been acted in Suethland Poland France England Scotland and Denmark yea neer at hand some may be found who by their Lawes have expresly prohibited obedience to be rendred to their Kings in things contrary to the Lawes Witnesse the Statutes of Poland By the Law it is permitted that either party acting contrary to agreement the other also may recede there is likewise a Relative Fidelity so equall between a Prince and his Subjects that a faithfull Prince renders his Subjects such and therefore the Evertion of the Sudercopian Decree would be dangerous to the King and his Successors neither can his Majesty anihilate the same without hazarding the fore-cited inconveniencies Some may be of opinion that Subjects ought not to desert their allegiance albeit the King should act contrary to his Covenant and that they being bound to him by Oath their violation thereof were Perjury how enormously soever dealt with yet here it is to be considered that an Oath is not a Bond of in-equity and unjustice which would follow if his Majesty might swarve from his and the Subjects remaine bound by theirs That albeit Treachery had been impending his Highnesse ought not to have called a Parliament without the Royall assent how much lesse when apparently no danger was to be feared This seems to be without grounds seeing that in such cases men are wholly freed from the Law For albeit Paracide be a crime so atroce and of that horrible and detestable nature as the Ancients could not conceive it to come into the mind of man or invent for it a condigne punishment Yet the Sonne who should slay his Father in the practise of Treason was not only legally acquitted but rewarded likewise Moreover the generall exception of all Lawes is Salus Populi Suprema lex esto And necessitie is above all Law If then in those Nefarious acts we are exempted from the law when Prodition threatens danger how much more lawfull is it to call a Parliament like necessity urging which is not forbidden by any Law his Majesty may gather by what before specified that from the longer Government by the form he left behind him little lesse prejudice would have been derived then if present treachery had been to be feared To the Ambassadoriall Oration of the Polanders the Duke and Counsellors of the Kingdome of Suethland made answer as followeth THat amongst the admirable Workes of God upon Earth nothing is more wonderfull then the Bond or Order whereby men have been governed from the beginning with due preservation of mutuall Society and albeit partly in confused mostly in very different manner yet their universall ruine hath not hitherto succeeded In some places One in others a few the more noble and more wise in others more sometimes the multitude have ruled And yet in such varieties of Men and Nations and difference of Governments that Soveraigntie should subsist and be durable to the Worlds end no wiseman but will admire and acknowledge it to proceed from the Singular goodnesse of God and chiefly to that end whereunto all Empire seemes to Verge that the Almightie may receive praise and that Justice may be preserved unblemished That amongst all those Formes the Government by one person the counsell of prudent men annexed hath alwaies been the chief in estimation The same by one King as the humane body with its members being better governed as the Lords Ambassadors in the beginning of their Oration did prudently deliver in the enumeration of the ancient alliances between the two Kingdomes of Suethland and Polard for many years under severall Princes of each Nation but especially this last and neerest of Sigismundus hereditary of Suethland freely and voluntarily elected King of Poland which friendship had ever been honourable to both the Nations To Poland hitherto beneficiall mostly To Suethland most gratefull As to the comparison of the body of man to a Kingdome and the Rule of the head over the same to the Regall Dignity the similitude is most fitly adapted and an argument of great Erudition taken out of Menenius Agrippa in Livy but is not rightly applied to the Suethes ever most faithfull to their Kings No question is made how the Statutes of Poland are observed towards his Majesty who was called thither not of necessity but by their own free will His Majesties Fame was their inducement to his Election but the Suethes are bound to their King by hereditary right of blood coupled with Vertue They by their free electing him have testified a singular gratitude and propensity toward the maternall Regall Stock but who can say that the Suethes have ever come short of any toward their King and Regall Family having conceded the Electory Soveraignty of a most ancient Kingdome into a perpetuated Inheritance of a Masculine Royall Line without other wise antiquating any Law of Priviledge of the Kingdom It must be granted that nothing is more consentaneous to nature then that the body with all its members and parts universally should be governed by the head and that the like right belongs to a King in a Kingdome yet so that the Office of the members which are to obey be not confounded or any thing contrary to Law obtruded as also that consideration be had whether the King remaine fixed within or without the Kingdome The heads of the Polish Complaint against the Sudercopian Assembly were then rehearsed as they are couched in the Oration but the repetition for brevities sake here omitted And to the whole it was replyed That To the Suethes an Embassie so magnificent from the Senatoriall Orders of Poland and Lithuania would have come most acceptable for the weeding out of any discords that might have sprung up and the renewing of mutuall friendship for thereby their great fidelity and regard to his Majesty and their good inclination to this Kingdome would have appeared But that it was beyond the expectation of his Highness and the Orders of Suethland that they should incurre a suspition so harsh from friends and associates the fidelity of the Suethes not being so sleightly seated as that such grave Persons should be moved with a vain rumour It was not meet yea by so much more unmeet in that they seem to be charged with high Treason wherefrom the Suethes have ever been most averse The Orders of Poland ought to have been better instructed in the affairs of Suethland before they had made so sinister a Nationall Construction as that the State thereof was disturbed and the Regal Dignity prostituted and this vpon a rumour in Poland far greater doubtlesse then the Ambassadors do find to be really here Admonition amongst equalls and fellows is admittable but such a censure in no wise The Orders of Poland and Lithuania mistrust that many things have been transacted at Sudercopia tending to the disturbance of ancient Order and the right Government of this Kingdome directly undermining his Majesties Dignity and Superiority c. It is contrary to duty and mutuall benevolency
Lithuanian Orders had appointed this Embassie principally for the neerer conjoyning of those Potent Kingdoms in peace and unity and as therunto conducing to enquire into the whole matter as not being of particular concernment to Suethland only but had like reference to the not to be violated Regall Dignity of his Majesty who was of both those Realms the sole Lord and King from whom they had obtained permission to treat with his Highness and the Senators of Suethen in a way of Brotherly Charity and Amity which is not wont to act rashly That the Senators and Orders of Poland and Lithuania doubted not but that the Orders of Suethen would continue faithfull toward their King to whom they were astricted by Nature by Oath and hereditary Right even as they had professed in that Sudercopian Enaction but that notwithstanding they could not but apprehend the intervention of sundry things at that Parliament which unless corrected by Mature Counsell might breed disturbance in the Kingdom such Initiations usually springing up when slighting the Lawfull Lord publike Counsels were convened by another Call Laws were enacted the form of Government changed Ministers placed by the King removed from their Charge things peculiar to the Royall Majesty transferred upon others All which may easily appear to be full of and obnoxious to many dangers That the Polonian and Lithuania Orders did conceive the Suethes could not be ignorant of his Majesties affections towards his Paternall Realm or that he desired to have a regardfull eye unto the good of his Subjects nor would have refused but rather granted them a Parliament if he had seen it necessarily requisite that Method and Order consentaneous to the Lawes of the Kingdome might have been observed It being undeniable that a Convention in a Kingdome cannot be rightly called without the consent authority and presence of the King but that as then no such thing had appeared wanting either in reference to the Kingdome or its ancient accustomed Lawes and Constitutions his Majesty having concluded a peace between them and the Russian and so disposed of all things within the Kingdome as that no detriment or disturbance could rationally be feared That the said Convention was not only made without publike necessity impelling contrary to his Majesties and the Pedish Senatoriall expectations and wanted the consent and authority of their lawfull Crowned King but even contrary to his Edicts prohibiting the same yea that many things had been therein enacted diametrically opposite to the Regall Rights and Superiority As the Call it self in manner as aforesaid The remove of persons intrusted by the King with Forts and these committed to others Exauthorization of the Royall Mandates coyning of money in other then the Regall name Appeals to his Majesty and therein the Regall Dignity it self many waies circumscribed That these things having been weighed in an equall Ballance the Senators and Princes of Poland and Lithuania with the respective Orders of the depending Provinces Dukedomes and Cities did by them their Ambassadors earnestly desire his Highness to preserve entire his Majesties Rights and Dignity wherein the Kingdomes welfare was involved as their propinquity of blood required and did also in Brotherly manner admonish and entreat the Senators of Suethland as such to whose vigilancy prudency and Fidelity that Kingdomes care was by him committed and intrusted to return a diligent demonstration of their duty and fidelity toward their hereditary and crowned King and by a vigorous resistance of any who affecting Innovations as in large Empires many times happens would for private disturb the publike Interest manifest to the world how freely they had implyed the Talent intrusted unto them from Heaven and his Majesty That all Innovations in Kingdoms were perilous and pernicious but especially such as tended to violate the Rights of a lawfull hereditary crowned King as might be evidenced by France which by a thirty six and the Opulent Belgian Provinces by a twenty seven years Warr were almost reduced to an utter extermination And that those Rights neither could nor ought to be impaired but by that Majesty by whom Kings Raigne and Princes decree Justice That wicked men did never proceed at first to open height of evil but by peicemeals plucked up the Fences untill that from faithfull Subjects they had wrested the Power whereby having overturned the Kingdome to augment their owne Wealth and Greatnesse Which evills it beseemed his Highnesse and their Lordships to obviate timely and to abolish any Laws Constitutions or Confederations contrary to his Crowne his Dignity and Regall Rights and by their prudence and authority to divert the course of ill undertaken Councells least the head thereby weakned