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
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
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
expected from his Majesty by himselfe and the Orders of the Kingdome Dated at Nycopia as before expressed DUke Charles about two daies after received a Letter from King Sigismundus dated from Calmar the seventeenth of the said month intimating that by a violent Storme he had been put from his course intended for Stocholme and driven to that Port after two nights of tempestuous tossing on the Sea That the Ship which transported his Sister the Princesse Anna with sundry other Vessels were missing That neverthelesse he intended to repaire to Stocholme by land with the first opportunity That to his Dilections demands concerning the nomination of Princes whose intervention by their Ambassadors he did purpose to entreat against the ensuing Parliament they were the Emperour the Kings of Denmark and Scotland the Dukes of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg with the Marquesse of Ansbach and desired to be in like manner informed of the names of those Princes whom his Dilection had concluded to invite against the said time He likewise renewed his requests in behalfe of the fore-specified imprisoned Counsellours that they might remaine safely under the Royall Protection untill they should appeare in judgment and triall But say the Suether King Sigismundus observed these promises no otherwise then those formerly by him given for instead of repairing to Stocholme from Calmar whither as pretended he had been driven by tempest after he had garrisoned the said Castle with strangers he turned his Prow directly toward Dantzig So as no remedy being left but the celebration of a Parliament in place convenient therein to consult of the urgent Affaires and Necessities of the Kingdome the same was by his Highnesse with approbation of the Orders of the Kingdome convened at Jenecopia in February 1599. wherein was treated of the concernments of the Nation The particulars lesse necessary to be here inserted I shall omit and only touch some heads more pertinent to the present matter referring the further curious to the Act it selfe They therein declare that they will supplicate the King by Letters to commiserate and administer help to the Kingdomes afflicted condition and that he suffer not the same to fall to utter ruine That they hope his Majesty will make a favourable construction of this their counsell and so resolve as the necessity of the cause requires That if contrary to expectation their admonition shall take no effect whether by Suggestions of those of the Romish Creed or Apostates of their owne they professe their innocency before God and all Christian Potentates and that they are constrained to renounce the obedience they had untill then borne toward his Majesty c. This is in the fourth Section or Pause of that Act In the seventh they expresse that whereas in the late Lincopian Treaty it was promised that Imperiall Regall Electorall and Ducall Ambassadors should be of both sides invited to examine and decide all differences which was not yet done that therefore unlesse his Majesty should make good his promise within foure moneths they did consent and conclude to meete at Stocholme the 24th of May ensuing in full Parliament and conforme to the Gustauian Testament and the written Lawes of Suethland the other Orders of the Kingdome being thither called and appearing would examine the whole matter in reference to those perverse turbulent persons who had been Authors of the Nations troubles whereby the guilty might receive condign punishment c. These things with protestations of fidelity to his Highnesse as their governour and the resisting and diverting with their lives and fortunes all prejudice that might be intended against his person his Consort and Children were concluded at Jenecopia as aforesaid DUke Charles having received two letters from the King of one and the same date from Warsonia after a prolix repetition of the heads of each he answered the severall objections they contained and retorted back with a recapitulation of things past taxing likewise his departure which he affirmed his Majesty had not been forced unto by tempest as had been pretended And that in the Port of Baresund Order was given to all those that attended his Majesty to steere toward Calmar and not to Stocholme He desired to be certified the time prefixed at Lincopia for the celebrating of the promised Parliament being almost elapsed whether his Majesty were still of the same mind and that a certain time and place might be appointed He taxed the King of stirring up tumults in Finland Of protesting by his Ministers in Denmark and elsewhere that he was not obliged to stand to the agreement made between them Of designes against himselfe and the Kingdome of Suethland as was evident by the Letters of Sparre and Bechus sent to his Majesty but intercepted and brought to him And by the secret Plottings of the Princesse Anna with Count Axell by her Servant Ericke George shewing that his Majesty no way intended that these unfaithfull Counsellours should be brought to tryall but to procure their safety some other way That in the meane time those Counsellours with others of their faction should be kept in convenient custody but that if his Majesty did use further protraction he should be compelled to proceed against them according to the Lawes of Suethland These were dated from Jenecopia the first of February 1599. THis letter was accompanied by one of the same date from the Orders of the Kingdome of Suethland wherein after a rememoration of all things that had past since the Coronation they desired his Majesty to suppresse his tumults sprung up in Finland and Leifland to commit the Offices of the Kingdome to Natives not to Strangers to bring the Authors of those troubles to punishment To governe the Kingdome according to his Regall Oath the Lawes of Suethland the Sudercopian decrees and other laudable transactions and that in all cases the written Lawes might be observed To secure them that neither for the present nor the future he would attempt any Mutation of Religion as had been formerly done contrary to their opinion of his Majesty That he would returne to them as beseemed a meeke and gratious Prince not attended by forraigne Forces That his aboad amongst them would be an assured argument of his yeelding to these their just requests And that the speedy effecting thereof was their most earnest desire But that if his Majesties condition were such as he could not be resident with them and that frequent returnes into the Kingdome would be more troublesome then the State thereof could beare they humbly besought him that in regard his most deare Son was according to the hereditary union from which they were resolved not to vary the next Heire to the Crown he would be pleased to send the said Prince his Son to receive his Education within that Kingdome in the true Christian Religion and other Princely vertues under the tuition of his neerest of bloud and other faithfull persons whereby he might in time become
unto him the pernicious change of religion which was mostly intended during his raigne had been vigilant toward those things that were consentaneous to Christianity and right and intended a just Government so long as his thred of life remained To which change of Religion as also sundry other things were to be imputed to the suggestions of evill Counsellors as the primary causers of that want of brotherly confidence which of right ought to have been between him and his Brother Duke Charles They also affirme that contrary to his Fathers sayd Testament and his owne Oath for true observation thereof Sigismundus his Son afterwards King of Poland had been by him permitted to be educated in the Pontificiall Religion and that by the fore-specified impulsions and perswasions of perverse Counsellours he had sent his sayd Son out of the Kingdome to receive the Crowne of Poland from whence as from an overflowing stream all those innundations of evills which had covered their Country proceeded It would be over long here to repeat their formerly so often reiterated Criminations against King Sigismundus nor the fore-mentioned Resignation by Duke John of his Hereditary right to the Kingdome They therfore proceed to pronounce Duke Charles by them formerly designed for their present absolute and lawfull Soveraigne with whom and for whose safety they would live and dye and that after him they would receive his eldest Son the Prince Gustavus Adolphus for their immediate and confirmed King Upon the younger Prince Carolus Philippus they thereby setled the Paternall Dukedomes of Sudermannia Nericia and Wermelandia Vosbogia and the Valensian Territory with the other Jurisdictions then possessed by his Father But that Duke John should enjoy the Dukedome formerly granted unto Duke Magnus with other large emoluments conceded unto him by the present Parliament as the Letters of Donation did testifie That if their designed King the present Prince Gustavus Adolphus should leave behind him any lawfull Regall or Ducall Heirs Males the eldest should succeed and he deceasing sonlesse the one after the other from Line to Line should sway the Scepter and so his Highnesse Sons that should be borne unto him should be by them and their Successors designed and accepted for lawfull and Hereditary Kings of Suethland But if the Prince Gustavus Adolphus should depart this life not leaving any lawfull Heirs Males the second Son Prince Carolus Philippus should obtaine the Crowne as their designed elected and confirmed King of Suethland and after him his lawfull Heirs Males in like manner should succeed as hath been expressed toward the Line of Prince Gustavus Lastly That if Prince Carolus Philippus should change this mortall State without any lawfull Male Issue to rule the rains of the Kingdome the Royall dignity should then devolve unto the illustrious Duke John in the same manner word for word as it had been decreed and confirmed unto the forenamed Princes Gustavus Adolphus and Carolus Philippus He also dying his eldest lawfull Son should obtaine the Regall Wreath and so each from Line to Line as had been designed and concluded unto the Heirs of the two Princes before named in the foregoing Articles And that forasmuch as Histories give ample testimony of tumults dissentions and multiferous detriments which over-fruitfully flock into a Common-wealth when the Line of a lawfull Family is not regarded the Kingdome and the Government thereof being in jeopardy by a perillous election of Governours this Inhabitant voting for one Candidate or pretender that man for another And that on the other side it may be collected out of Histories that much Concord and Tranquility hath ever flourished in a Common-wealth when according to Divine providence the States or Orders of a Kingdome have not swarved from the right and lawfull Line of a Regall Family If therefore which they besought God gracionsly to divert the like inconvenient should befall the Kingdome of Suethland that the whole Masculine Gustavian Progeny should be taken away and none remaining of that Regall and Ducall Family but Female Heirs they did bind themselves by promise and voluntarily and by mature Counsell did thereby unanimously and concordially universally and singularly for themselves in generall and particular and for all their Successors ingage and sweare that they would accept that Princesse and Regall Daughter if such should be living or of the Ducall Line for Queen of Suethland and that they would not obtrude any Husband upon her without her will and consent and especially that they would not permit or procure her a Husband of any People enemy to the Suethish Nation or that had any way sought after their ruine or hurt nor yet any of a perverse Religion or adhering to a Doctrine differing from their Christian profession That withall the Queen should be and thereby was prohibited from any manner of Matrimoniall contract with any person of such a Nation or Religion under the penalty of deprivation of Rule and Dignity but that she should rather wed some one of the Suethish Nation whom she could affect and who might be usefull to the