A DECLARATION OR MANIFESTO, wherein the Roman imperial Majesty makes known to the States & Peers of Hungary, what reasons and motives have compelled him to proceed in open war against the Prince of TRANSYLVANIA.  
Whereby also His imperial Majesty admonisheth them to a due consideration of their loyalty and Obedience, as also to a zealous and joint opposition against the said Prince of Transylvania, bearing date the 23. of February, 1644.  
Printed according to Order for E. Blackmore. MDCXLIV.   

The Manifesto or Declaration, wherein the Roman Imperial majesty makes known to the States and peers of Hungary, what reasons and motives have compelled him to proceed in open war against the Prince of Transylvania, &c.  
FERDINAND the third by the grace of God Elected Roman Emperor of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia and Sclavonia, King, archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Slyria, Karndten and Craine, Marquis of Moravia, Count of tyrol and Gortz, &c. To all and every one of our well beloved and loyal prelates, Nobles, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, and all other States and peers of our kingdom of Hungary and other Provinces belonging thereunto, Greeting.  
With what fatherly care ever since we begun to enter into our royal Government, we have continually strived, that this our here before much afflicted kingdom of Hungary, as a wall and bulwark to Christendom in these modern heavy troubles and distractions, might be preserved in a good condition, peace and tranquillity, is not unknown to any of our loyal Subjects of the said kingdom: to which end also in these latter years we have of set purpose entered into peaceable treaties with the Turk, and admitted nothing that hath been advantageous and serviceable to the preservation of a firm peace, safety or tranquillity of the kingdom. But in the mean time the Prince of Transylvania, George Ragoczii, unknown to Us, what hath caused and moved Him hereunto, hath suffered himself to be seduced, that, though We for our part have given unto Him not any cause or occasion hereunto, He notwithstanding hath entered into a most dangerous and most pernicious league with Our enemies the Swedes and French, that He thereby also might highly endanger this Our Kingdom of Hungary, which hitherto through God's mercy hath sat in peace and quietness, and draw, and involve the same in this heavy war, wherewith diverse Countries in Christendom are now overwhelmed, yea so far also, that presently in the beginning of the aforesaid league He did not stick upon it to pawn by way of promise His two sons, that all the days of His life He would further and advance with all his strength and power the profit, welfare and benefit of the Confederates; whereof the letters and treaties, that passed betwixt Them by God's special mercy and providence are come to Our hands and are still with Us in original: By which principally and most clearly appeareth, with what earnestness, as also with what high promises, and presents, as well also through persuasion of the ambassadors of Our public enemies and rebels, He hath solicited the Turk for His assent and approbation, that He first of all might invade Hungary, and then afterwards some other of Our Countries, subdue Our loyal Subjects in a Warlike manner, extremely afflict them, and thereby disturb and destroy the common peace and tranquillity: He hath tied and bound Himself also so fast to His Fellow Confederates, that neither He, nor His successors, neither the States and peers of Transylvania, nor also the Inhabitants of Hungary, that take His part, shall have any power to enter into any treaty with Us or conclude any Peace or cessation of arms without the knowledge and consent of all the Confederates, promising withal, not only to introduce into Hungary the Swedes, and their hostile Army, but also to deliver over into their hands certain places, especially our Cities of Tirna and Presburg, which places are ordained for the preservation of the Crown of the Kingdom, insomuch that highly is to be feared, that thereby the glorious and precious treasure of that crown, which hitherto hath been preserved and protected with so much blood of the Hungarians may fall into stranger's hands and be transported over sea into a strange Country. That He also may involve this kingdom, and Himself yet deeper into this heavy fire of war, He did not stick also upon it to promise, that as often as Our enemies should be invaded in a warlike manner, as often He together with His Confederates should be bound to take up arms, and faithfully to assist them, as necessity should require: He declares himself thereby further, that His principal desire is to fall upon Us and Our loyal Subjects in a warlike manner, and to join with His forces to the enemy's forces in the kingdom itself. All which and yet much more largely appeareth, as well by the Articles of the league, (the acceptation and confirmation whereof the said Prince with much opportunity desires of both the crowns France and Sweden) as by the Princes, Master Bisterfields', and other our enemy's letters. Whereby the most pernicious design of the said Prince is come to light how He namely forgetting all duty to the Native Country intends to kindle a fire to the ruin of the Country, to disturb the Common peace and tranquillity of Our loyal Subjects, to set the Transylvanians and Hungarians by the ears together for to destroy one another themselves with their own swords, and thus to draw the Hungarian Nation, which in former overthrows hath already been weakened very much, into a civil war, and to the shedding of their own blood and of their own kindred. Hereby appeareth also the great ingratitude of the aforesaid Prince of Transylvania to Us and Our Illustrious House of Austria, from which His predecessors have received great benefits and privileges, whereas they were not only raised from a low condition to Honour and Dignity, but also his Father Sigismond Ragoczii was richly rewarded, and had bestowed upon him large dominions and lands, yea this Prince himself had bestowed upon him the most rich and fair Dominion of Monchatz, and other presents: But to pass by all these things, yet contrary to all Divine and human right, his faith, troth, corporal oath, and his own bonds and obligations (wherein He more than once bound himself to Us and Our crown) He hath entered with others in an agreement and league, as well to the great prejudice and damage to His own Countrymen and Hungarian Nation, as to Our and the kingdoms, yea also the Countries of Transylvania: And first against ourselves, whereas He hath promised to invade in a hostile manner not only Our kingdom of Hungary, but also others of Our hereditary Countries and kingdoms, and to conquer them: And then also against the Hungarian Nation itself, because the rising of an Inlandish Prince and the taking up of arms will produce nothing else but their utter ruin and destruction: Further also against the kingdom's Rights, and privileges, whereas He hath sought to include the inhabitants without their knowledge and consent in his secret league and confederacy, and under a pretence of their names to make agreements: No less also to the prejudice of the Country of Transylvania itself, which by these secret treaties and agreements with Our and the crowns enemies He purposeth to make it wholly subject and hereditary unto Himself. For He hath brought the two crowns France and Sweden so far, that they have promised to protect by force all his heirs and successors in the Principality of Transylvania, albeit long ago a free election was promised to the Transylvanians.  