the Kingdomes body might faint and fall into decadence That the Duke and Senators of Suethland might assure themselves that his Majesty albeit at present detained by greater cares for Christendomes universall good would never intermit his due regard of his native Countrey no more then suffer the Rights of Royalty to be disjoynted But that whatsoever faithfull Subjects should crave in a just and orderly way his Dignity preserved hee would undoubtedly grant That therefore his Highness and their Lordships ought to prosecute his Majesty with due returne of Love observancy obedience and faithfull endeavours The rather for that his Majesty did no way oppress or burthen them but like to an indulgent Father with a minde truely Royall more prone to mercy then to cruelty was willing to passe by offences the more grievous because proceeding from his owne by whom he ought not to have been injured Notwithstanding which he Promised no lesse for the future then that amidst the Community of Christendomes concernments whereof Suethland did partake he would endeavour their good and as a returne of his Highnesse and their Lordships constant and faithfull affections towards his Majesty was no way doubted of by the respective Orders of Poland and Lithuania so the continuance therein was their earnest desire That the Polanders as they had abundantly testified by a voluntary conferring their Crowne upon his Majesty and according to their Nations custome had vowed unto him their Fortunes Liberties life it selfe so they were now ready to bestow all those and what else could be dearer unto them for the vindication of his Regall Rights and Dignity and would to that end unanimously joyne with his Highness their Lordships and that Kingdomes Orders and did promise as the present Oration might testifie that they would never be wanting to endeavour the repair of the least injury done to his Majesty or Kingly name wherunto they expected and did promise to themselves a mutuall assured and an untergiversing concurrence from his Highness the Orders of Suethland from whom for conclusion they earnestly desired they might receive an authentique written answer to the severall heads of their Embassie wherby their diligence and faithfull delivery of what they had in charge might be approved to their principles In like manner Count Ericke and Aruidus Gustavus
Office and represents the Power 2. Both in this and other Kingdomes the Rulers have been called by such Titles as is evident in our Histories where Torchilus the Son of Canutus Suanto the Son of Nicolaus Steno Sture the younger and many others have been entitled Governours and Administrators of the Kingdome 3. This Title cannot derogate from the Regall Dignity for his Majesty had by Writ honoured Claudius Flemingius with the like which he was uncapable of as not being approved by the States of the Kingdome neither had they both equall right to the Government For his Highnesse sprung from the Regall Family is a Prince hereditary of the Kingdome but Flemingius a Subject of his Majesty and of his Highnesse The third head of the said Decree containes likewise nothing but what is consentaneous to the Lawes of Suethland For by those written Lawes each cause is to be tried in the Province where the Delict was committed and the punishment to be made exemplary where the Crime was so besides many confusions and prejudices would accrue to the Country if the cognition of all Causes should be made in Poland As 1. There could not be so ample information as were requisite in regard the true state of Crimes may be more certainly known upon the place 2. A just Cause might happen to be lost for want of ability to attend personally and prosecute the definition to produce Witnesses and exhibit other instruments conducible to its legall cognition 3. The Natives Estates would be utterly exhausted by those long Journeys whence their unavoidable ruine must of necessity follow 4. The ancient Jurisdiction Lawes and Priviledges of Suethland would be violated which may not be tollerated All Nations have unanimously and obstinately maintained their own and have pronounced that the Infringers of the Jurisdiction of others were to be punished as Peace-breakers Item that who so should bring an Action before a Court incompetent was to be fined Whereas therefore his Majesty had bound himselfe by Oath not to impaire the Jurisdiction of Suethland he should trespasse against the same by constituting either in Poland or elsewhere any extraneous Judicatory to be competent for the Suethes Our Annals do likewise shew that for the like great troubles did arise to Ericke the thirteenth and other Kings 5. Hereunto is added that his Majesty whilest in Poland cannot determine the causes of Suethland as not having those persons there with him by whose counsell he is sworn to administer this Kingdomes Affaires The fourth Article of that Decree is grounded upon the Lawes of Suethen as treating of distributing of Offices And if his Majesty will preserve the Lawes intire as he hath sworne he may not whilest absent confer Offices at the request of every one who shall sue unto him According to the Lawes of Suethen the King absent is expresly prohibited from constituting a Provinciall Judge but such constitution belongs to him who in his absence supplies his place How much lesse then may he dispose of the more weighty charges And it hath been alwaies usuall here that the great Sewer or Vice-roy of the Kingdome should collate Offices in the Regall absence as appeares by the Union whereby he is endowed with that Power In regard therefore of what before alledged it is uncontrovertably apparent that the foresaid Decree doth not violate his Majesties Rights nor Dignity but doth rather enlarge and illustrate them and that if regard were had to the Lawes his Highnesse might expect and receive thanks for having in his Majesties absence undergone a Government so replenished with cares and toyles However it was not decent to vitiate this pious Office with such contumelies and ignominious expressions as the Letters delivered unto him are farced with But if his Majesty shall say that he doth not so much argue and protest against the Decree it felf in regard those Articles seem not so averse unto the Regall Dignity and Rights as against the power and authority assumed by his Highnesse of indicting a Parliament that being a Prerogative Royall belonging to the King solely His Highnesse answereth that by the Lawes it is not easily proved that the right of calling Parliaments is peculiarly Regall for those Royalties which by speciall concession are conferred upon any person go not beyond the same but that it is otherwise observed in Parliamentary Rights examples do shew for even in Poland the Arch-bishop of Gnesnen hath power to call Parliaments and to enact Lawes in the Kings absence And albeit that a Law to the contrary might be alledged yet ought it not to be of any validity in this case for as much as the Suethes by a long prescription of time have acquired this right in the same manner that all Regall Priviledges are as may appear by many Parliaments celebrated in this Kingdome in the Raignes of Ericke XIII and John II. Moreover the Countries well-fare and necessities required the calling hereof And necessity is above all Law neither admits of any Forasmuch then as by the precedent reasons it is manifest that the Sudercopian Decree containes nothing but what is conducing to the preserving and promoving of Unity in Religion to the maintaining and confirming the Lawes and Priviledges his Majesty cannot by the most Subtilized Arguments render the same Invalid without revoking his Oath But for the better cementing of things his Highnesse will briefly resolve and refute the Arguments used by his Majesty for the illuding of that Sudercopian Transaction HIs Majesty argues that in all lawful Conventions two things are chiefly requisite First the Superiours approbation and consent Secondly That the necessity and motives for calling a Parliament be maturely signified unto him But whereas the Sudercopian Covention was held without the Regall assent and timely signification of the Cause impelling thereunto his Majesty pronounceth the same needlesse and unlawfull And that his Majesties affirmation may appeare grounded upon Reason and the Authority of the Law he confirmes and fortifies the same out of the second Chapter of the Title of Regalls by a Text wherein is expressed that Subjects are bound to obey their King but his Majesty by Edict prohibited that Convention as appeares by the Writ Ergo c. This Proposition is not rationally laid down For thus many evil Conventions would be approved and laudable ones tending to the good of Empires and Kingdomes would be rendred of no valididity because held without the Knowledge or consent of the Supreme Magistrate which were dangerous to say The Syllogisme ought therefore to be thus formed It is a lawfull Convention wherein nothing is treated but what is consentaneous to the Laws and appertains to the well-being and to the best State of a Common Weal but â—n the Sudercopian Convention nothing was determined that is not agreeable to the Laws of Suethen and other Nations Who therefore will call such a Convention unlawfull And if that be to be called a lawful Assembly of the causes and necessity whereof
having administred the least occasion therunto That thereafter they would choose such a King and Lord as should maintain and govern them according to the pure word of God and the Suethish Lawes Thus much out of the Act it selfe concluded the twenty fourth of July 1599. whereunto the further curious are referred I shall onely adding as a preparatory to the next ensuing Parliament that in this it was degreed that when his Highnesse the Duke should return from Finland whether the troubles there did call him they would again convene in place convenient for the triall of those Counsellours and others then Prisoners and on the guilty inflict deserved punishment and that the Duke and they had resolved for the cleering of themselves before all Christian Monarchs and the whole World that they proceeded not otherwise in that Affaire then right and justice required to entreat certain Electors and Princes of Germany to send some men of probity and integrity into Suethland not as Judges of controversies but as Auditors onely But if those Ambassadors did defer their coming that themselves would then proceed This Parliament ended they without delay by Letters of the thirtieth of the said month advertised King Sigismundus of what had been therein concluded and humbly desired his Majesty to declare himselfe within the time limited But to these Letters say they he returned no answer Whereupon another Parliament was indicted at Lincopia against the month of March in the yeare 1600. In this Convention the whole Orders of Suethland as in the former they had done did expresly and absolutely renounce King Sigismundus and his Government as also his Son for himselfe and Posterity in case of his not being sent into Suethland within the time specified in the former They thereupon do likewise cleer his Highnesse from affecting the Soveraignty or its Title notwithstanding the tender thereof unto him and confirmed him for their Governour during the absence as also the minority of the Prince if he should come within the time five months whereof were yet unexpired And albeit as they in the nineth Section or Pause of that Act do acknowledge Duke John the Brother of King Sigismundus was the next in right unto the Crowne according to the severall times fore-mentioned hereditary Unions yet did they decline him fearing least when he had