present execution Lastly his Majesty had promised by Oath to governe that Kingdome during his absence in Poland by the Counsell of the Duke and the Senators of the Kingdome That new Exactions Structures of Edifices and burthensome entertainments are imposed That since his Highnesse undertooke the Government he had altogether endeavoured an alleviation of the Subjects former pressures as could be witnessed by themselves That the contribution condescended unto at Sudercopia had been by joynt consent of the Subjects unanimously concluded upon the Senators report to the other Orders concerning the Kingdoms debts w ch without their assistance could not be discharged wherupon their result was desired that himself had given charge to the Collectors not to require more from any Subjects then their estates would bear and themselves willingly undergo That the same was more tollerable then those new exacting waies whereby the Subjects Goods were ensnared and they reduced to extream poverty That those Leavies had not been made but in cases allowed by the Lawes and that albeit peace had been concluded with the Russian yet the Souldiers and others who had lent great summs of money for waging that War were not payed their Salery and Debts This was the cause of that imposition as if in the Exigency of War in regard the Debts therein contracted were not satisfied Next that there were some Illustrious Persons also Kings Daughters who demanded their Dowries from the Kingdome yea that the King himself had required the Duke to impose a contribution upon the Subject for the marrying of the Princess Anna a Regall Virgin So that his Highness was injured whilest blamed for onerating the Subject with new exactions and the more in regard the Subjects willingly consented to those contributions and affirmed that by Law they ought to pay them Hereto is added that the Kingdomes necessities which are above all Law required them As to new Structures his Highness remembred not any to have been by him commanded otherwise then by the Laws of Suethen the Subjects were obliged unto Viz. Repairing the Forts Frontiers and Navy with other like for defence of the Kingdome and the repulsion of hostile Irruptions Nor that in them he had not exceeded the constitution made by his Majesties late Father and left when dying to his Majesties performance But that if his Majesty thought good they should be wholly neglected he would surcease That for the entertainments insisted on how or by whomsoever obtruded and whether right or wrong his Highness was confident that neither of him nor his Servants any just complaint could be made in that matter That the Crown Kevenues were not rightly administred and the Duke therefore desired to render account That what he had received had been by him issued toward the discharge of the Kingdomes debts and necessary expences and that he therein referred to the Auditors accounts But the Copper Butter and other Merchandizes received by his Ministers he challenged to himself for payment of money and other things lent sundry years past unto his Majesties Father and the Kingdome whereof a considerable summ was yet unsatisfied as might appeare by the respective Instruments That if his Majesty would reflect upon the profusions made of the Crown Revenues by his Largesses and Mandatory Epistles he should find but small cause to call him to account That the Demaines of Finland had been so lavished and the Inhabitants Estates so attenuated and exhausted by Souldiery entertainments as they could render no Debit either to the King or Kingdome That himself had contracted envy from many for endeavouring a right conservation of the Kingdomes Rents and had likewise improved them as was evident by the Revenue of the Mines which might have yeilded yet more profit had not the same been obstructed by the disobedience of certain persons That Innovation in Religion was endeavoured That he had not altered ought in Religion But that the Senators Bishops and other Orders remembring the dissentions and discords of former years during the Raign of his Majesties Father had convened at Vbsall to compound controversies and settle uniformity in Religion as the strongest bond for conciliating the minds of Subjects as on the other side no greater distraction could be of wills and affections nor greater disturbance to the publike then proceeded from difference and disparity in Religion That what had been there concluded he had left to them and was therfore unjustly aspersed therwith but that the same might more deservedly be retorted upon his Majesty who had contrary to his Oath and Assecuration planted his Emissaries Romish Priests to disperse Pontificiall Superstitions and books in publike as Stocholme with the Monasteries of Dortningolmense and Vastena could witness That moreover in latter daies his Majesty had by writing exhorted his Subjects to embrace the Papall Superstition of Elevation Salt and Tapers with other like not grounded on Sacred Writ And unbyassed Judgments might discern whether this rather were not an attempt upon Religion Which a godly and free counsell if called by his Majesty in imitation of that Synod would not have been but his Oath and Regall Assecuration had remained unviolated The dispersing of Popish books seducing the Children of honest Natives nor practising upon the illiterate youthfull Menie would not then have needed as hath been in former years and still is done That his Highness was also confident that if any useless or scandalous Ceremonies resembling Romish Idolatries had been abrogated the same could not be called innovation in Religion That he rendred thanks to the most High for so inlightning his mind by the Divine Word that he could discern the true word of God from the traditions of men and that the constitutions of their Church did permit those abrogations that had therein been made That his Highness had Ministred occasions of mutation in the State of the Common-wealth That he was ignorant of any such occasion administred by him That by Gods goodness he had studied the pure Religion and without