A Discovery of the False Grounds of the Bavarian Party, Title page – Preface
A DISCOVERIE of the falſe Grounds the Bavarian party have layd, to ſettle their owne Faction, and ſhake the Peace of the EMPIRE.
Conſidered, In the Caſe of the Deteinure of the Prince Elector PALATINE his Dignities and Dominions.
With a Diſcourſe upon the Intereſt of ENGLAND in that Cauſe.
By CALYBUTE DOWNING, LL.D. Paſtor of Hackney.
¶ Seene, and Allowed.
LONDON, Printed by RIC. HEARN, and are to be ſold by Thomas Bates, at his ſhop in the Old Bayly. 1641.
TO THE HONORABLE, THE KNIGHTS, CITISENS, AND BVRGESSES, NOW ASSEMBLED IN THE HOVSE OF COMMONS.
The Preface.
WEre it not that thoſe braving Bavarians and Imperiall Inſtruments, who pretend piety, juſtice, and devotion in all their actions, are ſtil moſt peremptory and inſolent, in making Manifeſtors to the Chriſtian world, of the legality and equity of their courſe continued againſt the Prince Elector Palatine; wee would never have dared to touch ſo tender and ſhy a ſubject: only have left it to the ſword to decide. But ſeeing this novel Colledge and Councell, mixt of Jeſuites, de facto, & in voto, have given themſelves commiſsion, Ex Officio, unheard to determine what may & muſt …ed…ne In ordine, to the practicall principles of their modern Monkery: The deſire that wee have to ſee a ſafe peace ſetled in Chriſtendome, hath moved ſo far, that wee cannot contentedly ſit ſtill in ſilence; for if out of a ſuffering modeſty may be given to active ambition, to ſurpriſe and ſupplant, and that theſe pernitious Politiques may ſtil advance and proſper in their way, it will be impoſsible, that the ſtate of the Weſtern World ſhould ever draw neere to any degree of Vnion, though it be but in a mutuall toleration. They have not Beati Pacifici in all their Regular Liturgy, but are moſt bitter againſt all negotiations for moderation. And therefore wiſe and reſpective men and States, who ordinarily feare and fly practique queſtions, and publique quarrels, have reaſon to come on one ſtep out of their reſervedneſſe, and declare their opinions; otherwiſe they may get a knock, as ſtanders by in neutrality; when as if they would but ſpeake out, they might diſcover more than the gameſters, and ſhew how the Checke was given. Theſe abſolute enemies of ſtates and Churches, who neither regard Prince nor people, but in relation to their owne intereſts, will I hope before long be diſcovered, and ſo diſcarded, as the common Enemies of the peace, liberties, and lawes of Nations.