THE Triumph that I heard sung aloud of the strength and solidnesse of argument , in a little Information sent abroad almost in the darke , to beguile the friends thereof ; Maintaining the Kingdome of Bohemia to be successiue , and by consequence rightly descended to the house of Austria , at first , so farre preiudiced mee , as to thinke so much confidence and boldnesse was supported with great probability of truth : And I confesse that little pile , as it stands compacted and involued , hath in it selfe a faire show , vntill it bee taken in peeces , and searched at the Corner Stones . Desire of mine owne satisfaction , first made me curious to looke into the best Records of Story of that Country , I found the Authors such , as without exception , for their quality , iudgement , and meanes to know the truth , no dispaffionate man could refuse . They doe relate barely what was done and practised , without fore-thinking to decide a question , which in their times could not be fore-seene , and was the least part of their designe ; and therefore , their witnesse , as vn-concerned therein , is of more authority . When I had informed my selfe , I learned of Saint Paul , to settle my Brethren , who for want of my leisure , could not intend such a perplexed search ; and might , for zeale and loue of truth , be miscarried with that which was first propounded to them for truth . I doe not intend to answer the Informato● from point to point ; but to warne you , that he hath taken aduantages , and forcibly drawne into his purpose , fragments and pieces , the whole whereof would be too heauy for his foundation : and as his stuffe is , so are his vses and applications wrested & made crooked , not one grown Timber among them . I haue therfore vndertaken , in a plaine Narration , to shew the first Election of the Princes of Bohemia , & the continuance and practice of Free Election vnto Ferdinand of Austria : 34. from Bre●t●l . ●2 . That not one in all that series of so manie Princes and Kings did succeed in right of Inheritance simply ; nor did dare so to claime an admittance to that Scepter . In which discourse I desire you to consider , not so much the efficacy of euery proofe of Election singly ( which notwithstanding is an irrefragable euidence ) as the whole file , and thred , purpose and practice of the States and free people of that Kingdome : for power and affection may sometimes obscure and slacken the stiffnesse ; but yet in euery age and change , more or lesse , the right hath broken forth and stood for it selfe . I haue not thought it fit to trouble you with latter times , in which the house of Austria hath beene preferred , and haue claimed a succession of right , from a succession of Loue , and so haue lost their best title . It is euident in all Electiue kingdomes , that the Sonne of the Father hath beene chosen ; for hee was already set vpon the stage , and was borne Candidatus : So was it often practized in the Empire , without preiudice to the right of Election , in any family , when there was iust cause to change . As Galba noted of Augustus , I lle in Domo successorem quae siuit , ego in Republica . Tac. hist. lib. 1. But if that Electiue succession be pretended ; and an answere heere expected I say , it is out of my purpose , who wade only in the History of former ages , and it is more proper for them to satisfie , who can search the Archiues and Records of their owne Acts : but for a generall answere , we propound , that we dare ioyne issue euen in these , and be iudged by the Registers of the publike assemblies vpon euery Election , and by the Defesall and Reuersall letters giuen by those Princes of Austria , their own Acts , acknowledging the free Election and good will of the States of Bohemia , sine vlla alia obligatione .

To lay our owne foundation sure and conspicuous , I first present this definition of a Kingdome successiue ; That the Crowne , and all the Rights of Regality , doe de Iure descend vnto the next Prince or Princesse of the bloud Royall in right Line ; And that it is as great an Interruption of succession that a younger House bee preferred , as that a Stranger ; and that the States and people haue no right to put by or refuse the next in bloud vpon any pretence : and these rules establish and limit a Kingdome successiue . But that this Canon hath neuer taken place , nor beene practised by the Bohemians , I shew in these fiue Conclusions .

1. That the first Princes of Bohemia were Elected , and the forme of their Election recorded .

2. That the practice of Election hath continued so , that the Yonger Brethren haue beene preferred before the Elder , the Vncle before the Nephew , sonne to the elder brother : the Cosen of the yonger House , before Cosen of the elder : the Husband of the yonger sister , before the Husband of the elder .

3. Meere stangers before daughters and sisters of the last Kings , and before any of the Bloud .

4. The power and practice of deposition or reiection in case of misgouernment , or want of due Forme in Election .

5. That almost all the Kings that haue immediatelie succeeded their Fathers , haue beene Elected and Crowned during the Fathers life , or chosen Marquesses of Morauia ( a step to the Crowne ) by the authority of the Father in possession , or for his merit and memory dead : so that no such succession hath been pure de Iure , but ayded and grounded vpon other rights then of succession . All which examples and Rules doe diametrally oppugne and ouerthrow the pretence of Hereditary Succession , and consequently proue ( for there ) is not one Prince without the reach of one of these Rules ) Bohemiae Regnum esse Electinum .