Kingdome or some Prince of the Ducall Families in Germany descended from the illustrious Gustavian Progeny of Suethland and of the same Religion with them except such marriage were forbidden by propinquity of blood That the other Regall and Ducall Daughters of that Family then remaining should be provided of Dowries and other necessaries befitting their condition and dignity according to the Gustavian Testament and the conclusions of the present Parliament Yet with these conditions and cautions that not any of the Regal or Ducal Daughters should contract Matrimonie with any person without the free consent and approbation of the Orders of the Kingdome But not intentending hereby that the daughters of the King Sigismundus if any were or his Sister should be comprehended they being rejected from ever obtaining any jurisdiction in Suethland And forasmuch as all the tumult warr and dissention which of late times had molested them had their maine Originall from the difference of religion between his Majesty of Poland and the Orders of Suethland he having contrary to his Grand-fathers last Wil and Testament deserted their Christian profession and embraced the Papall erroneous doctrine they therefore unanimously constituted and decreed that they would never prefer any person unto the Royall Chaire who should not be of the same Religion with them And that if any of their Hereditary Princes should decline the pure word of God comprehended in the Propheticall and Apostolicall Books and depart from the Augustane Confession presented to the Emperour Charles An. 1530. grounded upon the Word of God as also from other former transactions and laudable Constitutions partly framed in the time of King Gustavus partly since tending chiefly and above all things to the advancement of Christs Church and the propagation of Religion and to the preservation of the best policy both in Spiritualls and Temporalls or whosoever should not do
afterwards produce The Mediators and the Commissioners of Poland remained that night in Stumbsdorff the Suethes retyred to Stume the same being neer adjoyning that so they might begin the more early the next morning To this sixth meeting if not rather a continuance of the fifth all Parties assembled and the French Ambassador the sole of all the Mediators addicted to the Romish profession took upon him the patronizing thereof in Leifland and growing zealous therein earnestly pleaded that cause with the Commissioners of Suethland who observing with what fervency he pressed it answered positively in the Negative and gave these reasons First that in their Instructions they had not one word touching the same neither as they conceived had their Principalls so much as once thought of it Next that they knew not that there were any of the Romish Creed in that Province and therfore it was but a needlesse trouble to faigne things that were not in being And lastly that albeit some of that profession might be found there yet they could not for their consideration grant a free exercise of that Religion the Statutes and fundamentall Lawes of their Kingdome being expresly against it These passages were by the French Ambassador related to the Commissioners of Poland all of whom but chiefly the Chancellor took the matter hainously affirming that unlesse provision were made for the free exercise of Religion to those poor Soules whose Salvation said they they tendred more then the losse of all Leifland all the Treaty and the labour that had been employed therin would turn to nothing His Lordship and the other Mediators would not at first intermeddle in that businesse as not appertaining unto them but finding the same to grow so difficult as not to be easily composed but rather likely to overthrow whatsoever had been done before they also thought good to interpose their Authority and the whole day being almost spent in arguments and hot dispute about the same they propounded unto the Polanders a draught for the reconcilement therof if so be that accepted by them the Suethes could be drawn to give consent therunto But here because in the whole Treaty no one point was contested with more sharpnesse on both sides as also that none was more likely to have caused an absolute dissolution therof and that the greatest difference in the severall means propounded for reconcilement consisted for the most part in the distinction of words and phrases I have thought good to couch the severall formes placing in the Mergent the Latine wherin they were word for word then conceived wherby the Reader may with more satisfaction to himself settle his judgment therupon The first therfore administred by the Mediators was in these words The Suethes shall permit unto the Roman Catholike in Leifland their Worship and Ceremony in private during the whole time of the Truce and no enquiry shall be made upon them as formerly had been neither shall the professing of that Catholike Religion be a Crime or prejudice to any person there for the future This form written in a Scroll was by the Mediators delivered to the Commissioners of Suethland each of them adding perswasions thereunto yet all proved in vain for the Draught was rejected and night drawing on an end was made for that time The next day being the seventh all parties assembling the former dispute about the point of Religion in Leifland was continued wherin the French Ambassador employed his whole endeavours sharply checking the Suethes for this their cruell and as he termed it unheard of way of proceeding setting before them how that the King his Master at their late Kings consideration had granted to the Lutherans even in Paris the free exercise of their Religion which if they should obstinately persevere and that the matter so required he doubted not but he might by Letters easily disturb but the Suethes nothing moved with these threats yea rather the more exasperated replied that they were not bound to conform themselves unto or to be judged by the examples or reasons of others but by their own fundamentall Lawes and Statutes which without indangering their heads they might not swarve from as they should do mainly by condescending to the form propounded which included not only private but publike exercise also by those captious words Worship and Ceremonie yet they professed that they would not be so severe as to make inquisition upon or trouble the Catholikes but as heretofore would permit them to enjoy their private liberty of Conscience The Commissioners of Poland were no way contented with this Declaration as well in regard said they that Religion without Worship Rights and Ceremonies due at Divine Service was but in a manner a dead Image as also that the liberty of Conscience enjoyed untill then by the Catholikes there was indeed none at all but a meer bondage feare and trembling during which neither could those who were forced to conceal themselves celebrate or partake of the Masse nor would their Children who should be afterwards borne become initiated into their Church by Baptisme That yet not to break off the Treaty they thought good to refer this something which they esteemed as nothing unto their King in a smuch as untill this point were settled they could not proceed unto the other Articles onely at the instance of the Mediators by mutuall consent of parties the cessation was prorogued for three daies During the time of respite the French Ambassador endeavoured to bring the Commissioners of Suethen to more complying termes shewing the just cause their Adversaries had relating to the point in question that from thence only a most cruell War was like to arise and that they would therby procure the hatred and the enmity of others but all in vain for in the space of four houres he gained nothing The day prefixed for the eighth meeting being come the Parties and the Mediators assembled at the wonted Village where the Commissioners of Poland authorized by their King insist more mainely then before upon the foresayd forme of Covenant in the point of the Romish Religion and for the more assurance desired that the same might be ratified under the Hands and Seales of the Mediators and affirmed that unlesse it were granted there remained nothing but Warr which they sayd they esteemed to be so much the more just by how much it was more glorious to contest to the last gaspe yea even to imbrace an honourable death for the liberty of conscience and Religion These things with other like being by them delivered the French Ambassador earnestly pleaded their cause with the Commissioners of Suethland and as he was endowed with singular Eloquence so he endeavoured to move them by the strongest and most dexterous arguments he could to admit of the foresaid form of Stipulation Yet the Suethes inflexible in their resolve reject the same as captious and including under a specious forme of
his Nephew His first Act was to call to Stocholme and reconcile to himself sundry Counsellours of the Kingdom with others of the Senatoriall Order who had been long in the late Kings displeasure and who had likewise provoked himself To them passing by former Injuries he granted Letters of security An. 1592. and both from the one and other received Letters Obligatoricall dated January 1593. to joyne unanimously in Counsell and endeavours for the publike good and to be in all things assisting and subservient to him the said Duke reserving their fidelity and obedience to their lawfull hereditary King Duke Charles had advertised his Nephew King Sigismundus of his Fathers decease by Letters from Stocholme of the twenty fifth of November 1592. and desired his acceleration withall due conveniency to receive the Crown of his Native Kingdom The like he did from Vbsall by Olaus Suerkerus the seventh of March following to him he gave instructions to assure his Majesty that he would contain the Kingdom in peace and tranquility and so resign the same into his Majesties hands That he hoped likewise and expected that his Majesty would maintain his Subjects of what condition soever in the true Religion and Divine Worship as also preserve inviolably the Laws of Suethland with all the Priviledges granted by his Predecessors in each and all the points and Articles of every of them with severall other circumstances contained in those Instructions the whole in thirteen Heads or Sections Not long after King Sigismundus so desiring Turo Bielke of Nynes was by Duke Charles sent Ambassador into Poland with Letters and Instructions dated the 26th of May 1593. importing as before preservation of Religion as established in the latter times of Gustavus Erickson and the first of King John and as the same had been lately approved and confirmed at a generally Synod held at Vbsall the maintenance of Laws and Liberties to great and small poor and rich were likewise inserted and security therof with other points touched in the said Instructions to be by the Ambassador humbly desired under the Royall Signature The twenty seventh of July following Ericus Sparre and Claudius Bierke were sent to Dantzig with other Letters and a Fleet to receive and attend his Majesty honourably into Suethen Sigismundus returned answer by Turo Bielke referring the Peace to ensue with the Russian which had likewise been touched upon in the fore-cited Instructions and the security desired by the Prince and Counsellours of State in the name of all the Orders of Suethen untill his arrivall and Coronation there at which time he would confirm to every one freedom of his Religion observation of the Suethish Laws retention of ancient Priviledges and Liberties not prejudiciall to the Regall and Ducal Succession with all other things convenient to be secured unto them under his hand and Seal and that the same might be then done much better and more commodiously then at such a distance These were dated at Dantzig the eighteenth of August 1592 But the Suethes complain in that he gave not present assecuration in the point of Religion and those other things desired in the Ambassadoriall Instructions but that over-passing them he proceeded on his Voyage wherby say they he not obscurely discovered that either he would not give or not observe when given any such security especially touching Religion It was likewise observed that the Duke meeting King Sigismundus