Speech 7 July 1641

A SPEECH DELIVERED BY S ^r. Simonds D'Ewes. July, 7 ^th. 1641. in the Palatinate cause, &c.

WEE have during this Parliament, fallen upon the debate of the greatest, and most important affairs concerning our own good and welfaire at home, that ever were agitated, and discussed at one meeting in the house of Commons. And we are at this present, by the gracious invitation of his Royal Ma ^je. expressed in his most just Manifest read unto us, resolved to take into consideration, the most sublime, and most difficult business of the Christian World abroad: which hath for the space of above twenty years last past, drawn all the Kingdoms, and States of Europe, into an immediate or mediate engagement: In which, there have been twenty pitchit Battles fought, a Million of Men, Women, and Children destroyed by the Sword, by the Flames, by Famine, and by Pestilence; and that sometimes populous and fertile Empire of Germany, reduced to a most extreme and calumitous desolation. I have in those few spare-hours I could borrow yesterday, from the public service of the House, recollected some particulars, which may conduce to the clearing of this great cause, being drawn out of the Autographs themselves, or out of our Records at home, or out of the Writings of our very Adversaries, and others abroad. I shall therefore begin at the Original it self, of the never enough to be lamented loss of the Prince Palatines Domino • s, and Electoral dignity: that so we may take along with us, in our intended disputes; not only our affections, but our consciences. It is therefore very manifest, to all that are but meanly verst in the Cabinet affairs of Christendom; that the Jesuits have consulted for many years last past, as well before, as since the furious Wars of Germany, by what means to ruin the Evangelical Princes and party there. Their chief aim hath been, so to divide the Protestant Princes amongst themselves, as they might be made use of each against other, for the ruin each of other. The first occasion that offered it self within our memories, was the pretences of several competitors to the Dukedoms of Cleve and Iuliers, and they sailed but a very little to have executed th • ir intended design upon that occasion. But their hopes failing in it, they apply themselves integrally to Ferd • nand of Austria, Duke of Gratz, a Prince not long since so poor, and of so mean a consideration to add the weight of but one grain, to the down-balancing of the affairs of Christendom, as his name was scarce heard off.

They find him a fit subject for them to work upon, having from his Cradle been bredd up in an extreme hatred of the Protestant par • y, who professed the truth. They resound nothing into the ears of the old Emperor Matthias, but his Cousin Ferdinands high merits, so as he passing by his own natural brothers, and the head of his house, the Spanish King adopts Ferdinand of Gratz for his son, so to prepare a way to make him the successor of his Scepter, Crown, and Purple.

Then were the sacred Dyets of the Empire, the ancient means to reconcile differences, and prevent jealousies, as often dissolved abortively as called insincerely. Rumours were spread of practices and designs against the Protestant Princes and Cities. And that those rumors might not vanish in smoke, the Liberties of the great and ancient City of Stratsburgh were oppressed. The Protestant Princes seeing materials and engines on every side, prepared for their ruin; were necessitated to meet at Heilburn, and there to conclude an union amongst themselves.

This gave the Jesuits an assured hope, of making Germany speedily miserable by a calamitous War; for not only the Pontifician Princes, took the opportunity to settle a Catholic league, as they called it amongst themselves: but also, the Elector of Saxony, like a true Pseudo-Lutheran, neither Protesttant nor Papist, shows as good an affection to the Catholic league, as the Evangelike union. The old Emperor Matthias begins now to act his part, and the Jesuits spurr on their ready Scholar Ferdinand of Gratz, to ascend the bloody Theator they had so long designed him. Through the old Emperors intercession, abusing the Bohemian Protestants credulity, with Sugred flatteries and large promises, he is admitted to the Crown of that rich Kingdom; which soon after made way for him unto the Crown of Hungary also. The Jesuits and the Spaniard did now only want a fair occasion to begin a War in Germany. The Emperor Matthias labors with the Protestant Princes, to dissolve their Union; which not taking effect, the Bishop of Spiers is encouraged under hand to pick a quarrel with the Prince Elector Palatine, and to build a strong Fortress upon his nighbours Territories, pretending he had right to that plott of ground, upon which the said Fortress was raised: but an higher providence did not suffer this Sparke to set Germany on fire, though it had been kindled at the Prince Electors own door (to affront and provoke him) for he by an incredible celerity, did cause the said Fortress to be demolished before the Enemy could sit and furnish it for his intended use, which made him sit still, and study for a new occasion, which that it might not be long wanting; the Liberties and Privileges of the Protestants in Bohemia, contrary to their new King Ferdinands oath, were temerated; and by that means in the Yeare 1619. the greater part of the Estates of that Kingdom were necessitated after mature deliberation to abdicate him, and to elect, Frederick Prince Elector Palatine for their King.