boast had maintained the Lawes and good Order in the Kingdome That by these no motives to alteration could be tendred but that by their neglect or violation a Kingdome becomes lyable to ruine And that therfore he entreated his Majesty not to afford matter of change as not being ignorant how often his Majesties Oath and Assecuration with the Lawes of Suethland both in Ecclesiasticks and Politicks had been trespassed upon That the Duke had degenerated from his Fathers Vertues whereby the Hereditary Right had been obtained That this reflected more upon his Majesty as having but meanly traced his Grand-fathers steps had acted much contrary to the Auital Testament which was the ground-work of the Hereditary agreement That such Unions are not attained to the end a King should neglect his Oath Right and Justice Act Arbitrarily and abolish things constituted for the Countries good but preserve them unviolated and that therby Hereditary Unions retained their
differences by an equall and mutuall moderation It may be effected if the Councell of whom it behoves may be admitted waving threats from the threatned who feare them not Otherwise if the controversie which God forbid must be decided by Armes not onely the King and Prince themselves but the neighbour Princes and Territories also may be disturbed perhaps with great prejudice to the Regall Family for what side soever should win it would be to him detrimentall as many times in Civill Warr both Parties being weakned do easily become a prey to any third The Orders therefore of Poland and Lithuania are in loving and brotherly manner desired by his Highnesse and the Senators of Suethland as a thing worthy of their prudence equity and mutuall society becoming fellows and friends the Ambassadors likewise intervening to endeavour the eradicating of this suspition from the mind of his Majesty who is King and Lord of both the Peoples And that themselves also will eject it and will intreat admonish and conjure his Majesty not to be induced by the Counsell of wicked persons to the meditating of any hurt to this kingdome nor suffer his Royall mind to be alienated from his Paternall Soil And that they will consider not in what way of Religion the Suethes worship God but with what fidelity and sincerity they reverence their King The Ambassadors desire an abrogation of things contrary to the Lawes and the same is instantly sought by his Highnesse and the Senators Let the heads of the Suethish Law whereby the King and Subjects are mutually bound by Oath be scrutinized so as the least deviation may easily be found and the generall Conclusion followes in these words We viz. The Subjects are obliged to our Soveraigne in true obedience That is to obey his command in all things feasible which before God and man he ought to command and we to obey saving his Rights and our owne At Sudercopia nothing was concluded repugnant to the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome confirmed by Oath If any think otherwise let those be Judges and Arbitrators they are not obscure ambiguous nor abrogated but sometimes Sacramentally Corroborated No Article is annulled by Hereditary Succession onely the Election altered into a right of Devolution To this Scale those Transactions are submitted The Duke and Senate refuse not to render an account to a most mild and gracious King Let the Suethes adhaere to and without blame enjoy the Lawes and Priviledges acquired by their owne and their Ancestors great Merits which his Majesty hath sworne to preserve and let him then as we desire and hope he will with the same patience that a Macedonian King reviewed a private cause examine that of his most ancient and now Hereditary kingdome within the Paternall Soil And so lend an eare to Accusers as not to refuse another to them unpossessed of Calumny And they do hope that the Orders of Poland and Lithuania are so equall toward all men as themselves will not onely forbeare suspition in the future but evidence the innocency of the Suethes to others also If otherewise and that for private profit and favour they will have no regard unto their innocency it may produce danger one mans damage being sometimes hurtfull to his Neighbour Poland is a flourishing kingdome and may it ever flourish Neither doth this want Monuments of having flourished If now it appeare wasted by a continued War what wonder What Kingdome or Common-Weale hath waged War full thirty six years with its owne Forces and charge and is not wasted so as it may seem fit for any obtrusion Neverthelesse the said Orders are perswaded that as a rapid overflowing River incountring some of the largest Trees felled in the neighbour grounds hurries them into the same precipice So the fall or least mutation of the ancient State or Government of potent kingdomes draws others with it into ruine The Prince and Senate do therefore heartily desire the States and Orders of Poland to interpose their power with his Majesty that regard may be had to this defence and that they will employ their Wealth and Fortunes and what else is dear unto them for the preservation not the subversion of Lawes and Priviledges then which there cannot be a stronger confirmation of the Royall Scepter or way more durable for retention and encrease of the Royall Dignity of a two-fold Crowne nor ought more worthy of the Polish Nation for the Vindicators of liberty and the maintainers of priviledges have ever been in laudable estimation And therefore it is not feared that they will go about to obtrude upon others what they would account to be unjust if done unto themselves The Suethes have alwaies much esteemed the Polanders and will with them if need shall be defend his Royal Majesty with the hazards of their lives and fortunes and fixed upon the Regall Oath will with the Polanders remaine constantly faithfull and obedient toward their King and willingly on their part preserve the ancient Concord between the two Kingdomes saving to each their right And do returne offers of readinesse and propensity to all Offices of love unto the Senate and Orders of Poland and