side Uncle to our Queen, whose Husband they say is tied in respect of so strait a Bond to assist him: But the most strait Bond is of a King to his Subjects, as of a Father to his Children; and the safety of an Estate surpasseth all other considerations. The transcendent Greatness of this House hath cost France dear enough in our days, without seeking farther proof of this in other Histories then in that of the last League; unless we will now approve, what was almost two thousand years since said of our Nation, That we as soon forget an Injury, as a Benefit. This also is a point of Consideration, that the King in making himself a party for the House of Austria, divideth his Subjects that are of different Religion, before the wounds of the State be throughly closed; offendeth his Oldest and surest Friends and Allies; and bringeth his Kingdoms into the danger of a War abroad, and of trouble at home. For if he employ his forces against the Palatinat for the diversion demanded; what other effects may he expect? Since the Palatinat during the absence of King Frederick, is under the Protection of the Estates of the united Provinces, and of the Princes of the Union. Again, the King( shall as in a bravery) empty his Treasure for a business far from us; and which concerneth not directly nor indirectly, his Estate or Person; being( as I have said) a matter neither of Religion nor Conscience. In yielding also Supplies to one party before he hear the other, his Majesty tacitly Condemneth one, and is Guilty of that which all the Laws of the world and he himself forbids, in ordinary Suits and differences, between party and party; it being likely that before many days be past, the said King Frederick, his Friends and Allies, will give his Majesty an account of what hath passed in this business, and acquaint him with the cause and motives of so great a change and enterprise.   

3.  
The third inducement is the assistance and Protection that Kings owe one another; especially such as are in distress: But let the Emperor be pleased to remember how he and his Predecessors, have evermore neglected France; expressly forbidden the Princes of the Empire, Friends and Allies of this Crown, to assist our Kings of later times, in their necessities; much less that they have ever supplied them with men or money: Let him remember also the refusal, he lately made the Duke of Nevers, of the King's mediation, favour, and authority, for settling the Affairs of Bohemia, when they were yet in Good terms; I mean during the Life of the Emperor Mathtas, and many months before this new Election. But if the King will favour one of the parties( as by reason of State and for diversion it hath been at other times in practice) there may be showed to his Majesty, half a hundred Letters of the deceased King, and of some of the Kings his predecessors, containing thanks for the good & notable services performed by the house of the Prince Palatine and his Allies, to their Persons and Crowns in their occasions of need. The instructions given to such as have been within these thirty or forty years, sent into Germany confirm this: Besides, the strait alliance that King Henry the great( a most wise Prince) settled between him and the body of the Union in Germany, a small time before his death; approved since by the King now Reigning, and by the Queen his Mother then Regent, when the Duke of Deux Ponts came into this Kingdom to condole the last Kings murdering. In like sort the Contracts & Obligations upon proof in the Chamber of Accounts for many sums of money, lent and paid before hand, by the said house of the Prince Palatine, his near kindred and Allies,( of a part whereof France is yet a debtor.) These( I say) are proofs sufficient of what I have said, and oblige his Majesty to lend his assistance rather to this then to the other party.   

