SAcra , Regia Poloniae , & Sueciae Maiestas , Dominus meus clementissimus integram diuturnamque valitudinem , foelicissimos votorum omnium euentus , florens ac tranquillum latissimarum ditionum Imperium , M. V. precatus , singularem fraterni animi , & rerum , M. V. studiosissimi , propensionem , maximà quà potest particularis ergà M. V. affectus testificatione declarat , ac his obstring it literis . Quibus praeuiis , vt reliqua Legationis meae expedienti mihi , M. V. benignas aures praebere dignetur , humilimè postulo .

TAndem erupt Ottomanarum iam diu celatum pectore virus , & depositâ simulatae multis abhinc annis amicitiae laruâ , publico Barbarorum furore , validissimum Christiani orbis antemuräle , petitur Polonia . Perstrepit bellico apparatu Oriens , onerantur classibus maria , iungitur Europae Asia , Africanarum si quid est virium in nostram armatur perniciem . In societatem tanti belli veniunt haereditarij nominis nostri hostes , Scythiae ; venit & vterque Dacus ; Seruij , Bulgari , Bosnenses , Illyrij , Thraces , Epirotae , quicquid ferarum vsquam est gentium , vi , praemijs , pollicitationibus , spe praedae , cupiditate vindictae cogitur , pellicitur , accenditur . Paratus nuper lamentabilis cruentae tragoediae prologus ; hausit immitis primum cruorem Dacia , cùm perfidus hostis veterum ac recentium solenni iureiur ando firmatorum immemor foederum , innumeris copijs Regiae Maiestatis Domini mei clementissimi petens ditiones , appositam sibi paruam quidèm , sed bellicosissimam nostrorum manum caecîdit , ingenti Christianae Reip. detrimento .

Creuêrunt etenim eâ victoriâ barbari spiritus , & tam faustis insolentes primordijs vniuersam spe concipiunt Europam , eô prouecti vel arrogantiae , vel amentiae , vt nec assentiente quidem Deo , delere gentem nostram se posse arbitrentur . Tanto non suarum duntaxat , sed Christianarum omnium prouinciarum commota sacra Regia Maiestas Dominus meus clementissimus discrimine , eo fuit animo , vt & reliquos Principes impendentis metus commonefaceret , & inprimis ad M. V. nullâ interpositâ morâ , referret .

Sed ea est M. V. singularis vigilantia , tantum communis Christianorum boni studium , vt & illos , ad quos ipsa potissimùm vel temporum , vel locorum ratione pertinent pericula , animaduertat . Anteuertit M. V. & hunc Serenissimi Regis mei nuncium , idque vltrò praestitit quod postulandum erat , cùm eidem hosti se Regiae M. Domini mei clementissimi amicum esse , nec ei vllo in discrimine deesse posse , nunciauit . Quâ in re agnoscit R. M. verè magnum , verè regium , verè Christianum M. V. animum ; agnoscit fraternum ergàse affectum , quem gratissimi testificatione animi prosequitur , ac profitetur , nihil tam graue , nihil tam difficile , nihil tâm periculosum fore , quod vicissim M. V. causâ aggredi recuset . Moueantur vtinam tam praeclaro M. V. exemplo reliqui Christianorum Principes , velintquè potius tam gloriosi laboris esse cooperatores , quàm segnes & otiosi spectatores alieni periculi , pessundaturi quandoquè propria , dum vicina negligunt . Id verò vsu venire nostro , si Dijs placet , credant cautiores , exemplo , quos neglecta Graecia , deserta Pannonia , in has coniecit angustias . Et nos quidèm eam quam coelum tulerit , sortem feremus , renouaturi Saguntinorum fidei , Tyriorum constantiae , & si quid vsquam fortiter actum , exempla ; caeterùm vicini nostri prouideant , quaratione animos firmare possint , ad fimiles , vel ( auertant omen superi ) grauiores casus tolerandos . Nequè putent tyrannum , euius animuum humiles Sarmatarum casae ad tam detestandum impulêrunt periurium , sanctiora habiturum vicinitatis iura quae cum eis iecerit , quorum vrbibus mercaturâ florentissimis , opibus praestantissimis , aedificiorum cultu splendidissimis , iamdudum inhiat . Non detinebunt haec , sed allicient , non extinguent , sed inflāmabunt , sacrilegam per nefas propagandi imperij sitim . Quis enim non videt hoc vnum Tyrannum intendere , quod in maiorum eius multo tempore agitatum constet fuisse confilio , vt occupatâ patentissimâ in omnes Europae partes regione , omnis grani feracissimâ , omnium ad classem instruendam , armandamque necessariorum refertissimâ , innumeris suis copijs opima apperiat horrea , nauium ingentem praeparet copiam , quibus Balthicum occupet sinum , transiturus in Oceanum , vt sic binis classibus , velut alis , ab vtroquè mar . Europam premat , & opprimat ; terrestres copias per apertissimos , quà Poloniam spectat , campos , in Germaniam effundat , quà euntem non montium claustra retinere , nonfluminum rapacitas poterit retardare ? Voluebat haec Solymannus animo , agitabanteius posteri , nec vllâ aliâ ab eo consilio deterritos eosfuiss ▪ constatratione , quàm quòd crederent vniuersos conspiraturos Christianos , ad tuendum hoc Regnum , excuius salute totius Europae pendeat integritas . Nedeerantillo uotam magnanimi Principes , qui maluissent opum , ac vitae propriae detrimentum facere , quàm vicini sibi populi salutem periclitantem deserere . Haec nostrâ aetate , proh dolor ! multi non intelligunt , negligunt nonnulli , & quod dolendum magis , accersunt vltrò ad communem omnium perniciem , persidum nominis Christiani hostem , indigni Christiano nomine , Barbaris ipsis execrabiliores . Vnum Te habent , Serenissime Rex , haec nostra tempora , qui pro singulari tuâ prudentiâ animaduertisti , & iudicâsti per latus Poloniae vniuersam peti Europam , ac eius periculum ad omnes pertinere Christianos ; solenne Ottomanorum esse bella ex bellis quaerere , & regna regnis cumulare , qui non contenti Asiae , Africae , & maioris Europae partis imperio , quicquid reliquum est praedae destinant : nec sibi per religionem licere aliter posse opinantur .

