/

tp,

**£?*

^i4tiL

^ \N?H

7 c

^sJzv ..

mm,

v\k

^6 m$[ x|

7- f A* v 4

DE CLARATION
MA N I°FRE S T O,
VVhcrein the Roman Imperiall Majefly
makes known to the States StPeers ofHungark,
what reafons and motives have compelled him to
^.proceed in open Wane againft the Prince
of Transylvania.
VVhereby alfo His Imperiall Majefly
admoniflieth them to a due confideration of
their Loyaltie and Obedience, as alfo to a zea
lous and joynt oppofition againft the faid
Prince o£ TrMtfilvama, bearing
date the 23. of February,
1644.

Printed according to Order for B,Blackmr<^,
M DC xz,m

(I)

ThzManifeJlo or <Declaration)wh<zrcm
the Roman Imperial Majeftie makes
known to the States and Peeres of Hunga-
rie, what reafons and motives have compelled him
to proceed in open Wane againft the Prince of
Tra»fylvania} &c.

wsw

gl>

ggg

otC

5l)j

F

%Sb

SfesJ»/S)

SJjfi

«=

^EtN^E"

E RD I N A N D the third by the
grace of God Elected Roman Em-
perouroi Germanif, Hungary, Bo
hemia , Dtlmatia , Croatia and
Sclavonia, King, Arch-Duke of
Auflria, Duke oiBurgundie, Slj-
ria,Karndten anl Craitte, Marquis
of Moravia^ Count of Tyr oil and
Govt**} d-c.Toall and every one of
our wet beloved amdloyalPrekts,
Nobles, Barons, Knights, Gentle
men, and all other States and Peeres of our Kingdorne of Hun
gary and other Provinces belonging thereunto,Greeting.
With, what fatherly care ever fince wee begun to enter in
to our Royall Government, we have continually ftrived, that
this our herebefore much afflifted Kingdom e afHmgarie, as a
wall and Bull wark to Chriftendomein thefe mod.r.ie heavy
troubles and diftradions,might be preferved in a g&od cenditi-
on,peacc and tranquillity, is not unknown ts any ef ©arloyall
Subjects ef the faid Kingdg me : to which end alio jn thefe Ut-
A 3 ter

tcryeares we h*ve of fet purpofe entred into peaceable treaties
with the#u5rleVafid' ad^atM'noflvrrigrthat 'hlth^beeri advanta
geous and ferviceable to theprefervatiou of a firm peace, fafety
or tranquility of the Kirigdome. But irr the meane time the
Prince of Tranfjlvania, Giorge.F agocz.it, unknowne to Us,
what htath caufed.and moved Him hereunto,hatb,luficred Him-
felfe to be feduced;that, thbugfi We for our part have given un
to Him not any caufe or occafion hereunto,He notwithstanding
hath entred into a moft dangerous and molt pernitious league
with Our enemies the Swedes and. French,that He thereby alfo
might highly endanger this Our Kingdom o(H$t»garie} which
hitherto through GoJs mercy hath fate in peace and quietnefle,
and draw,and involve the fame in this heavy warre, wherewith
diverfe Countries in Chriftendomc are now over whelmed, yea
fofarrealfo, that prefently in the beginning of the aforefaid
league He did not ftickupon it to pawne byway ofpromife
Histwofonnts, that all the day es of His life He would further
and advance with all his ftrength and power the profit,wellfare
and benefit of the Confederates ; whereof the letters and trea
ties, that paffed betwixt Them by Gods fpeciall mercy
and providence are come to Our hands and are ftill with
Us in originall ; By which principally and moll clearly
appeareth, with what earntftnefle , as alfo with , what
high promifes. , and pref.nrs, as well alfo through perfwa-
fion of the AmbalTadours of Our publick enemies and Rebells,
He hath follicited theTurke for Hisaffent and approbation,that
He firft of all might invade Hrtngarie ,*nd then afterwards fome
other of Our Countries, fubdue Ourloyall Subjects in a War
like manner, extreamelyafrli&them,, and thereby difturbe and
dtftioy the common peace and tranquillity : He hath tied and
bound Himfelf alfo fo fall to His Fellow Confederates, that
neither He, nor His Succeffours, neither the States and Peeres
of TrartfylvaniajyuT alfo the Inhabitants of Hungary, that take
His part,(hall have any power to enter into any treaty with Us
or conclude any Peace or ceflation of Arrays without the
knowledge and confent of all the Confederates, promifing
withal), not onely to introduce into Hungary the Swedes, and
their hoftile. Army, but alfo to deliver over into their hands cer-
taine