the great Dukedome of Lithuania to whom they desire to be in most respective manner remembred and do entreat that this answer may be received in good part according to the time as being wholly necessary for their own defence no way intended for reproaching or inveighing To conclude a quiet Navigation with prosperous winds and happy returne unto their Principalls and Friends is wished to the Lords Ambassadors by his Highnesse and the Senate This was the substance of the Polish Ambassadoriall Oration and of the replyes made thereunto by Duke Charles and the Senators of Suethland Who neverthelesse do say that this Legation was instituted to no other end then the abrogation of the Sudercopian Conclusions those Ambassadors divulging that the sayd Assembly was much derogatory to the Royall Majesty and Authority and by their perverse contention procured the sudden breaking forth of formerly buryed dissentions which brought many to their last end with incomparable mischiefs upon Suethland Finland and Leisland When the Duke therefore saw that for his labour and love toward his Countrey and Nephew hee was requited with such ingratitude and that the Embassie fore-mentioned was accompanied with so many prejudices to the Nation not without a Charge of high Treason he was constrained to call another Parliament at Arbogia against the fifth of March 1597. To this Comitiall Convention all the Orders of the kingdome according to the custome and necessity were invited and by King Sigismundus the repaire thereunto strictly prohibited hoping by his Mandates dispersed through the kingdome to deterr the Natives therefrom as he had by his late Legation gained the adhaerency of severall Senators of whom the chief were Ericke Sparre Hogenschieldus Bielke Claudius and Turo Bielke Gustavus and Steno â—aner Georgius Posse the Son of Canutus with the more eminent of
King Sigismundus returned Answer the day following that he had received his M 〈…〉 tory Letters touching assecuration That he wondred why his Dilection would so long time varnish over his unjust cause before the promiscuous ignorant multitude seeing he could not prove but that fit assecuration had been offered but not accepted and that whilest one demand was granted others were made far different as the last Articles might testifie That he followed him with a strong Army having seised the Castle of Stegeburg his Ships and severall other things which notwithstanding his promised preservation of them would have been more safe in his own custody That in Answer to his Letter he desired that his Dilection would rest satisfied with that assecuration which as consentaneous to reason and his dignity he had already offered But if not that he might proceed to do what it seemed he would not leave undone yet with what fame he left to the Judgement of all honest and unbyassed minds That himself committed the decision of the whole matter to the Justice of God Lincopia 23. September 1598. DUke Charles replyed That there being no remedy but that all Admonitions proved vain through the prevalency of perverse and wicked Counsellours he also committed the matter to God before whom he protested that he was not the cause of these troubles nor of the effusion of blood like to ensue wherefore he desired to know whether his Majesty would absolve him of his Oath of fidelity which done he would endevour to repell unjustice and violence by fit wayes and means But that if possible he besought his Majesty by the love of God to weigh the matter more seriously and not permit this mischief to spread further to his own and the Kingdomes prejudice and that nothing might be by him be omitted he had sent a draught of the assecuration desired by him and his followers wherein he hoped nothing unjust would be found Campe 24. September 1598. TWo dayes after Duke Charles writes againe to the King that seeing the conditions tendred were not admitted and that he could not conveniently propound any other as also that he hoped his Majesty would so resolve as might be honourable for both sides He therfore desired that his Majesty would transmit a draught of the assecurations he would give and receive whereupon he would so declare himself as might be satisfactory to his Majesty these were dated the 26. of the said Moneth THe day following King Sigismundus sent Letters of safe Conduct for such of the Nobility with their Servants as the Duke shâ—â—ld send to treat with him importing Security in coming â—elivering what they had in Commission and saâ—e return Duke Charles also did the like for his Nephew Prince Edward Marquesse of Baden with other Lords to be sent to him from the King BY all that hath been said it may be easily discerned say the Suethes whether Duke Charles received from King Sigismundus answers condigne to his Letters wherein he desired nothing but the good of the King and Kingdome and that if he would have listned to the Dukes faithfull advice and counsel he needed not to have fled when none pursued Or that if he had loved Justice he might judicially have prevented those evils by a decision by equall Arbitrators before whom the Duke and Orders of Suethland were willing to answer to whatsoever could rightly be objected against them They say further that they had oftentimes just occasion given them of renouncing all fidelity and obedience towards him in regard he came not unto them as a good and peaceable King but as an Enemy and Persecuter offering violence and injustice to those that would not submit to his wicked intentions nor admit of his perverse Religion and that he had absolved them from their Oath of fidelity in the former Letters whereby they had just cause to have tried the utmost which yet they did not his Highnesse and they having desired that twelve of the Nobility of each side men qualified prudent judicious and lovers of peace should meet examine and decide the whole controversie and restore and settle peace concord and brotherly love whereunto King Sigismundus did likewise consent but that the same was by him observed as other things had formerly been and according to