AN ORATION TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND MIGHTY PRINCE FREDERICK King of Bohemia.  
Made by Martin Opitius of SILESIA.  
Translated out of the Latin.  
M. D. C. XX.   

An ORATION to Frederick King of BOHEMIA.  
ALTHOUGH, most Illustrious King, this your hoped and happy entrance into these Kingdoms deserve also to be celebrated with the public joy of the whole Christian World: Yet we think that we especially, whom you have so graciously received into your bosom, cannot without exceeding sin be silent. Neither do I think that there is any among us of so desperate ill nature, so averse from the love of Peace, and such an enemy to the safety of his Country, which doth not impute this your so much wished Election unto Heaven; and withal acknowledge with grateful mind this great Work of God. Surely your excellent and admired Virtues, the voices of the greatest part of the Empire, the Alliance and Friendship of so many great and potent Kings and Princes, and a certain fatal inclination and affection of these Countries towards you, may seem to have exalted you unto this height. Yet were there not a few, who well weighing the miserable condition of our deplored State did verily believe, that you would have avoided this envious Honor. Now the Almighty Umpire, who hath the hearts of Kings in his hand, hath directed your Royal mind, otherwise inclinable enough unto Clemency, and hath put us afflicted Orphans under the wing of your protection, and chosen you to be a Tutor and Parent unto us. And whether ever Guardian was more glorious, I cannot say; yet sure I am, this Age affords none more worthy and gracious. For whether we look up to your most ancient Family, or your most honourable life, we shall find for the first, that all Histories, all Monuments of Chronicles do record the splendour of your most glorious House; and for the second, the everliving God hath treasured up in you so many Virtues, that unless so Royal a Stock did claim your birth; with your very Virtues alone, might you merit Sceptres and equal Empires. Courtesy commands some one, but Majesty and gravity doth forsake him: Some one man is glorious in the Gown of Peace, but doth not so decently wear the Cassock of War. Another extols Integrity abroad, but he stabs it at home in the shade of pleasure. In a word, the World never yielded any man, in whose manners was not imprinted some step of stain, some blain and blemish. But in you, I speak freely without partial affection, your veriest Enemies cannot pick out any thing to pick a quarrel withal.  
The whole course of your life, most renowned King, is a Mirror of Innocence, and I may more easily express what all Virtue is, than what yours is. None will detract from you the praise of Piety, but he that is impious; which Piety alone hath conquered your mind otherwise unconquerable, and by the which you are so conspicuous above all other Princes, as it is above all other Virtues. The love of Religion, withoutwhich no man ever grew great, hath been passed over unto you from your Anceftors, with your Inheritance; the Vindication whereof hath been the proper work of your Family, and whose succour, seat, and fortress is your Heidelberge, an University most famous, aswell for fostering you, as it. What shall I speak of your Prudence the Empress of humane actions, in which you do fare overgo the capacity of your years? Where is he that excels you in the wise ordering of things present, in the prudent providing for the future, and faithful remembering of things past? Who is more wary to avoid frauds, and perils? who more circumspect in his counsels: In length of life you do yet come short of middle Age, in depth of judgement you go beyond the ancient. In age you profit leisurely as we do, but you post before us in Verve. You are not yet come to ripeness of age, and yet you are full ripe for Empire. The fewness of your years, most prudent King, hath hither to excused the infirmity of your wisdom: Now besides your divine towardness (which admits no mediocrity of noble disposition) what shall defend your youth? how hard a thing is it in your age to keep within the compass of your fortune? yet have you kept within true compass. And hereof have you lately given so much the more notable proof, by how much it is more magnificent to sue to be eased of a Kingdom offered, then to invade it being denied. And now sithence you have taken it upon you, what cause have we to doubt but that you will defend it with the same moderation, by the which you did refuse it? So high and generous a disposition cannot be unlike itself. But, O good God, how doth your gentleness even shine out of your Eyes? You are a second Traian. None ever went out of your