Crocus after Zechius , who setled his Colonies in Bohemia , was made there Iudge by the people for his vertue ; Geor. Barthold . Boh pia pag. 11. Crocus vir Iustus , & magnae apud Bohemos , tunc temporis opinionis & authoritatis , princeps dilectus est : vir hic fuit Iudiciorum in deliberatione discretus , Cosm. Prag . Chron. pag. 4. ad quem , tam de proprijs tribubus , quam ex totius prouinciae plebtbus , velut apes ad alueria , ita omnes ad dirimenda conuolabant Iudicia .

Crocus had three daughters , Kari eldest , Tethka second , Lubossa third and yongest . Cosm. Prag . pag. 4.5 6. This last for her wise dome was by the people chosen a Princesse , or Iudge ; There fell out a controuersie betweene two Bohemians about the limits of their ground , which Lubossa ended by sentence ; The party displeased and condemned , being enraged , renounced the Iudgement , disdaining it from that sexe ; and thereby tooke occasion to demand a man to gouerne . Lubossa was vnwilling to let goe the Reynes , and first threatens what and how violent the dominion of man would proue , Geor. Birtbold . pag. 11. after disswades by force of many arguments ; Ad haec vulgus confuso exult at clamore , omnes vno ore Ducem sibi poscunt dari , which when she could not auoyd , she cunningly propounds a free Election , by letting loose an horse that should stay before a man eating at an Iron table , which was agreed vnto ; and then she sayes , Ite demum , vt quem vos cras eligatis in Dominum , ego assumam mihi in maritum . This horse stood still before Primislaus , who was eating his dinner vpon his plough share , and so he is chosen ; The first form of Election . Cosm. Prag . p. 6. and the forme of Election recorded to bee by salutation of all the people ; they all all cry out , Domina nostra Lubosso , & plebs vniuersa mandant vt cito venias &c. te Ducem te Iudicem , te Rectorem , te Protectorem te solum nobis in Dominum eligimus ; Here are three Elections in the first foundation , and one Reiection of Lubossa confirmed , and the forme recorded .

To wade deeper into the first times , is vnnessary ; onely one obseruation of Cosma Pragensis , Pag. 20. & Dubrau li. 7. pag. 54. an. 1002. that Vlricus the eighteenth Prince , who had no issue by lawfull marriage , saw by chance at a Well a handsome maide washing , named Bo●●na , vpon whom he cast affection , and begat a sonne called Breceslaus : Vlricus had put out his brother I●ron●irs eyes , yet hee tooke his Nephew , before whom hee was in right of bloud , and presented him adsedem principalem , & situt semper in electione ducis faciunt , &c. which proues hee was Elected , and the continuation of Election declared in those words , sicut semper in Electione .