the ancient manner of keeping faith in promises by Jesuites and Romish Priests For the night following the Royall Army conducted by Wejerus made an on-set upon the Ducall Camp dispersed the night guards killing some and seising others Prisoners as was done not onely at Lincopia but at Stegeburg also but seeing their attempt prove unsuccesfull both Polanders and Suethes who fought under the Kings Ensignes began to cry and ingeminate Peace Peace which the King say they with his followers might have enjoyed if the Officers thereof had been timely embraced but that it was then over-late to treat when many thousands of men lay slaine on both sides each intending on his Enemy the revenge of his fellow Souldier Duke Charles and the Suethes as themselves assert had then both cause and advantage sufficient to have utterly ruined their Advarsaries yet they suffered themselves to be entreated to shew more mercy and mildnesse then they had deserved by abstaining from that revenge was then in their power to have taken upon King Sigismundus with his whole Army to the great detriment and misfortune I use their owne words of themselves and the Kingdome of Suethland as hoping for better things in the future from King Sigismundus from whom they found worse by an ensuing cruell War with the Polanders and Lithuanians touching a finall end wherof no certaine conjecture could be made But that if they had as then they affirme they might destroyed him and his Forces those tumults had happily sooner ceased and many gallant men who afterwards perished in those Wars had survived Nor had his Highnesse and themselves been defamed by so many unjust aspersory Libells as were spread in all parts which neverthelesse they hoped to confute All which things hapned by suffering King Sigismundus then say they to escape to the further prosecution of his Country contrary to the practise of all Magnanimous Potentates who expose their lives to defend theirs from Spoile and Rapine The cruell fight being over King Sigismundus entred into agreement with the Duke for the restoring and confirming of mutuall friendship brotherly confidence with administration of right and justice between his Majesty and his Highnesse whereof I give here the heads onely referring as in all Narations of Acts the more curious to the Instrument it self dated at Lincopia the twenty eighth of September 1598. And first THat whereas the Duke his most deare Uncle and all those of his party had religiously promised unto him and his Heires due obedience fidelity and brotherly affection according to their respective Oaths and the obligations of blood proximity and their tyes of duty and subjection He likewise did by
and promove whatsoever he shall know may tend to the honour of God or should not attend to those things which might concern the profit and emolument of the Countrey he should be 〈…〉 terly deprived of that Hereditary Jurisdiction which by the Act of union was due unto him In like manner under the penalty of like deprivation their Hereditary Princes were prohibited Marriage with any Wife of an erroneous Religion contrary to that above specified for avoyding those dissentions might thereby grow between the Subjects and their Lords as had befallen with King Sigismundus neither should contract Matrimony without acquainting and thereupon advising with the Orders of the Kingdom whether such Marriage would be commodious for themselves and the Realme All Inhabitants therein at present or after times who should seduce advise or perswade any of their Hereditary Princes to imbrace or be brought up in any false Religion or in other then that above mentioned should be accounted as Traytors to the Kingdome and undergoe punishment accordingly of what soever condition they were high or low Senators or others They likewise concluded and decreed that not any of their Hereditary Princes should be raised to the Royal Throne who did accept of another Kingdome and that no Hereditary King had power to accept of any other Realms or Territories unlesse he would constantly remaine in the native Soyle they having by sad experience found by the transactions of former times and moderne tumults what inconveniencies had been derived unto them by their Kings acceptance of Forraigne Crownes That in order to what before expressed they who were or had been present did promise and sweare according to the tenour of this Hereditary Regall Inauguration and designation of the forenamed severall Princes and their respective Heirs from Line to Line all fidelity obedience and assistance to their utmost power and the hazard and expence of their estates and lives in confirmation whereof they engaged their Christian faith honesty conscience lives and possessions as they desired God to be propitious unto them and each for himselfe and his Successors after their manuall Subscription sealed the same with their Capitall Civicall and Territoriall Seals upon reciprocall engagement for their Government according to the pure Word of Cod the Laws and justly acquired Priviledges of Suethland Norcopia the two and twentieth of March 1604. By the fore-specified Parliamentary Decree and Hereditary Union it may appear they utterly renounced the Soveraignty of King Sigismundus who had not once only but severall times first abondoned them therby say they adhering neverthelesse to the right Family according to the Tenor of the Lawes of Suethland and the Acts of Hereditation and concurring with those of Poland who had written to their King then absent for whose return they had prefixed a peremptory day that they could not long subsist without their King by reason of many incident dangers not to be obviated but by the Regall presence and that if he did not return unto them by the time prescribed he should not think strange if they did subrogate another in his place it being impossible for them to live without a King and head to defend them by his Regall power and authority Which reasons say they the Suethes had often suggested and tendred to King Sigismundus notwithstanding that his severall returnes had not been