attained the Regall Chaire he might moved thereunto by naturall affection to his Brother or his Heirs enter into such Covenants and make such transactions as might be destructive to themselves and to the Country by joyning with them to revenge upon Duke Charles or his Successors those things which in those turbulent times had been acted in reference to King Sigismundus and his Family and so the latter evill might be worse then the former And therefore they unanimously decreed that the said Prince John should have the Dukedome of Ostrogothia formerly designed for his Uncle Duke Magnus conferred upon him with certain reservations and equall compensations for the same therein expressed The said Prince to rest therewith contented without pretending to any other part in the Kingdome Hereditary Goods expected which by paternall or maternall Inheritance might be devolved unto him yet with certaine restrictions therein contained And as in the eight Section or Pause of the said Act they repeat the Motives of their defection from King Sigismundus as his deserting the Evangelicall and embracing the Papall erroneous Profession his endeavouring to obtrude the same upon that Kingdome his departure from thence severall times without their privity after he had brought a numerous forraign Army into the bowells of the Country against all right naturall affection and the Lawes of that Nation and had by severall other waies acted contrary to his Oath and assecutoriall Letters as also had not daigned to answer one sylable to their humble desires and assurance of committing the Soveraign rule of Suethland unto his Son if transmitted for due Education within the prefixed time For which causes they likewise renounced his Son and all other his Heires and Successors depriving them of all Jurisdiction otherwise by the Hereditary Union rightly belonging unto them so as neither his Majesty nor any of his Progeny should thereafter obtaine any right unto the Suethish Diadem withdrawing themselves from all Obligations wherein they were tyed to his Majesty and his Heires as also renouncing all fidelity security and assistance formerly exhibited to his Majesty So in the twelfth Pause or Section of the same they approve of and confirme Duke Charles for their future King promising unto him therby unanimously and with one assent obedience fidelity security and their utmost assistance as to their naturall and beloved Lord and King yea that albeit he should refuse to accept the Crown and whether the Coronation Ceremonies should be performed or not they would neverthelesse acknowledge and observe him as their lawfull Lord and King They likewise bound themselves in that Act that after the death of Duke Charles they would render and perform the like obedience unto his Son the Prince Gustavus Adolphus and to his Heirs Males so long as any of them should survive But they sailing the Royall Scepter to come to Duke John afore-named Provided that he and his Successors were obliged not to enter into any Union or confederacy with King Sigismundus or his Heirs especially relating to any share or government in that Kingdome and that he nor they should in no sort adhere unto the Romish erroneous Doctrine Concerning their establishment of Church-service as also their Treaties to be had with the Russian and those of Lubecke the curious are referred to the Act wherein also provision was made for dispatch of Juridicall Suites Scrutenies into the publike Revenues of the Crown Setling of certain numbers of Horse and Foot in each Province to be ready upon emergent occasions their constant Salaries and Sustentation whilest remaining at home to be out of the Crown Revenues onely but when the whole Forces of each Province or any part therof should move in Military expedition against the Kingdomes Enemies each Province to furnish their proper Souldiers with Provision or Maintenance during the expedition that so each might be assessed for their own Militia and not burthened with that of any other And that forasmuch as each Province had not equall number of Souldiers no more then equall frequency of subsidiary Inhabitants it was ordained that the Assesments for the maintenance of the Army should be equall in each Province wherby the Inhabitant of one Province might not be liable to a larger Military contribution then one of another Province and if the Military number in one Province were greater then its proper contribution could maintain during the expedition the defect was to be supplied out of the Crown Revenues of that Province wherby the Souldier might out of the same Province be provided of necessaries during the expedition This Decree to be perpetually observed whether the
extraneous Gothes for if the Kings of that people who warred abroad had retained a power over them that remained in the Ancient and Paternall Soil they would not probably have permitted that they who marched under their Standarts and with them underwent the dangers and uncertainties of forraign Warfare should have been dispossessed of their Inheritance at home But leaving these things it is evident from their Authors that the Suethes have anciently been an elective Kingdom and free to choose either a Native or Stranger to possess the Regal Chair with this Obligation enjoyned that the King who ere he were should defend the Multitude committed unto him from injury and violence and should endeavour the enforcement and observation of their Laws ancient Customs rightfull Constitutions and Priviledges according to the received custom in all well regulated Nations Notwithstanding which freedom of Election they alwaies made choice of the Son to succeed the Father where they found the Rayes of Vertue corresponding to the Royall Dignity as being conformable to the Laws of Suethen and the continued Annals of that Regions History The truth hereof may appear by the Royall Progeny of Ericus Sanctus whose Son Canutus obtained the Regall Wreath of King Suercherus also to whom his Sons Charles and John succeeded after them Ericus Balbus the Nephew of Ericus Sanctus by election ascended the Royall Chair next whom Valdemarus Nephew to Ericke last named by his Sister and Birgerus that Illustrious Prince of the Ostro-gothes obtained the Scepter which was afterwards swayed by his Brother Magnus sur-named Ladulas Birgerus the Son of Magnus was next elected and he ejected for Cruelty and Fratricide was succeeded by Magnus Erickson his Nephew surnamed Smeek The Suethes as themselves assert have alwaies esteemed that beyond the Proximity of blood pretence of hereditary right or utilitie of friendship Vertue only and Heroick Actions were worthy of a Crown This freedom of Sufferages or Votes in the election of their Kings flourished amongst them many Ages even untill latter times wherin they not moved with the wind of Levity to use their own words but induced by the strickt Law of necessity having first at Strengnesia upon the sixth of June 1523. proclaimed and afterwards at Vpsall on the eighth day of January 1528. Crowned Gustavus Ericke Son sprung from Illustrious Ancestors and worthy of the Regall Charge as having freed them from the Tyranny of Christierne the second King of Denmark did at Orobrogia the fourth of January 1540. by an Act of hereditary Union of their whole Senatoriall Colledge with a numerous Circle of the Equestriall Order assume his Heirs Males from the first to the last into a right of Succession which Act was by the universall States of Suethland assembled in Parliament confirmed and established at Arosia the 13. of January 1544. Thus of Elective the Crown of Suethland became hereditary Neither did their Rulers therby obtrude ought of new or never before practised upon that Nation but followed the stepts and examples of their Ancestors For about 200 years before the whole Orders of that State had bound and obliged themselves almost in the same manner to the forenamed Magnus Smeeke and to his Sons Ericus and Haquinus under such limitations and conditions as are contained in the heredirary Union made at Varburg in Holand An. 1343 wherunto the Curious are referred Yet for the better comprehending of what hath been said we will deduce the Succession of their Kings from the said Magnus the fourth sur-named Smeeke who having in his own time conferred Norway upon his second Son Haquinus was after the death of Ericke his eldest to whom he had designed the Crown of Suethen ejected by the practises of his Nephew Albert Duke of Meckleburg But by the fore-named Bureus this Magnus is taxed of contempt of things sacred of libidenous lust and inhumane cruelty deserving the name of a Spoyler of the Publike And that he not brooking the co-partnership of his Sons which he had seemed to desire had caused to attempt the murther of his Son Ericke who the Traytor being suppressed before he could perpretrate the Fact was soon after poysoned by his Mother Blanca or Blanche a French-woman Magnus being not long after taken in Battell by his second Son Haquin King of Norway yet soon freed fled into Denmark He intercepted the Dutchess of Holstein his Sons betroathed and obtruded upon him Margaret of Denmark whilst he prepared greater Forces he thundred out Proscriptions against the Suethish Nobility Albert Duke of Mâ—ckleburg Son of Euphemia Sister of the said Magnus was by the proscribed Peers in prejudice of Haquin King of Norway elected to the Crown of Suethland in the year 1363. but being afterwards vanquished An. 1387. by Margaret Queen of Denmark and Norway the Widow of Haquin fore-named after seven years detention desirous to regain his liberty to her he resigned the Kingdome Margaret Queen of Denmark Suethland and Norway by some stiled the Semiramis of Germany having united the three Kindoms under her Soveraignty caused an Act of State to be passed in Calmar for a perpetuation of the said Union to her Successors the Laws Privliedges of each Kingdom reserved entire She is by the Suethes taxed of extream covetousness and of breach of promise hated of them she departed into Denmark having by threats and terrours obtained the Kingdom for her Nephew Ericke a youth of fourteen years of age It was she who being admonished not to commit the Forts of the Kingdom unto Strangers contrary to her agreement replyed Keep you those Our Covenants the best you can We will take care for the securing of the Castles She being dead was succeeded by Ericke Duke of Pomerania in the year 1411. by vertue of the said Union and of his Adoption by the fore-named Margaret being the Son of her Sister Ingelburgis He Raigned over the three Kingdoms but was expelled from them all by a strong faction as some say Others as the fore-named Suethish Author that enleavened by his Aunt he was a Violater of promises an Extirpator of the Nobility by extraneous Wars and unseasonable tempestuous Navigations a Spoyler at home He had for Antagonist Engitbert a Prince elected out of the Nobility of the Dalicartes and he being bereaved of life by Danish treachery Carolus Canutus was appointed Governor of the Kingdom He fled into Denmark and there also hated attempting a return into Suethen seised on Gothland from thence infesting the Aquilonian Navigators with Piracies At last besieged by Carolus Canutus and distrusting the Danes he retired to his ancient Inheritance and rest when he had Raigned from his Coronation fourteen years this hapned An. 1433. Christopher Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria in title only Son of another Lady Margaret Sister of Ericke forenamed promoted by the endeavours of the Danes and their exceeding commendation was not without much reluctancy consented unto by the Suethes in the year 1442.