To proceed to times better knowne , and to an estate better setled , and to looke downward from Brecislaus the 22th Prince , or as Cosma Prag : the ninteenth of Bohemia , we shall finde no succession from Father to Son , nor from Brother to Brother regular , but the fittest to gouerne , or the best beloued , euer chosen by the Bohemians . Brecislaus had fiue sonnes , Spitigneus 1 : Vratislaus 2 : Conradus 3 : Otho 4 : Iaromirus 5. Spitigneus the eldest succeeded , but by Election vpon recommendation of his Father . Cosm. Prag . pag. 30. an . 1055 Post Brecislai obitum filium eius primogenitum , nomine Spignen , omnes Bohemiae gentes , magni & parui , communi Consilio , & voluntate pari elegunt sibi in Ducem , cantantes kyrieleizon . After his death , Vratislaus his brother was chosen , pag. 33. omnibus Boemis fauentibus : He had also sixe sonnes ; Breceslaus 1 : Boleslaus 2 : Boriuorius 3 : Vladislaus 4 : Sobieslaus 5 : Henricus Bishop of Olmunts 6 : All these should haue succeeded the Father in rule of succession , but Conradus the Vncle was chosen Duke ; Hee had two sonnes , Vdalricus , or as Cosma Prag : calls him , Oalricus and Leopoldus , or Lutoldus : Now , in true succession , one of these must succeed the Father Conrad : but now the Bohemians returne to Brecislaus their Cosin German , and eldest sonne to Vratislaus ; and yet they returne not to him as in right , Dubran . p. 78. Nam diu ambigebant ordines , num Brecislaum ab exilio adregnum paternum reuecarent , an domi aliquem ex fratribus eius qui regnaret : After the death of Brecislaus . they againe skippe his three sonnes , Vladislaus , Henricus , and Theobaldus , who should succeed , and also the next elder brother , and Boriuerius the yonger is chosen : Now Vdalricus , Cosm. Prag . pag. 54.55 . or Oalritus the first sonne of Conrad , thinkes himselfe wronged to bee twice neglected in the Election ; and complaines to the Emperour at Ratisbon , sollicits him , by prayers , by friends , by money , to helpe him to the kingdome possessed by his Cozen Borinoy . Dubran . pag. 84 : Ibid. The Emperour takes his money , and lends him some succors , Sed hac conditione , vt liberum sit Bohemis , aut Vdalricu , at Boriuorium , habere Principem ; vtrum videlicet borum magis idoneum habilemque approbauerint : But when it came to a declaration , to what end hee would vse these aydes , to clayme the kingdome by right , hee dares not , but enterprets himselfe , Dat sibi Dncatus insignia & vexillum , ( which were due to him by bloud , had hee beene the youngest of the family ) Sed in Ducem elegendi obtentum ponit in arbitrio Bo●horum : But the Bohemians refuse his claime made by his Embassadors , and adhere to their first Election of Boriuoy , and defeat Oalricus and all his pretences in battaile . Boriuoy had a sonne called Iaromirus , who should haue succeeded , had that right taken place : but Suatopulcus gets in by fauour , and by the relapse of the people deposeth Boriuoy : This man was Cozen German to Boriuoy , of a younger house , the sonne of Othe , the fourth sonne of Brecislaus the two and twentieth . This Suatopulcus was not long after reiected , & Borinoy againe receined : And hee againe the second time deposed and thrust out , and Suatopulcus restored ; & so continued Prince to his death . He had a son called Henry , baptized by the Emperour , Cosm. Prag . pag. 57. and brought vp by him ; yet hee being slaine in the Campe , Othoniger his brother was Elected Prince . The Emperor comming to see and lament the dead body of Suatopulcus , and to appease the people , who it seemes feared lest he would obtrude vpon them a Successor against their will , Pag. 60. adstantibus immensis Boemis concessit , vt quemcunque voluissent , suorum ex filijs principum sibi in Ducem cligerent . There was the Sonne of Suatopulcus aliue , ( for any thing appeares ) many of the grand-children of Vratislaus the first King , and foure and twentieth Prince , before Otho in the right of Succession , yet Weseck of Morauia intercedes that he may be chosen Duke ; him also Henry the Emperour fauours , before the sonne and his owne God-sonne , and the people being most Morauians approue the Election , and presently in the Campe admit him for their Prince , crying Kyrieleyzon , and in foure daies brought him to Prage , Dubrau . pag. 90. at which Dubrauius sayes , the Bohemians tooke offence . Questi s●nt de electione in Castris factâ , contra Maiorum Instituta , moremque veterem : And Cosma Pragensis sayes , he was refused as he was , ● Quod quia sine consensu Boemorum & Episcopi , efficere conabantur , frustratur eorum temeritus , & Sacramenta olim exhibita in medio consilio recitantur : And Vladislaus the brother of Boreuoy was Elected , vt Iura Principatus , Iure adoptata , Cosm. Prag . pag. 60. ( that is by lawfull Election ) omnibus ascentientibus obtineret . This Vladislaus was younger brother to Boreuoy long since deposed , and now hee complaines ; and Otho the brother of Suatopulcos renewes a pretence : First , Boreuoy treates by his Embassadors , to perswade his yonger Brother to resigne ; Responsom huic a Vladislao huiusmodi retulit , non esse rem priuatam quam Boriuorius peteret , Dubrau . p. 91. sed ad vniversi populi suffragium illam pertinere ; proin haud ab vno fratre , sed ab omnibus ordinibus principatum esse ambiendum : The Bohemians adhere truely to their owne Election , ouerthrew Otho in Battaile , Cosm. Prag . pag. 62. and after Vladislaus by the Emperours deliuery gets Boreuoy into his power , and all his friends : Hee dyes , and Sobieslaus his yongest brother is chosen . Otho niger againe pretends , quia aetate prior esset , but is reiected . Sobieslaus had foure sonnes , Vladislaus the first , Dubrau . p. 9● . Sobieslaus the second , Vdalricus the third , Wenceslaus the fourth . These should haue succeeded the Father if succession had preuailed , but Vladislaus his Nephew , the sonne of his Brother Vladislaus ( euen by the fauor of Sobieslaus his Vncle against his owne Children , and by the Emperors helpe ) was designed Prince of Bohemia , and by the Emperor crowned the second King : But the Bohemians , because hee was yonger in yeares then Conrad his Cozen Germane the sonne of Leopold , son of Otho . And because his Election was not formall , Dubrau . p. 10● . ac Caesaris potius quam Boemorum Principem quando non in Bohemia sed in curia Caesaris Princeps sit creatus , Throno deijciunt , & in locum eius Conradum substituunt : But the Emperour Fredericke fauouring Vladislaus , restor'd him by force , and his sonne Fredericke succeeded , but was after also expulsed , and Vdalricus the third sonne of Sobieslaus the 30th Prince chosen , his elder brethren being neglected ; He was Cozen German halfe remooued from Fredericke ; He dying , his next elder brother Sobieslaus succeeded , and now Fredericke had againe gotten possession , & was againe expulled : After which Conradus the sonne of Leopold forenamed , was a new declared Prince of Bohemia , suffragijs primorum or dinum : Dubrau . P. 126. Fredericke was againe restored , and Conrad expulsed , and then Fredericke dying , though hee had fower brethren aliue , Albert , Suatopulk , Premislans , and Vladislaus , which should all haue taken place in true succession . Conradus was in his absence declared Prince ab ordinibus Bohemia ; Dubrau . p. 130. After his death , Venceslans the son of Otho niger , younger brother to Suatopulcus his Cozen , but preferred before many neerer the Succession , was Elected Prince . Him Primislaus expulsed , but fearing his returne , hee quitted Prage ; And Wenceslaus in his returne died , leauing a Sonne called Spitigneus vacante principali sede , Henricus ( the second Sonne of Brecislaus the sixe and twentieth Bishop of Prage ) diem comitiorum habendorum Praga indicit , Dubrau . P. 132. candida tumque in illo principatus pro spitigenio pupillo agit : Boemi parumper deliberantes , ipsum Henricum vnanimi assensu , magnaque voce , Principem Boemiae pronuntiant : Heere also was a succession interrupted by the free Election , not onely Spitigneus the sonne of the last Wenceslaus reiected because a childe , but Henry preferred before all the Sons of Vladislaus the second King of Bohemia : Henry not long after falls sicke , and assembles all the Nobility , declaring vnto them his desire to resigne the Principality of Bohemia , Dubr . u p. 134. Datque ill is potestatem eligendi Principis quemcunque voluerint : but the Bohemians hoping on his recouery would not proceed to a new Election , and so he remained Prince to his death . Being dead , de successione in comitijs ab ordinibus variatum ; Dubrau . p. 135. at last they Elected Vladislaus , yonger brother to Primislaus , once before in possession , and fift sonne of Vladislaus the second King : two elder Brethren at least aliue : He resigned in fiue moneths to Primislaus his brother , who was Elected Prince , Dubr . Genealog . Page 139. being of the second venter , by the Landgraues daughter , and his elder brethren and their children , for any thing appeares , being refused : And this Pri●●slaus was crowned the third King of Bohemia , by the Emperour Philip at Mentz , de omnium quae aderant sententia , Anno 1199.

