THE SIFTING OF THE IMPERIALL Answers, given in the PALATINE Caufe. With an annexed short Remonstrance of the Nullities of the dispositi ons in the translation of the Electorall Dignitie. He yeere last past, when the most Soveraign King of Great Britaine sent his Ambassador, Thomas Howard Earle of Arundell and Surrie, Earle Marshall of England, to the Emperour Ferdinand the second, to treat in the cause of the Prince Palatine and require Restitution for his Nephew Prince Elector, Charles Lodovicke, and his Brethren, divers people scattered divers words, spent their judgements and opinions thereupon; the actions of Princes (as B (as it is customary) being diversly construed by the vulgar. Some averred, that the experience of fo many yeeres, so many Ambassagies, so much interceeding already in the Cause of the Palatinate, was a sufficient testimony, of a de fault in that advise, by slacknesse and hæsita. tion; that nothing could bee expected by Treaty, nothing obtained by conference and reasonable Conditions, nothing could bee extorted by the transactions of the moderate and just King. That the Austrians, Bavarian, and their Confederates, having already destinated the Line of the Prince Palatine for death, would never grant that it should rife againe, and the exiled Palatine Princes more carefull of the ancient liberty and greater enemies to innovation then the rest, now growne stronger, by a new alliance and friendship of forraigne Kings, being restored to their former estate, should returne into their Country, and be a terrour to those families, and like thornes in their eyes. That the Austrians, being growne more infolent by by the timorousnesse of the adverse Partic, had already fetled to their owne affaires. That the Palatine businesse did more and more decline, that the Prince his friends, Companions and Assistants, suspended with feare and doubt, and often deluded with hope of taking Armes in the Caufe of the Palatinate, were compelled by neceffity to leave his Partie, and enter into new Confœderacies. That the Swedes and the French onely were yet remaining, whose love and alliance was to be accepted, with whom He Thould joyne in Armes, and Counsell, till with a potent and victorious Army, they might weary the Austrians. That the occa, fion was not to be neglected, neglected that this Le thargie was to be shaken off; that to attempt the negotiation againe by Treaties, (which fo often had prooved fruitlesse) and to forboare Armes, in which the onely hope of attaining the end consisted, was a token of indifcretion or fluggishnesse. Have not the Kings of England by the space of these 18. yeeres bin deluded by the Austrians? will B they they still suffer themselves to be gulled with words? Dare they not awake from flcepe, and remember their former injuries? Thele, and words to the same effect, were spoken commonly by the military men, which breathed out warre, and burned with a defire thereunto. Others, which would be accounted more moderate, and of a more peaceable condition,commended the Kings Wisedome, Piety, and equanimity, granting notwithstanding, that nothing hath bin done hitherto by fo many Legations and Embassies in the Caufe of the Palatinate, but that all that labour and endeavour vanished into smoke: Yet that it was to be confidered; That after the death of the King Friderick, for whom especially it was intereeded, whoserestitution, and reconciliation was chiefly aimed at ; whom the Cæfareans stiled the Author, and fire. brand of all those troubles, and with whom only they averred themselves to be offended. The state of things was not a little altered, and therefore it was probable, that their hatred 7 tred and wrath was some what abated, that the Imperialins (as they pretended) would now become more moderare men, and casting off their old rancour, the father being dead, would not take vengeance of the guiltlesse children, and therefore concluded the King did wifely, that by a folemne Legation in the name of his Nephews, He attempted to make their composition, and procure the reftitution upon Conditions, and might try whether their adversaries were still as cruell and insolent against them, as they had bin formerly against their father, feeing there was far lesse cause for it, against them, then against him. Besides, of the other fide, the King had good hope to obtaine their restitution, that he was defired to come to a Parley, and to fend an Embaffic with full power to Cælar, assoone as might be; and these concurrents promiled an happy issue. This hope if hee had despised, or either relinquished the bufineffe, as loft, or made warre upon that occafion, the adverfarios then, might have had good B3 |