presence sadder than he came; none that doth feel your justice doth complain of cruelty or rigour: yea, you are another Augustus, whom men may perceive to endure punishment himself, when he doth impose it upon others. Nothing (most clement Prince) hath purchased greater praise to your fortune, then that you are able; nothing hath brought more Honour to your nature, then that you are willing to save all you may. Hold on, O King, to win and wear the most glorious Crown, Ob Cives Seruatos, for saving your Country. Go on in God's Name with this your glory, which as it is rarer in a royal House; so will it be more eminent in yours. I want a new Name, by which I may express the unwonted Modesty of your Majesty. How easy is the access of every one unto your Majesty, how joyful his departure! They come to a Prince, and they find a Father; and when they do with good confidence present their Petitions and Complaints before you, they end not their speech, out of your loathing to hear any longer; but out of their own bashfulness to speak any more. So marvelous is your mildness, so courteous your disposition, that you bind men unto you against their wills. Your very Countenance so clear with an heroical cheerfulness, what extraordinary mildness doth it promise! And yet your lenity doth not lessen your authority, nor your severity lose your love. There is nothing in you proud, there is nothing insolent; All your state, gate, motion is amiable; you refresh both the minds and eyes of the beholders. O modest King! O lowly Prince! Or rather high and fare exceeding all height of mortality! For never do you rise higher, than when you do thus depress yourself. Whatsoever hath weight in itself doth settle itself below; but an empty mind is puffed up with every little blast. And surely all these things are truly great: And yet no less are those other things by which you have attained unto these: I mean, your admirable honest behaviour of life, contempt of pleasures, and divine Temperance above the disposition of your age. Let others show the Liberty of their power in their licence of sinning; Let them wallow in adulterous embracings; pass over the nights in Lasciviousness, and their days in Gluttony: You are wholly Sobriety and Continence. Needs must these virtues be in the height of excellence, that do issue from a Fountain so clear, so mudlesse & so pure. To these may be added your ardent love to Learning and Knowledge; which how much you do esteem, so many learned men about you do abundantly testify. That I say nothing of that Sanctuary of Learning, your Library of admired greatness, which you are not only content to maintain, but do also as a new Philadelphus daily add unto it, and adorn it. Neither do I touch your skill in diverse Languages, diverse of which you speak with that facility, that every on seems to be your Native Tongue. Herein you are fare more fortunate than Alexander, who when he had subdued so many Nations, did scarce understand the Tongue of any one of them. And let these suffice as a small taste taken out of the infinite rank of your Virtues; we will leave the true commendation of them to such whose ability and assuredness in speaking is bounded within the same limits with your eternal praise; which praise if Marbles and Books were not too hard, yourself have engraven with the golden Chesill of Love, in the most inward affections of your Countrymen.  
These Eyes of mine are witnesses how old and young, men aswell as women, followed you, departing from them out of your Pallatinate with a sad gladness: In such strange manner did the public safety and private orbity set joy and sorrow to fight together with diverse affections. One would have thought that every man in the Country had been deprived of his Parent. You were not yet gone away, most desired Prince, and yet we did desire your return. Neckar the gentlest of all Rivers seemed, as in times passed to the Romans, so now to itself, barbarous. Even this Heroic Seat of thine, these Temples, these Towers followed after their Sun in a mournful manner. That I speak not of men whose infinite multitude poured out itself in every place, where you came, in the very vast Wilderness: and yet every one thought himself to be sorsaken when you left them: sighs and tears striven to break out in abundance. And whereas in body, not very many of those multitudes did follow you, yet all with heart and prayers (for otherwise they might not) did attend you, departing from them. And did not your Wife the Heir of the Name and Virtues of that ever renowned Queen great Elizabeth, seem now again to herself to leave Britain; only glad in this, that it was with you? How had Redness, the Painter of cheeks, died her face more