The Hartlib Papers

          X From Cleve the 7. of Sept. 1661.

Yesternight Sir George Downing came hither incognito, & having had secret Audience yesterday in the afternoone with the Elector himselfe for three houres together, he hasted away this day. All is kept very privat. But the Elector told me himselfe this morning, that the English Resident had beene with him. The adjoyned Copies of Papers will shew you the state of the Empire, & what hath passed of late both in Hungaria and Poland. They are very confident of their great Powers, & slighten much the present dangers, which seeme to threaten Hungaria. But time will shew shortly, how well they shall behave themselves. In Poland the discontented Soldatesca have received great Summes of Money, which makes them quiet a little. December next, there is a new Convocation to bee called. Monsieur Dalwig, the Hassian Envoye, is to remaine at the Brandenburg Court, till somebody hath beene sent from the Elector at Heidelberg, to heare what Informations shall bee brought, & to give Answer vnto them. Here follow two Copies of Letters, which are of publick Concernment.

Literæ Regis Poloniæ ad Ordines Borussiæ Electoralis.

Ioannes Casimirus DEI gratia Rex Poloniæ, Magnus Dux Lithvaniæ, Russiæ, Prussiæ, Masoviæ, Samogitiæ, Livoniæ, Smolensciæ, Czernichoviæque, nec non Svecorum, Gothorum, Vandalorumque Rex.

Magnifico, Generosi, Nobiles, spectabiles, et famati, sincerè & fideliter nobis dilecti.

Relatum est nobis à maleferiatis quibusdam, concitandæ Plebi, serendisque dissidijs, rumores spargi, quasi nos initis cum Serenissimo Electore Brandeburgico cognato & affine, uti Fratre nostro charissimo, Legeque publica approbatis pactis, stare nolumus. Qvod cùm non leviter nos, remque publicam afficiat (:sicut enim ad perpetui, cum sua Serenitate Electorali, Foederis conclusionem, amico fido, optimo, Regioque planè descendimus affectu: ita nihil magis nobis, ac universalis tranquillitatis studio, convenire studeamus, quam ut ea, quæ sancto pacta sunt cum sua Serenitate foedere, ad rectum, omninoque tenori ac menti pactorum consentaneum, deducantur effectum:) monendas Sinceritates et fidelitates Vestras esse duximus, ut non solùm talibus fidem non adhibeant, verùm eas debitè coerceant reprimantque. Qvæ enim meas nobis in servandis utrinque pactis sit, id ipsum, durante etiam num bello Svetico, in ijs, quæ tunc temporis præstare poterant, probatum reddimus, delato inprimis Suæ Serenitate cum relaxatione omnium Ducatus incolarum, à juramentis, homagiisque prioribus, nobis et antecessoribus nostris, stante nexu feudali præstitis, supremo directoque Dominio, datisque in possessionem, Lauenburgensi et Bitouiensi Districtu, in reliquis etiam, quæ ad executionem deducenda sunt, ita inprimis agemus, quo omnia ex communi voto, quàm primum definiri possit. Cæterùm sinceritatibus & fidelitatibus Vestris prosperam à DEO optamus valetudinem. Dabantur Warsoviæ in Conventu Reipublicæ Generali, die VI Iulij Anno 1661. Regnorumque nostrorum Poloniæ et Sveciæ XIV Annorum.

                                   Ioannes Casimirus Rex

                                             (L.S.)

Magnificis, Generosis, Nobilibus, Spectabilibus et

famatis, sincerè & fideliter nobis dilectis statibus

omnium Ordinum Ducatus Electoralis Prussiæ.

     Ad Cæsareæ Aulæ Præfectum Dn. Principem de Porcia &

               Protestatio Residentis Polonici.

Illustrissime Exce. Domine ac Patrone Colendissime,

Cùm tot Domini dell'Isola machinationes, necessitatem imposuissent S. Reg. Majestati Domino meo Clementissimo, cujus effrenis contra Suam Majestatem ausus innocenter & modestè cohibendi, visum est S. Reg. Majestati conveniens, edocere S. Cæs. Majestatem de omnibus, accuratè etiam Literis contestari, Majestatem S. Regiam à Legato prædicto toties Cæsam, nihil amoris vel observantiæ remisisse erga Personam S. Cæs. Maj. et Augustissime Domus. Illud tamen S. Majestas Regia binis Literis vehementer flagitavit, quod et antehac ter frustra postulaverat, ut Aula Cæs. Ministrum tam odiosum ab Aula Regis Poloniarum removeret, alium quemcunque mitteret, amanter & honorifici excipiendum, et in omnibus S. Cæs. Majestas rationibus, peculiari S. Regiæ Majestatis favore promovendum. Non ita rectis oculis espexit Aule Cæsarea tam ingenuam, S. Regiæ Majestatis Domini mei Clementissimi, affectus contestationem, et æquissimam postulationem: sed Domini dell'Isola pravis præoccupata informationibus, ne responso quidem S. Regiam Majestatem est dignata, magnumque gravis inde diffidentiæ, præcubit argumentum. Protestor coram Exca. Vestra, Regem et Dominum meum Clementissimum nihil magis in votis habere, quàm illibatum erga se S. Cæs. Majestatis conservare affectum, et procul esse ab ea [catchword: cogitat]