And thus are we arrived at that sad period of time, upon which so many fatalities have ensued, in which we may see evidently; that the Prince Elector Palatine was not causallie guilty of any part of that Ocean of blood, that hath been since spilled in Germany, as the Pontifician side pretend he was. The Scene was long before prepared by the enemies of the Truth; and the Kingdom of Bohemia was filled with arms and hostilities diverse months, before his accepting of that Crown, when himself labored by an earnest Mediation, to have given a peaceable issue to those bloody beginnings. It was the Honor, and greatness of that matchless Princesse that he gained here, and the considerable succors they expected from hence, that especially drew the Bohemians to that choice. It therefore concerns us now at length, to provide that the Prince Elector himself, and the other Princelie Branches of that great Family (being the second without question, if not the first, and most Ancient of the Empire) extracted by their last match, from the Royal line of Great-Britain, should not under couler of their Fathers accepting that Crown, to which they now pretend no title, be forever despoiled of their ancient inheritance Electoral dignity: to which calamity they had never been reduced, had not the French King at that time forgotten the old Maxim of his Predecessors, which was to keep even the balance of Germany, to which also did most fatallie concur, the Duke of Bavarias ambition betraying his own blood, and the Duke of Saxonies taking of Arms against the Evangelical party. By this means and the advancing of Spinola with the Spanish Army out of the Nether-Lands, was not only the Kingdom of Bohemia lost in a few months, but the Palatinate also, excepting some few places of strength invested by the Enemy, and that poor people left to slaughter, calamity, and desolation. The correspondence of some ill Ministers of this State abroad, with those of Porraine states here, assisted by some fatal instruments at home, furthered all this mischief at the instant putting this state in hope of a Match when supplies should rather have been sent from hence, to have preserved at least the Electoral Territories from an invading power. It is true, that the Spanish Match had been generally treated off, some five or six years before this fatal fire kindled in Germany, being first set on foot by the Duke of Lerma under Philip of Austria the late King of Spain : but now it was effectually advanced and fortified with a conjoined treaty of accommodating the Palatine cause without effusion of blood. This and much more appears in the Original journall books of the two houses of Parliament in Anno. 21. Iacobi Regis, which I have so far perused, as so short a time would give leave; and though that matters are there set down at large, especially in the Records of the House of Peers, yet I have abstracted it into so narrow a compass, as may well sort with the little spare time of this House to hear it. The relation was first made at White-hall during that Parliament, in the presence of the greater part of both the said houses, on Tuesday Febr. 24. and it was afterwards Reported upon Friday the 27. day of the same month next ensuing, in the Lord's house, by the then Lord-keeper, and in the house of Commons, by S ^r. Richard Weston, at that time Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is there at large set forth, that his M ^ties. Royal Father, having had several fair promises from the Emperor Ferdinand the 2 ^d. and the King of Spain, of a peaceable restitution of the Palatinate, caused not only such considerable forces, as were then remaining in Germany under the Prince Electors ensigns to disband; but procured also, some places of strength in the Palatinate it self, to be surrendered and consigned over in trust to the late Infanta of Spain. But in the year 1622. our late Royal Sovereign King James, upon his Ambassadors return from Brussels, having discovered the Emperors intentions to be full of insinceritie and deceit, wrote his Princelie Letters bearing date at Hampton Court October. 3. 1622. to the (then & still) Earl of Bristow his Ma ^ties. extraordinary Ambassador in Spain ; to let him know that he now perceived little sincerity in all the Spanish Kings promises, for the peaceable restitution of the Palatinate, by whose only means he had suffered the same to be lost to the Emperor, and that therefore he should presently press that King, either to give a full and direct answer, under his hand and seal, for the restitution thereof; or else to join his Arms with his Ma ^tie. against the Emperor for the recovery of the same: But this matter as it further appears by the Original Iournall-books of the Lord's house, being either not thoroughly pressed, or notably dissembled. So many delays ensued one upon the neck of another; as in the issue it drew his Royal Ma ^tie. then Prince of Wales, to undertake that dangerous and remote journey unto that Nation, which hath been the long and hereditary enemy of England. This Journey, was chiefly undertaken by so great a Prince to add an end, one way or other, to that unfortunate treaty, and his stay in Spain so long, did causally proceed from his earnest desire to have effected a peaceable restitution of the Palatinate, and therefore I doubt not, but he shall now live to verify that excellent, and Heroicke expression, which he made to the Condé de Oilvarez a little before his coming out of that Kingdom.