than ordinary Milk white! how had a pious shower of tears violated her eyes, clearer than the Stars, shining widow thou't the Moon! sighs gave the farewell, because words sufficed not. And for yourself I cannot say whether greater Piety persuaded your stay or your journey. You left your Mother that Princess of highest birth, who is yet higher than her birth, for that she hath borne you. You left your children, that is to say, a great part of your heart; you left your Subjects, every of which could wish to live and die with you. You went from peace to War, from Acquaintance to Strangers; from the most peaceable Shore of Rhine, to Mulda, whose streams were swelled with the blood of the Inhabitants; from Vineyards and a Garden of admirable beauty, to Fields stained with the Robberies of savage Murderers, and covered with the carcases of the slain; from a most pleasant Castle, to a vast, yet desolate and despoiled Place. An unhappy change; save that thereby you bring with you splendour to the Place; a perpetual spring to the Fields; tranquillity to Mulda, a friend to strangers; and peace to men in Arms. You come then into this Scene, into this most intricate Tragedy, as a very God out of the Engine. Piety hath overcome this bard journey; the love of us hath overcome the sharp and high Mountains of Bohemia; within which Nature hath entrenched it: Your Clemency hath overcome the inclemency of the place with much better luck than Hannibal, the bravest of Commanders; who in old time passed his Army over the tops of the high Alps, through the Clouds that seemed to touch Heaven. For at the sight of him all Italy trembled, as at the falling of a Thunderbolt: But by your coming the Tempest is appeased, the wind are laid, all things are become calm and clear. He brought with him Troops of Soldiers, that he might cut up the Romans: but you come attended with Troops for our preservation. He had sharpened his Sword against the City; but your back doth blunt the Swords of our Enemies. Savage and sworn hatred opened the way to him; but incredible love lays it open to you. He seemed to be borne to the murder of men and the wasting of Cities; but you are borne to the infinite good of the Commonwealth. His approach to the gates raised fear and horror: You, they would be glad to bear in their very eyes, into the Throne of so many Emperers and Kings. Him, the fearful Mother's Children, Virgins, women and men ran away from; You they come out to meet in Triumph. His presence all did detest with mourning and pitiful yell; yours they do celebrate with gladness and great rejoicing. They that have over-lived their former sorrow, are now scarce able to bear their present joy. I do also verily believe that if there be left in dead men any sense of things on earth, that the ghosts of those men that have sacrificed their heart blood to the public liberty, are now replenished with unspeakable joy; and do think that they have spent their lives to good purpose.  
O brave King, this is not enough, O King, worthy of the Empire of the whole World, worthy of the favour; worthy also of the admiration of thy very Enemies! O thou pious Prince, whom not our felicity and prosperity, but the hardness of our fortune, & the wounds engraven in our bodies with the Swords of our Enemies, hath solicited to accept our Diadem! O most happy you, not because you have already subdued the whole fury of our Enemies, but because you seem to deserve happiness for us all. O happy day that brought you forth into the World, and first designed you unto this Kingdom. Which birth day of so great a Prince begins to be unto us also another birth day, which hath borough forth so divine a Mansion for Virtue, and did also consecrate it, to the whole Christian World. All Hail, O Lord: For we have not cast off Rule; but outrage and cruelty ruling over us. We can well enough obey, but we cannot bear Tyranny; we will serve thee, that we may be freed. All hail, O King, all hail, O Father of our Country, All hail thou Darling and Minion of Mankind. For thee, O Illustrious Honour of our Age, for thy safety do we pray; for under thy Government are we secure of our own safety. God grant unto thee that by thy hand our tottering State may be underpropped and restored; that thou mayest be partaker of that Vow which Octavius did once so much desire, that thou mayest truly be styled, Optimi Status Auctor: The Founder of a most happle State. And let late old Age draw in the swelling Sails of thy glorious Reign, which in your Youth you have now hoist up to so favourable a wind. And bear away with you this hope, when by death you shall leave us: That the happy foundations, which you have laid, shall abide for ever in their proper place.  