his faith given Christierne having thus exhibited a notable testimony of a violated faith gave in the year following no less demonstration of cruelty and treachery at once for falling upon Westro-gothia with a much greater Army then before a Battell was fought upon the congealed Balticke wherin Steno wounded in the thigh with a great shot forthwith died And the Generall being slain the numerous Army of the Suethes was immediatly routed Christierne thus victorious was received by the Nobles of his Faction and dignified at Stocholme with the Regall Diadem and on his Coronation day fearing least in his absence the Children of Steno might be again restored to the Kingdom by the Princes of the adverse party the City Gates being shut he caused the chief of all the Orders whom he had invited to the Feast to the number of ninety four persons to be beheaded the people gazing and trembling and commanded the dead Carkasses to be left for the more horrour three daies before the Court gate Even the body of Steno not long before committed to the Earth was by order of this new Tyrant again digged up and with the rest consumed by fire Last the Widows and Children of the Murthered were bereaved of their Goods This done he departed from Stocholme when he had exercised various cruelties upon many The Suethes upon the rumor of this Fact gathering in Armes to the number of 30000. he through Woods and unwonted Pathes conveyed himself away yet more by night then day Marches and hardly at last returned into Denmark where cruelty by so many slaughters being changed into his nature when he could not abstain from satiating his Salvage thirst with the blood of his own he was Warred upon by his Uncle Fredericke Duke of Holstein and those of Lubecke And his conscience being terrified he with his Children and his Wife the Emperours Sister fled into Zealand the third year after the Stockholmian butchery which was An. 1523. Thus far out of Thuanus Gustavus Erickson of Illustrious extraction escaping out of the hands of the Dane did under pretence of soliciting the Affairs of Steno's Widow marry with the Daughter of Steno and by favour of the Princes assisted also by those of Lubecke attained the Vacant Royalty but the more easily in having through many personall hazards as is by the Suethes acknowledged vindicating his bleeding Country from the forenamed unparallel'd Tyrant and was not only as hath been said proclaimed at Strengnesia in the year 1523. and Crowned at Ubsall An. 1528. but had the Crown also entailed upon his lawfull Male Issue at Orobrogia in the year 1540. which Act of the Senatoriall Colledge and the Equestriall Order was confirmed at Arosia in January 1544. by the whole States of Suethen assembled in Parliament Other Motives there were inducing them therunto declared by themselves as the future avoiding of those cruell dissentions and contests with the Senatoriall Colledge had many times fallen into about the Election of this or that man of a Native or Stranger as affection or interest suggested and power was prevalent to the unutterable prejudice of the Common-weal by intestine Seditions Sanguinolent effusions and multitudes of other mischiefs tending to the ruine of the Nation but more particularly since the time of Magnus Smeeke in whom sailed the Progeny of the ancient Suethish Kings as may be by what hath been already said observed Further reasons given by themselves for their so gratifying this deserving Prince were his freeing that Kingdom from the horrible darkness of Romish Superstition and being the first who to use their own expression sent down from Heaven brought them into the light of the divine Word Neither was he less careful of the Kingdoms Laws Statutes and of introducing the best waies of Policy yea that night and day he studied the good and Emolument of his Subjects by animadvertancies into and contrivances for their Tillage Structures and other Rurall advantages from which they derived plenty of profits and do therfore record his Providence and Paternall care with extraordinary testimonies of praise and thankfulness Nor do they acknowledge him to have been less industrious howbeit to his own excessive toil in searching out the Metall Mines wherwith Suethen abounds or of inventing means for the more easie gaining of them as artificiall Fabricks poised Engines of immence weight usefull Aquaducts and other beneficiall Mountaneous Works As also in erecting throughout all Suethland of Work-houses or houses of Correction for vagrant and idle people Neither did his care extend only to things present and which might occur during his own time but even to those that might befall his dear Country when his Princely Spirit should have forsaken its earthly Mansion To which end that he might timely obviate all disturbances in the Kingdom but especially to decline the Seeds of contention from his Children He framed a laudable and most Christian Will and Testament which he imposed strickly as a rule not only to his Posterity but even to all the Orders and States of the Kingdom The bounds wherof they were not any way to exceed The scope of the said latter Will was that his Children and the whole States of Suethland should preserve worship and zealously maintain the honour and service of God and his most holy word even to their utmost in that manner in which himself by Divine assistance had setled the same without mixture of humane traditions and this they were to observe as they hoped for Heaven or desired to avoid the loss of eternall blessedness He admonished his Children to continue in mutuall fraternall affection and each to rest contented with his condition As also faithfully diligently and by all waies and means to procure the Weal of the Kingdom and people to study and embrace Peace and Concord to avoid and like Poyson detest the Pest of Suspition with those other mischiefs dissentions tumults which like a Torrent flow from that Fountain Last he exhorted his Sons that neither by themselves nor any other they should procure or permit the limits of the Kingdom which had been bounded with much blood of their Ancestors to be in the least sort diminished but rather to enlarge and with all their industry power and might continually deâ—end the same With such zeal of affection towards the good of his Country was this most excellent Prince transported And therfore say the Suethes they could not but account them for bruits and unworthy to be numbred amongst the Sons of men whom such Ardour of Royall Benevolence did not enflame to some gratefull compensation towards so true a Father of his Country and his Posterity For the reasons before alledged the States of Suethland to the end so large and various benefits might remain in perpetuall memory and in some measure to testifie their thankfulness for the same did in their forementioned solemn Assembly at Arosia unanimously ordain and decree that so soon as this Incomparable Gustavus
inforce or obtrude upon them any Husband against their own will and consent nor admit of their alliance with any People Kingdom or State that were at enmity with or sought the prejudice of the Suethish Nation but rather endeavour to match them with some One who should be acceptable of the Princely Families of Germany descended from the Illustrious Gustavian Race unlesse the same were prohibited by proximity of blood And that they would provide the other Regall and Ducall Daughters of Dowries corresponding to their Dignity Conditionally that they also should not contract Matrimony either with Forraigner or Native except by the approbation and consent of the States of Suethland His first Wife as already said was Katherine second Daughter to Sigismund the first and Sister to Sigismund the second Kings of Poland whom he married An. 1562. and had by her Sigismund the third of that name King of Poland and King of Suethen also one Daughter the Princess Anna. In second Bed he wedded Gunila the Daughter of John Axell Bielke of Heresetter Knight Governour of the Ostro-gothes in the year 1585. who brought unto him John hereditary Prince of the Kingdom and afterwards Duke of Ostrogothia who in the year 1612. took to Wife the Illustrious Mary daughter to the forenamed Duke of Sundermannia c. but then King of Sueth and by the name of Charles the ninth Thus far hath been for the deduction of the Polish Kings from Boleslaus Chrobrus the first but more particularly from Jagello or Vladislaus the fifth of that name King of Poland as also of the Suethish Princes from Magnus Smeeke but chiefly from Gustavus Erickson the Liberator of his Country from extraneous bondage and the Founder of his Family likewise of the alliance therof with Poland with the conjunction of both those Crowns in the person of the last named Sigismundus elected in Poland hereditary of Suethen Crowned in both which was promised at the beginning of this Narrative The disjunction and dessensions ensuing therupon between these two Crowns follow next in order to be handled It will not nevertheless be unnecessary for the better understanding of all the differences between those two Potent Nations to insert that before their latter discords about the expulsion of Sigismundus and his Heirs from the Crown of Suethland severall grudges and jars had been on foot concerning certain parts of Leifland The Polanders and Suethes having both incroached theron whilest the same was under the Russian each catching at what lay most commodious for them and not seldom reaving from one another Albeit the Polish Authors assert that Joannes Basilides the great Duke or rather Tyrant of Russia wherunto all Leifland formerly belonged was forced to quit the same wholly to Stephen King of Poland in the year 1588. wherby he became deprived of the best and richest Country of his Empire by reason of the Commerce that Province hath in the Balthicke Sea in which was numbred thirty four Castles Notwithstanding which the Suethes seised on Tolezeburg Vdsenburg Bercholm As and Est which they gained from the Russian and from the Polander Revell and Badis in the Province of Haria Vitenstein also the chief Fort in the Dutchy of Gervanlandia with the Towns and Palaces of sundry of the Nobility of that Dukedom To the Dutchy of Esthonia the Kings of Suethen to this day intitle themselves The Polish Forces had in like manner wrested from the Sueths Karxhaus Helmeth Rugen and Parnaw a fair and well fortified Castle and Town joying to the Sea all of the Province of Esthonia aforesaid In the Bishoprick of Habsell the Suethes had gotten both City and Castle being the Episcopall Seat Lode a strong Castle and Lehall both City and Castle were possest by their Forces besides sundry other important places All which premised we proceed It hath been already said that King John of Suethen had by his instructions enjoyned his fore-named Ambassadors that no Alienation of ought belonging to the Suethish Crown should be accorded in contemplation of his Sons assumption to that of Poland but rather to break off the Treaty Notwithstanding which charge the said Ambassadors did act and conclude sundry things contrary therunto for say the Suethes in the third Article