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cogitationes omnes, rationibus S. Cæs. Majestatis contrarias. Regiam Majestatem debitum tot nominibus Candorem et amorem Augustissime Domui integerrimè servare, et ideò, ne quid molitionibus Domini dell'Isola inter Consanguineos Monarchas, sequiùs eveniat, Ministrum hunc nec tollerare ampliùs posse, nec velle: Alium, quemcunque S. Cæs. Majestas misserit, ita exceptura, ut inde eluceat, Ministri odium, amorem erga S. Cæs. Majestatem et Augustissimam Domum, nil omninò corrupisse. Hæc volue significare Excæ. Vestræ, ut sinistras opiniones eximerem, et genuinas S. Regiæ Majestatis Domini mei Clementissimi, innocuasque intentiones edocerem; illud etiam judicandum proponerem, Utrum conveniat Regem Consanguineum totus id rogantem, personâ Legati tam odiosa premi, ut eam à se Servitutem excutiat, id à S. Majestate extorqueri. Cæterùm felicissima cuncta Excæ. Vestræ apprecor, cum prolixa officiorum meorum consecratione. Viennæ 28. Iulij 1661. Ob insperatum in Poloniam abitum revocatus, his Excæ. Vestræ Valedico, ijusque favori me commendo.

               Addictiss: Amicus & Servus

                Sæ. Regiæ Majestatis Poloniæ Residens

               Vespasianus Lanchoronschus.

The Generall Summe of the Christian Forces against the Turke in Hungaria & Transylvania, is as followeth - Armada Prima vnder Montercuculi Horse & Foot 18800. The Second Armada vnder staraberg 8300. The third Armada called di Riserva Horse & Foot 14400. So that the Summa Summarum of these 3. Army's, excepting what remains in the Imperiall Guarrisons of his Hereditary & other Countries, amounts to 44800. In Croatia the Lord Zerini is to keepe vp an Army vnder Count Budiani of 24000. In the Kingdome of Croatia there is a Generall rising commaunded, & all the forces of vpper Hungaria are likewise summoned to bee in readines, vpon paine of confiscation all their goods. There comming lately an Expresse to the Emperor his Majesty rose presently from Table, beeing gone to Dinner, dispatching Orders to Montecuculi omni conatu to fall vpon the Arch-Enemy. Yesternight late were brought a Packet from Moscovia, with another from Prussia from the Imperiall Ambassador wherevpon a secret Councell was presently called. There are solemne Publique Prayers appointed by the Emperor & the Arch-Dukes of Austria, Leopold Wilhelm, & Charls Ioseph, which are to bee observed cum summa Devotione. They write from Franckford of the 25. of Aug. The Elector of Heidelberg hath retracted the Cloyster of Newburg, formerly given to his Lady ad dies vitæ: which is but an vggly Answer returned to the Elector of Brandenburg for his serious & most cordiall Intercession, which will breed noe good blood betweene them. What he will say to this affront (for it is noe better) Wee shall shortly know. Concernig that other Publique & very necessary Affaire of calling an Imperiall Dyet, there is yet noe resolution come from Vienna, which is not so well taken by the Elector of Mentz. For they will make vs believe, that the Emperor wants rather monies then men. They bragg of their great Army to consist of 51600 men; of these 10 thousand are said to lye in Guarrisons, the rest doe keepe the field; which is done to noe other purpose, but that the States of the Empire should bee disposed to assist rather with considerable Summes of Monies then men, of which they pretend to stand in greater need. As for the Swedish Designes, wee doe not feare what other states-men judge of them. For allthough they bee counted in their Musters about 28. thousand men; yet wee have experience, that but the third part of such Kind of mercenary forces are used to bee sent out of the Kingdome, the rest are dispersed or enquartered in severall places of Counties, that so the state may have in readines a good Army at home, vpon all emergent occasions. The Princes of Braunswig & wolfenbuttel, are resolved rather to stick to the Alliance made with other Princes, then to a Deputation-Dyet. Yet they are not vnwilling, if need bee to send to the Emperor the Confoederate Forces vnder their owne Generalls & Officers, which I would not have divulged, but kept as a secret. Another Letter from Franckford of the 28. of Aug. speakes as followeth - The Elector Palatin with the young Prince his Sonne, by reason of the infection broke out at Heidelberg, is gone to reside at Alzey, where lodgings also are præpared [catchword: for]

