MOst Illustrious Prince , our humble seruices remembred , wishing your Highnesse all health and happinesse ; These are to let you know , that being at this present enformed by Adolff , Baron of Gerstorff , Counsellor and Gouernour in Vpper Lusatia for his Maiestie of Bohemia , that your Highnesse wisheth him to summon the people of that Countrie to assemble in Counsell together , and to insinuate an Imperiall Commission vnto them : as also that the said Gouernour certifieth vs , that your Highnesse forces are marching forward towards the borders of the said Countrie , whereby wee may easily and euidently perswade our selues to what purpose the said Commission tendeth ; for that our Ambassadours beeing lately with your Highnesse at Dresden , ( contrarie to our expectations ) found your Graces minde to bee wholly alienated from vs , and that now you are of another opinion then at the beginning your Highnesse made shew of : as also that your Highnesse hath neuer beene truely enformed , touching our Apologie and Deductions sent out , and manifested to all Christendome ; otherwise it were impossible that your Highnesse , beeing a Protestant Prince-Elector , ( whose famous Predecessours , for vpholding and maintenance of the Gospel , and their ancient freedome , haue not spared to hazzard their Lands , Liues , and Goods , in the defence thereof , against the Spanish and Iesuiticall tyrannie ; as also , that your Highnesse holdeth and enioyeth so large a Territorie and Possession of this Crowne : ) If these things were truely related and represented vnto you , would euer haue embraced the execution of such an Imperiall Commission , wrested and wrung by papisticall and Spanish counsels from his Imperiall Maiestie : by your Highnesse meanes ( after so long atime ) casilier to enforce the execution of the Articles of the Councell of Trent , made against all the true professors of the Gospell in the Empire , then euer it could haue beene done before : which their designe hath manifestly and oftentimes beene published and set forth in Print by diuers papisticall Authors , declaring Sectarios Sectariorum auxilijs opprimendos esse : which Paulus Windec , in his Book entituled , Deliberatio de Haeresibus extirpandis , plainely expresseth : and the daily practises and proceedings of the Papists more then sufficiently witnessing their secret intents . And the examples of their proceedings and dealing with the Townes of Wesell , and Donawert , whose miseries are manifest to our eyes ; as also the late most bloudie Massacre ( made by the Spaniards in the Popes name at Veltlin ) where ( to the horror of posteritie ) being at a Sermon , they most cruelly murthered and hewed both Men , Women , and innocent Children in pieces , ( thereby manifestly discouering their pretence touching the finall suppression of that free Nation , ) plainely shew what wee are to expect from them by these dealings . And the Papists in all places bragge and boast thereof in such manner , that it is certainely written from Rome , that those of the League in the Empire ( touching matters of Bohemia ) should not proceede openly therein as they doe , till they had first wonne your Highnesse to agree and consent to be on their side . And therein haue now proceeded so farre , that your Highnesse is content to yeeld in all things to the Spirituall Electors , and so to accommodate your selfe to the will and pleasure of the Pope , and his adherents . But howsoeuer it shall please God to bring the issue of these things to passe , your Highnesse must be well aduised , and consider , that if you enter into Armes against those of the Religion , the innocent bloud that shall be shed therein , will ( by God ) one day be required at your Highnesse hands . Withall , we cannot by any meanes see nor find , that such like Imperiall Commissions giuen out and thundred against this Kingdome , and the Prouinces incorporated thereunto , can with equitie and iustice be any wayes iustified : not onely in respect of the manifest exemption thereof , but also ob notorium defectum Iurisdictionis : and likewise that all the sayd proceedings ( although no such considerations were made ) directly , è diametro , are contrarie to all godly and humane Lawes , and especially against the capitulations of the Roman Empire , and the fundamentall Lawes and Constitutions of this Kingdome .