sworn unto and signed by both parties at the great Parliament in or neer Warsaw An. 1587. it is expresly provided that the King Elect should be bound to incorporate that part of Livonia or Leifland which the King of Suethland then possessed unto Poland or Lithuania And the then Queen Dowager of Poland Aunt unto the said elected King was to secure the same by Caution out of her own peculiar Goods as well in the Kingdom of Naples and the Dutchy of Baresano Duoano and Foggiano as out of her Dowry and any other goods and Possessions movable or immovable within or without the Kingdom of Poland This Concession which accordingto the Stipulation of the Ambassadors Sigismund the King Elect was to sign at his entry into that Kingdom the States of Suethen object as the first breach of the Auitall Gustavian Testament and that these Transactions were unknown and contrary to his Fathers mind and will may appear by a Schedule to his Uncle Duke Charles in his Letter from Calnear the second of December 1587 wherin he expresseth to this effect That albeit some weak hopes concerning Leifland unwitting to us and our dear Lord and Father and without our command or permission were given to the States of the Kingdom of Poland yet notwithstanding the Ambassadors of Poland present with those of the lower house have ingeniously granted and by Covenant and Oath have secured Vs that no such thing shall be exacted of Vs as We also have firmly concluded with Our selfe never to yeild up that which the Kingdom of Suethland hath gained with the blood of many famous men besides a notable expence of labour treasure and time Dated as abovesaid And in his first Letter to his Father after his reception of that Crown dated at Cracovia the first of May 1588. he insinuated the same thing and that he had been urged to declare himself in the matter of Leifland but that he by the advice of the Suethes then attending him had answered in these words That this matter should be wholly deferred therby to oblige the Polanders to forbear the importunity he might otherwise have received therupon promising withall to his said Father never to grant them any further hopes therof or to do ought therin contrary to his Majesties mind And that he had already told them he would rather renounce the Kingdom by them tendred unto him then alienate ought of the bounds of his most dear Country purchased with the blood of so many gallant men of the Suethish Nation His Father King John deceasing as hath been said An. 1592. Charles his Uncle Duke of Sudermannia c. before named took upon him the Government as next of blood during the absence of
Parliaments without which the publick weale cannot be rightly provided for as is manifest in that seldome any Kings without Parliaments have laudably administred the Common wealth That the same did likewise contradict the Regall Oath and that Kingdomes Priviledges That his Majesty having sworn to govern his Hereditary Country by the Counsell of the Duke and the Senators therof they had neither approved of nor been consulted in the draught of that form but the same had been compiled by Strangers and the Subjects compulsion to its obedience would be a violation of the Regall Oath Next Suethland by most ancient Priviledges had power to call Parliaments in the Royall absence which Priviledges the King had by Oath bound himself to maintain That wheras it had been insinuated his Highness ought to have rendred obedience to the foresaid Form albeit imperfect by reason it was not for long duration in regard of his Majesties intention for a return within short time into that Kingdom It is answered that Emergencies in Kingdomes admit not of delaies That a month only may produce unremediable evils how much more two years That the King at his departure had deprived them of all hopes of his return having affirmed to the Senators and Orders of Poland that he would remain with them to the end That his Highness had disposed of his Majesties Fee-farmes or Copyholds which by the Law was reserved to the King solely in Sign of his Supream Praeeminency That if his Majesty will rightly discerne the sense of their Lawes in that case his Highness cannot appeare to have done ought therin contrary to the Regall Authority That the Assignation of certain Lands or Mannors to some honourable persons in satisfaction out of the Annuall proceed for summs of money long owing to them by the King and Kingdome that so the Capitall sum might not to the detriment of both encrease by interest was not an alienation of those Lands That if this were unacceptable the King who had been severall times advertised thereof should have shewed by what waies those Debts whereof as being just the Creditors could neither be denied nor ought to be by force defrauded might have been discharged and the course of interest stopped And that whatever he had conceded unto any it was upon condition they should obtain the Royall Assent which might evidence that he did acknowledge a Superiour without whose approbation he would not conclude in ought that peculiarly belonged unto his Majesty That his Majesties faithfull Ministers had been oppressed and removed from their Offices 1. That his Highness cannot be taxed to have oppressed his Majesties faithfull Ministers for having deprived some infected with the Romish Pontificiall Leven of those Governments which the King without consulting himself and the Kingdomes Senators had promoted them unto forasmuch as by the Regall Assecuration the entry into those Honours and Offices was forbidden to such 2. Distributive Justice prohibited maintenance from the Crown Revenues to those who by the Royall Cautionary prescription were not to bear Office and were unserviceable to the Kingdome 3. That forasmuch as his Majesties Oath being salved those persons could not pretend to more then a common enjoyment with the other Inhabitants of the Kingdomes Priviledges Lawes and Immunities the permission to them of more would have been an offence against the same Wherefore his Highness had not oppressed them if it were so to be stiled but they first themselves by declining the received Religion and transiating into the Tents of Rome and next his Majesty who by his assecuration had deprived them of Office and Dignity Moreover it was evident that part of them so preferred were uncapable of those duties and unprofitable to the Subject neither were they by consult admitted according to the prescript Lawes and therefore legally deprived As also that some of them were charged with hainous Crimes And it was not meet that such should rule over others who could not govern themselves neither were they to be numbred amongst the Kings faithfull Servants in regard it would be a reproach to his Majesty to make use of their Service That his Majesties Letters of Inhibition and other Patents were slighted That his Highness had never slighted any Legall Regall Mandates neither did he conceive that by constraining some of evill Fame accused of notorious Crimes to appeare in Judgment with other lying Detractors who against himself had published many false Criminations or that by diminishing the power of such as had opposed the Sudercopian Decree who by Patents had been all received into the Royall Protection he had trespassed in ought against his Majesties Inhibitions when as by Law such were void Next that his Majesty could not by his Patents protect such persons having sworn to preserve the Kingdomes Lawes in their Entry and in them is expresly couched That he who is tainted by Common Fame must acquit himself from suspition Neither doth the Imperiall Power extend to the taking away the right of a third nor to pardon a wrong done to any untill the injured party be first satisfied and therefore his Majesties Inhibitions could not free the Defamers of his Highness and others from process That the Sudercopian Parliament tended wholly to the wel-fare of the King and Kingdome and to concord in Religion and had not therefore been wrongfully called so that the Letters which protected the Impugners thereof were invalid and opened a great gap to dissentions and disturbances as was then evident in Finland from which Fountain ruine to Kings and Kingdomes doth usually flow Lastly that such Letters were repugnant to the Regall Oath and the Municipall Law of Suethen wherin is expressed He shall defend his Subjects especially the quiet and peaceable who live conformable to Law not only from Strangers but likewise from turbulent and contentious Inhabitants Chiefly he shall maintain Ecclesiasticall Immunities c. But such had been excepted in the Kings Patents Open War raged in Finland the Subjects there so exhausted by new Exactions as they could not pay the Kings Rents Sundry hundreds had perished by hunger That other grievances were here omitted as Rapines Rapes Stuprations open Violences Violation of domestick Peace and the like which not only were hitherto unpunished notwithstanding severall advertisements given but his Majesty did also prohibit proceedings against the Author or head of those mischiefs That as to any other of the Royall Mandates their Authority when conform to the Lawes and Royall Oath had ever been entirely preserved Moreover that not only in Suethland but almost in all other Nations it had been a received custome that Kings when absent did direct their Commands concerning ought to be done unto him who was over the Kingdome And it had and might happen that by false Narrations of the procurers of such Patents his Majesty had and might be led into errour and issue forth such Letters and Grants as would be much prejudiciall to the Kingdom if put into
