A General Martyrology, Text 2
A BRIEF REPRESENTATION OF THE Protestant Cause in GERMANY.
In what Case it hath been, since the Peace of MUNSTER; and how it stood in the year 1657. and how it is now this present year 1659.
THe Justice of the late civil warres in Germany, which were composed at the Peace concluded in Munster and Osnaburgge in the year 1648. was grounded upon this; That the Protestants were necessitated to enter into a League or mutual union together, for the maintaining of their rights and priviledges in the Empire, against the infections thereof, and manifold disturbances of their profession, which contrary to former agreements at Imperial Dyets, did befal unto them in many places by the Popish and Jesuites practices, whereof they could obtain no redresse by any peaceable Treaties: Therefore finding that there was a design formed in the Conclave, and by the house of Austria, to be put in execution, tending by little and little to wear out and deprive them of their liberties; they formed an union among themselves, to stand upon the defence of their rights, and to oppose the power of the house of Austria, by whose means, both in Germany and in Bohemia, the Jesuites did drive the design of rooting out Protestants. The head of this union (who by his place was bound to appear in it) was the Elector Palatine: but he being a soft man, of no experience in war, and beset in his Counsels and enterprises with such as did betray him, the cause was soon overthrown; and by his overthrow, the intended persecution against Protestants to root them out, what by power, and what by policie, was openly carried on by the house of Austria; which moved the King of Denmark Christian the IV. and after him the King of Sweden, to come upon the Stage: the Dane was soon overthrown, but God gave such successe unto the Swedes, to the Landgrave of Hessen their associate, and to the French; (who joyned with them to ballance the power of Austria, after the Elector of Saxony had made his peace at Prague with the Emperour, and deserted the Protestant interest): that from the death of King Gustavus, they continued the war with various successes till the year 1648. at which time the Swedish being masters in Bohemia, and the Emperour brought so low, that he saw little hopes to recover his strength without a Peace, he yielded to the conditions which the Protestants and the French stood upon. The Swedish stood upon their satisfaction, and to keep a foot in the Empire, to be able upon all occasions to secure or help the Protestant party; And the Protestant Princes they stood upon the setling of all things and of themselves in their former rights and possessions, as before the war; and chiefly upon this point the reformed party and the Landgrave of Hessen, who headed them, stood, that thence forward the reformed Protestants (alias called Calvinists) should have equal freedom and liberty of conscience, for the exercise of their profession in the Empire, with the Papists and Lutherans. This condition being obtained, and a way determined to give the agrieved parties in point of dammage further satisfaction, Armies were dismissed, a new convention of States was held at Nurenberg, to settle the remaining matters within the Empire, which at Munster and Osnabrugge could not well be handled, by reason of the Treatie with forreigne States, and afterward a Dyet was called at Ratisbon, to confirme all what formerly had been treated on and concluded, and to put the remainder of grievances in a way to be rectified: To which effect at the dissolution or rather adjournment of the Imperial Dyet at Ratisbon, a Committee of Deputies from all the States of the Empire, of equal number of both parties, (that is, so many of the Protestants as of the Popish partie) were named to meet at Franckford, and prepare (by way of disquiry of rights) the matters then remaining undecided, that at the next Session of the Dyet, there might be a full decision and determination of them; but before these Delegates did meet, the Elector of Mentz did broach a new quarrel with the Elector Palatine, tending to abridge him of much of his right, and to make him inconsiderable to the Protestant party; but the King of Sweden his cousin (for he is a younger brothers son of the house Palatine) and the Landgrave of Hessen his Brother in Law, did appear for him so farre, that the Emperor and the Elector of Mentz fearing a new breach on his behalf, did leave him unmolested. Soon after the composure of this quarrel, the Committee of Imperial Deputies, met according to the appointment of the last Dyet at Ratisbon, and they have continued at Franckford, debating and disputing one with another concerning their respective rights, in the several cases which remained undetermined. This meeting of Deputies hath agitated matters in the years 1655 — 56 — 57. till these new affairs were come into consideration, which the King of Sweden his war with Poland hath occasioned: for from that time that he went into Poland and prospered there, the Deputies although they did not dissolve their meeting, yet did in a manner alter the course of their treating one with another, as looking much upon the event of that war, till the death of the late Emperour hath altered the Scene, and a Dyet for the election of a new Emperour hath been called.