unaccompanied with various inconveniencies apparent in the preceding discourse That all those things being by them passed over they had frequently written to advise and intreat him to return into his Hereditary Kingdome it being no less incommodious for them to live without a King and certaine form of Rule then for the Polanders to which Letters he had not daigned any answer and that they therfore had been deservedly moved to exclaime with those of Poland shall Suethland be longer without a King in no wise A King we must have c. They further affirm that as then Princes meet to be premoted to the Regall Chair were not wanting unto them they having the election of two without swarving from the Regall Family to wit Duke Charles by them now elected and Prince John who albeit they did ingeniously acknowledge him for the neerest as being the younger Son of King John of famous memory and unto whom in that regard they had not once but often presented the Crown yea even at the Solemnity of the Coronation of their present King yet for so much as he was not then of so ripe years as to undertake so troublesome a Government of the Kingdome in such a season and that at Norcopia before the renovation and confirmation of the fore-specified hereditary Union he had upon the sixth of the same month of March in presence as hath been already said of sundry Senators and other Members of that Parliament tendred his just excuses in form as followeth MOST High and Mighty Prince Beloved Lord and Uncle When I silently revolve in my mind the benefits conferred upon me by your Dilection ever since that by reason of the decease of my Parents I came unto your Court I certainly find your affection to have been so great as I cannot sufficiently extoll much lesse deserve or recompence the same I will not at present speak of the Paternall care exhibited toward me by your Dilection in my Instruction and Education in all Christian and Ducall Vertues But desire chiefly to be mindfull of the care exercised by your Dilection least I should have fallen into the hands of Jesuites and have been seduced unto their most pernicious Religion Wherfore seeing I can never be sufficiently able to merit or requite that Fatherly care diligence and trouble I will first and above all things with all earnestnesse crave of the most high God that he will please abundantly to returne the same upon your Dilection your most loved Consort and your Illustrious Children both in this life and that which is to come In the mean time I will diligently endeavour by all manner of obedience and humility to the utmost of my power to make at least some measure of requitall of that faithfulnesse which your Dilection frequently hath and daily doth declare unto me But whereas your Dilection did some daies past propound unto my deliberation certain Articles and hath gratiously required me to declare my resolution upon them as the Orders of the Kingdome have since done in like manner I have therefore thought good to answer your desires humbly entreating your Dilection favourably to accept of and interpret this my serious Resolve wherunto I have decreed to adhere constantly The Universal Orders of the Kingdome most mighty Prince beloved Lord and Uncle in divers Parliamentary Conventions as also in this present Assembly have Unanimously and Concordially acknowledged and received your Dilection for their Lord and Governour unto whom henceforward as to their natural and most beloved King they have promised all obedience due fidelity security and utmost assistance In regard your Dilection
vigour That the Prince under pretence of Religion did render his Majesty obnoxious to the envy of his Subjects That no alienation of the Subjects minds from his Majesty by his Highness can be proved and that on the contrary he had alwaies exhorted them to persevere in Fidelity as might appeare by the Sudercopian Decree But that if any such thing had or should hereafter happen the cause were to be imputed to himself for not performing the things he had confirmed unto them by Oath as hath been already said That the Prince had affected the Kingdome That this Assertion can never be made cleer nor that he had ever coveted the Regall Title albeit it were not hard to prove that the same had been often tendred unto him and again might be if contrary to the hereditary Covenants and his Oath of Fidelity he would use the means and power at present in his hand That affection of Soveraignty cannot be imputed unto him because that he with the Senators underwent the troublesome burthen of Government for asmuch as in former times many more meanly descended and of lesse Right Dignity and Power then himself had in the Regall absence administred the Suethish Common-wealth yet without any such aspersion upon them as might appeare by the union in the Raigne of Queen Margaret renewed under Ericke the thirteenth in whose time and absence the great Sewer of the Kingdome was invested with power equall to the King yet was not he to be compared unto his Highness who is Hereditary Prince of the Realme whom the prosperity thereof more neerly concerns That his Highness had detained the Souldiers means and defrauded them of their Stipends That he never expected a Crimination of this nature as being by Gods goodness provided of such competent annuall Revenues that he could live according to his Ranck without making any such sordid gaine neither needed he to hunt after Lucre with the Kingdomes losse That his Highness had given obligatory Letters to his Majesty but had afterwards violated them That albeit his Majesty had required such Letters from him before he departed the Kingdome yet it cannot be proved that he ever obtained them neither could he have so obliged himself the same being repugnant to the Lawes of the Kingdome from which he was not to vary and therefore his being by them obliged as his Majesty alledged and did endeavour to demonstrate was not of consequence Secondly admit it were proved which is not yet done yet it did not thence follow that he was tyed to an absolute observation without exception