Raigns of Ericke the thirteenth and John the second in which the Orders of the Kingdome convened to admonish the King by writing of his duty and to exhort him not to leave the Kingdome in the distractions it then was And albeit his Highnesse is not ignorant that Judgment is not to be given by example but by Law he holds it yet worthy of consideration that examples are of a two-fold kind the one diametrically repugnant the other consentaneous to the Lawes the former of no authority the latter of equall force with the Law But those before cited are not contrary thereunto and therfore cannot be legally rejected by his Majesty Moreover not so much the example as the frequency of such actings and the time requisite for such prescriptions are to be regarded which custome is not only of equall force with the Lawes but doth sometimes eclipse their Authority Thirdly Whereas his Majesty did religiously promise that he would intermit nothing which might conduce to the well-fare and flourishing estate of the Kingdome he cannot nullifie the Sudercopian Decree which wholly tended to the Patriall good safety And albeit a Law were extant forbidding Parliaments to be held in the Royal absence yet it ought to be restrained when the Kingdome by reason of that absence were in danger For Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto And a Prince ought to prefer the publike good before his own particular As therefore his Highnesse and the Kingdomes Inhabitants are not further bound unto his Majesty nor obliged to obey his commands then his Oath his Caution given and the Lawes of the Land do permit and that these would be contradicted if his Majesty should obstruct the Parliamentary Decree made and ratified by common consent It followes of right that the Subjects are not bound to the obedience of his Edict especially in regard the Kings and Kingdomes wel-being was endeavoured by that Convention That since this Kingdome of Elective became Hereditary no such Parliaments were ever celebrated the King living and that this therfore opposed his Dignity and Regall Rights That since the first time this Kingdome became Hereditary never did any of their Kings at one and the same time governe two Kingdomes so far distant and differing both in people and language but alwaies remained in and laudably ruled their Hereditary Kingdome and therefore it was not necessary that another should undertake the work and call Parliaments albeit even they as Affaires required could not otherwise governe then by such Convocations So as this ought not to turne to his Highnesse reproach the Kingdome being in a manner destitute of a King and disorders increasing It may also be here demanded whether more right and power accrues to the King by Succession then his Predecessors had whilest Raigning by a free Election But if it cannot be shewed that more power and authority is devolved unto his Majesty what should now hinder Parliamentary Indictings and the constitutions of things tending to the good of the King the Kingdome and totall Posterities seeing that Histories do shew the same hath been done they raigning and governing other Kingdomes That in the Sudercopian Convention new Lawes were enacted and that to make and promulgate Edicts is solely Regall Wherefore the Transactions there did undoubtedly derogate from the Royall Dignity and Authority and ought to be abrogated That to ordaine new Lawes is not solely Regall but the Subjects consent is likewise requisite without which it cannot be done It is also affirmed that no new Law was enacted in that Convention and consequently nothing derogatory to his Majesty therein acted That much time was not Elapsed since his Majesties Coronation so as the promises then made might easily be remembred and therfore their renovation by any particular Convention was unneedfull His Highnesse regards not so much the time as the manner of his Majesties observing those agreements and that many things could be made appeare to have been acted contrary to the most of them but that he is tender of his Majesties honour and fame 2. This Objection is more hurtfull then helpfull to his Majesties cause in saying he was mindfull of what had been transacted at his Inauguration for his Judgment may suggest unto him what suspition may arise from a voluntary omission of what one knowes ought of right to be done 3. From hence also conjecture may be made how that will be kept unto Posterity which is wilfully neglected at the very first 4. Renewing of things formerly concluded is not unusuall for many things are comprehended in the Law and published which neither ought nor can be unknown to any yet forasmuch as they are many waies trespassed against Kings with the Orders of the Kingdome have thought meet to digest the heads mostly swarved from into new Edicts and Constitutions and so republish them to the people which might be also exemplified by other Nations but that the repetition would be over-long That his Highnesse had by that Parliament administred occasion to deprive his Majesty with himself and whole Posterity of the Succession and Kingdome and therefore those Decrees ought to be abolished Experience the continued consent of Histories and all Politicks do accord that for two causes chiefly God doth transfer the Empire of one Nation to another Viz. Impiety and Injustice And therefore by the rule of contraries it followes that he who provides for Concord in Religion and who administers Right and Justice affords no matter for such Mutations But that this is the maine scope of the Sudercopian Decree is evident from it selfe wherefore his Highnesse cannot be justly accused of giving occasion thereby to deprive his Majesty and his Successors of the Kingdome For caution being therein given that the Oath of subjectional Fidelity should be preserved and all erroneous Decrees dissenting from our received and admitted Religion abrogated it followes consequentially for Negation of the whole admits of Negation of parts that whosoever impugnes that Decree doth equally free the Subjects from their Oath of Fidelity to his Majesty disturbes Concord in Religion and overturnes the Hereditary Covenants His Highnesse therefore doth Jurally affirme that his Majesty cannot disanull the same without absolving the Subjects from their said Oath and exclusion of himselfe and Posterity from the Succession 2. The Subjects Obligation to his Majesty is conditionall agreeable to the Regall Oath and Assecuration as hath been shewed Whence it is that by over-throwing the Sudercopian Tractation the Covenant will not be fulfilled ANd it is evident in Law that where the Condition is not observed the Obligation is void The rescinding therefore of that Transaction may administer cause of defection as his Highnesse hath brotherly admonished his Majesty 3. None can be ignorant that it is usuall in all Nations for Subjects to renounce their fidelity and obedience upon violation of the Regall Conditions and Covenants Histories do record nor can it be unknown unto any what hath
to thrust ones Sicle into another mans Harvest and to meddle with things that properly belong to the State and Orders of Suethland who have never had ought in more or more ancient estimation then their fidelity and obedience toward their Kings and then whom it concerns none more that the right forme of Government should not be changed and if it were to have it restored The Sudercopian Parliament was convened by his Highness to whom with the Senators the King had committed the kingdome Not upon light grounds as the Ambassadours may have partly perceived by the Acts for it was necessary to call a Parliament neither was ought therein concluded derogatory to the regall Dignity or to the Patriall Rights nor were new Laws enacted but the old put in execution That which preserves tranquility of Religion generally received in a kingdome which executes the Laws abolisheth civill dissention establisheth the regall Oath and the hereditary Covenants doth more confirme then weaken the Regall Rights No man therefore will doubt but that his Majesty vvill have it unviolably observed and will thinke nothing can more conduce to the illustration and amplification of his Dignity It was called for his good not for sedition or disobedience neither was it unwitting to him for hee had been certified of the motives by Artizouskie in August preceding he protested indeed but the thing was done The power of calling Parliaments is knowne to be in the Supreme Prince when within the Kingdome but if otherwise it hath never been observed that Treason was imputed if they to whom the Government was committed did call a Parliament in the Regall absence so long as nothing was acted contrary to their Faith and Oath given This Kingdome hath some Presidents as in the times of Christian the first and John the second when the effects of the Regall Oath began to languish which may easily happen in the Kingly absence Forraign examples are not wanting nor argumentative proofs of the best learned in Politicks many years past as well of the Roman as of our Religion that the King being absent Parliaments may be kept without derogating from Majesty According to Cominaeus they swarve from the Law of Nations and the custome of their Ancestors who plot to root out the most laudable institution of celebrating common Counsels the greatest strength and establishment of a Kingdome Under Edward the second of England Charles the eighth and Lewis the eleventh of France and these also are Hereditary Kingdomes Parliaments have been called the King present In Germany it is no new thing for the States to convene against the Emperors mind and it is yet fresh in memory that the like hath been done in Poland the King even this Sigismund the third not only unwilling but also prohibiting and protesting against it which is not here mentioned to accuse others for all men have judged Parliaments to be lawfull when publikely called for weighty causes and not contrary to the good of King and Kingdome albeit against his mind being absent Confederacies opposite to the Regall Dignity Praeeminencie and Rights have not been undertaken as is unjustly objected Such savour of Sedition which never entred into the thoughts of the Suethes Conspiracy is close treacherous distructitive to King and Country but Parliaments are lawfull and do fortifie both It is therefore Illegall to taxe the Suethes of treason for so convening when as the same appeares not to be forbidden them by any Law but unto Kings is not permitted to Enact Lawes without the Peoples consent no more then to governe the people contrary to the Law and without the assent of the Senators The more weighty inducements to that Parliaments indiction were the publike Debts the unpaid stipends of the Soldery whose Military Vertue is not unknown to any the setling of Dowries whereunto extraordinary collection was necessary which by the Lawes of Suethland the King himself when present cannot compell without a Parliament His Majesty was absent whose part it was to cleere the debts of his Father and the Kingdome which cannot stand safe without salving the publike Faith Another motive was that in the Form of Government prescribed severall things seemed wanting in conformity to the Lawes and Regall Oath whereunto the Orders of the Kingdome conceived they ought to adhaere the more constantly by reason of discords about Religion which were not when the right of Hereditation was conferred upon the Regall Family To the said Form the Senatoriall Votes were also requisite without which the King is by our Laws forbidden to settle ought of the Kingdoms more weighty Affaires These reasons may suffice for the calling of that Parliament albeit more might be given Let us now discusse the heads of what was therein concluded It is reputed treason that some are removed from Office that the Regall Letters receive not due regard that appeales to the King are prohibited with sundry others To all which articulate answers shall be made that so the innocency of the Suethes may appeare to equall minds That some are reduced is not denied and if the Ambassadors were acquainted with the reasons not unjustly for some could not be admitted to beare rule without infringing the Regall Oath Others refractory to the publike peace had like members lost from the body not only separated themselves from the Sudercopian Decree but from others also of greater antiquity which had been by Regall Oath confirmed not without suspition of innovation which is mostly studied by such as esteem nothing more then to be pleasing to the Supreme Majestrate without discerning what is just and commodious for the Common Weale and so to grow upon the ruines of others yet these are permitted to enjoy the benefit of the Lawes and ordinary Priviledges It is moreover to be considered that the more honourable Offices of this Kingdome cannot be immediatly rightly conferred by the King howbeit fixed within the Kingdome unlesse that first if One be to be admitted into the Senatoriall Counsell if into any other great Office the Provinciall Votes have conceded to One of Three Neither can Judges the King even present be otherwise appointed But he remaining out of the Kingdome by his Vice-gerent which Office the Kingdomes Sewer as they here term it did anciently by vertue of a certain Law discharge in the Regall absence This is testified by the Laws themselves by the priviledges of sundry Kings and famous Constitutions of the Kingdome for above five hundred years as also by the union of these three Kingdomes in the Raignes of Queen Margaret and of the Kings Ericke Christopher John the second and Christierne the first and second Come we now to the point of appealing It is not unknown to any that the most High God hath Instituted the Supream Magistrate for a Sanctuary and refuge to the oppressed So that appeales to the King and to those that beare rule and such as the King hath appointed as chief in his absence are lawfull even by the