tame places>efpecially our Cities of Jirna and fresbmg, which
places are ordained for the prefervationof the Crown of the
Kingdom, infomuch that highly is to be feared.that thereby the
glorious and precious treafure of that Crowne, which hitherto
hath been preferved and protected with fo much blood of the
Hungarians may fall intoftrangers hands and betranfported o-
vtr fca into a ftrange Country. That He alfo may involve this.
Kingdome.and Himfelf yet deeper into this heavy fire of War,
He did not ftick alfo upon it topromiie, that as often as Our
enemies fhould be invaded in a warlike manner, as often He
together with His Confederates flbould be bound to take up
armes,and faithfully to afiiftthem, as necelfify fhould require :
He declares Himfclfe thereby further, that His principall defire
is to fall upon Us and Our loyall Subjects in a warlike manner,
and to /oyne with His forces to the enemies forces in the King-
dome it felf. AH which and yet much more largely appeareth,
as well by the Articles of the league, (the acceptation and con
firmation whereof the faid Prince with much opportunity de-
fires of both the Crownes Trance and Sweden) as by the
Princes, Mailer Bifterfields, and other our enemies letters.
Whereby the mofl pernitious defigne of the faid Prince is come
to light how He namely forgetting all duty to the Native
Country intends to kindle a fire to the ruine of the Country,'
to difturbe the Common peace and tranquillity of Our loyall
SubjecTrs, to fet the Tranfylvanians and Hungarians by the
eares together for to deftroy one another themfelves with their
own fword$,and thus to draw the Hungarian Nation,which in
former overthrowes hath already been weakened verymuch,in-
to a Civill Warre, and to the flaedding of their own blood and
of their own kindred. Hereby appeareth alfo the great ingra
titude of the aforefaid Prince of Tranfylvama to Us and Our
Illuftrious Houfe of A*ftria,fiom whichHis Predeceflburs have
received great benefits and priviledges, whereas they were not
ontly railed from a low condition to Honour and Dignity j but
alfo his Fatner Sigismnnd Ragtczii was richly rewarded, and
had.beftewed cpon him large dominions and lands, yea this
Prince himfelf had bellowed upon him the moll rich and fairs
Dominion of Monchatz., and other piefents *. But to paffe by
A % all

(A)
all thefe things,yet contrary to allDivine and Humane right,his
faith, troth, corporall oath, and his own bonds and obligations
(wherein He more then once bound Himfelfeto Us and Our
CrowneJI He hath entred with others in an agreement and
league,as well to the great prejudice and dammage to His own
Countrymen and Hungarian Nation, as to Our and the King*
domes, yea alfo the Countries of Tranfylvania: And firil againft
Our felves, whereas He hath promifed to invade in a hoftile
manner not onely Our Kingdome of Hungarie, but alfo others
of Our hereditary Countries and Kingdames, andtacenquer
them: And then alfo againft the Hungarian Natioa it felf, be-
caufe the rifing of an Inlandifh Prince and the taking up of
armes will produce nothing elfe but their utter ruine and de
finition : Further alfo againft the Kingdomcs Rights , and
Priviledges/whereas He hath fought to include the inhabitants
without their knowledge and confent in his fecret league and
confederacy,and under a pretenfe of their names to make agree
ments : Nolfifle ajfoto the prejudice of the Country of Tran-
fyhania it felf, which by thefe fecret treaties and agreements
with Our and the Crownes enemies He putpofeth to make it
wholy fubjicl and hereditary unto Htnifelfv For ,He hath
brought the two Crownes France and Sweden (o farre,that they
have promifed to grot eel by force all his Heires andSucceflburs
in the PriHdpalityofZra^/zwM^albeitlongagoc a free ele
ction was promifed to the Tranfjlvanians.
Herewith not yetbei>gfau$fied,the faid Prince hath labour
ed with all his ftrength, and confiderable prefents and fummes
ofmony toannullandtomakevoid the peace with the Em-
perour of Turfy, ("which hath been hitherto obtained with fo
great charges,paine6 and fo much blood, and hitherto alfo with
muchadoe prcferved) and to movetheTurkesto the breaking
thereofto the hazard and great'dammage of the Kingdome of
Hu»g4rie,tnd his own Nation. Of all which calaroitie, as alfo
fr>edding of Chriftian blood* ruineof the Countrie, hazard of
Hungarie^nd other inconveniences,whichufe to rife and piing
out of the like infurr eft ions, there is no other eaufe but the pri
vate afic&iona and the Princes untimely pride and haughtinefle. At