and his Queen upon their landing at the Bridge of Stocholme after congratulation of their safe arrivall with a long Oration did admonish him so to receive and govern his Hereditary Kingdom as he might with a good conscience answer before God and the World and particularly those of the Suethish Nation Wherunto the King gave but small regard and made but a short reply The Coronation time approaching and the chief of all the Orders repairing to Stocholme to attend the King to Vbsall where that Solemnity is usually performed They besought him to confirm their Liberties and Priviledges Which he whilest there remaining delayed with uncertain hopes wherwith the whole Politicall and Ecclesiasticall Orders being moved did by Letters and Emissaries Solicite the Duke to mediate with his Majesty not to procrastinate longer but to dispatch those and other Emergent Affairs lest longer delaies might beget some stop to the Regall Ceremony and some of the said severall Orders were in the name of the rest deputed unto his Highness then at Gripshold Castle to request his repair to the Solemnity and his Intervention with the King for their satisfaction Wherupon the Duke by Letters of the nineteenth of January 1594. did in most faithfull and friendly manner advise his Majesty to take the desires of the States into his serious consideration King Sigismundus nevertheless still delayed untill almost the Coronations Eve from whence they gathered that he had no propension to their desires especially in the matter of Religion seeing that notwithstanding all instances used both by the Duke and Senators seven weeks were wasted before ought could be effected or the Coronation celebrated Which consumption of time was chiefly imputed to the obstinacy of Francisco de Malaspina the Pontificiall Legate who by injunction from the Romish Prelate severely prohibited his assent but was at last constrained to advise and perswade the King to grant unto the States of Suethland the Assecuration desired which he was the rather induced unto as having on his Holiness behalf one starting hole remaining to wit That Faith was not to be kept towards Hereticks which say they was afterwards verified and that King Sigismundus observed no Covenant contained in his Coronation Oath or in his Letters of Assecuration It is by them and not without detestation likewise affirmed that Sigismundus intending mischief to the Duke his Uncle appointed some Ensigns of Heyduckes to lye in wait to murther him which had been effected but that a certain person Hieronimo Strozzi discovered the design and that this not succeeding a second plot was hatched to have been perpetrated by Italians in disguise by means of a Comedy to have been by them acted with naked Swords a thing unusuall amongst whom was Salvator Fabriz Authour of an Actor in that Scene which should have ushered in the fatall Tragedy and that this cursed Plot is testified and confirmed by James Tipotius a great Sectator of the Romish Religion and not ignorant of the designs of the Jesuites and Polanders himself being then at Vbsall But the Duke by his absence from those sights contrary to expectation prevented the intended butchery Neither say they were those Trayterous Counsellours who afterwards induced King Sigismundus to infest his Native Soil with armed Bands unwitting of these treacherous devices But that it was they who did first blow the coals of this pernicious discord albeit they kept close somtime that so if the Tragedy had taken the wished effect they might have seemed innocent and with Pilate have justified themselves but that God of his
goodness by withholding the Event did frustrate their Machination They likewise assert for clearing the Duke from suspition of ambitious affectation of the Crown that even at Vbsall before the Coronation his Highness was by many of the States not once but often urged and invited to take the Diadem and this ingemination frequently used Your Highness is the only remaining Son of King Gustavus and as your Predecessor of happy memory appeared a Father and Defender of his Country so We doubt not but that your Highness will advance the Common-Weal of Suethen but from this King Sigismundus We cannot hope for ought of good Which desire of theirs Duke Charles not only rejected but like wise frustrated the purpose of certain of the severall Orders who would have committed the Raynes of the Soveraign Rule unto Duke John as then of tender years who should have been Crowned at the age wherin he might have Legally secured the Liberties of the Suethish Nation Whence say they all people of what Condition soever may easily collect from what Root these Seeds of discord first sprung but let us now with them turn our Pen and Sickle to the remainder of these growing Weeds They alledge also that it was apparent wherat Sigismundus aimed in bringing such a troop of Popish Priests into the Kingdom the chief of whom was the before-named Malespina who in the Metropolitan Arch-Episcopall Seat of the Suethes Gothes and Vandals did dare to attempt the Crowning of their King wherin he was withstood by all the Orders of the Kingdom but mainly by Adamus Adracanus Arch-bishop Elect of Vbsall who stoutly shewed that it was contrary to their Statutes and the Laws of Suethland that any but the Vbsalian Prelate should perform that Office and that before the consummation therof it behoved the King to bind himself by Oath to observe those things which in the Augustane Confession were exhibited to the Emperor Charles the fifth above sixty four years then past and likewise had been decreed by Gustavus and King John his Grand-father and Father as also ordered by a late Synod at Vbsall to be observed in Suethland where into no Church other then of that Profession was to be admitted But that the King whilest there might have a private Chappell in his Palace Wherupon the Legate interceded that at least with the Evangelicall Religion the Romish erroneous and idolatrous Superstition might be tollerated In prejudice of the Gustavian admonition and testament which was not granted SIGISMVNDVS III. D G REX POL. M DVX LIT RVSS PRVS MAS SAMO LIVO NEC NON SVECOR GOT VAD HAEREDI REX The Most Excellent Prince Sigismundus 3 d King of Poland etc. 〈…〉 He gave likewise Letters Assecutoriall to the like effect to all the States under his hand and Seal at Vbsall the ninteenth of February 1594. wherinto the Curious may make inspection It being intended here to mention only the heads of things most necessary to be inserted in reference to the ends before proposed Contrary to this Oath King Sigismundus is by them charged to have erected a Popish Church in the Regall City to which end he purchased a Stately Structure of Stone from a stranger there inhabiting He is likewise taxed for placing Count Ericke of Visingsborg a most zealous Adherer to the Romish Sect Governour of Stocholme Castle in which the Regall Ornaments with the Records of their Cancellariae are usually deposited as also the Armes Ammunition and the great Ordinance of the Kingdom And in the Port wherof the main body of their Navy was reserved contrary to his fore-mentioned Letters of Assecuration To a certain Jesuite Adam Steinhall by name he committed the Arcensian Temple placing also his Romish Priests in the Queens Island and in the Vastenan Monastery contrary to what he had given under his hand and Seal to this effect That neither in the Ecclesiasticall or Politicall Affairs of that Kingdom he would use the help of any person who did not profess the Religion then generally received in Suethen They further argue that he no sooner returned from his Coronation to Stocholme but that he gave the Raynes unto his Polish and other Romish affected followers to enter their Churches and disturb their Service and Devotions by tumultuous perambulations in all parts of their Temples with loud voices and scandalous Gestures during their Sermons and other Religious Exercises to the great oppression and scandall of minds yea to the hazard of mens lives branding and reviling them with the name of Hereticks and other infamous and scurrilous Appellations insomuch as they were constrained to set Guards about their Ministers ascending their Pulpits and complaint being made unto the King of these abuses the Plaintiffs were dismist with reproaches and contumelious words no redress at all afforded It is moreover objected that besides extraneous Forces introduced at his Arrival he ordered others to be brought from Dantzig by Ernest Wejerus and other Commanders furnished as to a declared War wherby Flouds of blood might have over-flowed if by other weighty Affairs he had not been recalled and induced to return into Poland but what he could not then say they effect he afterwards endeavoured at the Papall Legatorian instance when with a numerous Army he re-entred Suethen in the year 1598. In this manner do they charge King Sigismundus that he no way observed his Regall Oath and Assecuration in point of Religion after which he departed the Kingdom as at first he had done without the consent and approbation of the States therof leaving behind a Romish affected Governour in his chief Fort and City besides severall Churches with the Vastenan Monestary filled with Jesuites and others of that Erroneous Sect wherby much dissention a rose within the Land soon after his departure Hereupon certain Senators of the Kingdom thought it expedient to write unto the Duke signifying the Kings departure and that they had endeavoured to their utmost that the weighty Affairs of the Realm might have been settled before his Exit severall wherof remained yet unperfected That therfore they besought his Highness to afford a helping hand with his wonted Patriotall affection for the dispatch of things as necessity required That touching the form of Government which his Highness had by Copy communicated unto them to be desired of his Majesty no proceed had been made as he might happily have understood by Ericke Gustavus one of their number That the Regall Ensigns were deposited in the Stocholmian Castle wherof Count Ericke was appointed Governour against whom they had protested in his own presence and had entreated his Majesty to ponder the same more maturely Other things also were in the said Letter contained as their most earnest desire for his Highness speedy repair to Stocholme These were dated the fifteenth of July 1594. and their requests reiterated by a second invitation of the twentieth ejusdem The Duke returned answer to their first the eighteenth of the