the premises at Stockholme the fourteenth of March 1633. Thus was the young Princesse Christiana then aged about seven yeares designed Queene of Suethes Goths and Vandalls c. as before fully expressed conforme to what had been decreed in her Fathers time at the forespecified Stockholmian Parliament An. 1627. Her Person and Kingdome was governed by the Tutors untill the yeare 1650. in which she was Crowned and hath since in a continued single condition swayed that Scepter more absolutely the Surname of Augusta may be not unduely attributed unto her for certainely that Princesse happy in a wise Councell and valiant Commanders hath done great things and for many yeares since her Fathers death hath held up the Bucklers against the Imperiall and Austrian Forces even in the heart of the Empire and left it unconstrained with honourable conditions both for her selfe and her Allyes Casimirus King of Poland Great Duke of Lithuaniae c c. Ao. 1649 But this Princesse borne bred and habituated to raigne hath in one late action outstript all her former by resigning uncompelled that the World hath heard of that Crown and Kingdome unto her Kinsman the present King A concession to be admired and which after Ages will perhaps account rather fictitious than true Examples of such great voluntary renounciations seldome hapning amongst men nor doe we reade of more than two Dioclesian a Heathen divested himselfe of the Imperiall Wreath Charles the fifth likewise after a forty years Regall and thirty six years Imperiall Domination in the fifty and sixth of his age surrendred his Kingdomes to his Son Phillip and the Empire to his Brother Ferdinand But from the weaker Sex which by how much it is so is the more avidously tenacious of Power by what meanes soever acquired as Histories Divine and humane doe testifie none to be excepted nor any equall President to be produced Neither had this Lady those motives which may be conceived to have induced that great Emperor last named to quit his severall Soveraigneties thereby to live eternally in the memories of men As the neernesse of Relations mentioned his advance into years under the burthen of such occasions as could not but render him sensible of having received as he had caused unto others infinite toiles and troubles having undergone nine Voyages into Germany six into Spaine seven into Italy foure into France ten into the Low Countreys two into England two into Affrica besides eleven times traversing the maine Ocean Certainely He having been mostly Successful in continued Wars might be apprehensive of a Reverse of fortune and therfore not unwilling to prevent it as he did by a Monasticall Retirement But this Princesse never exposed to personall hazards hath denuded her selfe of a Royalty and therwith invested her neerest Kinsman yet more remote then either a Son or a Brother What Women do we read of that ever refused ought of Glorious Much lesse doth History record any Princesse who in the prime of her years hath freely relinquished a long continued hereditary devolved Possession of a Diadem this Lady excepted who by this Conquest over her self hath atchieved a greater then by all her Commanders she ever could which happily may incite some accurate Pen to afford the World an Elogium befitting the Magnanimity of that Act in one of the fairer Sex then which former Ages have not preduced a more lofty Subject wheron to ground the Gallantry of a Discourse That Queen hath all along demonstrated a good inclination to preserve a faire correspondency with England even in the heat and height of its late troubles In An. 1644. Shee sent Mr Hugh Mowet her Agent to the Parliament then sitting in which publike Ministry he was employed about two yeares Neither did he make in all that time the least addresse or application elsewhere Severall subsequent entercourses have since continued the Amity between this and that Nation Neither have her respects as well to our present Government as to the Person of his Highnesse the LORD PROTECTOR been obscurely testified by her solemne Reception and honourable Entertainment of the Right Honourable the Lord Whitlock late Ambassadour Extraordinary in Suethland and by her faire compliance with what desired for the good of both Nations which having concluded and as witnessing to the World that She would Dignifie that Act by rendring it the last of her Raigne she soon after resigned her Kingdome Crown and Scepter unto CAROLVS GVSTAVVS the present King of Suethes Gothes and Vandals Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthonia and Carelia Lord of Ingria who hath ratified the same and setled a future good understanding between the Realmes of England and Suethland by a most Solemne and Magnificent Embassie He was borne in Ostrogothia about the year 1620. if information erre not Son to the most Illustrious Prince John Casimir Duke of Zwey Bruchie descended from the Electorall House Palatine and of the most Illustrious Princesse Catherina eldest Daughter to the often fore-named Charles the ninth King of Suethland and half Sister to the Great Gustavus Adolphus He was in England An. 1640. since which time he hath been Generalissimo of all the Suethish Forces in Germany and there gave beginning to those great expectations of himselfe which have rendred him the desire of the Suethes who have Crowned him their King in An. 1654 He was as I have been informed entitled to that Kingdome by Act of that Nations Parliament in the year 1650. if the then Queen Christina should decease without lawfull Male Issue His early great Commencements as well before as since his Exaltation to that Crown do promise an equall progresse and the addition of Semper to his sur-name of Gustavus which literis transpositis is Augustus for a perpetuating of the Glory of that Gustavian Line unto whose name and Scepter he hath so happily succeeded as his late Armed Entry into Poland and Successe hitherto may seem to witnesse The Motives that induced him therunto the Curious may read in his Letter to the present Emperour Ferdinand the third dated from Wolgast in the month of July of the year currant 1655. But leaving this Digression In the Treaty of Pacification continued Vicissitudes may be seen somtimes hopes of accommodation other whiles nothing but present rupture to be expected about empty Airey Titles or not much more And when things seeme most desperate and without mediate meanes of reconcilement the stiffer Partie comes fairely to hand by a gentle complyance We may observe the Mediators turne Parties for precedencie and formalities which in a just valuation what amount they unto thereby necessitating in a manner the Parties to become Mediators and so make compensation for Offices received In its Signature how little trustis to be imputed to the assurances of great ones doe they not measure observation of promises by the rule of Interest or selfe pleasing In the Ambassadors life we may see one nobly descended sprung from a race of Ancestors honoured by
Illustrious Antiquity yet not unnecessitated to pursue the advance of his Fortunes amidst those dangers that attend the honourable Military Profession and having in some degree attained to the favour of his Royall Generall falls twice under the displeasure of that Greatnesse the frown whereof according to the wisest of men bringeth Death And yet the same Person againe buyed up by a hand equally powerfull Ascends to be what he expected not an Umpire between Kings and Crowns But what Merit can there be toward Princes their turns once served their ends compassed do they stick to kick up the heels of those whose assistance they but a little before thought advantageous unto them He falls at last under the undeserved displeasure of two mighty Monarchs into his Grave and as having no more to do here below removes to render an account of the whole Negotiation of his life above What shall We conclude upon the whole What shall We call these Greatnesses so subject to mutability Splendida Miseria Such indeed they are And We may shut up all with that Ingemination of the Wise man Vanity of Vanities Vanity of Vanities All is but Vanity and Vexation of Spirit As to that Honourable Person deceased who acted in that Treaty and whom this present Narrative doth particularly concern We are not without warrant to gather a Christian confidence of his Residence in those Mansions of durable Blessednesse which admit of no more change seeing he died not onely in the pursuance but in the effecting and preserving of Peace For we have it asserted by the Divine Word God-Man That blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God If such be not who can be eternally happy The Memory of the Just shall remaine for ever The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance FINIS The Courteous Reader is desired for what rendred amisse in the Book and her expressed to have regard to the present emendation other errors of lesse moment not contradicting the sense are remitted to the favourable correction of the Ingenious Inspector P. 4. l 25. two p. 12. l. 24. which 31. failed p. 17 l. 44. joyning p. 19. l 37. Maritime p. 29. l. 25. meetly p. 30. l. 24. neither p. 33. l. 21. the foresaid Claudius p. 39. l. 40. Ambiguous p. 38. l. 12. and 35. Alloy p. 49. l. 13. were not so p. 50. l. 2. from his Majesties p. 51. l. 4. from p. 5 2. l. 10. is not the p 56. l 45. contrarily the p. 76. l. 9. Militia p. 78. l. 4. as they assert p. 86. l. 19. Proscribing p. 89. l. 46. promising any p. 90 l. 40. Sought p. 91. l. 33. should be p. 93. l. 33. prosecute p. 99. l. 45. revenge p. 102. l. 26. Schedule p. 107. l. 29. for his r. the p. 108. l. 25. cleer p. 1 10. l. 41. add and 42. decreed p. 111. l. 5. of their controversies p. 124. l. 3. for to r. the p. 129. l. 37. devolved p 142 l. 10. lesse of p. 145. l. 6. praeallably p. 155. l. 9. for by r. by p. 