Videt haec M. V. singula , vnde & hanc gloriam est consecuta , ambigentibus caeteris Principibus quid sentirent , solam M. V. quid Christianae Reip. expediret , maximè & vidisse , & eligisse , autoremquè reliquis extitisse , vt , dum licet , mutuis auxilijs , communibus subsidijs tantae imanissimi hostis obuiam eant libidini , cuius opes intestinis ipsorum dissidijs eô creuêrunt potentiae .

THE sacred , royall Maiesty of Poland , and Suethland , my most gracious Lord and Master , wishing vnto your Maiesty perfect , and long health , most happy successe in all your desires , a flourishing , and peacefull gouernment ouer your most large dominions , declareth , by the most ample testification hee may of particular affection to your Maiestie , the singular propension of a minde , brotherly , and most studiously addicted to your Maiesties affaires , and obligeth himselfe by these Letters . And this Preface past , I most humbly beseech your Maiesty , while I briefely declare the rest of my Embassage , to vouchsafe me your benigns attention .

THE long concealed poyson in the brest of the Ottomans , hath now at length broke forth , and the maske of many yeeres faigned friendship laid aside , Poland , the strongest bulwarke of the Christian world , is assaulted with the vniuersall fury of the Barbarous . The East is filled with noise of preparation for Warre , the seas are loaden with Nauies , A●●a is ioyn'd to Europe , and what forces Affrica affoords , are arm'd for our destruction . Into the society of so great a Warre there come the hereditary enemies of our name , the Tartars ; there comes also both the Dacians ; the Seruians , Bulgars , Bosnians , Illyrians , Thracians , Epirotes , al wilde , and barbarous people whatsoeuer , by force , rewards , promises , hopes of prey , desire of reuenge , are compel'd , allur'd , enraged . A lamentable prologue to this bloudy tragedy hath lately bin acted ; cruell Dacia hath greedily drunke the first bloud , where the perfidious enemy mindlesse of his past and present leagues solemnely seal'd , and sworne , inuading with innumerable troopes the territories of the King , my most clement Master , slue , to the singular losse of the Christian Commonwealth , our small , but most warlike Army opposed against him . For by that victory the courage of the Barbarous , ● chiefe ● at the ●can●● , ●●ainst ●●ans , ●●lemn ●●eir ● for ●●cesse ●e , the ●rke ● them , ● with● from were ●r own ●●stroy ●ian● . increased , and they growne insolent with so happy beginnings , haue in hope deuoured all Europe , beeing so farre transported either with arrogance , or madnesse , that euen without ᵃ Gods assent , they beleeue themselues able to destroy our Nation . With so great a danger not onely of his owne , but of all other Christian prouinces , the Sacred Maiestie of my most gracious Master being moued , hath determined with himselfe to forewarne other Princes of the imminent perill , but especially , all delay set apart , to referre it to your Maiestie . But such is the singular vigilancy of your Maiestie , so great is your study of the common good of Christians , that you doe aduertise them , to whom the dangers in respect either of time , or place chiefely belong ; and your Maiestie preuenteth euen this message of my most renowned King , & of your own accord You haue offered what wee should haue sought , when to this selfesame enemie , you declared your selfe Friend to the Regall Maiestie of my most gracious Master , and that you would not forsake him in any danger . Wherein his Regall Maiestie acknowledgeth your truely great , truely royall , truely Christian minde ; wherein hee acknowledgeth your Maiesties brotherly affection , which with the testification of a most thankefull heart , hee embraces , and professeth there is nothing so grieuous , so difficult , so dangerous , which he would not likewise for your Maiesties cause vndertake . I would to God other Christian Princes might be moued by this most famous example of your Maiestie , and that they would rather be fellow labourers in so glorious a worke , then idle and slothfull spectators of others danger , since by neglecting their neighbours , they cannot but at length ruine themselues . Which how likely it is to come to passe , they may , if Heau'n bee pleas'd , beleeue , forewarned by the example of our selues , whom neglected Greece , forsaken Hungary haue cast into these present straights . And surely wee shall suffer whatsoeuer Heau'n imposeth with resolution to renew the examples of the Saguntines faith , Tyrians constancie , or of what fortitude hath else beene found ; but let our neighbours forethinke how they shall prepare their mindes to endure the like , or ( which Heau'n forbid ) greater calamities . Neither let them once imagine the Tyrant , whose minde the