acknowledge him and his Heirs Males if any should be for lawful Heirs and Kings of Suethland and next to them his Brother John Prince of Finland that they should endeavour and by all means procure his and the Kingdoms good preventing all prejudice and loss by Mature Counsell and Administer the other affairs of the Kingdom with the joynt Senatorial consent and concordall unanimity conform to the Laws of Suethland that no damage or detriment might thence redound But that they should not celebrate or call any publike Assembly or Parliament nor upon any occasion make or enact Laws without his speciall and express consent as being agreeable to and demonstrative from the Reversoriall Letters given unto him by the Duke and Senators In order wherunto he commanded all and every the Subjects of Suethland and inhabitants therof of what eminency degree or condition soever to render and perform to his said dear Uncle as to the chief in Government and to the Senators according to the state and dignity of each all due obedience honour and assistance in all things which they should enjoyn for the good and emolument of the King and Kingdom given in the Port of Elsnaben the eighteenth of July 1594. But this Plenipotentiary was by Duke Charles rejected as imperfect and a draught more ample by Letters from Nycopia of the twenty third ejusdem sent to the King for the Regall Assent and Signature with a Schedule annexed wherin his Majesty was desired in case that Peace intended with the Russian should not take effect to consider of some way wherby the Nerves of War might be supplied Provisions made of Victuall Ammunition and other Necessaries equally incident which with other particulars mentioned in either are referred to inspection into the Originall by such as are curious But the King was gone before this answer could be tendred unto him leaving Suethland in much disorder which the Duke considering and that only a lame form of power and government was left and that others were ordained with equal yea greater power both in Suethland and Finland albeit the same appeared not untill his Exit So as almost in every Province some or other did rise up boasting himself Governour in the Royal absence from which Fountain many misfortunes mischiefs and miseries might have flowed Tumults and dissentions would have sprung up on each side to the ruine of the publike Weal unless timely obviated for the better effecting wherof the Duke by the Senatoriall Consent indicted a Parliament at Sudercopia against the moneth of October 1595. To which generall Convention the whole Senate and Orders of the Kingdoms Counts Barons Bishops Knights Gentry Clergy Commanders of Forts and Forces Burgesses and common people did emulously flock to consult upon the Urgencies of the Kingdom wherin they assert many things were treated and transacted tending greatly to the good of King Sigismundus and the whole Nation if due execution had not been obstructed In these Parliamentary constitutions after thanks rendred to the Divine goodness for having by tollerable conditions freed them from apprehension of a long and bloody Russian War so as being then in Concord with all their Neighbours they might more freely endeavour a setling of the like at home which was their aime in that assembly they unanimously by virtue of their respective Provinciall Plenipotentiary and each for himself particularly did bind themselves to observe their Oath and promise made to King Sigismundus in the points of Fidelity and obedience to him and his Heirs And that wheras his Majesty at his Coronation had promised the entire liberty of their Religion with exclusion of all other which was not yet effected and that certain of the Romanists had already begun to use threatnings in confidence of their encrease They therfore enacted and concluded that all Conventions publike or private used by the Papalists or any other Sects by what notion soever frequented should be taken away their Priests and Preachers banished and to depart the Kingdom within six weeks after the rising of that present Parliament That none of the Commonalty of that or any other Sect seperate from the Profession there generally received should be admitted to any Office within the Kingdom but all Pensions toward such to be revoked yet that they living peaceably might still remain and enjoy the Laws Liberties and Priviledges of Suethen but if doing otherwise either in publike or private to be punished and exiled as the others were That in reference to the Vastenan Monastery wheras the Regall Assecuration did bear that no Scholastick Exercise or Function Ecclesiasticall contrary to the Augustane Confession and the Vbsalian Synod celebrated An. 1593. should be obtruded upon the Kingdom or be suffered to impede the received Religion but that therin the proceedings should be according to the last year of King Gustavus fore-mentioned and the first of King John Therfore all abuses in the foresaid Monastery and the present Incumbents were to be thence excluded That furthermore wheras the most Illustrious Duke Charles had then before all the Orders of the Kingdom signified that by reason of several notable defects represented somtimes Orally and also in the written Paper then exhibited unto them he desired to be freed from the Government unless those were removed They therfore in regard his Highness was a Prince hereditary of the Kingdom whom it meerly concerned that the Affairs therof should be rightly and orderly administred humbly desired that his Highness would embrace the same for the good and emolument of the King and his Successors as also of the younger Brethren and in a word of the whole Regall and Ducall Heirs according to the Acts of hereditary Succession wherby the Subjects and Inhabitants of the Kingdom might in like manner freely enjoy the Nations Laws with their legally acquired Liberties and Priviledges And that wheras his Highness had consented to undergo the Administration of the Government with the Senators of the Kingdom joyntly They therfore the respective Orders therof Ecclesiasticall and Politicall Nobility and Commonalty high and low did promise that to their utmost they would acknowledge and observe his Highness as their Prince and Governour in his Majesties absence and untill his return into the Kingdom and accordingly render unto his Highness all lawfull obedience fidelity and duty saluting and intitling him the Governour of the Kingdom yet no way to any prejudice of the Regall Jurisdiction or Dignity conform to the litterary transaction approved of between his Highness and the Kingdoms Senators Wherfore that what Affairs soever of weight and moment relating to that Kingdom his Majesty should desire to be there expediated were first and before all others to be signified unto his Highness and the Senatoriall Colledge But if otherwise and whosoever he were who should obtain any Commission he should have no power of appointing or acting ought in reference therunto before his Highness and the whole Senatoriall Order were consulted therin
who undoubtedly would therupon conclude and ordain so as might be most conducing to the honour and advantage of his Majesty and the Kingdom according to the Oathes and Assecurations alternatively given It was concluded also that no trouble or molestation should accrue to the King by seeking or desiring any determination or resolution in Poland concerning the Affairs of Suethland in regard his Majesty had not there those persons neer him to whom he might commit the expediting of the Suethish Affairs for which cause they concluded that all Juridicall Process Grievances and Controversies should be examined defined within the Kingdom conform to the Laws of Suethland and the Decree relating therunto published at Vbsall An. 1593. which the King himself had confirmed And that they should not be transmitted into Poland nor that any sentence or resolution touching them should be expected thence but that if any one thought himself injured therby he might appeal unto the Kings return whether that any Regall Sentence given without the Kingdom should obtain execution within the same Otherwise no man to be prohibited to repair or seek unto the King about his private Affairs or other things lawfull and rationall not tending to the prejudice of any especially of those who sate at the Helme Provided that as aforesaid the Kings Mandates and Writs should be first directed and addressed unto his Highness and the Senatoriall Order the execution of them not to be immediatly committed unto any other Concerning the Offices of the Kingdom it was decreed that his Highness and the Senatoriall Colledge with the counsell and consent of the chief other Orders whom the matter might concern should as occasion required in his Majesties absence consider of meet persons so that such men and Servants might be preferred to Offices and Charges in the Kingdom respectively as did rightly belong and were tied by Oath to the King and to the Common-wealth and that speciall and serious regard were had to ancient and well deserving persons As also that none of the Prime Offices of the Nation should be entirely committed to any one before the Provinciall Inhabitants where such an Officer was requisite and any others therin concerned might have free Sufferages or Votes by whom three Candidati or persons elective were to be named as the Laws of Suethland to the observation wherof his Majesty had sworn concerning the chief Offices do in some sort mention which three persons elected were to be signified unto his Majesty out of which number he might appoint one whom he best approved of and if it should so happen that the King had no rationally lawfull objections against them and did nevertheless defer the approbation of some one of them perhaps not without detriment to the Kingdom and the Government therof his Highness had power to place one of the three so elected in the said Office yet that no Officials formerly perferred by his Majesty should be dismissed unless lawfull causes were found wherby upon due inspection and examination they might appear worthy of deprivation neither that any one should be advanced to a greater Plurality of Offices then he could commodiously and with utility to the Kingdom undergo These things being by them enacted the Duke on the other part did stipulate in these words We Charles by the Grace of God hereditary Prince and Governour of the Kingdom of Suethland Duke of Sudermannia Nericia and Wermelandia do promise that we will diligently assisted by the Senatoriall Order as well of Spirituall as Secular Persons endeavour to the utmost of our abilities so to manage the Kingdoms Affairs as we shall know or conceive to be most advantageous to his Majesty commodious to this our most dear Countrey beneficiall to the Orders and faithfull Subjects therof and Emolumentall to all persons wherby every one may be maintained and protected in the pure Evangelical Religion according to the Augustane Confession and the Profession of faith instituted at Ubsall and agreeable to the Laws of Suethen and those Priviledges and Prerogatives which each man conform to his condition enjoyeth and hath obtained from precedent Kings and Governours As also that we will govern the Kingdom of Suethen and the Affairs therof wholly according to the Oath which his Majesty at his Coronation at Ubsall did swear to his Subjects and did secure unto them by writing and as We with Our best and cleerest judgment shall find or can imagine may be profitable to his Majesty and Emolumentary to the Orders and Subjects of the Kingdom as well of the Clergy as the Laiety even as we desire God assisting to answer for the same before God his Majesty and the respective Orders of the Kingdom Whatsoever likewise shall by Vs with the free advice of the Senators which without any prejudice they may safely communicate be approved and concluded as We will not decree ought in weighty Affairs relating to the Kingdom without the Senatoriall Sufferage We will unanimously maintain and defend that the same may be preserved firm and irrevocable to the present and future times And that We will accordingly All as One and One as All profess and protect the same if in process of time it shall be needfull and requisite Lastly in testimony that We do willingly constitute and approve of this Transaction in manner as aforesaid for the good of his Majesty our most gratious King the prosperity of the Kingdom and the Inhabitants therof and do ordain the same to be unviolably observed word for word according to the cleer literall sense therof without prejudice or violation to the Regall Eminency and Jurisdiction and our Oath as the Laws of Suethen require We Charles by the grace of God Hereditary Prince and Governour of the Kingdom of Suethland Duke of Sudermannia Nericia and Wermelandia And We the Orders of the said Kingdom fore-mentioned have hereunto affixed our Seals and subscribed the same with our hands And if We or others present or absent who have not assisted at this Convention which We are not willing to impute as proceeding from pertinaciousness or disobedience shall refuse to approve with Vs of what before recited concluded for the Common good of his Majesty and our Countrey wherof the Parliament being ended intimation shal be given to all the Provinces and that by previous information and admonition they shall not offer or produce any lawfull reasons in contradiction hereunto which they have free liberty to do We certainly will send Messengers unto them and will hold them for non-conforming and disturbing Ministers of the Kingdom and whosoever shall not adjoyn themselves hereto if constituted in any of the Eminent Offices of the Kingdom We will endeavour to diminish their publike Authority and Power as We shall judge consentaneous to equity and reason least the Kingdom of Suethland should from thence receive detriment and seeds of dissention In like manner they who shall detract or apostatize from this our generall free and unanimous Transaction Whether
