THE DECLARATION AND INFORMATION Of the High and Puissant King of Bohemia, against the unjust Mandates published in the name of the Emperor: As also against those that are further threatened to be decreed and executed, touching the Crown of BOHEMIA.  
M. D.C.XX.   

The Declaration and Information of the high and puissant King of BOHEMIA, against the unjust Mandates published in the name of the Emperor; as also against those that are further threatened to be decreed and executed, touching the Crown of BOHEMIA.  
WE, Frederick, by the grace of God, King of Bohemia, Count Palatine of the Rhine, and Prince Elector, Duke of Bavaria, Marquis of Moravia, Duke of Lutzelburge and Silesia, Marquis of upper and lower Luzatia, etc. To all Christian Potentates, Prince's Electors, Princes, and States in general, and to every one of them in particular; as also to all others of what quality, state, or condition so ever they be; make known our willing service, friendship, and gracious will, giving them hereby to understand, that we have been certainly and most truly informed, in what manner not long since, under the name of the Emperor's Majesty, diverse rigorous, & unaccustomed Mandates and Patents, (to our most great prejudice, defamation, and dishonour) have been here and there dispersed, as well within as without the Empire, and in some places publicly set up: Thereby under pretence of all manner of untrue narrations and frivolous suggestions, pretending, that our true and lawful Election unto the Kingdom of Bohemia, made and performed by the general unanimous consent and agreement of the States of the said Kingdom of Bohemia, together with the Countries thereunto incorporated, is utterly void, and de facto, of no force, or of none effect. And withal affirming, that all the Princes, States, and Members of the Empire, (which hitherto out of a Christian compassion, have in any manner and by any means aided and assisted the oppressed Christians of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the incorporated Countries thereunto annexed, inhumanely persecuted and molested by extreme Tyrannies, Murders, Robberies, Burn, and innocent bloodshedding) are by the said Declarations, and Letters Patents, upon the avoiding of the actual declaration and execution of the pains and penalties in that case set down and appointed by the Imperial constitutions, commanded and strictly enjoined to leave aiding and assisting of the said greatly persecuted and oppressed Christians, and specially Us, their now orderly elected and lawfully crowned King. And further, by most frivolous untrue and slanderous, imputations against us, and with like severe menacings, by Imperial power, within a certain time therein limited and set down; commanding Us, expressly, without any delay, certainly, infallibly and actually to abandon, leave, and give over our said Kingdom of Bohemia, and the Countries incorporated thereunto, obtained by so just and lawful a Title, and being in undeniable just possession.  
Now setting apart that, which to the slander and disgrace of the States of Bohemia, hath at large (though untruly) been published concerning the displacing and removing of certain unfit, perverse and turbulent Officers, alteration of Government, and establishing of Orders for the natural defence and protection of their Subjects, whereunto by nature they are bound:  
As also that, which for the confirmation of the pretended imaginary claim of Inheritance made by the house of Austria to the said kingdom, may be, and is produced and objected, out of the slender, insufficient and partial Declaration made by the Emperor Charles the Fourth; concerning the free Election belonging to the Bohemians; as also from that unformal and disorderly private testification made by King Vladislaus; and of that out of the Decree, seven and forty years since, by fire and sword compulsively extorted and wrung from the assembly of the States in Parliament at Prague; together with the ill alleged observation of their pretended eight hundred year's succession. Sith that all these things have been fully answered and confuted by the Apologies and deductarie Declarations made and published by the said States, with such truth and good ground, as that we think it needless here to rehearse or deduce the same again at large.  
Only for the better and plainer justification of our own Person, we say that we doubt not, but that all men of indifferent and unpassionate minds, (that have seen and read our Declaration dated the twentieth of October (and seventh of November) published in Prague, and the Bohemian deduction therein mentioned and set down,) sufficiently perceive & understand, upon what most urgent and inevitable reasons and motives, after so great and notorious necessities, calamities, and miseries endured, and thereby enforced defence; the said States of the renowned Kingdom of Bohemia, together with the Provinces incorporated to the same, have been forced and compelled unto that well-ordered abdication and rejection, to them permitted both by the Laws of God and man, and by virtue of their lawful privileges hitherto inviolably maintained. And by what occasion we for our parts have been moved, and incited to accept of the said vacant Crown, (unexpected by us, and without any thought of Ours) and lawfully cast upon us by a joint, free, and general assembly of the States of the Kingdom of Bohemia, according to the ancient Privileges and Freedom of Election reserved unto them by their fundamental Laws. As also that in the acceptation thereof we never had any respect to the further advancement or increasing of our own dignity, and present particular profit, but chief and before all things to the glory of God, the common welfare of our native Country, and as much as possibly might be, to the preservation of this famous Kingdom, and Electorate Principality there, by hostile power and force almost utterly spoilt and ruinated; withal having commiseration and taking pity upon the miseries, sighs, and lamentable tears which we had before our eyes of so many poor distressed Christians. And therefore with our pure consciences we do now again testify, that if by the refusal of this Crown then offered unto us, we might have been a means that the devouring fire of dissension raised in the said Kingdom and the Territories thereof, (and still more and more increasing) might have been quenched, the persesecution for Religion ceased, their infringed Privileges restored, the Country freed and secured from menaced bondage and suppression, and the Empire also, and specially we ourselves, and other States bordering about us, freed from apparent dangers: We would not only have refused the acceptation of the said Crown offered unto us, but most willingly have employed our uttermost endeavour in that behalf.  
