The first is Religion , the ordinary pretext of such as vndertake to inuade others , or to draw from them ayde and supplyes . It is true that the hard measure offerd the Protestants of Bohemia , by the Officers of the Emperour , ( as is apparent by the frequent Complaintes and remonstrances presented by the saide Protestants to his Imperiall Maiesty , and of late by the Apologie and declaration Published in diuers Languages ) gaue the first hint and occasion to the last Combustion , and brought foorth the fruites and changes that wee now beholde . But this is not the first time that the Bohemians haue in generall complained of the force offered their Priuiledges , and Liberties ; and of the breach of the fundamentall Lawes of their Estate , ( which is in very deede Electiue ) and that the Imperiall branch of Austria , hath endeauoured to make it Hereditary , as well as the Empire ; to the preiudice of the Imperiall Liberties and Constitutions , and particularly to that of the Golden Bull , which expresly forbids the perpetuating of the Succession in one and the same Family . In a worde then , it is a busines of State and not of Religion : Besides that , the Bohemians make it appeare ( and they thinke with sufficient proofe ) that Ferdinand was Elected King of Bohemia by the surprise of three or foure Officers of that Kingdome , Pentioners and Partisans of Spaine , without calling thereto the assistance of the three incorporate Prouinces , Silesia , Morauia , and Lusatia , which haue euer had , and ought to haue , their free voyces and assents . Againe it is most true , that at such time as the Estates of the saide Kingdome , expelled the Iesuites ( whome they charged as the Authors of that mischiefe ) they tooke into their protection , all other orders of Church-men , who euen to this houre haue not receiued any interruption in their Ecclesiasticall Functions , or in the free inioying of their reuenues and Benefices . Besides that , King Frederick at his entrance , tooke a solemne 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 questionlesse if hee should proceed otherwise , he should bee ill aduised , in regard that a good and great part of that Estate consists of Catholickes . It is then a meere Columny to say that it is a busines of Religion , and that the Designe of the Protestantes is to suppresse the Catholickes . The falshood also of this assertion is prooued by the Suffrages , that a Prince Catholique had in his Election to Bohemia , and in like number as had another Prince of the Lutheran profession : each of them hauing had sixe Voyces : And since all this is matter of Fact , the proofe or disproofe thereof is most easie .

The Second reason alledged , is Alliance : because the Emperour Ferdinand , is by the Mother side Vnckle to our Queene , whose Husband they say is tyed in respect of so straight a Bond to assist him : But the most straight Bond is of a King to his Subiectes , as of a Father to his Children ; and the safety of an Estate surpasseth all other considerations . The transcendent Greatnes of this House hath cost France deare enough in our dayes , without seeking farther proofe of this in other Histories then in that of the last League ; vnlesse we will now approoue , what was almost two thousand yeares since saide of our Nation , That wee assoone forget an Iniury , as a Benefit . This also is a point of Consideration , that the King in making himselfe a party for the House of Austria , diuideth his Subiects that are of different Religion , before the woundes of the State bee throughly closed ; offendeth his Oldest and surest Friends and Allies ; and bringeth his Kingdomes into the danger of a Warre abroad , and of trouble at home . For if hee imploy his forces against the Palatinat for the diuersion demaunded ; what other effects may hee expect ? Since the Palatinat during the absence of King Fredericke , is vnder the Protection of the Estates of the vnited Prouinces , and of the Princes of the Vnion . Againe , the King ( shall as in a brauery ) empty his Treasure for a busines farre from vs ; and which concerneth not directly nor indirectly , his Estate or Person ; being ( as I haue saide ) a matter neither of Religion nor Conscience . In yeelding also Supplyes to one party before hee heare the other , his Maiesty tacitly Condemneth one , and is Guilty of that which all the Lawes of the world and hee himselfe forbids , in ordinary Suites and differences , betweene party and party ; it being likely that before many dayes bee past , the saide King Fredericke , his Friends and Allyes , will giue his Maiesty an account of what hath passed in this busines , and acquaint him with the cause and motiues of so great a change and enterprise .

The third inducement is the assistance and Protection that Kings owe one another ; especially such as are in distresse : But let the Emperour be pleased to remember how hee and his Predecessors , haue euermore neglected France ; expresly forbidden the Princes of the Empire , Friends and Allyes of this Crowne , to assist our Kinges of later times , in their necessities ; much lesse that they haue euer supplyed them with men or money : Let him remember also the refusall , hee lately made the Duke of Neuers , of the Kings mediation , fauour , and authority , for setling the Affayres of Bohemia , when they were yet in Good tearmes ; I meane during the Life of the Emperour Mathtas , and many monthes before this new Election . But if the King will fauour one of the partyes ( as by reason of State and for diuersion it hath beene at other times in practice ) there may be shewed to his Maiestie , halfe a hundred Letters of the deceased King , and of some of the Kings his predecessors , contayning thankes for the good & notable seruices performed by the house of the Prince Palatine and his Allyes , to their Persons and Crownes in their occasions of need . The instructions giuen to such as haue bene within these thirtie or fortie yeares , sent into Germany confirme this : Besides , the straight alliance that King Henry the great ( a most wise Prince ) settled betweene him and the body of the Vnion in Germany , a small time before his death ; approued since by the King now Raigning , and by the Queene his Mother then Regent , when the Duke of Deux Ponts came into this Kingdom to condole the last Kings murthering . In like sort the Contracts & Obligations vpon proofe in the Chamber of Accounts for many summes of money , lent and paid before hand , by the said house of the Prince Palatine , his neere kindred and Allyes , ( of a part whereof France is yet a debtor . ) These ( I say ) are proofes sufficient of what I haue saide , and oblige his Maiestie to lend his assistance rather to this then to the other party .