and that it is to be considered whether such letters were given of right or conditionally if the latter they are not further binding then the condition is fulfilled but that is not done for his Majesty had not granted such a Plenipotentiary as he demanded Moreover the Obligation is meerly civill and may be evaded by exception in regard that ensued not for which those Letters are said to have been given and therefore he cannot be reproached to have acted contrary unto them And yet he is willing to submit unto such letters as are conform to the Plenipotentiary by him required but how just it is to affirm that he gave such Obligatorials as the form transmitted hither which hath no conformity with the obligation given by him is left to the judgment of all equitable men Lastly That the Prince had coined money in his own name and stamp which is a Royalty and had thereby derogated from the Regal Rights and dignity 1. That albeit the coining of money be Regal yet he had acquired the same by the consent and approbation of the Superiour And that albeit King Erick was a Tyrant and wholly endevoured to diminish the Rights of his brethren yet he deprived them not of that of Coinage provided that in Weight and Alley it were not inferiour to the Royall money as appears by the Arbogian Constitutions Anno 1561. which neverthelesse in reference to certain other points he had not accepted of 2. That his Majesties Royall father had conceded unto him that Priviledge as might appear by the Constitutions made at Vastena and Stegeburg And that after the composure of all differences between the late King and himself and the abolition of the Vastenan Decree formerly obtruded upon him he had coyned money in his own name the late King yet alive wherefore his Majesty could not revoke things which had been constituted and were unquestionable 3. That the most renowned King Gustavus of famous memory had by Testament bequeathed to his brothers and himself their respective Dukedomes in the same manner his said Majesty possessed them and he having Power and Right of coining money in each had thereby devolved the like unto him Wherefore his Majesty of Suethland and Poland by depriving him of that Priviledge would contradict his Grand-fathers Testament 4. Last The refusall to his most faithfull Uncle of what his Majesty permits to his Subjects can be but small honour to his Majesty as to the debasing of the Kingdomes coin either in Weight or Alley to the prejudice of the Subject the Mint-Master and thousands of others can testifie the contrary Wherefore forasmuch as his Highnesse had no way violated the Regall dignity Right nor Justice the Laws or hereditary Union of Suethland but from his Majesties Cradle had demeaned himself like a most faithfull Uncle and promised so to continue for the future he is ignorant of the motives to such minatory criminating Letters but suspects they proceed from his not approving of his Majesties-Religion and his opposing the admittance of Papall Superstition into the Kingdome for as to other things he remembreth not the commission of ought that deserved reprehension That therefore he did in brotherly and earnest manner beseech his Majesty and likewise most friendlike and lovingly desired the Senators Peers and Orders of the Kingdome of Poland and the great Dukedome of Lithuania to accept this answer as satisfactory and not to make a Sinister Construction of these his just defences whereunto most weighty Considerations in a time most pressing had urged him That neverthelesse he did hope that the King his Kinsman and Brother would futurely forbear such Criminations and return preside over and govern his hereditary Kingdome according to his Oath whereby all distempers that had made irruption into the Common Wealth might vanish But that if his Majesty were so minded he did earnestly beseech him to settle such a Form of Rule whereby the Kingdomes welfare and the Subjects good might be provided for That he doubted not but his Majesty had been incensed against him by false accusations for undertaking the Common Weales most troublesome Government and that albeit he had not obtruded his endeavours thereupon but at his Majesties request and by approbation of the whole Orders of the Kingdom by whom he had been called and desired to the discharge of that duty upon his Majesties severall
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
Incendiarismes Sacriledges and mens minds so exasperated that a Civill War seemed to be rendred perpetuall And whilest one Party endeavoured a Propagation the other a defence of Religion no roome for Religion appeared to be left by either the blood of their Kings and Princes partly extirpated And they thus tearing out each others bowells a third invades pretending indeed Religion yet perhaps more gaping after the Gallican Dominion as being accustomed to have kingdomes fall to his share for reimbursement of Costs But return we to Flemingius who in time of peace enrolls assembles entertaines Forces to what end meerly to consume what the Enemies have left to destroy those Subjects whom the Wars had spared Infinites of them complaining that their marrow blood and bones are suckt Let his Majesty be moved with the miseries of Finland which bordering on the Russian was made the Seat of War mostly by our owne and likewise exposed to the Enemies incursions and depredations but now more calamitously exhausted by waging and entertaing a not necessary Souldiery The King is obliged by Oath to protect and vindicate the Innocent and the Needy from all Injuries whatsoever and to preserve the publike peace How much more prudently may his Majesty abolish not nourish discord by the misery of the Subject wherewith doubtlesse God is offended Let his Majesty command a deposing of Armes and that all Controversies may be judicially desided To restrain Compatriotall hands from mutuall Massacres is the part of a most Excellent Pious and Christian King Let his Majesty write and command things honourable for himselfe and the kingdome Obedience shall follow for such as are other let a suspension