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
discessions therefrom yet he was resolved not to intermeddle with the publick Administration against his Majesties mind but leave to the arbitrement of the Senators and other Orders the Consideration of the Government thereof during his Majesties absence And that albeit many weighty occasions did at present occurre to be consulted of and settled for avoiding of unrecoverable detriment to the Kingdome as Discords and Controversies in Religion a perfecting of the Peace with the great Muscovian Duke with sufficient security for its perpetuity and the rendition of the Castle of Kexholme The present troubles of almost ruinated Finland with other most urgent affairs for the Kingdomes future Weal which by means of the Councels now in agitation may be neglected whence discords greater then formerly may arise His Highness doth neverthelesse hereby protest his innocency and that he hath given timely advertisement of these evils to the Counsellours and Orders of his Majesties Kingdome and doth hope and in friendly manner desire that all good men will take this his Protest in good part concluding with most loving and friendly tender of good will and favour to all the Orders Citizens and Inhabitants of the Kingdome as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall to each according to his degree The further Answer made by his Highnesse and the Senatoriall Order unto the other Regal Objections was as followeth That the Duke by indicting the Sudercopian Parliament and by the Decree thereof had derogated from all his Dignity Praeeminency and Regal Rights That albeit according to the common rule in Law where the Plaintiff proveth not the Defendant is absolved this accusation might be over-passed in silence in regard his Majesty produceth no evidence of such derogating by those Articles but barely criminates without any fortifying reasons yet his Highness to testifie his innocency will demonstrate by the ensuing arguments that the foresaid Decree doth no way impair but confirm and establish his Majesties honour and dignity For 1. No man of sound unbyassed Judgment can deny but that a Decree producing Concord in Religion administration of Law and Justice expelling confusions crept into the Common-wealth maintaining the Regall Oath and Assecuration with the Hereditary Union unblemished doth rather augment then diminish the Regall Dignity and Rights But that the Sudercopian Decree is such a one may easily appeare to all men and will be more fully shewed hereafter wherefore the suspition of weakning his Authority thereby must vanish Naturall Reason History and daily Experience do shew that where diversity of Religion sets foot no account is made of right or just Ataxia or confusion raignes the vulgar multitude are apt for Insurrections thereby the Common-weal cannot be long safe the Soveraignes rule will be of small duration neither are their Rights and Dignities preserved Discontinuance of Supream Authority proceeds from neglect of Kingly Offices Viz. Propagation of Religion in a Realme administration of Right and Justice abolition of disorder By these as sure foundations the Weal publike is preserved and the Regall Rule so long prosperous as they are endeavoured Those layed aside it vanisheth as Histories over-long to be here recited do testifie Hence ariseth a question What particular in that Decree is there repugnant to the things mentioned At its very beginning promise and confirmation of fidelity is exhibited according to the Subjects Obligation in reference to his Majesties Inauguration Oath next Concord in Religion is established for all persons introducing and sowing Extraneous Superstitions the Regall Oath and Assecuration so requiring are expelled Unlawfull Conventicles are prohibited by which means the Weal Publike is duely provided for How Concord is maintained in Regions where disparity of Religion is admitted the ruines and subversions of most potent Kingdomes and Common-wealths do shew 2. The mention of his Highness Title and Authority in point of Government during his Majesties absence in the second Article of that Decree doth rather confirm then retract form his Majesties Dignitie and Rights for the presidency of one exceeding the rest in power and authority is of advantageous concernment to the Common-wealth as by the prejudices of Policratia or Democratie in this and other Kingdomes and by this Nations Annals may be demonstrated Hence Civill Wars take rise and Kingdomes become subject to extraneous Yoaks to their own detriment and destruction for men are naturally prone to dissention Where severall beare rule with equall power it followes mostly that each hath regard to his private not the publike good Moreover each trusting to other neglects his own part of duty according to that saying Affaires committed unto many have slow expedition There is a certaine naturall Vice that Possessions in common are for the most part neglected 3. The Lawes of Suethland do thus expresse that the same shall be rotally subject unto One not unto many Kings Whence it is apparent that the Well-fare and Dignity of the Kingdome cannot firmly consist but under one Governour Hereunto externall Lawes and the Judgments of Forraigners do accord as the following Texts do witnesse Kingdomes and Empires may be better governed by One then by many Item Hardly can a Plurality effect ought of good Item It is Hereticall to place two Vicars in a Land 4. It hath not been usuall in this Kingdome in former ages that in the Regall absence severall persons should equally governe the Common-wealth as may appeare by the Union made in the Raigne of Queen Margaret renewed in that of Ericke the thirteenth Moreover it hath been customary that in the Vacancy of the Regall Chaire some One not more of the Kingdomes Senators should bee elected to administer the Affaires of the Common-weale Seeing therefore that his Highness is a Prince Hereditary of the Kingdome unto whom with his Heires the Inheritance thereof doth properly belong if any unwitting Accident should befall howbeit he wisheth the contrary and that his Majesty and his Progeny may enjoy by Gods goodnesse a long peaceable and ligitimate Government over the same the right of Hereditation requires that his Highness should preside in his Majesties absence The rather for that there is none extant of the Regall Family ripe for Government and the Lawes permit not the preferring of any but the next of blood As from the precedent and other not here inserted reasons it may be concluded that the King absent more then One cannot be constituted over the whole nor any but his Highnesse It followes without controversie that nothing hath been herein acted in derogation of his Majesties Dignity but such only decreed as the Lawes commanded and the publike good required For his Highnesse did not this to exclude his Majesty but to be serviceable to the Country in his Majesties absence neither did he obtrude himself but lent his hand to the Helme at the earnest request of the Orders of Suethland The Title it self doth no way diminish the Regall Praeeminency For 1. It is the Title of a King but of him who executes the
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
greatest Offenders And this is a custome practised in the Romane Provinces and observed by other Kings whose Extents are large but if it were free for guilty and indebted persons to make continuall appeales to the King what end would there be of Suites When should Crimes be punished Appeales to the King ought to be of the more weighty causes only and the maine matters of the Common-wealth nothing is done herein contrary to the manner of other Nations Portugall and Naples are governed by Vice-royes the Belgian Provinces by Governours yet no appeales from either are made unto the Spanish Court albeit each of those Countries have Senatoriall persons there residing who solicite the Affaires of the Nation according to their Lawes and Priviledges But who remaine in Poland negotiating for Suethland the Ambassadors can tell Or will they judge that those being in another Kingdome can duely provide for the Emergencies of Suethen yet admit that sundry of our Senatoriall Patriots were there were it lawfull for them to draw the controversies of the Suethes thither Neither is this a Right peculiar to us but equally observed amongst all Nations for what King hath desided the causes of one Kingdome in another unlesse the one were subject to the other The declining a competent Court within a kingdome loses the cause Appeales to the King are not abscinded but reserved in the Tribunall proper for the Majestie of the Kings of Suethland untill the Kings returne Neither can he alone even within the Kingdome give sentence without able and unbyassed Assistants no more then without a just hearing of the Plaintiff and Defendant Nor is any appeale admitted by Law from the chief Tribunall unto the King even in the most weighty Affaires when he is within the kingdome the Courts of Justice being administred according to custome and our written Law how much lesse lawfull then is it the King remaining out of the kingdome And if permitted would it not be dishonourable and prejudiciall to Regal Majesty and to an unconquered kingdome when the chief Court of Justice should seem to wander like an exile in a strange Land without fixation of place many other inconveniencies might be apprehended by Appeals into Poland as tediousnesse of way vastness of expence and at length the undoubted extinction of the most ancient Right of a kingdome which is sacred and unviolable to all Nations Next it is complained That the Royall Letters and Patents are slighted whereunto is answered that those Letters which are the Kings are had in reverence but others that is such as are contrary to the mind dignity and good of the King and Kingdome are received as if the Suethes were assured that his Majesty desires nothing that is not conformable to the Laws confirmed by the Regall Oath and conducing to the preservation and emolument of their mutuall most ancient dignities Such are indeed suspended that due honor may be exhibited to the Royal hand and Seal and that his Majesty may deliberate more maturely But some may say thus more wisdom and power is attributed to the Subject then to the Soveraign in no wise No question is made of the Regal Power which nevertheless Alphonsus of Arragon did most rightly define when he said unto Kings whatsoever is honest is permitted and that they may do what they may legally do It was a Royall Speech of the Emperour Honorius when he professed that he a Prince was bound by the Lawes by those the Kings of Suethland are confined Things unequall howbeit small at first prove in the end obnoxious to Cities and Kingdomes In France an hereditary Monarchy excessive bounty is frequently restrained without derogating from Majesty even in Suethen the meanest may by protection of Law defend himself and his against the King by whom if ought upon false information be ordered at the instance either of Plaintiffe or Defendant the same without consulting or derogating from Majesty is ejected and abrogated Kings have sometimes entertained Advocates for poore men who not onely have boldly refused to obey the Regal permissions or inhibitions but have openly unblamed opposed them If this be tollerable in private persons how can that be obtruded in the Government of a Kingdome the King absent which by the Law may be overthrown and may prove prejudiciall even to Majesty it self The Prince and Senators are charged moreover with Treason because they had decreed not to have regard to such Letters as many times are by bad men unversed in the Suethish Affairs extorted from a gracious Prince to the prejudice of himself and the Kingdome sometimes by private persons who neither have nor deserve any power to enjoyn obedience What is this but putting the feet to do the work of the hands whence that must necessarily follow which the Lords Ambassadours most prudently did alledge viz The Office of the Members would be confused all would languish their Order would be disturbed and the dissolution of the whole body must necessarily ensue If his Maiesty will have ought of moment acted within the Kingdome may not his pleasure