The fourth induction , is the dangerous example of Reuoltes ( for with such tearmes doe they qualifie this change , to make it the more odyous , without distinguishing between Kingdomes Electiue and Hereditary ; Especially since between Electiue Kingdomes , there is difference of Condition as all the world knowes . And it is to bee noted , that at the Sacring and Coronation of the Kinges of Bohemia , the King first sweares to obserue the Lawes and Priuiledges of the Countrey , and then the people take the Oath of fidelitie . And at that ioyfull entry ( as it is tearmed ) of Antwerp , which is the solemnity of Creating and receiuing a newe Duke of Brabant , it is deliuered in expresse tearmes that hee declares himselfe fallen from his Right and Dignity , if hee make not good the Articles that hee hath promised and sworne to the people . So did the deceased Duke of Anion , last Duke of Brabant promise and pronounce in the yeare , 1583. For betweene the proceedings of the Low Countryes , and of Bohemia , there is a great resemblance . The enactions and Cruelties of the Duke of Alua , were indifferently exercised vpon the Protestants and Catholickes , The Count of Egmont ( whose head hee stroke off ) was no Hugonet : no more then was the most part of so many thousand other of all Ages , Sexes , and Conditions , whom hee brag'd , at his departure thence , that he had made an end of by the hand of the Hangman . And it is most true , that the inhumane and barbarous courses taken by the Count of Bucquoy , for these fifteene or sixteene Monthes , in the Warre against the Bohemians , thinking with Fire and Sword to bring them to obedience ( which is wisdome against the hayre ) serued but to hasten the reiection of Ferdinand , and the Election of Fredericke : Not to mention the obstinate denyall , made to admit or heare the Deputies of the Estates of that Kingdome , and of the Prouinces incorporate vnto it , at the last assembly at Franckfort , when the saide Ferdinand was aduaunced to the Crowne Imperiall : And of this kinde of wisdome , was also the Refusall made lately by the same Emperour Ferdinand to his Subiectes , of the lower Austria , and Stiria , who made offer to serue him with their Liues and goods , in withstanding the Inuasions of the Bohemians , conditionally that hee would Confirme their Priuiledges , and graunt them free vse of their Religion : It is hee himselfe , that in the like case saide once , That he had rather bee a Prince without Subiects , then to haue any , of a contrary Religion to his owne . This humour of his expressed in that Language , made such an Impression and apprehension of him in his people , ( though hee be held otherwise a Good and a wise Prince ) as it was not the least reason of the Alteration wee now see . Happy are those Princes , that hauing neede of Counsell , are able to make choyce of Wise and Faithfull Councellours , such as haue no other ayme but their Maisters aduauntage , without regard to their owne particuler interest . There haue beene in this House , Great and Famous Princes for Valour and Vertue , but these of later time haue beene ill Serued and ill aduised . Witnes their Losses in the Low Countryes , and now , and to come ; if they againe take not the way they haue left , of sweetnes and gentlenes .

The Fift and last , principall reason is , That the Turke will infallibly , lay holde on the occasion of these Combustions , to serue his turne , and to aduaunce his Conquests , to the hurt of Christendome ; which is not vnlikely ? And if hee doe it not , it is either the fault of his little wisdome , or of his weaknesse ; which yet may bee auoyded by leauing this new King in quiet Possession , now that he is Elected , and that without Suite or labouring of his owne , nay without his owne Knowledge , and beeing forcedly as it were carryed on , by the Counsell of his Friends , to the Acceptance of this Crowne , which hath beene since set on his Head ; accompanyed with all the Formes and Solemnities due and Correspondent to the fundamentall and most auncient Lawes of Bohemia ; a Kingdome Free and Priuiledged if euer any : Whereas , on the Contrary , if hee bee molested ; and dispossessed ; Hee will be , by the law of Nature , and of Reason , inforced to inuite his Friendes and Allyes to ayde him ; As the Princes of Germany ; the Kings of Denmarke , and Sweden ; the Hans Townes , and the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland , with whom hee and some other Princes of the Vnion , are Confederate for their common Defence . Not to speake of England , and the Vnited Prouinces , whence hee cannot but receiue Powerfull succours . Not to speake also of certaine Princes , and Estates Catholicke , which holde good Correspondence with him : Nor of the Prince of Transiluania , who offreth him his best meanes and Forces .

In the meane time , it is a false affirmation that the said King entertayneth Intelligence or commerce with the Turke , hauing Friends so many and so mighty in Christendome , without being driuen to seeke them else where with so great danger . But if the Prince of Transiluania Fortifie himselfe on that side , ( as hee hath heretofore done ) for his better setling in his Principallity , at such time as the House of Austria sought to crosse him , as it had donne before , the vnfortunate Gabriel Battori : and disturbe him in his Possession , it is beside the purpose and concerneth not Bohemia ; nor is in any sort applyable to this new King . But who knoweth not , howe the greater part of Hungary , and of other Principalities of that part of Christendome , are in conclusion fallen into the handes of the Common Enemy of Christendome ?