poore Sarmatian cottages drew to so detestable periury , wil esteeme more holy the rights and lawes of neighbourhood which he shall make with them , after whose cities most flourishing in Merchandise , most excelling in riches , most beautifull in buildings , hee hath long gaped . These things will not keepe backe , but draw him on , they will not quench , but inflame his sacrilegious thirst of enlarging his Empire by all both inhumane , and irreligious wickednesse . For who sees not the Tyrant onely to intend that which is knowne to haue beene long time debated in the counsell of his predecessors , that by possessing a country yeelding easiest accesse into all parts of Europe , most fertile of all kinde of graine , most replenished with all necessaries to build , and arme a Nauie , hee might open plentifull granaries to his numberlesse Armies , and prepare infinite shipping , by which beeing Master of the Balthike Sound , hee might passe into the Ocean , and so with two Nauies , as it were with two wings , by both the Seas , presse , and oppresse Europe ; that he might through most open Countries , and Plaines powre into Germany , by those quarters it bordereth with Poland , his Land forces , where are no closure of Mountaines to restraine , no swiftnesse of Riuers to fore-slowe his iourney ? This , long since , Solyman and his successors cast in their minde , neither were they , as it is manifest , by any other reason deterred from that purpose , then for that they beleeued , all Christians would conspire to defend that Kingdome , on whose safety the good estate of all Europe depended . Neither did there want in that age Princes so magnanimous , that they rather chose to suffer losse of substance , yea of life , then to forsake the endangered safety of their neighbour Nation . But many in this our age apprehend not , with griefe I speake it , these things , some neglect them , and which is more to be lamented , industriously inuite this faithlesse enemie of the Christian name , of which they are vnworthy , and then the Barbarous themselues more execrable , to the common destruction of all . These our times , most Renowned King ! finde onely You , who in your singular wisedome haue considered , and vnderstood that all Europe is strooke at through the sides of Poland , and that the danger toucheth all Christians ; that to seeke Warres after Warres , and heape Kingdomes to Kingdomes , is customary with the Turkes , who , not satisfi'd with the Empire of Asia , Africa , and greater part of Europe , designe what e're remaines for prey , and according to their religion , imagine it is not lawfull for them to doe otherwise . All these things your Maiestie well sees , and thereby hath attained the glory , whiles other Princes stand doubtfull what to thinke , alone to haue vnderstood , and chosen what was behouefull for the Christian Common-wealth , and to haue beene Author to the rest , of resisting , by mutuall aides , and common succours , the so great rage of a most cruell enemy , whose fortunes haue growne vnto this height of power by their intestine discords . Proceede then , O most inuincible King ! and reach out this your hand , not more knowne by Armes then Piety , to afflicted Poland imploring your helpe . You are Defender of the Faith ; take then care that our common Deity be not blasphemed ; imitate your Predecessors , who held it not burthensome to rowze the Barbarous out of their owne dens , & stretch vnto the bounds of farthest Syria , the glory of the Brittish name . In your Maiesties most ample Territories all things abound which are requir'd to represse the force of the most potent enemy ; store of Nobility , multitude of people , prouisions of all kinde , immeasurable power . Let not your Maiesty suffer the English most experienced in military affaires , the most warlike Scotsh , the fierce & most couragious Irish idly to behold the dangers of a King most ioynd in friendship , & of a Nation most-affected to your Maiesty ; and rather to expect in their own roofes so large a spreading flame , then , whiles they may , extinguish it in their Neighbours . To prouide in others danger for your owne , nor to cast your eye only on present , but also on future things , belongs to your Maiesties celebrated Wisedome , belongs to your Magnanimitie , which either world shall admire , which long posteritie shall report and praise , which preserued Poland shall reuerence . And my most Renowned King , as for the present hee imbraceth with all possible thankefulnesse , the particular affection of your Maiestie towards him , so in all time to come , he will declare himselfe that Friend , which shall from his soule both fauour your Maiestie prosperous successes , and in aduerse , if any such should chance , be no lesse mooued then with his proper danger .