be better signified to those that are over the same as is usuall in all Nations The Provinciall Rulers have ever had such respect from kings that the Royal Mandates are directed to them for execution according to right or advertisement if Noxious or unjust How much more unseemly is it to over-passe them to whom the care of the whole Kingdome is committed yet so it is mostly that the first understanding must be from others and that Letters are heaped to divers persons from whom most favour may be expected not for what is expedient for the King and Kingdome but themselves A certaine person is said to have brought Letters out of Poland not long since surreptitiously obtained from the King for present payment of a certaine summ of Dollars as a due debt which summ had been satisfied some yeares before Do not such Letters deserve regard Some are brought into the Kingdome manifestly taxing the Prince and others of Infidelity toward his Majesty the names concealed tending to incite the Popularity especially to insurrection by which like instigations probably the Governour of Finland hath dared to oppose the whole Kingdome of Suethland The King consented yet doubtlesse not of his owne accord but by the counsels of wicked men and to his owne and the kingdomes detriment For then discord nothing is more pernicious in kingdomes especially if it proceed so far that by one faction he thinks to oppresse that which but undeservedly he conceives to be another But thus in destroying one by another he ruines the kingdome even his Country The examples of France and the Netherlands alledged by the Lords Ambassadors serve here very fitly For the French fell not into so many Calamities by any Nationall disobedience towards their King but by the quotidian violent subtle snares set for expulsion of the Protestant Religion whence that kingdome was so many years afflicted with mutuall Slaughters Rapines Rapes
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
Majesty to the King of Denmark from Vilna the five and twentieth of February wherein he had endeavoured to spot his honour and had unadvisedly given away the right which the Crowne of Suethland doth justly vindicate as the peculiar badge thereof Viz. The three Crownes for which a long and cruell War had been waged with the Danes wherein many brave Men had perished and whereas the Danes formerly had earnestly entreated from the Suethes a protraction as to them for composing the difference his Majesty contrarily had now desired the like from the Danes conceding needlesly the right of the Suethes to the adverse party contrary to his Oath and promise which his Majesty and his unfaithfull Counsellours ought not to have done That nevertheless he regarded not those exorbitancies neither was willing to recompence evill with evill but would attribute those excesses to his Majesties weaknesse and the perversnesse of that Religion wherein he had been educated and would returne good even to his Enemies if his Majesty and his partakers would accept of his brotherly affection That therefore albeit the Orders of Suethland in the last Stocholmian Parliament as they had often before done had now againe humbly desired him to assume the Soveraigne Government and had wholly renounced his Majesty as he well knew he had not hitherto directly condescended unto them But that his Majesty and all the World might know he sought not his Majesties or his Successors prejudice but should gladly see his Majesties Posterity perpetually sitting at the Helme of that Kingdome He again earnestly and faithfully desired his Majesty to assent to his request and send his Son speedily into Suethland that otherwise and unlesse that before the ensuing month of August expired he received a satisfactory answer his Majesty would not impute it to him for a Crime that he had at length accepted of the tender which by the whole Orders of the Kingdome had been so frequently made unto him Dated as aforesaid from Stocholme neither do we find any future entercourse by Letters between King Sigismundus and his Uncle Duke Charles But say the Suethes in stead of answer to those Letters new broiles were set on foot by all the Forces could suddenly be raised in Poland Lithuania and Liefland albeit the Leiflanders did more adhere to the Suethes as not brooking the Polish Government Libels were dispersed into all parts against Duke Charles and he with the Orders of Suethland were publikely proclaimed Enemies Sundry but unsuccesfull attempts made upon Huitenstein and Revell Caspar Tisenhusen that Rebell with his Troops of Horse admitted into Viburg by Axell Kurck appointed Camp-Master by King Sigismundus contrary to his Oath and Obligation which prohibited the Command of Castles unto strangers Hereupon Duke Charles was compelled unto a new expedition into Leifland where before he attempted ought against his Adversaries he made sundry overtures for a Composure to Leo Sapia and others to whom the King of Poland had committed the Command of Leifland but was not only delayed with various Letters and deluded with vaine hopes but his Messengers likewise by them imprisoned contrary to the custome of Nations so as all his endeavours for ending that cruell War proved but vaine as appeared in the year 1602. when Axell Kurck and Henricus Horne with others upon request made by the Polanders were sent with certain Instructions positive to try whether any agreement could be made but coming to Leifland they found no man to treat withall King Sigismundus and the Polanders having no other intent then to continue the War and to procure them what Enemies he could both in Denmark and Russia which gave beginning to the so long continued broiles between the famous Kingdome of Suethland that of Poland and Lithuania Moreover the said Duke Charles in the yeare 1608. he being then King sent his Ambassadors Magnus Brake Earle of Visinsborg Nicolaus Bielke Baron of Salstad Peter Kenicius Bishop of Scharen Lawrence Paulinus Bishop of Stregnen Ottone Helmer de Tuna Castellan of Aboen and Philip Skeding Castellan of the Narue to treat with the Polanders but as formerly so then King Sigismundus refused to cease this bloody War by equall and laudable transactions Neither as they alledge is that to be slipt over in silence which Jonas Hendrickson Meldorpius Ditmarsus writes in his Oration intituled The meanes and way of reducing the Septentrionall Regions to the Romish Worship Whose words are that when the Collar of the Golden Fleece was presented to King Sigismundus at the Warsovian Parliament by the Count of Ligny in the name of the King of Spaine his Master King Sigismundus made Oath that he would preserve sincere Friendship and Brother-hood with the Prince of that Order and would propagate that Catholike Religion by endeavouring to his power the extirpation of Hereticks What therfore might be expected by the Duke and themselves who had abjured the Roman Profession Surely King Sigismundus swearing at the reception of that Order to propagate the Papall Creed by extirpating the Hereticks was injurious and perjured as to his Coronation Oath taken in Suethland In the year 1604. Duke Charles and the Orders of Suethland assembled again in Parliament at Norcopia upon the sixth of February wherin they ordained severall things tending to that Nations Emolument As 1. Concerning the revising correcting reprinting republishing of the Lawes and Constitutions of the Kingdome of Suehtland in all Provinces thereto belonging those to whom the same was committed to have allowance from the Crown for their subsistence untill it were perfected 2. The grievances of the Subject with their redresse from and by Missionary and Military Quarterings 3. The valuation of their Coine 4. The Tolls or Customes 5. Against imposition of Taxes by Deputies or Officials without the chief Superiours Command 6. The power of Provinciall Law-makers or of great Rulers 7. The Measures Weights and Balances measuring of Lands lustration of Regall Goods 8. Marriage of the Royall Progeny 9. The placing of Crafts-men in every Territory and Ware-houses in each City wherinto all Cloath to be brought and viewed before the fame were vended 10. Against the detention of Tenths Contributions and emergent Exactions by such as hold any Copyhold profits from the Crown 11. Concerning the payment of Subsidies or customary Tributes and by whom 12. The Provinciall Statutes of the late King Gustavus Erickson to be reviewed corrected according to the present occasions by the Supervisors of the Lawes of Suethland and together with them to be published and observed 13. Against undue and fraudulent exportation of Iron the punishment of Offenders 14. Touching the Grants of immovable Goods unto any person made by Kings or Princes 15. That the Moyety of Territoriall Fines should accrue to the Provinciall Judge the other Moyety to be reserved in the Territoriall Chamber Lastly That Emergencies requiring the absence for some time of the King or Kingdomes Governour the stay not to be beyond the day of
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
should separate what belonged to Poland and to Suethen and should include one Castle now not inhabited named Marien haus 5. That all Rights and Priviledges appertaining to Cities Colledges or private persons should remain entire 6. That the Titles of either party should be couched in all Instruments Vladislaus 4. Rex Polinae Magnus Dux Lith c. c. and Christina Regina Sueciae Magna Princeps Finlandiae c. 7. The Customes and commerce in Prussia should return to the same state they were in before the War 8. A generall Amestia 9. The Ship lately detained in the road of Dantzig should be restored 10. Exercise of Religion to remain in the state it was before 11. That during the Truce and within two or three years at the furthest a perpetual Peace should in the Parliament of either side be treated of the Truce remaining still unviolate 12. That a time and manner should be settled for deduction of the Armies 13. That the Tolls in Leifland should be moderated and reduced to what they formerly had been 14. That the administration of Justice in the Confines of Lithuania and Leifland and of those parts of Leifland belonging to Poland to be as before 15. That Security should be given as well by the King as by the States of Poland and great Dutchy of Lithuania as also by the Elector of Brandenburg with the Cities of Dantzig and Conigsberg that during the Truce they should not permit any Ships to issue out of those Ports to prejudice or endamage the Kingdome of Suethen neither should they either by themselves or others attempt ought in prejudice of the present Treaty Almost to this effect were the Conditions propounded by the Halianders with addition that for the better settling of firm friendship and confidence between the two Kingdomes and for a sure ground-work to a perpetuall Peace an equall and honourable Marriage should be thought of sor the King of Poland which in their opinion could not be in a more Illustrious and Royall Family then if contracted with the eldest Daughter of the late Prince Frederick King of Bohemia Elector Palatine of Rhyne that Family being so Illustrated by Antiquity Dignity Nobility and Princelyalliances within and without the Romane Empire as none other could be preferred before it From which and the Marriage of Queen Christina with some Prince of the same Family Children might proceed by whose future Conjunctions the two Kingdomes might be joyned in assured friendship as before and the said Marriage might likewise produce other great advantages by reason of the affinity and alliance with other Kings and Princes by whom the differences and difficulties occurring from either or both the Kingdomes internally or externally might be in time remedied With the conditions aforesaid which were admitted by the King of Poland the Mediators made their repaire to Marienburg his Lordship reparing withall to Elbing whence after severall conferences upon the sayd heads with Generall De la Garde and the Commissioners they all determined to returne to Marienburg where the Mediators and the sayd Commissioners being assembled the fifteen conditions forementioned whereby the King of Poland might probably be perswaded to a truce were produced whereupon they being