Herewith not yet being satisfied, the said Prince hath laboured with all his strength, and considerable presents and sums of money to annull and to make void the peace with the Emperor of Turkey, (which hath been hitherto obtained with so great charges, pains and so much blood, and hitherto also with much ado preserved) and to move the Turks to the breaking thereof to the hazard and great damage of the kingdom of Hungary, and his own Nation. Of all which calamity, as also shedding of Christian blood, ruin of the country, hazard of Hungary, and other inconveniences, which use to rise and spring out of the like insurrections, there is no other cause but the private affections and the Princes untimely pride and haughtiness.  
As for Us, We protest before God and the whole world, that to these troubles We have given no cause to the Prince, but that We seek and desire nothing else, but the preservation and upholding of Our royal Right, (which We have received from God) and protection of Our loyal Subjects, which God hath put to Our trust, and that to all these things We are provoked and forced. Declaring further, and withal assuring all Our loving and loyal Subjects and Inhabitants of the kingdom, that by this taking up of arms, and introduction of a succour of German forces We aim at nothing else, but that after driving out of all Our enemies, and laying down of arms, ye be reduced, your former peace and tranquillity, and thereby all States and peers of the kingdom may continue without diminution in the enjoying of the Rights and privileges.  
And hereupon We graciously admonish and exhort all our said kingdoms, Prelates, Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Cities, Provinces and Frontier towns, as also the Heyducks and soldiers, that they will continue firm and steadfast in the loyalty and obedience which next unto God they owe unto Us and the kingdom of Hungary, and not take part under any title or pretence with the said Prince, much less yield to his obeisance, but rather valiantly take arms in hand, oppose Him in all places and times, beat Him back, and thereby show unto Us with unwearyed care and with undaunted courage all due obedience. But if there be some, that hitherto being compelled by force or fear have been fickle in their loyalty, and adhered the said Prince, those we will receive in favour again, and accuse them of no disloyalty, if they do turn but in time, come away from the adversary party, yield again to Our due obedience, service, and loyalty, and present themselves to our trusty and well beloved the Right Honourable Count Nicalao, Esterhasi of Galantha Palatine of our above named kingdom of Hungary, or to our Military generals. But those that will not observe neither the Divine Justice nor the due obedience towards their King, but go on in their obstinacy, and boldness, adhere yet further to the Prince not depart from Him, and thus neglect their obedience towards Us, those shall be Proclaimed public enemies to their native Country, and that they shall fall into our imperial disgrace, and by force of our arms be severely punished according to their demerits. But the States and Fellow Members of the Country of Transylvania, with whom We and Our kingdom of Hungary by many treaties of peace and firm leagues are tied fast one to another, We admonish of their faith and troth, and obligations in writing most graciously, that they will wholly abstain from all hostility against the kingdom and our loyal subjects, and in no way undertake to invade our Countries, but rather keep firm the agreements, and thus not draw upon themselves a ruinous war, and involve themselves perhaps merely in regard of their private profit, favour or hate into the most dangerous tempest of war, which storms as yet heavily at Christendom. For we perceive, that principally in regard of force and fear of their Prince they are fallen into these troubles out of which they may easily escape again, if they do turn but without delay, and by laying down of arms return home to their own and betake themselves to peace and quietness, and then all their transgression and fault shall rather be ascribed to the oppression of their Prince, then to their several contrary opinions and inclinations.  
Given in our Austrian City of Vienna the 23. day of February in the year of Our Lord God 1644. Of Our reign of the Roman Empire the eight, of the Hungarian and the rest the 19 But of Our Bohemian the 18. year. 

Ferdinand.  
Stephanus Bossniack Elect: Episc:  
Vespriniensis Cancellarius.  
Georgius Orossy Secretarius.    
FINIS.