And we hope, that no man to whom our actions and proceed, from and before the beginning of these troubles raised in Bohemia, are known and made manifest, can as well any ways doubt of our sincerity, seeing it is undeniable, that we not only particularly, but jointly also with other godly and true hearted Princes Electors, and Princes, presently upon their very first bursting out, as upon the increasing of this hurtful fire, for the prevention of ensuing mischiefs, have not spared nor refused to use any good means, nor to give any true and upright counsel therein. To the which end, at the last election day holden in Frankefort, by our fully authorised deputies, (together with the advice and counsel of our fellow temporal Prince's Electors) we did most faithfully and diligently labour, and gave our advice, to procure, that before we handled or dealt in any other matter, the hostile troubles raised in the Empire, and specially in the Kingdom of Bohemia, might first be brought and reduced to a peaceable and quiet State; for the effecting whereof, we wished & desired nothing more, then that the Ambassadors of the States of Bohemia, then sent to Frankefort, (which by our deputies was oftentimes moved) at their instant request might have been admitted and heard, and not (as they were) so contemptuously rejected and put off.  
And the electoral Records of the last proceed in the said Election at Franckfort, can witness, That our fully authorised deputies were as unwilling unto the said contumelious refusal of the Bohemian Ambassadors, as we were ready to the approving and admission of his Imperial Majesty (as King of Bohemia) into the electoral College; but rather oftentimes have protested and declared, that we by no means would derogate any thing from the liberties and rights of the States of the Crown of Bohemia, nor thereby in any manner seek to prejudice either the one or the other.  
Therefore, because such good and faithful admonitions, advice, and protestations could take no effect, but to the contrary, the said Ambassadors of the States of Bohemia (against their ancient national Laws and Privileges) were constrained with great disgrace to go home again unheard; their propositions set down in writing, not propounded nor read in the Electoral College, nor yet the cause orderly and lawfully discussed and handled, (the Country in the mean time being so grievously afflicted, by continual and most extreme hostility and devastation) as the like hath not been heard of:  
So that the interposition then made and propounded to the electoral College (which notwithstanding required much time, and in the mean while the Kingdom of Bohemia might have been utterly spoilt and overthrown) could not be brought to any effectual treaty, neither was by the contrary part earnestly, nor with befitting zeal esteemed of, nor considered upon, as conveniently it ought to have been; but much rather, purposely the business was delayed, that so in the mean time the Country might be weakened and tired out.  
For these considerations, the States at that time assembled together in the City of Prague, being then in danger of falling into most great extremity and distress, as also despairing of any equal and impartial redress of that the contumelious rejection and refusal of their said Ambassadors; were constrained and forcibly compelled, to undertake some other means (by virtue of their ancient and legal privileges) and to proceed to the lawful alteration of the Crown, as it is now known unto the World: thereby to preserve and save themselves from utter ruin and final destructions, as by their public Apologies and Deductions set forth, and imprinted, doth sufficiently and at large appear.  
From whence all men, yea also every simple man, may easily know and perceive, That the causes and motives, whereby the States of Bohemia, and the Provinces thereinto incorporated, were enforced to this final resolution, are not in any manner to be ascribed unto us, whose care and endeavour still was employed by all the means that could be, to procure that peace, quietness, and concord, might be again reduced, and reestablished within the holy Empire; as also, that in the said Kingdom of Bohemia (as a special and principal Electoral Principality) the troubles raised and begun, might be appeased, and the same reduced to a peaceable and quiet State: But much rather unto those, who at the very beginning, (preferring force of arms before friendly means) at the aforesaid Electoral day, neglected, and rejected all good counsel, admonition, and protestations; seeking all the means and ways they could, to advance and effect that their so long before premeditated intent and secret meaning.  