be permitted And as Mahetas appealed from the sentence of Philip of Macedon to the same King better informed even so the Suethes His Highnesse and the Senators do moreover beseech that during his Majesties Raigne and his Highnesse Vice-gerency assisted with the Senatoriall Counsells the kingdomes Lawes may not suffer subvertion When Charles the fifth after Royall Entertainment in France by Francis then there Raigning had at the request of the said King created some Knights and Barons their Honours were afterwards disputed and concluded invalid because conferred in anothers Dominion wherein he had not Right of Majesty the Dignity of each Realme salved For those Rights are no where preserved but in the kingdome where they are legitimate transported abroad they are easily obscured Suethland hath written Lawes and famous Constitutions from the times of Queen Margaret Ericke the 13th Albert and other Kings not abolished nor antiquated wherein is expresly provided that the Kingdomes Affaires shall in the Regall absence be administred by the Native Counsellours Peers and great Officers of the same Neither are the Royall Commands when given without the Kingdome to be obeyed further then they shall by the Counsell be approved and this is ratified by evident Lawes Regall Oathes and Hereditary Covenants Writings are extant between King Gustavus and Ericke the 14th his Son whereby upon his intended Voyage for England to have matched with Elizabeth that Nations Queen he was expresly bound to refer all the Affaires of Suethland unto the King his Father or he being dead to the Vice-gerent and the Senators And when afterwards he should the second time have undertaken the like to commit them to John Duke of Finland Governour afterwards King of Suethland together with the Senators Let it be moreover considered how fully and sufficiently either Realm was provided for at the marriage of Philip of Spain with Queen Mary of England that the Pre-eminency and Dignity of each might be preserved entire and not wander with the Kings Person into a strange Kingdome Yet both are hereditary but the Argument expressed in our Laws is much more forcible for the King is obliged even here remaining to govern Suethland by the counsel of the native Senators not strangers how much more therefore when remote and necessitated to use the Eyes and Ears of others the Senators also of this Kingdome are tyed by Oath to admonish the king seriously and frequently to preserve the kingdomes Laws and Royalty unviolate which albeit it be no easie task yea for the most part undeservedly dangerous yet they have willingly undergone it and discharged their parts at his Majesties being here so as the Ambassadors present trouble might have been spared if time had been then improved for the kingdomes affaires were begun to be treated with fidelity and due diligence but hardly could the Inauguration be proceeded unto without great difficulty and longer contest then was meet about things not ambiguous formerly sworne unto and confirmed The forme of Government by diverse counsells and alterations was protracted even to the time of departure no consent of the Senate concurring and it was manifestly purposely so done by advice of persons not well affected to this Kingdome or ignorant of affaires or fit to be ejected from the Results of Suethland or lastly such as had secretly concluded the Kingdome should be Governed by the rule of Succession but the Suethes by that of Servitude This they detest the other they submit unto and will maintaine unviolably as the bond of their Liberties preservation and increase not of obtrusion of slavery which the hereditary Covenants do clearly demonstrate No Taxe or Tribute was commanded in that Parliament but a voluntary supply tendred according to the Legall form for causes in the Law expressed Viz. Repairing the charges of War The matter of money as of no great concernment was almost forgotten for the priviledge of coining hath been conceded to severall Princes and Cities without violation of Majestie At Vastena money is coined with the conjoined names of his Majesty and the Prince his brother with which impression the King his Father had coined in signe of Concord at the beginning of his Raigne and soone after voluntarily conferred the said priviledge upon the Duke his brother during life This is the answer thought meet to be given to the Lords Ambassadors and it is most earnestly desired that the same may be accepted without offence to his Majesty whom the State and Orders of the Kingdome do honour and reverence with all integrity and fidelity and albeit the same be at length yet is it not that the Suethes are obliged to render account to any but his Majestie and he within the Kingdome but that their cleerness from the treason tacitely implied may appeare to all the World Sundry other Stigma's are cast upon that Sudercopian Transaction which by this Kingdomes Lawes and Statutes will be easily evinced Albeit they acknowledge the States and Orders of Poland and Lithuania for fellow Subjects under the most just Empire of one and the same King yet not for Judges The said Orders may understand that his Highnesse and those of Suethen dissent not from them in any thing but least in the love of concord and hatred of dissention nor can ought be more acceptable to them then a composure of all