Thus it is euident from Bretislaus the 22. to this Primislaus Ottocarus the thirtieth , in which are seuenteene changes , no kinde of succession hath taken place , but that the yonger brother that beene preferred before the elder , the vncle before the Nephew , the yonger house before the elder , and many Princes deposed for misgouernment , or want of forme in true election .

After Primislaus , foure Kings are pretended to succeed to Wenceslaus the seauenth King : But Primislaus causeth his sonne Wenceslaus to be crowned in his life-time , and Dubrauius notes it , pag. 139. that he was carefull of his owne house , Exin rebus suis domi intentas , Venceslaum silium , etiamsi puerum , regem coronat , which hee needed not haue done , had he Ius successionis , and was easie for him to doe , being in possession . When hee died , his friends concealed it , and his sonne Ottocarus entred with an army , and so was admitted . Idem 157. Propter frequentiam comitatus , qui eum ex Austria Styria , Morauia comitabantur ; ita plerisque metuendus quia armatus vener at ; Hee was Marquesse of Morauia , established in his Fathers life time , and because hee was not then admitted to the Crowne by Election , it seemes he entred armed , which hee needed not doe to his Inheritance : He was slaine in the battell of Laua , and his sonne Venceslaus , a Childe was admitted in his Infancy in honour of the Father , ex consensu omnium Ordinum , Idem 16● . cura fouendi illius ad Marchionem Brandeburgum : The Marquesse abuseth the trust , and carries him away : At 15. yeares of age , he is restored to the Bohemians for a summe of mony , not till now , was he chosen King , which I inferre out of Dubranius : Idem 169. Inter catera ab omnibus acclamantum est , Aduenisti tandem desiderabilis , quem tam diu ex pectabamus , Ottogari ô inclytaproles , ( which insinuates the loue of the father ) nihil videlicet tum Otthogari nomine clarius , nihil ad conciliandum omnium ordinem fauorem efficacius : which implyes the Election by the States , although the reason be rendred why they chose him , for loue of the father , yet still their fauour was the formall part of his admission .