4.  
The fourth induction, is the dangerous example of Revoltes( for with such terms do they qualify this change, to make it the more odious, without distinguishing between Kingdoms Elective and Hereditary; Especially since between Elective Kingdoms, there is difference of Condition as all the world knows. And it is to be noted, that at the Sacring and Coronation of the Kings of Bohemia, the King first swears to observe the Laws and Privileges of the Country, and then the people take the Oath of fidelity. And at that joyful entry( as it is termed) of Antwerp, which is the solemnity of Creating and receiving a new Duke of Brabant, it is delivered in express terms that he declares himself fallen from his Right and Dignity, if he make not good the Articles that he hath promised and sworn to the people. So did the deceased Duke of Anion, last Duke of Brabant promise and pronounce in the year, 1583. For between the proceedings of the Low Countries, and of Bohemia, there is a great resemblance. The enactions and Cruelties of the Duke of Alva, were indifferently exercised upon the Protestants and Catholics, The Count of Egmont( whose head he struck off) was no Huguenot: no more than was the most part of so many thousand other of all Ages, Sexes, and Conditions, whom he bragged, at his departure thence, that he had made an end of by the hand of the Hangman. And it is most true, that the inhuman and barbarous courses taken by the Count of Bucquoy, for these fifteen or sixteen Months, in the War against the Bohemians, thinking with Fire and Sword to bring them to obedience( which is wisdom against the hair) served but to hasten the rejection of Ferdinand, and the Election of Frederick: Not to mention the obstinate denial, made to admit or hear the Deputies of the Estates of that Kingdom, and of the Provinces incorporate unto it, at the last assembly at Franckfort, when the said Ferdinand was advanced to the Crown Imperial: And of this kind of wisdom, was also the Refusal made lately by the same Emperor Ferdinand to his Subjects, of the lower Austria, and Stiria, who made offer to serve him with their Lives and goods, in withstanding the Invasions of the Bohemians, conditionally that he would Confirm their Privileges, and grant them free use of their Religion: It is he himself, that in the like case said once, That he had rather be a Prince without Subjects, then to have any, of a contrary Religion to his own. This humour of his expressed in that Language, made such an Impression and apprehension of him in his people,( though he be held otherwise a Good and a wise Prince) as it was not the least reason of the Alteration we now see. Happy are those Princes, that having need of Counsel, are able to make choice of Wise and Faithful Counsellors, such as have no other aim but their Master's advantage, without regard to their own particular interest. There have been in this House, Great and Famous Princes for Valour and Virtue, but these of later time have been ill Served and ill advised. Witness their Losses in the Low Countries, and now, and to come; if they again take not the way they have left, of sweetness and gentleness.   

5.  
The fifth and last, principal reason is, That the Turk will infallibly, lay hold on the occasion of these Combustions, to serve his turn, and to advance his Conquests, to the hurt of Christendom; which is not unlikely? And if he do it not, it is either the fault of his little wisdom, or of his weakness; which yet may be avoided by leaving this new King in quiet Possession, now that he is Elected, and that without Suit or labouring of his own, nay without his own Knowledge, and being forcedly as it were carried on, by the Counsel of his Friends, to the Acceptance of this Crown, which hath been since set on his Head; accompanied with all the Forms and Solemnities due and Correspondent to the fundamental and most ancient Laws of Bohemia; a Kingdom Free and Privileged if ever any: Whereas, on the Contrary, if he be molested; and dispossessed; He will be, by the law of Nature, and of Reason, enforced to invite his Friends and Allies to aid him; As the Princes of Germany; the Kings of Denmark, and Sweden; the Hans Towns, and the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland, with whom he and some other Princes of the Union, are Confederate for their common Defence. Not to speak of England, and the United Provinces, whence he cannot but receive Powerful succours. Not to speak also of certain Princes, and Estates Catholic, which hold good Correspondence with him: Nor of the Prince of Transiluania, who offereth him his best means and Forces.  
In the mean time, it is a false affirmation that the said King entertaineth Intelligence or commerce with the Turk, having Friends so many and so mighty in Christendom, without being driven to seek them else where with so great danger. But if the Prince of Transiluania Fortify himself on that side,( as he hath heretofore done) for his better settling in his principality, at such time as the House of Austria sought to cross him, as it had done before, the unfortunate Gabriel Battori: and disturb him in his Possession, it is beside the purpose and concerneth not Bohemia; nor is in any sort appliable to this new King. But who knoweth not, how the greater part of Hungary, and of other Principalities of that part of Christendom, are in conclusion fallen into the hands of the Common Enemy of Christendom?  
In a word, this Business is the true Touchstone whereby to distinguish between good and ill Counsels, and to discern the true French from the Spaniard, or favourers of the Spanish Party. * ⁎ *  
FINIS.