The Sovereign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, Appendix · Subpart 2
Bohemia.
For the Kings and Kingdome of Bohemia, M. Paulus Stranskins in his Respublica Bo…emiae. c. 5. & 12. informes us out of the Fundamentall Lawes of Bohemiae eSee Bartholdus Pontanus Bohemiae piae l. 5. 6. & Pauli Geschinii Majeas. Carolina.That the power of the Kings of Bohemia. who are Elected by the generall Votes of the States, is so farre restrained in that Realme, that they can determine nothing concerning the Kingdome or great Affaires of the Realme, but in their Parliaments, or generall Assemblies of the Estates, by the generall consent of the people; which are Summoned by the king himselfe and held (just like our Parliaments) in the kings Regency, and during the Interregnum by the Senate of the Realme, as often as there is occasion; there being this cla…se in the Writ of Summons; That whether all those who, are sommoned come at the day or not, the king with those who appeare, will proceed to decree w…at shall be just and b…neficall for the Republicke, and that those who neglect to appeare shall be bound thereby; all Lawes and Acts are therein passed by publicke consent. The King cannot alien or morgage any of the Crown Lands, nor release not diminish the revenue… & Liberties of the Realm, nor promote any strangers to the custodies of Castles or publicke functions; impose no Taxes, charges; nor altar the ancient manner of the Militia of the Realm, nor make warre or peace, without the Parliaments advise and consent AndfPauli Stransbii. Respub. Bohemioe c. 5. Sect. 14. 15. p. 174. 175. 178. 179. before the king is Crowned, the Burgr…ve and Nobles, in the Name of all the Realme, demand of him to confirm and ratifie both with his especiall Charter, and publick Oath, the Ancient and laudable Priviledges, Immunities, Liberties, Rights, Laws, Customes, and Institutions, as well private as publicke, of all and singular the inhabitants of the Realme, and to governe them according to the rule of the Lawes after the example of his predecessors kings of Bohemi…. Which done, he seales and delivers them a speciall Charter, takes such a solemne Oath, and then is Crowned upon these Conditions. ThegMunst. Cos… l. 1. 3. c. 492. 499. Burcholdus Pontanus Bohemiae Piae. l. 1. 2. Arch-bishop of Prague after the Letany ended, demands of the king, kneeling on his knees: Wilt thou keepe the holy faith delivered to thee from Catholiok men and observe it in just workes? He answering, I will: He proccedes, and saith: With thou Governe and defend the Kingdome granted thee from God, according to the Iustice of thy Fathers? He answeres, I will; and by Gods Assistance promise that I will doe and performed it by all meanes. After this kneeling on his knees, the Arch-bishop holding the New Testament open, and the Burgrave reading the words first; the king takes this Oath in the Bohemian tongue We sweare to God (the mother of God and all Saints) upon this holy Gospell, that we will and ought to keepe immovably to the Barons, Knights, and Nobles, also to those of Prague and the other Cities and to all the Comm…nalty of the Realme of Bohemia, the Institutions, Lawes, Priviledges, Exemptions, Liberties, and Rights, and also the ancient, good and laudable customes of the Realme; and not to alienate or morgage any thing from the same Kingdome of Bohemia, but rather to our power to augment and enlarge it; and to …oe all things which may be good and honourable to that Kingdome: So helpe me God (touching the booke with two of the fingers of his right hand) and all Saints. (The Kings of Navarre take the like Oath.)*Gen. Hist. of Spain. l. 17. p. 6…6.
HowhPaulus StransR…pub. Bohem. c. …. de Principibus Regibusque … this Realme hath beene altered from a Principality to a Dukedome, and from it againe to a Kingdome, having sometimes Kings, sometimes Dukes, both elected by the free choyse of the Estates, to whom they were inferiour in Soveraigne power, accountable for their …is-government, and removeable from their Throne: you may read in thehMu…ter pontanus quis. marginall Authors. Not to mention the Bohemians deposition of Libussa a Noble Virago, who governed then for a season, reputing it a dishonour to the Nation to be ruled by a woman, and electing Przemys…s for their Prince; their deposition and banishment of Prince Borzinogius, because he become a Christian, and renounced their Pagan Religion, though they afterwards twice restored him: Of Boleslaus Rufus … Borzinogius the 2. thrice deposed banished by the Nobles and people, or …obeislaus, and other Princes. Wladislaus first King of Bohemia in his old age, by the assent of the Estates associated his sonne Fred…rick (Anno 1173) with him in the Regality Henry King of Bohemia using the Councell of the Germans rather then the Bohemians, and looking more after his owne private gaine then the Kingdomes, was deposed in a generall Assembly …f the Estates Anno 1310. and the sonne of the Emperour Henry the 7th. chosen King, upon this condition, if he would marry the youngest daughter of King Wenceslaus. King Wenceslaus the drunken, for his drunkennesse, negl…gence and cruelty, was twice imprisoned and severely handled by his Nobles, and upon promise of amendment, restored to his liberty and dignity: in his and Sigismond his successors raigns*See Aeneas Silvius Hist. Bohem. Fox Acts and Monuments vol. 1. p. 848. to 852. Pontanus Bohemiae piae, l. 1. 2. Zizca and the Taborites in defence of their Religion against the Popish party, who most unjustly against their promise and safe conduct, caused Iohn Hus, and Ierome of Prague to be put to death, waged great warres and obtained many victories against the King and Emperour, and gained free liberty of professing their religion publickely much against the Popes good will; which liberty they have ever since maintained by the sword, both against the Popish Emperours and Kings, by meanes of which civill wars, the kingdome suffered some Interregnums. During the Minority of king c Ladislaus, Anno 1439. this kingdome was governed by two Presidents, appointed by the Estates.