Wenceslaus the 7. The stories mention not the manner his Admission . King succeeded the Father , & in him ended the ancient Race of their Princes ; in all these , no succession of right established . He had 3. sisters , Iudith eldest , Anne & Elizabeth ; the first married to Rupertus of Nassau the Emperors son ; the second to Henry of Carinthia , the third yet a maid . Dubrau p. 179. The States assemble in the Bishop of Prages house , ad ius comitiorum : summaque contentione de Rege eligendo certant , alijs perigrinū regem penitus aspernantibus , alijs inter Rodulphum Caesaris Alberti filium , & Henricum ex Carinthia qui praesens aderat , variantibus : as yet no mention make of any right in the daughters : Tobias Bechinus , who fauoured the strangers , sons of Albert to crosse the aduerse party who would not accept them , saith , Quando non alium Regem quam Boemum creare libet , Regiaque progenies in Boemia planê deficiat reuert amur ad Pagum stadium , vnde Primislaus ex rustico , priamus in Boemia factus est Princeps atque indidem , nos quoque Regem nobis adciscamus : Yet that was not his desire , but onely to diuert the Election , which vtterly ouerthrowes the pretended Contract with the house of Austria ; for hee being of that party , should haue pleaded it , if he had knowne it , or had thought it of force , & not haue returned to an originall Election , which fully annihilated the Contract , but it seems Tobias knew nothing of it : And so hee also reiects the sisters , for that was his end , esteeming them no heyres , though they were ex progeniê Regia , & concluded they might lawfully elect a stranger in bloud . This motion was reiected , not that they might elect a stranger , but because the other side vnderstood his craft , that he would obtrude a German , hatefull to the Bohemians : and so he was commanded without further Prefaces , to nominate one in a faire Election : He as Chamberlayne of Boheme , prefers first Rodolph , and then his brother Fredericke , sonnes of Albert , Quo audito , Crussina Lychtemburgus , Quousque tandem , inquit , nobis ingeres tuos Germanos Regum nostrorum parricidas , nec plura locutus , stringit gladium , & Thobiam transfodit : The next day , the two sisters , Anna married to Carinthia , Elizabeth a maid come into the Court , not as heyres , or ant ve sui haberi rationem , ne velut alienae a Regno praetereantur . And Henry the Husband of Anne was chosen King , but he could not hold it ; for the Emperour stood for his Sonne , not by a Contract , but as preuayling in Election , and vpon that onely grounds his Title to place him by force , Caefare alacriter , instante , ne filius s●ns , qui priores partes in suffragijs tulerat , posteriores in Regno acquirendo ferret . He enters Bohemia with an Army , Henry of Carinthia , and his wife giue way , and so he fortifies the election of Rodolph , and Crownes him , a meere stranger in bloud or other title , but the Election pretended . Rodolph dies , Dubrauius reekons Fredoricke as elected , other doe not . and Henrie of Carinthia returnes with his Wife ; In which interim , the Emperour endeuors the Election of Fredericke his second sonne , but is slaine before hee could effect it , and then these were receiued with great Ioy ; After three or foure yeares the Bohemians grew weary of Henries gouernment , and sent Ambassadors to Henry of Luxenburgh then Emperor , to send his sonne Iohn to marry Elizabeth the yonger sister to Anne , and Wenceslaus the seuenth , and that they would elect him King . The Emperor accepts it , and married Iohn at Spire : The Bohemians deposed Henry for ill gouernment , as Bartoldus notes , Geor. Barthold . pag. 24. Hunc Boemi sibi Regem deligunt , sed quia male administrauit , miserune ad Caesarem , Henricum sextum , Legatos suos : So was Iohn of Luxenburgh Elected , a stranger also in bloud ; for he could pretend no right by his wife in Succession , Anne the elder sister liuing . Concerning the contract made betweene Boheme and Austria , the elder stories speake nothing of it . Albert of Austria declared not the pretence , Dubrau . p. 180. but strengthens the Election of his owne sonnes by making a faction by mariage of Elizabeth the widdow of Venceslaus . And Hieronimo Canini in his history of the Election of the Roman Kings , Hieron . Canini . pag. 211. cites , that such an accord was made , That for want of heyres in eyther House , the other should succeed ; but withall notes , Encore que le Royaume soyt a l'Election des Barons , & des seigneurs du pays : which beeing cleerely confessed , an accord made betweene them for their owne aduantage , to the preiudice of the freedome of Bohemia could not be auaileable , nor was euer confirmed by practice in succession .