God save thee, O Queen Daughter of that most Illustrious Heros, whose Praises cannot be penned up in the Straits of this Age, who hath joined profound Learning to incredible Wisdom of governing; who under a happy Star hath added England unto Scotland. God save thee O Wife of this Prince, who doth now couple our Kingdoms to his own Country with like glory, & I would to God it may be with equal fortune. God bless you both, who are by consent of God and man a most choice pair. All hail to you Sun and Moon. How sweet a sight is it to our Citizens to see what a Lord, to our Soldiers to see what a Leader they have with universal consent elected, and with such longing desire expected? How pleasant, O King, is it to us to hear these words out of thy blessed mouth? That this Acceptance of the Kingdom proceeded from the love of Peace, and not of Empire: that you are drawn into these stirs by our misery, and not carried by your own disposition; that the Modesty of your refusing was overcome by the obstinacy of our offering. That you have preferred the public Security before your own private ease. That it is but a small matter to desire a people, but not so easy to defend them. And that it is almost better to let go an Empire that is in right ones own, then to purchase a new one with the blood of the Citizens: But now, sith this Sceptre can neither be possessed nor forsaken without peril, that now our estate and condition is your own; and that therefore you will now use your best endeavour that we should not need to desire another King while God shall give you life.  
We know, we know very well, most gracious Prince, that you did unwillingly enter upon this Kingdom which was unwillingly left. We also were compelled; we came not of our own accord to implore your fortitude and defence: who were not ignorant of your Clemency. We call God and men to witness that by compulsion we took up Arms to defend the safety of our Country, and that Liberty which is allowed to the besest Nations; and lastly our Religion which is to be preferred before all other Causes, and whose name was in time passed so sacred among the very Gentiles, that at the time that the French were spoiling Rome, Lu. Albunius one of the common people, putting out of his Cart his Wife and Children, took up into it, the Vestal Virgins which did follow upon their bare feet the sacred things which fled from the fury of their Enemies. So much at that time in the meanest men did public Religion excel private affections.  
To be assailed in body and estate is grievous: but in Conscience, is intolerable.  
And such we see is the nature of Liberty, that no good man will lose it but with his life. As courage and strength uses to increase to wild beasts broke out of their Dens, and doth become in a manner double: So is it with our Nation; it could no longer dissemble their manly courage, the due praise of which none could ever deprive us of, when besides the just hatred it bore to cruel counsels and practices against us, it burned in desire of regaining the Liberty of the Country desperately lost and oppressed. Which it is always lawful for them to repurchase who by nature were borne to live free, and had also their Liberty established unto them by the fundamental Laws and Privileges of the Kingdom, confirmed unto them with the sacred Bond of Oaths, and ratified by the Charters and great Seals of Kings and Emperors. We do very well know that the praise of obedience is enough in Subjects; that good Princes are to be wished for; that evil, (if they fall to their lot) are to be endured. But these things do in no sort concern us, this is not our Case. We, we have taken up▪ Arms after incredible Patience; not with any mind of rebelling, but at the Exigence of extreme Necessity: Not in any private Conspiracy of some few, but with the universal and joint consent of the whole State; not in any contempt of Magistracy, but in defiance of most damnable practice against our Lives, Liberty and Religion: Neither did we do this against a lawful King, but to escape the devilish deceits of bloody Murderers, who do openly profesle that no Faith is to be kept, whereby we have received unvaluable damage: who gain time, and cousin wellmeaning people by Perjury, as Cheaters do Children with false Dice and Cards: We have now at length learned to distrust, being taught by too many woeful Examples. We know very well what horrible Thunderbolts are darted from the Tarpeian Rock at Rome. And that Rome's jupiter can by the way transfer Principalities and Kingdoms from whom and to whom he please, like the Devil his Master: All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me. And that he doth dam souls to Hell for his Recreation, and to make his Holiness sport. Who knows not how small protection Hus a Citizen of this Kingdom found in the safe conduct of Caesar? No less Tempest had overtaken Luther at Worms, had not the brave Emperor put on a resolution never to stamp such a stain upon his honourable Name: Had not Lewis also, the most clement Prince of your Progenitors, withstood the Romish dishonourable determination to break faith.  