many the Suethes desired respite for consultation untill the day following which was granted the houre being come and all parties convened the Suethes exceptions to those Articles were 1. That touching the terme of Truce they could not accept thereof for lesse then thirty five years and that by their Instructions they were precisely tyed to forty that neverthelesse they retracted five by the approbation and permission of the Generall whose authority chiefly in Military affaires was of great consideration in the Kingdome of Suethland 2. That the title of the Queen of Suethen should be expressed in manner following Suecorum Gothorum Vandalorumque Regina Princeps haereditaria Magna Princeps Finlandiae forasmuch as they could by no means give way that the Hereditary right of their Queen most justly acquired should be obscured or overslipt much lesse be taken away 3. That a considerable sum of money was to be given for the deduction of their Forces That these three points being consented unto the others might be treated on and happily concluded withall that if the prorogation of the Truce which the Mediators desired were to be continued for eight dayes longer these three Articles by them expressed were first to be agreed unto by the Polanders The Mediators upon this answer take journey for Crowdentz a Towne of Prussia where the King with his Army had as then pitched his Tents The next morning early at the Chancellours lodging the Commissioners being present with severall Palatines and Senators consultation was held concerning the particulars propounded from the Suethes in the afternoon all the Mediators had audience together in the Castle of Crowdentz the chiefe of the Nobility being present the dispute continued from three untill ten at night The terme of years after long controverting was specified to be twenty five but the Title of Hereditary Princesse and the money demanded for deduction of the Army were absolutely denyed the first as prejudiciall to the King the other as dishonourable to them These things being afterwards delivered to the Commissioners of Suethen they crave liberty of deliberation untill the next day and promise a timely answer which to hasten the more the Mediators repaire to them into Marienburg Castle where they declare that they could not admit of lesse then thirty years and that they would not abate a day that in due regard to the advice of the Mediators they were contented that the title of Hereditary Princess should be included under an c. That concerning the Money demanded they sought it not directly from the King but to them it was alike whether it came from the Tolls or otherwise With this resolution indeed more mild then was expected the Mediators returned toward Croudentz where the King being busied about wighty affaires their Audience was deferred untill the next day and appointed to be in the Camp the King having resolved to take a generall view of his Army and was not unwilling that the Mediators should have a sight therof The Army Horse and Foot being drawn into order the first that presented was the Infantry the greater part wherof was Natives commonly called Heyduckes a people inured to hardship strong and able bodies but not much accustomed to Discipline some companies of strangers various but not many The Horse consisted for the most part of Lanciers known there by the appellation of Hussars braver men for personage better Horsed nor more superbly Armed can hardly be seen elsewhere consisting wholly of their Gentry yet their Vassals not more to them then they to their Captains obedient howbeit elsewhere they account themselves their equals Their Armour rich and glistering with Gold and Silver the better sort wearing over it loose Mantles
exercise of profession should be inserted as followeth The Roman Catholickes in Leifland shall enjoy liberty of their consciences all the time of the Truce neither shall any enquiry or animadversion be made into them and if any one shall exercise that Catholicke Religion in private it shall be no Crime unto him Homines Catholices in Livonia toto induciarum tempore libertate conscientiarum gavisuros nullamque in eos inquisitionem animadversionem factum iri si quis Religionem Catholicam in privato exercuerit id ipsi noxa non futurum Hereupon the Mediators urged a prorogation of the Truce which the Commissioners affirmed they had no power to grant but that within an houre at farthest by six swift Horses which stood in a readiness between them and the Camp then two Dutch miles distant they might acquaint the King with this last draught and the cessation required and therupon receive his pleasure that in the interim the other conditions of the Truce which had been intermitted almost a week might be brought again upon the Carpet they were taken into examination and the tenth was in handling some being added some expunged others corrected when the Courier returned with the Kings Letters containing a cessation for the next day only during which the King on the one side the Suethes on the other might consider of the form last expressed With this answer his Lordship and the Hollanders returned to Marienburg the French Ambassador went to Sumbsdorff neer at hand there to expect what the Suethes would declare Early the next morning the other Mediators visited the Suethes exhibiting that new forme of draught beyond which they affirmed nothing was to be obtained from the Poles but they having observed the word Exercise which they conceived to be more prejudiciall and of a larger extent then the former did utterly reject it calling the treating of the Polanders a meer mockery whereunto not onely themselves but the Mediators also were exposed and that they were not onely provoked but inforced unto a War This first heat being somewhat allayed they were contented at his Lordships instance to draw up three other formes of grant each gradually milder then the other the first was thus Homines Catholicos in Livonia toto induciarum tempore eadem libertate conscientiarum religionis qua hactenus sub imperio jurisdictione S. R. Majestatis Regnique Suecia gavis sunt gavisuros nullamque in eos inquisitionem animadversionem factum iri sisese ita gesserint uti hactenus gesserunt neque si quis Catholicam religionem in privato professus fuerit idipsi noxae futurum The Roman Catholicks in Leisland shall enjoy during the whole time of the Truce the same liberty of their Consciences and Relegion that hitherto they have done under the Soveraignty and Jurisdiction of the Queen and Kingdome of Suethland neither shall any enquiry or animadversion be made into them if they shall so demean themselves as they have done hitherunto nor shall any one incur blame or prejudice for professing that Catholick Religion in private The second was more brief as followeth Homines Catholici in Livonia gaudeant eadem libertate conscientiarum Religionis qua hactenus sunt gavisi nullaque in eos inquisitio animadversio instituatur quatenus sub imperio jurisdictionis S. R. Majestatis ac Regni Sueciae factum est si sese ita gesserint uti hactenus gesserunt The Roman Catholicks in Leisland shall enjoy the same liberty of Conscience and Religion they have hitherto done neither shall any enquiry or animadversion be made into them as hath been under the Raigne and Jurisdiction of her Majesty and the Kingdome of Suethen provided they shall so behave themselves as they have hitherto done The third was yet more favourable in these words Homines Catholicos qui jam sunt in Livonia toto induciarum tempore libertate conscientiarum Religionis gavisuros nullamque in eos inquisitionem animadversionem factum iri neque si quis Catholicam Religionem in privato professus fuerit id ipsi noxae futurum The Roman Catholicks that now are in Leisland shall enjoy liberty of their Consciences and Religion during the whole time of the Truce without any animadversion or enquiry to be made into them neither if any one shall professe that Catholick Religion in private shall it be prejudiciall unto him These severall formes were by his Lordship sent by an express to the French Ambassador who therwith speedily repaired from Stumsdorff to the King then in his Camp towards whom he imployed himself with all the efficacy he could notwithstanding which the three Draughts aforesaid being rejected he obtained a continuation of the cessation for two daies only wherof he certified his Lordship by writing promising a speedy return to Marienburg which he performed the next evening and together with the other Mediators repairing to the Suethes he expressed his endeavours and the repulses he had sustained in a long and elegant Oration and at length their minds and eares attentively listning he recreates them with this last resolution of the Polanders to wit that they had consented to the forme last mentioned the word Devotion only inserted instead wherof those of exercise and indemnity were omitted as by the form ensuing appeareth The Romane Catholicks in Leisland shall enjoy liberty of their Consciences Religion and Devotion during all the time of the Truce neither shall any enquiry or animadversion in that regard be made into them Homines Catholicos in Livonia toto induciarum tempore libertate conscientiarum Religionis Devotionisque gavisuros nullamque in eos inquisitionem anim adversionem eo nomine factum iri At first the Suethes seemed rather to refuse then to admit of the same because they thought that in the word Devotion there was some other thing included which might be to them prejudiciall and advantageous to their Adversaries yet they were contented to take the same into consideration untill the day following with promise that they would then declare therupon The Mediators taking leave imagined their consent as good as granted but it appeared otherwise for the Commissioners of Suethen did early the next Morning by Lording their Secretarie signify unto them that upon due consultation and a review of the Extent of their Commission they could not condescend unto the forme last propounded which covertly implyed nothing but a free exercise The Mediators took this change in evill part and complayned that they were put to an endlesse work in that whatsoever they concluded was annulled and illuded by one exception or other wherfore they joyntly affirmed that they would take their leave and abandon the Treaty whereof they advertised them by the said Secretarie Neither probably would they have been wanting to their resolution if the Commissioners of Suethland seeing the Mediators about to depart discontented and the French Ambassador affirming that the word Devotion was to be