iGrimstons Imperial Hist. p. 735.Anno 1611. the Emperour Rodulph being willing to settle the kingdome of Bohemia on his Brother Matthias in an assembly of the States of Bohemia called for that purpose, the Estates thereupon drew many Articles which Matthias was to sweare to, before his Coronation, with 49. Articles of complaints and grievances for which they craved redresse: and the inhabitants of Pragne required the confirmation of 8. Articles which concerned the private Government of their City: All which the Emperour and Matthias were constrained to Grant and sweare to, before they would admit Matthias to be their King; who had nothing in a manner but the Title, some of the flowers of the liberty of the Crowne, being parted with by his assenting the these. Articles. kGrimstons Imperiall Hist. p. 744. 745.Anno 1617. Matthias resigning the Crowne of Bohemia, and renouncing his right thereunto, recommended Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Austria, to them or his successour. The States would not admit him king but upon Conditions, the which if he should infringe, The States should not be bound to yeeld him Obedience. Moreover it was added, That he should confirm: to the States before his Coronation, to maintaine all the Priviledges, Charters, Immunities, Municipall Rights, Constitutions and Customes, of the Realme, and people, as the Emperour and his predecessors had done, by his Oath, and Charter in Writing. All which assented to, he was proclaimed and crowned king. Soone after the Arch-bishop of Pragu… causing some of the Protestant Churches to be ruined, and those who complained of it to be put in prison; and plotting the extirpation of the Protestand Religion, through the I…su…tes instigation, contrary to their Liberties and the Provinciall constitution; hereupon the Protestant States of Bohemia assembled at Prague, fortified the Towne, binding the three Townes of Prague to them by an Oath; entred into a solemne League, promising to fight against the Common enemies of God, the King and Religion, and in that cause to live and dye: to which end they levyed a great Army; banishing the J…suites out of Bohemi…, as the Authors of all the miseries which had hapned in that Realme, and many other Realmes and States of Christendome, and inciting murderes to kill Kings who would not live after their manner, and medling with affaires of State, and who had drawne the whole Country into the hands of certaine perfidious Catholickes, by whose practises the Country was in danger of ruine. For which causes they banished them for ever out of the Realme of Bohemia, enjoying them to depart within 8. dayes, never to returne. After this, the Protestants hearing that the Emperour and … party raised Forces against them, possessed themselves of many Townes and places within the Realme, and raised two Armies; All the Protestant Princes and States of Germany, Morauia and S…lesia (except the Elector of Saxony) assisted them with men, money or Councell, publishing a Declaration to justifie their action, being for the Common cause of Religion, then endangered. The Prince of Oranges and States of the united Provinces promised them assistance of men and money, other Protestant Princes and the Protestant States of Lower Austria, did the like. The Protestant Armies after this had many victorious incounters with the Imperialists and Popish Forces, and took many Towns. King Ferdinand in the meane time, being newly chosen Emperour, the States of Bohemia being assembled together at Prague, which the Deputies of the incorporated Provinces, Anno. 1619. Concluded and protested by Oath, never to acknowledge Ferdina…d for their King who had violated his first Covenants; resolving to proceede to a new Election; and on the 26. of August Elected Fredericke the Prince Elector Palatine of Rhine to be their King; who accepted the dignity, & was afterward Crowned king accordingly. After which the States of Bohemia in sundry Declarations justified their rejection of Ferdinand, their Election of Frederick, and his Title to be just and lawfull, with their preceedent and subsequent warres in defence of Religion. Yea Fredericke himselfe by sundry Declarations maintained his own Title: and the lawfulnes of these wars; which passages and proceedings being yet fresh in memory, and at large related by Grimston in hismPage 745. to 250. Imperiall History, I shall forbear to mention them. By this briefe account, you may easily discerne the Soveraigne power of the Realm and States of Bohemia over their kings and Princes, most of thenPauli Strankii Resp. Bohem. c. 10. 13. 14, 15. great Offices of which Realme are hereditary, and not disposable by the king, but States who Elect their Kings themselves, and their greatest Officer; too.