Iohn of Luxenburgh is chosen , and is a great Prince , he begins indeed to seeke to establish the Kingdome in his Lyne , and in his life-time practiseth to exchange it with Lewis Duke of Bauare , which it is like he affected , to leaue them to the fortune of Election , which is a taeite confession of the right in the States to Elect : when it was reuealed to the Bohemians , they tooke it in so ill part , that hee should by a secret practice infringe their liberty , or seeme to haue right , to obtrude a King vpon them at his choyce , that they almost reuolted against him , and would not be reconciled , vntill a copy of the treaty was shewed , that he did nothing , but with reseruation of the consent of the States to confirme it . The words of Dubrauiu● are considerable . Dubrau . p. 193. Sed longè omnium maximum odium sibi ab omnibus or dinibus conflauit , inchoatâ cum Lodonico permutatione , qua regnum pro Bauariae principatu commutare voluit , At Boemi in deteriorem partem interpretati funt , quasi illos Rex vendere Germanis , & prodcre cuperet : Ergo omnes in vnum conspirant , vt pereant potius quam non perdant illos , qui ad exitium Patriae corum immineant : At que haec turba maior visa , quam vt pacart vel ipso rege praesente potuerit , & nisi pacata esset , spes de retinendo ei regno decollabat : So that this feare of Iohn , confesseth a forfeiture , and a power to depose him , and then hee procures the Emperor to come in person to the Confines of Bohemia , where at the towne of Luticium the Emperor thus excuses the King . Illic in maxima Bohemorum frequentia , Regem illorum de tam graui suspitione , qualem de illo haberent , testimonio suo expurgat ; pactionemque illis , quam cum Rege inire caeperat , scriptum ostendit , in qua diserte aperteque appositum erat , ita illam ratam & firmam fore si communi Bohemorum assensu confirmata fuerit . So iealous were they then of their right , that nothing could appease them , but the sight of his owne agnition of the validity of their consent in transferring the kingdome : Iohn caused his sonne Charles , Dubrau . P. 201. to bee admitted Marquesse of Morauia in his life time , an halfe election , as in the Empire the King of Romans , and a step to the kingdome ; And indeed he was so fauoured of the Bohemians for his valour , witte , and skill in tongues , that his admittance was easily procured ; yea hee was so fauoured of the Bohemians , Idem 202. that his Father suspected and feared him : Soone after hee was chosen King of the Romanes at Bon , and now it was not easie for the Bohemians to refuse him if they would , for he preuailed in vniuersall loue : Charles in his life laboured all he could to settle the Kingdome in his issue , and to that end in confirming the priuiledges of Fredericke the Emperour , inserts a Clause of exposition to his owne aduantage , which cannot extend beyond the Text : But 8. yeeres after , establishing the succession of all the Electors , he expects expressely the Kingdome of Bohemia , and the free Election of the States , Onuphirus Aure . Bulla . p. 431. not when the heyres royall should faile ( as they pretend ) but when the Crowne shall be vacant , quemcunque voluerunt , as is notorious in Bulla aurea ; His sonne Venceslaus was admitted , but he gouerned ill , and left the kingdome in trouble by the Hussites and Zisca . After 12 years , Sigismund his brother enters by force , Dubrau . p. 243. the kingdom weakened and torne in peeces by ciuill dissention , & takes the Crown : and hauing only one daughter Elizabeth married to Albert of Austria , Geor. Barthold . pag. 29. AEn . Syl. p. 54 Sigismund on his death-bedde conuocates the States , takes care for the election , & presents Albert his sonne in Law : Albertum Austriae Ducem generum suum esse & virtute praestantem , & gener is nobilitate sublimem cum se non minus amare quam filium , successorem itaque suum nominare , rogare supremam voluntatem suam exequantur : beatum id regnum fore , vbi Albertus imperauer it , Here are reasons of conuenience , of Nobility , of Vertue , and hee nominates a Successor to their choyce , which he could not doe , nor they refuse , if Elizabeth his daughter should succeed in right ; and so Albert is chosen , a stranger in bloud . Dubrau . p. 266. Albert hath 3. children , Ladislaus Pastunus was admitted King , but he was a Childe , and therefore the States offered the Kingdome to Albert of Bauaria , hee refuseth it vpon Conditions of Religion , That hee would not be bound to admitte the Chalice in the Sacrament , which was required , not considering at all the right of Ladislaus : Ibid. Then they offer it to Fredericke the Emperour as Tutor ; but among the Ambassadors , Ptasco , no friend to Albertus father of Ladislaus , perswades the Emperor to make himselfe King of Bohemia , as the first of the house of Austria : but he refuseth both the ones Counsell , and the generall offer of Tutorship , and recommits it wholly to the Bohemians , as hauing best vnderstanding and interest in their owne affaires . In this Interraigne , Podiebradius consults of calling home Ladislaus , now in the hands of Fredericke , for it seemes eyther he bredd him , Dubrau . p. 271 : or was retired to him : and after deliberation , concludes to receiue him vpon conditions ; and at his entrance they giue him the oath , Ibid. 272. Quo praestito capita deinde libertatum ab omnibus ordinibus missa exhibet , &c. Hee dyes without Issue , and leaues two sisters , Anne the Eldest , married to William Duke of Saxe , Elizabeth to Cassimer King of Poland . Ladislaus finding himselfe stroken with Death , calls Podiebradius , and foreseeing in the affections of the Bohemians who should be Elected , Georg. Bartold , pag. 30. neuer thinkes of his sisters as in any right , nor once mentions them , but mihi moriendum est , Regnum in tua manuerit , Duo te peto , vti prouinciales iuste regas &c. alterum , vt qui me secuti sunt ex Austria , caeterisque prouincijs in Patriam suam inuiolatos remittas . Podiebradius modestly seemes to decline it , excuseth and hopes the King shal recouer , neuer , for a Complement , once mentions any heyre , sister , or kinred of the King , which he could not in manners doe , nor with safety omit , if they had had right , and the King who should maintaine their Interest yet aliue : But Ladislaus sets his eyes onely vpon Podiebrad , Promitte quod cupio , nam me mori certum est : Ladislaus eyes , and Podibradius beeing Gouernour , calls the Assembly for Election : The French King stands a meere stranger in bloud , and his Ambassadors come to Prage ; but because they were vnwilling to admit a stranger , they resolued to finish the Election , before the French had audience . The manner of the Election is recorded by Dubrauius , especially ; Locus eligendo Regi in domo Praetoria veteris vrbis constitutus , where , after first solemnely going to the Church , Rokickzanus makes an Oration to perswade them not to looke vpon any Stranger nor Germane : Among themselues , he first propounds the Gouernor Podiebradius , whose Armes had defended their Liberties ; or if they disliked him , and thought no Bohemian eminent enough , nor worthy of so high aduancement , he counsells a new way of gouernment , vtterly to relinquish a Monarchy : Aut hunc Regem esse nominandum aut si nemo inter Boemos tanto fastigio dignus censeatur , Haebreo more duodecim Iudicis assumendos , qui Populum Boemum aequo Iure gubernarent . Hinc in Praetorium itum , & tam foris , quam intus prius acclamantum quam decretum , VIVAT REX GEORGIVS : Here is a solemn Election , on , and therein a proposition to change the gouernemen into Aristocracy , and lastly a stranger in bloud to the Crowne of Bohemia Elected , the daughters and sisters of the two last Kings not once in question : And George held the Crowne of Bohemia to his death , and this Election and Coronation of George was confirmed by Calixtus the Pope , which no Aussrian dare say hee would haue done in iniury of the true heyre or their House . George Podiebrad had three sonnes , Idem 281. two liued at his death , yet in his last meditations hee durst not once cast his eyes vpon any of them ; His words are , Idem 289. Nollem autem , quantum in me situm est , libenter committere ( which implies he had no interest in designing an heyre , but by way of Counsayle ) vt post obitum meum , ipsum Regnum in aliquod diserimen adduceretur propter dubium regni successorem , proin scire aueo , quidn● in hac causa agere , quemuè Regem vobis legare destinaneritis ; Respondentibus nullam ipso Rege superstite successoris faciendam esse mentionem ( perhaps to preuent the preiudice , iealous to preserue their right entire ) instabat auidus , donec ab ill it extorqueret , non adme dum sibi gratam sententiam , qua se dicerent sentire , apud Polonos Regem esse quaerendum , cum quibus & linguae & moribus non multùm dissentirent . They expresse their reasons for likenesse of manners , and language , without any mentioning a right by the second daughter of Albert , which they could not doe without iniury to Anne the Elder sister married to Saxe .