one who to coroborate the friendship of that fore-named Crown the more firmly to his Master would undoubtedly advance the interest therof which indeed he did so far as he might without evident blemish to the Impartiality of a Mediatoriall Dignity But now the Treaty being in a fair way of conclusion and howbeit not for an absolute Peace yet for a Truce of so long continuance as would see many changes over-passe before it expired and the Crown of Suethen being freed therby of all apprehension of hostility from that side might prosecute the War in Germany the more intensively and so be the more concurring with the designs of the King his Master and afford him the greater assistance by a more powerfull diversion it was neither contrary to reason or policy that he should endeavour at the last cast to ingratiate himself into the favour of the Polanders and to remove the jealousies they might have conceived of his aversnesse towards their affairs and the rather because sundry advantages might be therby derived to the advancement of the King his Masters Service by the entertaining of Officers and Souldiers especially the strangers in the Polish Army into his Masters Pay which he afterwards assayed to have done but with small successe the Emperours Ministers who also gaped after the disbanding of that Army preventing him therin by drawing Colonell Butler by them made Generall Major with severall Commanders as well English and Scots as Irish and others with most of the Infantry into the Imperiall Service so to recruit the old or frame a new Army in Silesia For these and other considerations it may be and was conceived that he might not unwillingly cast in that Bone the rather for that the businesse being almost ended and the Parties by how much neerer to peace in their hopes by so much the more affected unto it so as they would not break off upon slight occasions not doubting but that either by the Parties or the Mediators a meane would be found out to make all even againe and if he were not the first mover of that point then which he could never have pickt out one more specious or that could carry more lustre nor render him more gracious with the Polanders especially with their Clergy who bear a great sway in that Kingdome yet it may be supposed that by his forwardnesse therein he animated the Polanders to a greater pertinacy and obstinate perseverance in that contest which was longer and more hotly continued then any other neither was any one more likely to have caused a finall rupture As to his pretended conscientious zeale albeit there can be nothing better then to retain a good conscience in all things yet the conscience of one man cannot be obligatory to that of another much lesse to a generality and especially to their prejudice the same consisting of a mans inward disposition towards God and Man wrought in him by that spirit wherewith he is acted and therefore a mans private conscience ought not to be instanced as an inducement to a State in matters of Religion and especially of a different Creed But notwithstanding all these designes there wanted but little that the King having gotten such an advantage had not made use thereof to thwart all their hopes of a reconcilement and to advance his owne ends for the Warlike Prince fortunate in all his former undertakings against his Enemies and breathing new Conquests had as was conceived no inclination to the Truce but rather desired to have vindicated his pretensions to the Crowne and Kingdome of Suethland by the Sword seeing very well that he should not obtaine the same by Treaty And as the Commissioners for the Republike of Poland observing they could not get a restitution of Leisland whereupon they insisted at the first as well as for Prussia would make no generall Peace choosing rather a Truce after the expiration whereof their pretences to Leifland were still the same even so King Vladislaus perceiving that as well by the one as the other there was little appearance of his regaining the Crown of Suethen did equally distast the Peace and Truce and was induced to a condescention meerly by the Potency rather then the perswasions of the Polish Senators who bending wholly to what was for the present behoof of the Republike had little regard to the particular interest of their Prince a thing usuall in Elective Kingdomes whereas the King was desirous to have recovered his pretended right by force of Armes seeing it could not be otherwise gained wherby he might have assured his Posterity of a hereditary Kingdome in case they should come to be preter-mitted in the Elective as himself had almost been and wher the eldest would not alone be assured of a Crown but the younger likewise would be secured of Principalities and Dukedomes answerarable to the Dignity of their birth which in Poland they were not by any Right or Title for these reasons it may be conjectured that the King was not un willing to embrace any occasion of a rupture and even of late by standing stiff upon sundry points of smaller consequence he had not obscurely discovered his mind neither could he have a more glorious pretence as to them then that of Religion wherby also he might reap another and no small advantage to wit the razing out of his Subjects minds especially those of the Clergy an opinion they had conceived that he favoured the reformed Religion more then they desired he should albeit that surmise of theirs had no other ground then that they knew those of the Reformation had deserved better of him at the time of the Election then themselves had done yet this might be a motive to the King to make a cleer demonstration of his zeal to the contrary by sticking so fast to this particular wheron indeed he insisted most earnestly and so far that the Chancellour who at his first pressing therof did not think that ever it would have come to that height was more puzled therwith then with any other point which before or after the same came to be discussed in the whole Treaty as well how to satisfie the King as to salve their own honour and prevent a breach the same being feared by many and was not undesired by some but I will now leave this and return to the matter from which I have digressed further then I intended The French Ambassador having ended his Apologie the inducement to the former digression and successively gained a good opinion with the Polanders howbeit not without irritating his old Friends the Suethes and being therfore the more desirous to see an end of that controversie which himself had first broached did earnestly require from the Commissioners of Poland their finall resolution upon the point in question after two or three houres spent in debate the Polish Lords agreed that another form should be conceived in writing wherby in place of the words Ritus and Cultus liberty of conscience and