And the process of these affairs manifestly show, how little the contrary part is and hath been inclined to any peaceable course of proceeding, as their actions sufficiently testify; and especially hereby, in that we (at the beginning of our Regal government) when occasion was motioned of entering into a peaceable treaty, willingly offered to yield thereunto. The same was notwithstanding by them utterly refused and rejected.  
And whereas it is imputed unto us, as if we by our accepting and taking of the Crown offered unto us, both orderly, and without all intrusion, and (according to the ancient Laws and fundamental Ordinances of the Kingdom of Bohemia, and their old customs) by lawful precedent abdication altogether free and vacant) should thereby rebelliously & by force of arms, have, of our own actual manner, undertaken to pull away the said Kingdom and Provinces incorporated unto the same, from his Imperial Majesty, contrary to the common peace of the Empire: therein we find ourself to be altogether over much wronged, and may in regard thereof, undergo and stand unto the censure of all indifferent persons, both within and without the Empire. For seeing that by the  several published deductorie Writings of the worthy Bohemian States, not only their right and lawful causes of undertaken Rejection, but also their anciently descended, & well grounded lawful Right of free Election: and that no man with equity, nor upon any good ground or solid reason, and just foundation, can boast of any lawful succession to the said Realm; much less by dangerous conventions, cessations, and transports (wholly opposite to the Fundamental Laws) made against and without the knowledge and consent of the said States, transport the often foresaid Kingdom of Bohemia, and propriety of the Empire, and other the noble Countries, unto any outlandish strangers:  
That all men may sufficiently perceive what great wrong and injustice is offered thereby unto us, by proceeding against us in such manner, who never sought nor desired to wrong any one, nor take away against right from any man (of how mean estate soever he were) any thing that belonged unto him.  
And although the Emperor's Majesty within a short time after our Coronation, in an edict published before this latter Mandate, by diverse colourable circumstances and allegations, hath taken upon him, not only to contradict, but altogether to annihilate and make void the aforesaid Rejection, Election, and Coronation made, & conferred upon us by the said States of the Crown of Bohemia: We doubt not, but that every man may easily judge, and discern that his Majesty, (who in this cause touching the said States of bohemia's Abdication or Rejection, and thereupon ensuing Election and Coronation, presumeth upon certain suppositions, and pretences of the house of Austria, being but a party plaintiff) is not for himself to judge, whether the States of Bohemia have herein done lawfully, and according to their ancient Laws and privileges; and so whether the new Election be in force, and of sufficiency, or not: nor can he be warranted by any Law, or under any colour of absolute Imperial authority, power, and Sovereignty, to advance and press thorough the private dessignes and particular Austrian pretences, with peremptory process of execution, & by his own power to make himself judge in his own cause, contrary to all the Laws & Ordinances of the Empire; no more than the deceased Emperors Frederick, Charles, Rodulph, and others, in their own particular controversies, and pretences against any of the States of the Empire, did ever undertake and assume unto themselves, to be both judges and parties.  
Besides this; The States of the Crown of Bohemia, and the provinces incorporated to the same, acknowledge not any jurisdiction or Superiority in the Emperor, in or over the Kingdom, (excepting that which concerneth the feudary Lands had from the holy Empire) because they are not subject to the Roman Emperor, nor to any of the holy Empire's censurers, 
Note this well.  either at the Imperial Court, nor in the Chamber at Spires; nor also to any other constitutions of the Empire, nor Assembling and common decidings, decrees, Tracts, and decisions of the Empire, but have their own ancient Country Laws, Privileges, Ordinances, Exemptions, and Customs, whereby they are governed.  
Whereby it easily appeareth, how unseasonably and without reason, the Emperor's privy Council in this private business arrogate against us unto themselves the office of judges, whereunto in regard of their Persons or Qualities they are not called; nor by the temporal Prince's Electors, and other Princes, are acknowledged or deemed to be such as are worthy, of their own authority to assume such Prince's power, as by such unfit and disordered process, of no force nor validity, to proceed against a King, and a Prince Elector.  