Podebradius with this answer was dismaid , for thogh he durst not expresse it , hee had strong hopes and designes for his owne sonnes ; but knowing the right of free Election , and hauing discouered their affections ; in the little pause hee had of life , neuer sought to alter the Inclination of the Bohemians , but prouided onely to leaue his sonnes rich , and possessing them with the mooueables of the Kingdome , commanded them to retire to the Castle of Podiebrad . A solemne Parliament is held for the Election , Matthias King of Hungarie stands , and is ready to threaten with an Army , and hath a party in Bohemia , therefore they remooue the Session , ad montes Cuthenses , data omnibus fide publica , vt quisque ad illa libere veniret & rediret , summaque cum libertate suffragia perageret . Three great men in Bohemia declare for Matthias , Dubrau . P. 290. contentissimâ suffragatione , sed maior numerus Vladislaum Cassimiri Poloniae Regis filium , etiamnum adolescentem nullarumque partium factionibus per aetatem infectum , Regem possebant , numeroque praenaluerunt : Matthias stirres , enters with an Army , and molesteth Fredericke the Emperour in Austria and Styria , and partly thereby , partly by promise of money , procures an Investiture , Although hee had formerly granted it to Vladislaus the sonne of Cassimere of Poland , yet the Bohemians maintaine their Election , and repulse Matthias , heere is no reason of bloud , but fitnesse , in respect of partialitie , mentioned in the Election : And if reason of bloud could then haue been vrged , Anne , or William of Saxe , or their Issue must haue preceded , and by Consequence , now the Elector of Brandeburgh .

Lodouicus his sonne succeded , but was admitted and Crowned at three yeares of age , by his Fathers meanes , and then liuing , Nulla mora interposita ad Regnum Bohemiae Lodouicum inaugurandum curauit . Dubrau . p. 302. Lodouicus is drowned in the Danuby in the Rowt giuen by the Turkes , and leaues his onely sister Anne married to Ferdinand , sonne of Maximilian the Emperor , who , as Dubrauius sayes , could not bee preuented by slight , Ibid. nor wit , nor Armes , Dextra prorsus manus & tenaci excepit gubernacula regni .