157. l. 26. Her 's p. 167 l. 39. a Parliament p 169. l. 25. altercation and l. 36. Stilo Novo p. 170. l. 46. Stilo Novo p. 172 l. 5. belonging to Poland p. 173. l. 21. not pleasing to p. 212. l. 26. arising p. 217. l. 28. dissention p. 224. l. 4. Nordlingen p. 231. l. 9. lent p. 241. l. 5. Altenaw p. 249. l. 28. dependencies p. 251. l. 31. expected 252. l. 4. hereditarily Poland erected into a Kingdom An. 1000. Setled elective An. 1295. Commencement of the Jagellonian Race in Poland Lithuania Christianized Incorporated by union into Poland In Kingdoms elective regard usually had to the next in line Succession of the Jagellonian Race in Poland Alliance the Iniation of conjunction between Poland and Suethland Suethland an ancient Kingdom Suethland anciently elective Vertue and beroick Actions to be preferred to a Crown before all other pretensions Suethland of elective rendred hereditary Succession of Suethish Kings from the time of Magnus 4. surnamed Smeeke Albert of Meckleburg Margaret of Denmark and Norway Queen also of Suethen Eâ—icke of Pomerania Christopher Count Palatine Carolus Canutus Suethland governed by Steno Sture Suanto Steno Sture the younger Slain in battell Christierne first Earl of Oldenburg made King of Denmark after of Suethen John King of Denmark and Suethen driven out by Suanto Treachery of Christierne 2 of Denmark Crowned King of Suethland His inhumans cruelty Andexpulsion Gustavus Erickson crowned in Suethland An. 1528 Hereditary union with motives therto His Will and Testament Designment of the Succession His Wives and Issue Ericke his eldest succeeds Taken and imprisoned by his brother John Duke of Finland King of Suethland Sigismund his eldest elected King of Poland crowned there 1588. King Erickes Posterity expelled by Parliament Hereditary union renewed Assumption of Females Male Issue failing His Wives and Issue Former grudges between Suethland and Poland Ambassadors stretching their Instructions The first complaint of the Suethes Death of King John King Sigismund advertised therof by Duke Charles Second complaint of the Suethes Criminations by the Suethes against King Sigismund And some Senators Crown of Suethland tendred to Duke Charles Further Criminations Letters of security Contrary actings Further Objections Continued Hit second departure from Suethland Duke Charles sought unto by seme Senators Again desired to assume the Government The Duke comes to Stocholme Further criminations against Sigismundus Plenipotentiary sent unto D. Charles Prohibition distastfull Rejected as impersect Parliament at Sudercopia The Duke desired to embrace the Government Duke Charles excepts therof Mutuall agreement King Sigismund displeased Sent his Ambassadors into Suethen The Oâ—ation Criminations againâ—t Duke 〈…〉 by the A 〈…〉 rs 〈◊〉 〈…〉 kes an 〈◊〉 the cri 〈◊〉 Object 1. Ans 〈…〉 Object 2 Answ Object 3. Answ Object 4. Answ Object 5. Answ Object 6. Answ Object 7. Answ Object 8. Answ Object 9. Answ Object 10. Answ Object 11. Answ Object 12. Answ Object 13. Answ Object 14. Answ Further Answer Object 1 Answ Argument 1. Answ Arg. 2. Answ Arg. 3. Answ Arg. 4. Answ 1. Arg. 5. Answ Arg. 6. Answ Answer to the Oration Parliament at Arbogia Displeasing to King Sigismund Inconveniencies ensuing K. Sigismund invited by the Duke and Senators to returne in peaceable manner Comes with an Army D. Charles raiseth Forces Pacification mediated by Forraigne Ambassadors in vaine Instructions by D. Charles to the Governors of Calmar Further Instructions Letter of D. Charls to the King The Dukes second Letterâ— Answer to K. Sigisâ—und The Dukes reply Sâ—conded The Regall answer Letter from the Duke Duke Charles approaching with his Army writes to the King King Sigismund his answer assecutoriall Not excepted by Duke Charles his Letter admonitory Regall answer Safe conduct interchangable granted Duke Charles sends Commissioners to the King Contentsof Instructions The Kings Answer The Dukes reply The Dukes Propositions
fore-named did present certain Articles Criminatoriall against Duke Charles the substance wherof followeth THat the chief points of the Ambassadoriall instructions were to rememorate how frequently his Majesty after his Coronation had by Messengers and Letters dealt with his Highness concerning a form for governing his hereditary Kingdom during his absence and that the same had been much and long time disputed between his Majesty and the Senate of Suethland which was at last concluded to be signed and sealed by his Majesty and had been afterwards sent to his Highness and the Senators That albeit his Majesty did then conceive that Ordination to be such as nothing he could confer his Prerogative Salved conducing to the Kingdomes well-being was therein wanting he had nevertheless understood partly by Ambassadours partly by Letters that his Highness did not lacquiesce therin but desired a more ample Plenipotentiary which as he could not grant without detriment to the Regall Title so he had gravely admonished him to forbear such molestatious requests and to rest therwith satisfied in regard it was not for perpetuity but in vigour only untill his Majesties return into Suethland which he intended speedily for disposing ordering and reforming things needfull But that his Highness impatient of deferring the matter so long had incited the Kingdomes Orders to celebrate the Sudercopian Parliament to gaine by their Sufferages a larger Power That his Majesty was much displeased that his Subjects bound to him by Oath of Fidelity should have appeared contrary to his Edict or have made conclusions contradictory to his intentions Yet that his Highnesse might see how constantly his Majesty desired the Religious observation of that fraternall mutuall respect which their proximity of bloud imposed and that the Orders of the Kingdome might perceive his Majesties willingness to a wholesome and timely preventing of all confusions tending to the disturbance of the Kingdome he had been pleased to send besides his Royall Exhortatoriall Letters Ambassadors fully instructed to interpose and provide for the removing of all brands of dissention and that the forme of Government his Majesty left at his departure might be submitted unto and repugnancies therefrom abstained especially for that many particulars were inserted in the Printed Sudercopian Decrees which seemed to trench upon Treason by a violation of such things as by the Swethish laws did rightly belong to the King All which his Majesty did challenge to himselfe and his Posterity and would so leave unto the Kings his Successors as from his Progenitors hee had received them unto the maintenance whereof the Subjects of Swethen were bound by the Laws and by Oath That the Ambassadors were also to endeavour from his Highness an Antiquation of the Sudercopian Decrees that contradicted the fore-specified Ordination and that he would acquiesce in the Kings former grants and Statutes and that the Orders and Offices appointed might remaine in full Vigour That the Kingdomes Rents might be collected by those thereunto ordained and to be issued by them according to his Majesties Orders or Letters granted to any thereupon That Officers might be continued in their respective Charge and that such as have been removed be re-integrated That the Crown Forts Garrisons Provinces Cities Governments and all other things formerly committed to his Majesties sworne Servants be restored unto them and that his Highness Servants be removed from them and receive no stipend from the Crown That all regall Protections be had in due regard and that no person having such be exposed to Prison or other punishment untill their cause be heard and legally tried That all justly acquired Priviledges have their due respect and vigour and that the contraries thereunto be expunged and made void That unwonted Burthens Exactions Structures and Hospitable Expences be not imposed upon the Subject without the Regall command or permission That fit Salery be duely paid to the ancient Court-servants and that such as by Age are not longer serviceable have necessary maintenance allowed them That whereas the Hereditary Title of his Highness is more magnificent and honourable as well towards Strangers as Natives then that of Governour of Suethland lately given by the Sudercopian Decree and for that the same is ambigious and not understood by all alike and doth neither increase nor impaire the Dukes Power and authority The Ambassadors are to endeavour his renouncing the same as not being formerly used in the times of Legitimate Kings and that he rest satisfied with his accustomed Title as being of sufficient Dignity and estimation amongst all men That his Majesty will not that the broyles raised against Flemingius proceed any further but requireth that all things committed may be cleared or corrected by the Law of the Land That in regard of the great scarcity of Graine causing dearth his Highnesse would not permit any transportation thereof abroad for prevention of Famine poverty and calamity to the Subject whereof his Majestie is very solicitous Last That the Accounts of the Kingdomes Revenues which his Highnesse hath had for some years in his hands might be forthwith stated and cleared that so his Majesty at his returne into the Countrey may know what debts of the Kingdome have been satisfied and what otherwise To the fore-specified Oration whereby his Highnesse the Senators and whole Orders of Suethland did hold themselves aspersed and reproached as also to those criminations by Count Ericke and Arnidus Gustavus the Duke with the Senators returned Answer as hereafter is shewed But to the Kings particular Objections against the Duke the ensuing reasons were by his Highnesse exhibited for their refutation That the Duke had altered the prescribed forme of Government That he had neither altered nor seene any Forme of Government an imperfect Plenipotentiall excepted brought unto him by Ericke Gustavus not containing the forme of Power requisite in a well constituted Common-wealth wherto he had never acquiesced nor would he have accepted the Government but for the earnest reiterated requests of the Senators and Orders of the Kingdome who desired him to have more regard unto the publick wel-fare then to the defects in that prescribed Form Moreover That a certaine Forme for a Kingdomes government in the Regall absence cannot be prescribed to Subjects by reason of frequent emergent alterations and Novations not inclusible within the limits of a straitned Forme And that albeit Lawes be enacted for a perpetuall Rule of the Inhabitants actions yet necessity urging they are changed or abrogated and others instituted more conducing to present publick good That whereas he is taxed of many things not couched in that Plenipotentiary it follows either that he is unjustly argued of having acted contrary thereunto or that the same must be imperfect as not containing all things which his Majesty required in a well regulated Empire That the sayd Forme was even repugnant to it selfe for his Highnesse being thereby injoyned to Act for the good of the King and Kingdome is neverthelesse prohibited the calling of