But if his Imperial Majesty, as Archduke of Austria, be resolved orderly and by due course of Law to prosecute and produce his pretended hereditary claim to the Crown of Bohemia, than he ought not to do it before his own privy Council and servants, 
A point very observable.  but (according to the Laws and Privileges of the Crown of Bohemia) before their own judges, unto whom such high and weighty causes do appertain, and must as plaintiff and actor Forum rei, sue and follow the same, before them, and according to the Ordinances of the general Common Law: as on the other side, if as Emperor of Rome, he be sued by order of Law, by any other, according to the golden Bull of Charles the Fourth, he ought to appear, plead, and answer before a Palsgrave & Prince Elector; and therefore neither can nor aught to be his own judge. As now it is to be hoped, that no impartial person whatsoever may any ways doubt of the insufficiency and manifest nullity of the aforesaid pretended Imperial Edict of cassation: So likewise, we are fully persuaded, that from the same or the like grounds, no man will nor can, but hold and esteem the already thereupon ensued Imperial rigorous mandates; as also all such others which are threatened, as may hereafter follow, and be made against us, or others, either belonging unto us, or aiding of us; to be void and of none effect (as in very truth of themselves they are) and which we (as occasion serveth, and our necessity requireth) are determined in all events as is lawfully permitted unto us, to withstand & repugn; in as much as the said proceed derived from a passionate mind, and concerning his own private pretended right, are done without any lawful examination or knowledge of the cause, and then specially when his Majesty hath already hitherto chosen another course by force of arms, and therein hath not omitted any kind of hostility whatsoever; & whereby he hath directly not only proceeded contrary to the common Laws of all Nations, but also against the good and profitable Constitutions of the Empire, and the Sacred corporal Oath ratified by Imperial Capitulation, whereunto his Majesty also hath bound and obliged himself, in these words following:  
That neither he, nor any other for him, or in his name or behalf, will or shall, by violence or force, molest or trouble any of the Prince's Electors, Princes, Prelates, Earls, Barons, nor other States of the Empire, in any manner: But that, if his Imperial Majesty himself, or any other particular person, hath right or cause to demand or sue for any thing of them all in general, or of any of them in particular (for the avoiding and preventing of all dissensions, troubles, and other inconveniences in the Empire, thereby to preserve and maintain peace and unity) he will and shall proceed by lawful order and process; and in such cases, where he or they may have justice by Law, be willing to submit themselves thereunto: and will by no means, nor under any pretence whatsoever, permit nor suffer them to be molested, hurt, or invaded by war, burning, defiances, or any other manner of hostility whatsoever. That his Majesty also shall foresee, and hereafter by no means suffer nor permit, that any of the States, of high or low degree, Prince's Electors, Princes, or any others, shall without just cause and lawful audience, wrongfully be proclaimed or declared guilty of proscription and banishment: But that all cases shall be proceeded in according to the ordinary process, and the holy Roman Empires Laws established, to the direction of the Laws of the holy Empire, and the reformed order held in the Imperial Chamber, and agreeably be fully and strictly observed and followed.  
And then lastly, that his Majesty (contrary to the golden Bull, and other Laws and Ordinances of the holy Empire) shall not in any manner, nor by any means, of his own authority, send out any Rescript, Mandate, or other prejudicial Commission, nor by way of entreaty procure the same from any other magistrate whatsoever: with this express clause, That if any thing repugnant to the aforesaid Articles and special points, be either obtained, or sent forth, that the same shall be in all respects wholly frustrate, void, and of no force at all.  
As therefore in this present difference, wherein We now are at controversy with the Emperors Majesty, concerning the private particular pretence which he maketh (as Archduke of Austria) unto our lawfully possessed Kingdom of Bohemia, and the Provinces incorporated thereunto, We are not as yet at all summoned by ordinary course of Law, to appear, which We are ready and willing to do and perform, so it be in an indifferent and convenient place, and before unpartial judges (according to the privileges of Bohemia:) So no man can nor aught to think hardly of Us, for refusing to obey the Imperial monitory Mandate, published and sent forth against Us, bearing date the 30. of April last passed; as being wholly opposite and contrary to all the Laws and Ordinances of the Empire, and which also is by virtue of the aforesaid Imperial Capitulation, and the golden Bull, of itself frustrate, void, and of none effect at all.  