In all these times there is no Succession established , but free Election , or another reason of Succession then right . Princes chosen of the younger line , reiecting the Elder , and the right line , and some few seizures by force , Princes deposed for misgouernment , and for want of due forme in the Election : Strangers in bloud Elected , and all pretended succession , aduanced by the Father liuing , or for his sake dead ; and this concludes no succession , because present greatnesse hath gotten an aduantage , Primus dominandi spes in arduo , vbi sis ingressus , addesse studia , & mixistros . Tac. Annal. li. 4.

Ferdinand hath gotten possession , but accepts it by right of Election , as is confessed , Nulla facta mentione Iuris quod Annae competebat , Informator . pag. 7. and giues Defeasall Letters , Quod ex nulla obligatione sed ex libera & bona voluntate eum Boemi eligerint against which the Austrians now vrge a resumption of those letters , and a new declaration of the right of Anne : for the truth of which , there is no record in it own proper time and place , & that which is , is crept into the Margen , from which most corruptions into Classique Authors haue beene deriued . But admitte it were true , there is no stronger Argument against the Succession ; For thereby Ferdinand doth confesse a practice and stretch of his authority for his aduantage against a former confessed right . The acceptance of the Election without the right of Anne , was safer for him then to come in by her right , because so hee was established in his owne title , which might haue failed by the death of his wife , singly depending on her , and Kingdomes successiue are not held in curtesie ; But after ninteene yeares , hauing a setled posterity by Anne , it was then for his aduantage in preiudice of the liberty of the States , to disclayme the Election , and to claime by his wife for his childrens interest , who should not then hazard a new Election , but succeed . And this reason caused the former Kings of Boheme to procure their sonnes crowned when they could , and some as appears , could not . This practice discredits the whole claime , and is founded vpon Ferdinand interessed against Ferdinand freely elected .

As farre as mine Authors haue led me , in mine owne purpose , which was to shew a continuall claime and practise in the States of Bohemia to Elect their Princes and Kings , I haue ( perhaps with too much breuity ) deliuered the same truth I found recorded , and I doubt not it will bee cleare enough to all well affected men , that my propositions are made euident in sundry example , and so my Conclusion will stand , Bohemiae Regnum Electinum ; but because I professed at first , that the Informator had mis-vsed his stuffe to serue his owne ends , and to beguile the simplicity of our mindes , I stand bound not so to accuse him , without shewing in some particulars , which way hee hath made that which was straight crooked . The truth I haue deliuered , as a Rule , will doe it ; but vntill I haue also demonstrated his crookednesse , mine owne may lye vnder the same suspition ; where therefore his Vses seem to crosse my Narration , I will endeuour to shew the fallacy or peruercenesse ; Informator . pag. 1. Desiring you to obserue that the Informator seemes to insinuate , that this claime of Free Election is fortified by Testimonies onely of sixe Ages , which indeed were weake , although true , in respect of so many changes ; but we say , that from the first peopling to this age , wee haue Right and Practice on our part without Interruption . First hee denies euen that continuance of sixe ages , by example of Iohn of Luxenburgh , who as he pretends , had right to the Kingdome by marriage of his wife Elizabeth , heyre of the Crown . I will not confute him with any other reason then his owne . His next words are ; Inform. pag. 2. Indeed Henry of Carinthia married the elder sister Anne , by which he tooke the Inheritance of the Kingdom : How then could Iohn haue Right by the younger sister ? but hee tells vs Henry was deposed by the Emperour , ( we say by the people , and that they called in Iohn ) but he tells not , who gaue the Emperour power to depose a King in Boheme : ye ; he showes the fault , because he rebelled against the Emperour : And this Rebellion was , because Henrie entred the Kingdome in his Wifes right , without demanding an Investiture ; If it were the right of Iohn , husband to the yonger sister ( as the Informator will haue it ) how is it Rebellion in the Elder to clayme or defend that right ? or what fault is it in them to take their own ? if any had a right of suecession , and should refuse , for other quarrels to demand the Investiture , or the Emperor to grant it , can this vitiate the right , and make them no heyres ? A right so limited is a miserable Wardship ; & although the Emperours reserued that honour of Inuestiture , because they gaue the title of King , yet they gaue not the right of being Prince , or being heyre : so that Henry could not for this cause be so a Rebell , as to bee expelled from all Soueraignty ; and if not , then Iohn could as yet haue no right by Elizabeth : But admit it bee so , that Henry rebelled , could bee forfeit the right of his Wife ? Or can successiue kingdomes bee forfeited for want of Ceremony ? Nothing is more absurd . But what consideration of their rights had the Emperour Albert of Austria , that thrust both out , to place his sons Rodolph and Fredericke .