By the very like Game and foul Play should we have been cozened, and in the like Trap did 
jesuites.  these men endeavour to have caught us, who do usually invade Lords of Nations with Poniards and parricidial Arts; which grow remarkable in the World and glorious Martyrs at Rome by the blood and murder of Kings; who by superlative horrible wickedness did destroy great Henry of France, that Thunderbolt of War; subiecting him (whom the huge weight of his whole Country, when he stood under it, could not move,) to the butchery of one desperate Villain: who did their best to have dashed to the walls of his Kingdom with fire and Gunpowder, your Father-in-Law, the matchless Monarch of great Britain: who have persuaded themselves and others, that Salvation of Souls consists in Murders of Kings and wasting of Kingdoms; who make it but sport and play to murder the poor, to condemn the innocent, to take away men's lives, with Rack, Fire, and Sword, and (because they will spare to spill men's blood) to bury men alive; and to jumble all Divine and Humane things together. These men first crept into the Courts, after into the Consciences of our Governors: These were the Directors and Precedents of all the Counsels: These mingled with them frauds, dissimulations, perfidy, without which they teach that none can rule well. These thievish Mates and masked Murderers were of late continually whispering into the ears of our Magistrates against us that common Sentence of their Sect, Vre, Seca, Burne, Cut off. With the Lies and crafty Conveyances of these fellows, as with excellent Arts, were we governed. Unto these also were adjoined some Seians, evil and pestilent Counsellors, who itching with Ambition and Lust of Eminence, thought no kind of perfidy against us too much. And hence was it that our Churches were abused and shut up; Our Privileges violated; the innocent clapped up in Prison and many ways fined and punished: All access to our Princes shut up against us, the Decrees of Rodulph the Emperor eluded, and shifted off. Of men, that were contrary minded to them, some were assailed by threatenings; some corrupted with Dignities and Rewards: All right of Nations was broken: the Commonwealth was overflown with an inundation of wickedness, and Religion was disturbed with marvellous Treacheries. We entreated, we besought, we wept, we were instant in petitioning without any licence to departed, and upheld our labour without hope of ease and redress. But all in vain! we were any where safer than at home; and we got nothing, by our vain prayers, but only tiring of ourselves with entreating, and of them with hearing.  
When then we prevailed nothing by this mild course, but saw that heavier burdens were daily imposed upon us, as on such who by custom of bearing were grown to bear them with more ease; all the matter and fuel of our Patience being spent, we did perfunctorily reprehend some of them. Hence came the kindling of those Firebrands of War which the disturbers of Peace had so long desired and sought: Hence were janus his gates of War opened: Hence was it that all things were defiled with burning, with Carcases of the slain, with horror and blood: or, as they please to term it, corrected, I wis, and amended. I tremble to relate the savage immanity committed by them, such as Barbarism never hard of, & which perhaps shall not find credit hereafter with Posterity. Neither could the crying of Infants, the sobbing of Children, the tears of Matrons, or the grey hairs of the old men, any whit move these outrageous and savage beasts. Virgins were abused in common, strong and weak were killed together; the Fields were wasted; the Wealth and Strength of the Kingdom was worn out; and what the Sword had left, was consumed with fire. Hitherto have we reckoned up things to be bewailed with sorrow; now I must come to relate things, that are to be blushed at for shame: How a Mother hurls her Children into the River and drowns them, because they shall not be hewed in pieces before her face with the Swords of the Murderers. The bodies of the dead are pulled out of their Graves in the midst of the Church: The dead bodies of Women lately buried (let Christians shake for horror) were laid naked upon the Altars, tied by the hands and feet, and set upright with props to stay them at the doors of the Churches. And many other things, with as much abominable outrage, were perpetrated. O Age more ingenious than Mezentius his, Tiberius his, nero's, Domitian's, and other Monsters of Men to device Cruelty! Our live men suffice not to these shames of Mankind to act their abominable barbarousness upon; the dead must be pulled out of their Graves to endure their villainy. We thus provoked with their unspeakable villainies do then first fly to War; and then do we let them know that we can fight for our Country; and that we that had ceased to fear them, did begin to hate them. That these things freed us from our Oath to the King none will deny, but such as are altogether ignorant of the Rights and Privileges of this Kingdom. Men will rather laugh at our Lenity; and all men fret at our folly, who have so long digested such intolerable outrage.  