And We also hope, that other States and fellow-members of the Empire (that have not as yet openly submitted themselves unto the Spanish servitude, or that have not betaken themselves unto the service of that House,) will not be moved by the said Imperial Mandate to them directed (which for the reasons aforesaid is of no force) to desist from their most commendable intents and purposes, which hitherto they have had, for the glory of God, and the comfort and consolation of so many poor Christians wrongfully oppressed. And the rather, for that we are persuaded no man of understanding that is not led by untimely immoderate affection, or blinded with private considerations & imaginary respects, can judge or censure, that We or Our assistants have in the least respect done any thing contrary to the Constitutions of the Empire, by means of this our firm resolution, which We have been, and are forced to take against the Emperor's Majesty; not as he is Roman Emperor, (for in that respect We neither do, nor will derogate any thing from him, but rather, according to the Imperial Laws, in all things duly honour and respect him) but as Archduke of Austria, in regard of his pretended particular and private pretences. And therefore, that neither by law nor equity do the penalties set down in the said actual peremptory menacing Declaration and Execution, (as grounded upon the Constitutions of the Empire) belong unto Us, and so much the less, seeing they pretend, that the hitherunto attempted & the hereafter further threatened process, is grounded upon the Empire's Constitutions, which yet are not by Us at all: but much rather by them of the other part, clean laid aside, and wholly neglected; yea, and in such manner so overstridden and transgressed, and with such unheard of cruel insolences, by the foreign barbarous soldiers who are brought in; as that the enforced Defence and Deliverance permitted by all Laws Natural and Nationall, neither can nor aught by any the like surmise and colour of Law, or other pretended ground of Reason whatsoever, be drawn and taken at all away from the oppressed.  
And if yet his Imperial Majesty (beyond all expectation) shall still suffer himself to be so far transported and carried away, as that (not regarding nor respecting the precious Oath he hath taken) in respect of the claim he pretends (against Us) to Our Crown of Bohemia, and the Provinces thereunto incorporated; continually to molest and grieve Us, our friends, and Allies, with intimated process of Proscription (ex authoritate propria) and of himself actually proceed so fare, especially as in hostile manner, to invade our hereditary Countries and Territories, and by that means (as he hath already done, and yet continueth to do, both in the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the neighbouring confines thereof) occasion new commotions, distractions, divisions, and alterations in other places of the Empire, and thereby (as much as in him lieth) seek to subvert & overthrew the public peace of the said Empire: We must indeed then with patience commit our Cause unto God the highest judge, with assured confidence, that as hitherto We have palpably felt and seen his great and wonderful providence, and mighty outstretched arm extended towards Us, so We hope that his divine Omnipotence will also not hereafter forsake nor abandon Us, but fatherly afford unto Us such means, that, by his powerful assistance, We may be able to defend Ourself and Our right, against so unlawful wrongs, and unexpected barbarous attempts. And hereby We do expressly and in the best manner that We may or can, truly protest, both before God and man, that if, by further menacings, and unlawful severe processes of Execution, a general fire of wars (which our good GOD graciously avert) shall be kindled in Our native Country of Germany (as is to be feared) that then the calamities and miseries that thereby may ensue, shall not in any wise be laid upon, nor imputed unto Us; but unto those Counsellors, and Servants, that have not only neglected to put his Imperial Majesty in remembrance of the Capitulation whereunto He hath sworn (as by duty they were bound) but also for their own benefit, particular commodity, and imaginary greatness in the Country of Bohemia, and out of a revengeful desire, have ministered such means as in many particulars are directly against the aforesaid Capitulation, and the common peace and tranquillity of the whole Country.  
And this We thought expedient (as also our necessity requireth) to give notice of unto every one; verily hoping, that no man (who favoureth reason, truth, and equity) upon the sight of this Our most true Information, can or will be moved to censure badly of Us, or to distaste Our Actions, in regard of his Majesty's frivolous Mandate (repugnant to Law and the Imperial Capitulation) published and sent forth against Us, Our friends, Allies, and adherents, in regard of this controversy that We have with his Majesty, as Archduke of Austria: nor suffer any taxations towards the performance of the execution of such private pretences, to be laid or lovied upon them; which the House of Austria itself, did never heretofore respect nor account of, nor yet ever did any thing or contributed in the like cases of Execution, but did ever, and upon all occasions, wholly exempt and free themselves from the same.  
In regard whereof, the Prince's Electors, Princes, and States of the Empire, at this time, have less cause to trouble and to burden themselves therewith on the behalf of the said House of Austria, against Us; but on the contrary, to be ready and willing, if We or Ours, in manner aforesaid, shall be assaulted and invaded, to aid and assist Us with their advice and means, and according to the Order of Executions, (which We ever, and at all times, have duly respected and observed;) and so much the rather, to afford Us their help, for that every particular Grant, Tract, and State of the Empire, aught, and is reciprocally bound to aid and assist each other, in the like hostile oppression and invasion. To the which, hereby We most friendly, lovingly, and graciously incite them, with promise when occasion shall be offered, to requite them with the like.  
Given at Prague the 1. of july, 1620.  
FINIS.