Look for neither Marriage nor friendship, without the restitution of the Palatinate.

And I assure myself, that the force and power of great Britain, which was lately by subtle and wicked instruments, divided against it self, being now Vnited in one again, will be able to effect such great and considerabl • actions, as shall render his Ma ^jes. Name and Rain glorious to all posterity. The two houses of Parliament, at that time received the before mentioned declaration, with so much resentment, as having first rendered glory to God that had so seasonably discovered the Spanish-frauds, and next their humble acknowledgments to their then gracious Sovereign, for requiring their Counsels in a business of so great importance, they did unanimously advize him to break off the said two treaties touching the marriage, and the restitution of the Palatinate ; engaging no less, then their persons and purses, for the recovery of the then Prince Electors ancient and hereditary Dominions. It appears also in the Original Iournall-book of this house, De a ^no. I ^o. Caroll, that this great business was again taken into consideration, but was finally incombed with other matters of great moment, by the fatal and abortive disolution of that Parliament. If therefore this great Counsel of the Kingdom, did in those two former Parliaments, account the restitution of this Illustrious and Princely family to be of such great necesitie for the preserving of true Religion broad, and securing ourselves at home, as to engage themselves for an assistance therein; certainly we may upon much better grounds undertake the same now, when I assure myself we may go as far with a thousand pounds for the present as we could have done with ten thousand at that time, for let us but take a short view of thee state of Christendom, what it was then, and what it is now, and we shall easily perseive a great alteration in the balance thereof.

In France where Monsieur de Luynes did then rule all, being himself acted by the Popes Legate, that King contrary to the examples of Francis the first, Henry the second and of Henry the Great his own Father and contrary to the maxims and interst of that State and his own safety, advanced the formidable power and spreading greatness of the House of Austria : but now the same French Kings eyes have been so opened, that shaking off that former unhappy slumber he was in, he hath by his arms and power to his immortal honor and glory for divers years last past, endeavored to restore again that Liberty to the Germane Empire, in the ruin of which himself had so fatallie before concurred.

The Swedes were then involued in several wars or jealousies with the Pole and enforced to keep at home to defend their own, but now have a strong Army and possess divers pieces of important consequence within the very bowels of the Empire.

The Episcopal Electors with the other Pontifician Princes and Prelates the sworn enemies the Protestant Religion, were then rich and potent, but since most of their Countries and Territories have tasted of the same calamities of War which they had formerly brought upon their neighbors so as now they are most of them scarce able to defend their own, much less to offend any other.

The Pseudo-Lutheran Elector of Saxony that is causallie guilty more then any other single person living, of all those calamities and slaughters which have for so many years wasted Germany and was then so liberal of his Treasure, and so forward with his arms to ancillate to the Emperors designs to the almost utter subversion of the true Religion in Germany, is now after the reiterated temeration of his faith and promises, the fatal survivor of the several devastations of his own Cuntrie and dominions: So as all those vast difficulties and great dangers which might well have retarded the forwardness of those two former Parliaments the first being held in the 22. year of his Maiestes royal Father, and the latter in his own first year, being now removed, we have greater encouragements then ever to concur with our sacred sovereign in the asserting of this his most just and princely Manifest.

For mine own part I expect no good issue of the present Treatie at the Diet of Ratisbone, I know the Duke of Bavarit • ambition too well ever to imagine that he will part with those large revenues, and much less with the Septem-virall dignity and suffrage he hath obtained by the Prince Electors calamity and misfortune; unless it be extorted from him by force of arms. My humble advice therefore is, that we send up to the Lord's to desire a speedy conference with them, in which we may aquaint their Lordships how far we have proceeded in our approbation of his Majesty's most royal Manifest, and to move them to concur unanimously with us therein.