Now do we, not without heavenly instinct and inspiration, retire ourselves into the bosom of thy Clemency, whose very * Name 
Frederick which signifies Rich Peace, or Rich in Peace.  doth now promise Peace unto us. God be merciful unto thee, most loving Prince, and reward this thine extraordinary gentleness unto us: We will show our thankfulness unto thee in Service and Observance, if we can do no more. He that hereafter calls us Bohemians, Moravians, Silesians, Lusatians, shall say much; but more if he call us thine; we are thine while we are. And to go away and dye for thee whensoever God please, we will esteem it a happy sign. They say that the Sardi by taking the juice of a certain Herb do laugh at their passage out of life. For you, dear Prince, we will willingly and cheerfully go out to meet Death itself if need require. We long to fight for you; We shall want no courage that fight under so valiant a Prince, no will under so undaunted a Captain, no good success under so just a King: We shall have the better in Arms that have the better Cause. It shall not be our weariness but the death of our enemies, that shall put an end to our pursuit. And our Arms, that we took up so slowly, we will lay down as leisurely. If our number be less, our courage shall be greater: They are never many which be slain with the Sword.  
In the mean time, we have a Suit to thee, O prague, which art the Nurse and Hostess of so many Emperors and Kings, that thou wilt no longer detain this best Prince from our Silesia, which without question doth even now earnestly expect, and ardently desire to see his face. Enter into our Country O King, enter; Thou shalt come most welcome unto all, who comest for the good of all. Enter environed with Guards and Armies; we will never be afraid of them, who have learned to live under so modest and just a King. Enter without them, if you please: here shall you find your own people your own Servants. Surely, me thinks, I see that most pleasant Country wholly rising up and coming to meet thee. Me thinks I behold the great affection, of the Princes, the emulation of the Nobles, the Assemblies of Senators, and those innumerable multitudes of people poured out to behold you; some going before, some going by, some following after, all eagerly pressing to enjoy your presence; and the walls of the fairest City Vratislavia, receiving with long-wished embracings their so much desired Prince, and the tops of the highest Turrets, as it were, bending down themselves to do you Honour; and the City not a little proud that it hath the Honour to entertain thy Majesty. But all these things I leave to the Learned, whereof we have very great plenty: And well knowing and weighing both your greatness, most mighty King, and the weakness of mine own wit, I will reverence thy heavenly Virtues with admiration only and silence.  
Now let us all with public voice humbly beseech the Lord of all, which altars the times and courses of times, which pulls down and sets up Kings, that He would keep, preserve and protect thy Majesty, & govern thy Counsels and Cogitations. Long and much may Religion flourish under thee, and let it receive increase and credit from thy Piety. Let be rooted up all stems of Superstition and doting toys of traditions, abominations before the eyes of God. Let thine Enemies be confounded, and come following those Banners that they came out to meet in the Field: Be more victorious in Battle then that brave Zisca, that rock and terror of evil men. And excel yourself in Peace, and increase that Kingdom gowned, which you have set at Liberty armed. But if thou O God dost prepare some heavier cross for us, and wilt not yet, by reason of our sins, put an end to our labours, yet grant that for the defence of thy Name, for our Prince, for our Liberty, for our Country, we may either overcomevaliantly, or dye blessedly, or both. Defend his Government that defends thy Glory, and after He hath happily passed through a long Race in this mortal life, and shall have laid aside this most happy burden of the Commonwealth, translate him from this mortal Sceptre to a Crown of life which shall not be taken from him for evermore.  
And let all that love Christ's Truth, say AMEN.  
FINIS.