The King of Swedens war with Poland, did alarm the Popish party in Germany, and the house of Austria extremely: and did terrifie the States of the Low-countreys, lest if he should be master of the Baltick Sea, their Trade should be thenceforward under his power, with whom they had no friendly correspondence, by reason of some reciprocally conceived injuries, for which they could not trust him. This moved those of Holland who are the chief traders in those Seas, to stir up enemies against him, and openly to appear for, and correspond with Dantzick to oppose him: and it is known to the Swedish, that they have dealt underhand with the Muscovite, with the Polish King, with the Austrians, and above-board with the King of Denmark, to combine against him; by which means after that he had conquered Poland, his forces were distracted, first to oppose the Muscovite in Livonia, who besieged Riga; and afterward to put himself in a defensive posture against the Austrians, who came to the assistance of the King of Poland; and lastly, to retire from Poland into Germany, to oppose the Danish forces, who had invaded his Territories of Bremen. Being come into Germany upon this design, he did conquer from the King of Denmark the last Summer all Hostein and Jutland, and although by these conquests he was able to live in his quarters in the Winter: yet his enemies being round about him on all hands, and he having neither money, nor convenient places to recruit his Army, it was expected, that in the spring the Combination of his enemies who compassed him about, would have swallowed him up: but God was pleased to appear for him, and direct him in a way to escape and overcome these difficulties: For in January last, he formed his design to assault the other Territories of the Danish King; namely the Islands which lie between Germany and the Continent of Sweden, and to that effect had prepared his men to march over into Fuenen, either by a bridge of Ships if the Sea were not frozen so as to bear: or over the Ice, if it should be strong enough: having then notice gotten, that towards the latter end of January the Ice did bear, he took of horse and foot not above six or seven thousand, and therewith did march over the Sea into Funen, where the Danish King had placed his chief forces to defend the place. And although some dangetous and dreadfull accidents did befal him in that his march over the Sea, yet he went on and fought the Danish forces more in number than he had with him, which on firm land stood in a readinesse to receive him, and beat them, took the chief Commanders prisoners, and the spoil of the Island, which is one of the richest that belongs to that Kingdom. Having made himself Master of that Island, he went forward to the next Island, over the Sea, called Langland, where he found a body of five hundred men to resist him, but being charged, they were instantly defeated; so he went from thence to the next called Laland, and from thence to Falster, and from Falster to Zeland, the frost still continuing to make a bridge for him in all these marches. And from the time he came into Funen, till he entred Zeland, he spent onelyonly five or six dayes. In Zeland (where the King of Denmark was at Coppenhagen) M. Medows, the publick Minister of the State, sent from thence to reside with the King of Denmark, came to him and desired him to admit the King of Denmark to a Treaty; this he condescended unto, and by the interposition of M. Medows and of the French Ambassadour (for he would not admit the Hollands Ambassadour to be a Mediator) the place was concluded about the twentieth of February, after twelve dayes treaty. The conditions are, That he restore to the King of Denmark all what he had taken from him in Germany, namely Holstein, and Jutland, and the Islands of Fuenen, Langland, Laland, Falster, and Zealand; and in lieu thereof the King of Denmark quits unto him all his rights in the Provinces of Haland and Schonen, and of Blieken, which are the Continent of Sweden, on the North side of the Sound; and doth moreover surrender unto him the Island of Bornholm, and the Lordships of Bahusen, and of Drunthen in Norway, which lie most convenient to cause the Trade of Sweden to flourish. Some other conditions there are, but lesse considerable. The Peace being concluded and ratified by both Kings, the King of Denmark feasted the King of Sweden for certaine dayes, and at several times both Kings were together alone, for the space of two or three hours at a time, whereby it is conceived that they have contracted a nearer and stricter alliance together, than the Publick Treatise can mention. This being done, the King of Sweden went into his own Countrey; and hath convocated the States of his Kingdom at Gottenburg, to dispose of his affairs with their advice, and to take up further resolutions in time to come.
This unexpected and miraculous successe of the Swedish Kings enterprise, hath disappointed all the Counsels and plots of his adversaries against him, for which he is obliged to none but unto God alone: and from hence his friends have just cause to gather, that God hath raised him out of his straits, and redoubled his strength to make further use of him towards the advancement of the common cause of Protestants, in whose behalf he concluded the Peace at Munster, and which he thinks himself in conscience and honour obliged to see maintained for the Protestant interest; tanquam altera pars paciscens, as in a letter of his to the Emperour he did expresse himself. So that it seems the Protestant cause in Germany will finde in him a Protector of so much courage and resolution, and conduct, as any that could be expected or desired: And it is known to all that know him, that he is earnestly bent to take away the differences, and advance the reconcilement of Protestants within themselves: and that he makes no difference between Lutherans (as they are called) and Calvinists, but makes use of both alike, according to their abilities, as he findes them fitted for employment to forreign affairs: for within the Kingdom of Sweden, no forreigners, and none but Lutherans, are to be admitted to the civil charges of trust; others are employed in military charges, both there and elsewhere, according to their deserts.
But presently after the Elector of Brandenburg was by subtile artifices withdrawn from the King of Sweden, and joyned with the Emperour, and the King of Poland against him: the King of Denmark was prevailed with to break his late-made League, and the States of the United Provinces have joyned with the Dane against him; and God having taken away his great friend Oliver Lord Protector, he hath conflicted with many and great difficulties, and yet hitherto God hath upholden him from sinking under them. What the issue will be, time must discover.
FINIS.