their own Tent concerning the precedencie of nomination to be inserted in the preface of the Articles which according to right of intervening he challenged as due to the King his Master by whom his first repaire had been directed toward their King they declined the same on pretence of its being contrary to the custome of their Cancellarie which said they alwayes gave the precedence to the King of France where from it was not lawfull for them to swarve His Lordship taking this some what harshly told them and breifly that as to the couching of the preface he must leave the care of it to them yet he desired they would be cautious of discontenting a Prince their freind who had given proof thereof in sundry occasions and particularly in that before them Hereupon the parties according in all things assembled in a confident and friendly manner in the Mediatoriall Tent to confer even without them of some things more particularly after which there remained nothing but that the two Generals Conigspolskie and Jacobus de la Garde should meet and treat touching the time of the restitution of places as Marienburg Stume and Braunsburg as also about the deduction of the Army wherupon the Treaty when signed would at last be finally concluded both which points were deferred unto the day following and concerning the attendants of the fore-named Generalls it was agreed of either side that each should not exceed the number of fifty followers The seventeenth meeting ensued or rather a continuation of the former in which some contest hapned between the Ambassadors of Great Brittaine and France about the Subscription and the like campetition also between the Electorals and the Hollanders each party being willing to vindicate the precedency in the right of his Prince or Principals so as the former Mediators did now seem to stand in need of the like The dispute about the same was not smal but whilst it was in hottest agitation the Generals of each side attended with the forespecified number in great Magnificence arrived at the place of treaty and each accompanied with the Mediators did soon after salute each other in the open Village neer unto the Mediatoriall Tent wherinto they entred with the Commissioners of the severall Crowns by severall waies and therin consulted about the restitution of places and the deduction of the Army Between them it was agreed that the Suethes receiving the Regall ratification of the Treaty forthwith as also security from the Commissioners of Poland authorized by Parliament the same should be ratified by the States at their next convention should restore Marienburg with the greater Island Stume Braunsberge and Tolkemyth with the Territories belonging to them into the hands of the Commissioners of the King and Kingdome of Poland the Garrisons being first removed and that the Heught and Junkertreill should be razed in the presence of certaine Deputies of each side leaving the ground and goods to whom they belonged That the Armies of either side should be sent away within fourteen daies or therabouts But that Elbing with its ancient bounds the lesser Island with the Fortifications raised therin as also the Pillaw and that part of the Nering therto appertaining should remain in the possession of the Queen and Crowne of Suethen untill they should receive the ratification of the States of Poland and therupon to render up the foresaid places within fourteen daies after the receit therof and that the Garrisons should be removed without any damage to the Inhabitants with this condition also that all the Fortifications made at Elbing should remain in the same state they then were and in the same custody as before the War The Commissioners of Poland having desired an attestation from the Mediators touching the form of concession by the Sueths for the private permission of the Roman Religion in Leifland and the French Ambassador being unwilling to signe the same in reference to the competition between him and the Ambassador of Great Brittaine the Polish Lords were contented to accept of a testification from his Lordship and the Hollanders onely which they granted the same importing That they did therby testifie and make known to all whom it might any way concern that the Lords Commissioners for the Queene and Kingdome of Suethland had really covenanted and permitted that the Romane Catholicks in Leifland should during the whole time of the Truce enjoy liberty of Conscience the Roman Catholick Religion and Devotion in private nor any inquisition to be made or punishment to be therfore inflicted and that the present attestation was given with the knowledge and expresse consent of the fore-mentioned Commissioners in confirmation wherof they had therunto affixed their hands and seales But in the interim no Medium being found wherby to compound the competitions of the Mediators that matter was referred untill the day following The eighteenth meeting for the finall conclusion being now come the Lords Ambassadors of Great Brittaine and France renewed their dispute about precedency which encreasing in difficulty and intricacy seemed to hinder the parties who were now reconciled and friends from concluding and establishing the Treaty for the avoiding wherof his Lordship was pleased to declare himself in two waies to the Commissioners of either side first that the difference might be ballanced by two Copies of the Conditions of the Treaty to each party reciprocally signed by the Mediators Or secondly that there should be no Subscription or Signature by any of the Mediators as had been done in the former Treaty now six years past That as to the Preface he committed the same to them but in discharge of his Legatoriall duty he again admonished them to beware of giving any offence unto the King his Master By the Commissioners of either side it was concluded that the Mediatoriall Subscription was not necessary and that the Signature of the parties would be sufficient in this as well as in the former Treaty but that the Mediators might if they would so be pleased give an Instrument in writing apart for the more ample verification therof As to the preface the Suethes declared in favour of the French that it had ever been the Custome of their Crowne to give the precedency in nomination to the Regall Ambassador who first addressed himselfe to them With this answere his Lordship opposed the stile pretended of the Polish Cancellarie but was by their Commissioners answered rather with silence than by arguments The French Ambassador did mainely insist that he might subscribe the Articles alone but that he might not by contest seeme to be the sole obstacle of the Treaties confirmation he repaired to his Lordships quarter with whom when no perswasions to that end would prevaile after a long discourse of the dignity and precedencie of Kings he consented to the waving of all Mediatoriall subscription His Lordship neverthelesse to be secured of all sides revisited each of the Parties and in
stand for her Majesties safety her good and welfare as well as for that of the Kingdome even to the danger of their lives and losse of their goods Provided that her Majesty when shee should attaine to perfect years and full possession of the Government of the Kingdome did secure unto them and the whole State whatsoever might concerne the maintaining of all their Lawes Liberties and Priviledges c. as the like had been done by former Kings especially by her late Royall Father and had by the State of the Kingdome been approved Secondly that if any Suethe or other subject to the Crown therof of what degree dignity or quality soever should refuse to subscribe and submit to this establishment or dare to oppose their present Act or seek to advance any other whether native or forraigner They did esteem and declare that party to be a member separated from their body an Enemy yea Traytor to the Kingdome and upon conviction of a Crime of that nature to be punished without mercy Thirdly They confirmed and ratified the Acts formerly concluded against King Sigismundus with his Children and Discendants and declared them to have no right or interest in the Crown of Suethland or any part of the Dominions or Jurisdictions therto belonging and that all their right and pretensions were lost void forfeit and in the lapse for ever And that if any Sueth or other person under that Crown should endeavour the admittance of any of the aforesaids into the Kingdome or to yeeld them any footing within the Jurisdictions or upon the Frontiers therof They would hold that person of what quality soever he were for a pernicious and hainous Traytor to them and to the whole State And upon perseverance therin should meet with the mercilesse punishment due to such a one And that whosoever should listen unto or harbour or lodge any such person without timely discovery unto Authority should be liable to the like punishment As also that the Orobrogian Acts of February 1617. against all such should remain as inviolable as if they were here Verbatim expressed And all Lords Judges and other Officers were to see execution and performance of the same as he would otherwise answer it at his perill Fourthly That they unanimously and deliberatly confirmed and renewed what had been formerly enacted concerning the Service of God and his Church by other Assemblies and Diets and did generally oblige themselves to remaine in the same Form Truth and Discipline of Religion according to the Revealed truth of Gods holy Word and the Articles of Christian Faith contained in the Apostolical Nicene and Athanasian Creed together with the Confession of Auspurg and as formerly concluded in the Counsell of Vssall Fifthly That in regard of the Queens under age and insufficiency therby to defend and govern the Realm by her owne self and ability They did unanimously desire and ordaine that his Majesties Decree and Ordinance concerning this matter formerly committed to the Counsell and Lords of the State for their judgment and the conceiving of a right Order therupon which had been also by them tendred unto and approved of by his Majesty but by reason of his suddain â—eath and other occasions impeding had not had its full effect notwithstanding their want of sundry necessary instructions and appurtenances which through straitnesse of time could not be inserted should be put in execution and performed for the good of the Realme by the five chief States and Officers therof Viz. 1. The Lord high Steward 2. Marshall 3. Admirall 4. Chancellour 5. Treasurer And in the absence of one or other or of any the eldest of the Counsell of State to supply the place And these five to govern the Kingdome of Suethen for her Majesty untill shee should have attained perfect years And they five or as aforesaid the eldest of the Counsell of Stockholme being of the same Colledge and Assembly supplying the place of any of them absent should have the Tuition of the Queen and should bear rule during her Minority and Nonage onely in her name and stead without prejudice to the Realm or State or violation or breach of the Lawes Rights and Priviledges therof And should for her Majesty powerfully maintain the five Brotherly Offices and State Ranks That is Court-right Counsell Counsell of War Admiralty Chancery and Treasury or Exchecquer according to the institution and establishment of former Kings and especially of their late King Gustavus the second And should to their power uphold and maintain the Rights Lawes Justice and Policy of Suethen Defend and protect the Realm with all the depencies theron so as they might conscientiously answer before God the Queen and the State when therunto called as those by Oath were therunto obliged So on the other side the Lords and Peers of the Realm did promise to yeild and perform unto those persons Selected as aforesaid all due respect honour obedience and submissive Subjection in whatsoever they should require and command tending to the Glory of Almighty God the good and welfare of the Queen of the State and Common-weale And that in case any person or persons should either in word or deed thwart and oppose the present proceeding and government They would withall their powers endeavour to suppresse such Insolencies punish the parties and constrain them to better obedience Sixthly They would to their utmost prosecute the War against the Emperor and Popish League in Germany which their King had sealed with his blood untill it should please Almighty God to settle a happy and desired Peace for the good of his Church As also the Kingdomes necessity so requiring whether by reason of their present Wars or of any new Enemies against their Queen and State they would with their lives and Fortunes maintain their Rights and Liberties and with their utmost abilities oppose all such as should confront or withstand their proceedings Seventhly That forasmuch as no Kingdome could subsist without meanes or War be rightly managed without great charges They did likewise thinke good that the Tolls and Customes should be continued for the good of the Kingdome in the same manner as then raised and received c. Moreover If the Germane War should continue Or if their Kingdome and Countrey should fasten upon some other War or trouble They did promise and oblige themselves that whensoever required by the Peeres States and Lords of the Realme They would with all their power and meanes stand and fight for the Religion Queen Kingdome and Liberties That in all the particulars before specified they were resolved and had unanimously generally and particularly in their owne and in the behalfe of their brethren present and absent as well unborne as borne freely and willingly consented agreed approved and concluded and therein sufficiently accorded and did promise as faithfull religious and true sincere meaning Subjects to performe the same They the Councell State c. of Sueden did underwrite and seale
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