A proposition made by the Estates of Bohemia, in theire Assembly at Prague, upon the election of a Kinge, the 16th of August 1619, being the birthday of the Prince Elector Pallatine. fo. 198.
Chronograms respecting the King of Bohemia, fo. 202.
Copy of the King of Bohemia’s answer to a letter of King James I., thanking him for the education of his eldest son at his Court, etc. Hague, 20-30 Decem. 1623. fo. 335.
The Manuscripts of Sir Hervey Juckes Lloyd Bruce, preserved at Clifton Hall, Nottingham
1619. A Proposition made by the States of Bohemia in theyr Assembly at Prague uppon the Election of a Kinge the 16th of August, beinge the birthday of the Prince Elector Palatine. Albeit the nomination of a Kinge of Bohemia requires a mature councell and deliberacion, which ought to precede the nomination, it is an affayre notwithstandinge of the lesse difficultye then the iejectinge (sic) of a king which gave a beginninge to this and stands in neede both of a good justification and of a great power, where (as) the nomination hath of those aydes but follows of itselfe after the rejection.
Now therefore, since the iejection (sic) as the things importinge us is already done, the nomination wilbe much the more easily provided that in the choyse we stand not presisely upon such a perfection as the world cannot yeild us. It behoves us also to set apart all perticuler passions and to have regard only to those reasons that are fundamentall, for there are requisite points so necessary to be considered in the election of a Kinge that (it) is not for a good patriot to give his councell for receivinge of one in whome those points required is not found, but one may with very good assurance conclude for him in whome they doe dayly more meete than in any other man.
As in the first place in such a subject it is necessary that there be none of those thinges to be feard; for if Kinge Ferdinand was rejected, that is to say, he ought not eyther to prosecute or advance in the respect of religion nor exceede in the dependance of his owne counsaylors or of strangers, but to joine himselfe with the States he ought not to be opiniative nor given to doe thinges of his owne head, but to accomadate the customes of his house and his to the ordinances and liberties of thys crowne.
In the second place it is required that he affect the States’ reputation.
Thirdly, that in time both of peace and warr he governe his Kingdome by his owne presence worthyly and profitably.
Fourthly, that confederates receive no cause of feare from eyther of danger or damage. Since then there are few that are inferred into the treaty of eleccion, that is to say, the Kinge of Denmarke, the Elector Palatine, the Elector of Saxoni, the Duke of Savoy, and the Prince of Transilvania, yt will therefore be to purpose to consider that, although every one of these princes in his owne perticuler deserveth prayse and commendation, neverthelesse there is amongst them a certaine diversity which everyone by himselfe may prudently waigh. And forasmuch as it is not permitted us to judge liberally of great princes in this place, it shall suffice without offence of any breifely to deduce the reasons for which the Elector Palatine ought to be esteemed very capable of the crowne of Bohemia, and fitt to mainteyne the present estate of the kingdome, for although his highnesse be not above 23 yeeres of age, he is a prince of great judgement bred up from his cradle in goodnesse and vertue, one that hath persons of quality about him as well of the feild as for the state who are used to curteisy, and himselfe of very plentifull hopes, and besides at this age he will better accomodate himselfe to the customes of the kingdome then if he were more increased in yeares; and God bestows not wisdome alwayes according to the age of a man, but to him that calls to God for it in His feare.