And it is most strange , and a thing neuer heretofore heard of , that an Emperour of Rome , ( in his owne priuate quarrell touching the House of Austria , and no wayes concerning the Empire , ) should be Plaintife , Iudge , and Executioner ; as also , that some others of the States ( no Imperiall Assembly being formerly called , nor any lawfull proceeding before the same being made , nor processe Imperiall sent forth ) should of malice take part with him in his priuate Austrian pretences , and ayde and assist him therein . But if it were a thing that concerned the Empire it selfe , then in duety euery man were bound to lay his helping hand thereunto , for that , Quod omnes tangit ab omnibus tractari debeat . Therefore men must of necessitie make their account , that whatsoeuer hapneth to the Crowne of Bohemia by these proceedings of the House of Austria , will in like manner fall vppon the Romane Empire it selfe , and in fine bring them also into the subiection and succession of the Spaniard , as it appeareth manifestly by their proceedings now in hand . Therefore in this constraint and necessitie , we must submit our selues to the will and pleasure of our most iust God , and patiently expect and attend his ayde and deliuerance : Assuring our selues that God knoweth , that the Kings Maiestie of Bohemia , our most gracious Lord and Prince , and the States of this Kingdome , together with the incorporated Countries thereunto , and the confederated Kingdomes with the same ( notwithstanding they knew well that your Highnesse was diuerted and disswaded from him , by the Imperiall Councell ; and that his Maiestie hauing his Sword in Hand , and armed so long time before to oppose the enemie , and could also haue well preuented their proceedings , ) he neuer gaue nor offered cause of dislike in any manner whatsoeuer vnto your Highnesse ; but to the contrary , euer honoured , respected , and loued you , alwaies holding good correspondence with your Country : in the meane time omitting many good offers , and thereby hath done himselfe wrong .

Touching our established Confederation , and our compulsiue Abdication of the Emperour Ferdinand from this Crowne , and the election of our Kings Maiestie that now is ; as also , of our continued defence , together with the deliberation , and of the incorporated Prouinces thereunto annexed : Wee haue had more then iust right and euident cause to proceede and continue therein ; constantly perswading our selues , that we may well answer it both before God , and all other impartiall Princes and Potentates whatsoeuer , both within and without the Empire , if we might obtaine any iust and lawfull audience in our cause .

Likewise , to our great griefe , we are enformed , in what manner our Aduersaries , both within and without the Empire , most shamefully slaunder vs and our confederates : and as in former times the true professors of Christian Religion were vsed by Heathen Tyrants , so there can be no vntruths nor slanders deuised nor inuented , but the same are imposed and layed vpon vs.

And it is most vntruly giuen forth and reported , That we , by our Ambassadours , haue made a league with the Turke , haue correspondence , and promised and offered him free passage through this Kingdome of Bohemia into the Empire ; which is a most false and vntrue calumniation , for that neuer any such thing entered into our thoughts : as also that ours , and our Confederates Ambassadours , are yet but vpon their way towards the Portt or the Turks Court , and haue no other Commission nor Instructions giuen vnto them , but onely to intreat vpon a good and friendly peace with them , as other Princes and Potentates of Christendome haue heretofore done , and haue found great benefit hereby . And by this meanes the Empire of Rome shall by vs be better secured then euer it was heretofore by the House of Austria , who when it pleased them , without the knowledge and consent of any of the Princes-Electors , or this Kingdome , made warre with the Turke ; and then againe intreated of peace , onely for their owne priuate commoditie and benefit ; which , when occasion serueth , is manifestly to be proued .

And the bringing in of so many stranger-Souldiers of diuers Nations , to ouerthrow and subiect these Countries bordering vpon the Turke , as they intend , will be no small meanes and occasion to moue and stirre the Turke to conceiue a iealousie against the Houses of Austria and Spaine ; and so causing him to suspect their proceedings , he may peraduenture be moued in this dangerous time to attempt some great matter ; it being done at the very same time when the Ambassadours of these Countries and Prouinces are gone towards the Portt to intreat of Peace with him . Which if it should so happen , and fall out , ( as God forbid it should ) we protest before God and all the World , that we are not the procurers , but rather the hinderers thereof . And it is truely to be auouched , what great and large offers the Emperours Ministers haue made at the Portt , to moue and prouoke the Turke to make warre vppon the King of Hungarie that now is .