AS for Us,We p?*>teu befoveGod and the whole worId,that to
thefe troubles We have given no caufe to the Prince, but that
WefeekanddtfirenothingeHie, but the preftrvation and up
holding of Our Royall Right, (which We have received from
God) and protection of Our loyall Snb/e&s, which God hath
put to Our truft, ' and that to all thefe things We are provoked
end forced. Declaring further, and withall afiuring all Our
loving and loyallSub/efts and Inhabitants of the Kingdome,
that by this taking up of armes, and introduction of a fuccour
of German forces We aime at nothing elfe, but that after dri-
vingoutofallOur enemies, and laying down of armes, yeebe
reduced, your former peafce and tranquillity, and thereby all
Spates and Peeres of the Kingdome may continue without di
minution in the enjoying of the Rights and Privilcdgcs,
And hereupon We gracioufly admonifh and exhort all our
faid Kingdoires,Prelates,Earles, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen,
Cities, Provinces and Frontier Towne«,as alfo the Hey ducks
and Souldlers, that they will continue firme andftedfaft in the
loyalty and obedience which next unto God they owe unto
Us and theKingd6meof Hungarie, and not take partunder any
title or pretenfe with the faid Prince, much leffe yeeld to his
obeyfance/Brit rather valiantly take armes in hand,oppofe Him
in all.piaccs andtimts,beate Him back, and thereby ftiewunto
Us with ufrwearyed care and with undaunted courage all due
obedience. But if there be fome, that hitherto being compel
led by force or f eare have been fickle in their loyalty, and adhe
red the faid Prince,thofe we will receive infaveuragain,andac-
cufe them of no difioyalty, if they do turne but in tithe, come a-
way from the adverfary party, yeeld again to Our due obedi-
ence,fervice,and loyalty ,and prefent themfelves to our trufty and
well beloved the Right Honourable Count Nicalao, Eflerhafi
of GW^wffc^ Palatirieof our above named Kingdome of Hun
gary, ox to our Military Generalls. But thofc that will not ob-
j ferve neither the Diyjne Juftice nor the due obedience towards
their Kin.^ but go on in their obffinacy, and boldnefle, adhere
% yet further to ihe Prince not depart from Him, and thus neglect
their obedience towards Us, th^fhallbe Proclaimed publick
'¦''•¦* * enemies

(6)
enemies to their native Country, and that they fhall fall into
our Imperiall difgrace, and by force of , our armes be fcVerely
punifoed according to their demerits. But the States and Fel
ls w Members of the Country of Tran/jjvama,whh whom We
and Our Kingdome of Hung ary by many treaties of peace and
firme leagues are tiedfaftoneto another, We admoniih of their
faith and troth, and obligations in writing moft gracioufly,
that they will wholly abftaine from all hoftility againft the
Kingdome and ourloy all fubjefts, and in no way undertake to
invade our Countries,but rather keep firme the agreement s>and
thus not draw upon themfelves a ruinous war, and involve
themfelves perhaps meerely in regard of their privat profit, fa
vour or hate into the moil dangerous tempeftof war, which
ftormes as yet heavily at Chriftendome. For we perceive, that
principally in regard of force and feare of their Prince they are
fallen into thefe troubles out of which they may eafily efcape a-
gain, if they do turne but without delay, and by laying down of
armes rcturne home to their own and betake themfelves to
peace and quietnefle, and then all their tranfgreflion and fault
Ihall rather be afcribed to the oppreffion of their Prince, then to
their feverall contrary opinions and inclinations.
Given in our Auftrian City. e/Vienna the 23 . day ^"February in
, the jeare of Our Lord God 1 644. Of Our Raigne of the Ro-
¦ man Empire the eight, of the Hungarian and the reft the 19,
But of Our Bohemian the 1 8. jeare.

Ferdinand.

Stephanus BoiThiack £/*#.• Efife:
Vefprinicnfis Cancellarius^
Georgius Orofly secretmut,
F 1 5VC / s.

* «vV\\\ r>^^

¦^ar*

'$

% in

JNsjVs.