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for the Signora the Lady-Concubin: the Lady his true wife must only remaine at Heidelberg, nor dare shee remoove from thence, least shee should never bee admitted to returne to the said place; soe that she is kept noe better then a Prisoner. And yet rumours are caused to bee spread vp & downe, & Certificats or Attestata are forged & divulged, as if the Lady were kept according to her Degree, enjoying her full Liberty, & that she wanted nothing. The Crowne of Sweden is not so forward to wage Warr against the House of Austria, as many great states-men give out. For quæ Causa belli? quæ Necessitas? The states of the Empire hate an vnnecessary Warr as the Devill himselfe, they at last beeing made to pay for all. Nor is the Crowne of Fraunce so forward, as many are pleased to perswade themselves: for it is not their Interest. The Vice-Chancelour Wallendorf is gone to his owne Lands & Possessions, till he get new Orders & Instructions from the Court at Vienna.

               Amsterdam the 8. of Sept. 1661.

They write from Dantzigk the 24. of Aug. as followeth - The City of Thorn is now wholly freed from the Polonian Guarrison. The Citizens watch by turnes, till a certain number of Souldiers bee agreed vpon, which the said City is to maintaine. In Elbing the Guarrison is reduced to 200. men, the villages beeing made to contribute towards their maintainance. In the Castle at Marienburg there are but one hundred men remaining; so that in all the Regal part of Prussia there will very small & inconsiderable numbers bee kept vpon all occasions. All possible meanes are used to repaire the breaches made by the late Inundations of the two Werders, as that Tract of Lands is called. The Royall Oeconomy at Marienburg, that hath suffered so much by the fore-said great overflowings of water, is offered to bee sold jure Emphyteutico, with a Promise, that all shall bee confirmed for more security's sake, Publicâ Regni Constitutione, or an Act of Parliament. The Post Comitialis Assembly in the fore-said City is ended re infecta, the states of Prussia utterly refusing to pay the Generall Impost or Custome graunted by the last Parliament. The confoederate Army hath divided themselves into 3. Parts, towards Cracovia, & towards the Greater & Lesser Polonia. They are medling with noe other Revenues, but those that belong to the King & to the Clergy. The Nobility & Gentry are alltogether spared, neither are the Royall nor Episcopall otherwise taken, but vpon Account, & according to the late Act of Contribution agreed vpon in Parliament drawing Qvittances vpon the Lord Treasurer of the Crown, which is very præjudiciall, not only to the whole Crowne, but in a speciall manner also to his fore-said Lordship. Generall Lubomiersky is suspected secretly to joyne with them, & perhaps other Generalls in like manner. The Cossacks are pretty quiet & peaceable for the present. They are much weakened & impaired of late. The Tartars observe duly the late Confoederacy made with Poland. The truth is, they have not beene so well dealt with by the Muscovite; so that they like the better the entertainement which they have had from the Crowne of Poland, as long as they may not bee oppressed by the privat Nobles & other Gentlemen. The Polonians are bigg with hopes to make a good Agreement also with the Muscovite. Lord Smogolinsky is sent in a stately Ambassage with three hundred men to the Turkish Emperor. The Polonian Resident at Vienna is recalled, & is gone allready from the said Court, leaving behind him a sharp & expostulatorie Remonstrance. As soone as he is arrived, the Imperiall Resident Isola will bee sent packing from Warsovia. It is the Iudgment of wise & Good men, that the Kingdome of Poland must need's bee utterly vndone, by reason of their great animosities & manifold dissensions amongst themselves. They cannot & will not agree, how to obviat the severall dangers & confusions, that hang over their heads. The great Nobility spend their time in a proud & haughty security, & will lay nothing to heart. All manner of wickednes prevailes in the highest degree. It was never heard before, that during the last Parliament at Warsovia above 6. hundred men were murdered, & otherwise made away, of whom three hundred were [catchword: publickely]

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publickely executed. All kind of Sodomiticall Abominations are openly & commonly committed. All manner of Wantonnes, Gluttony, Drunkennes, Injustice, more than ever practised. The glorious Gospell, & the sincere Professors thereof grieviously persecuted; so that's justly feared, the judgments of Sodome & Gomorra will befall that wretched generation. The Lord shew mercy to his poore People amongst them. I should have told you, that allthough the Assembly at Marienburg was broken in pieces, in a great confusion; yet the Gentlemen declared at last, that the 1st of Sept. they would come together again. They are very averse, that any New Excise or Custom's should bee paid. Having written thus farr, wee receave fresher Letters from Warsovia, signifying that there are two Chiauxs arrived at the Court, one from the Turke, the other from the Tartar. The Turkish Proposalls are kept yet very privat; but the Tartarian Cham desireth, that the Polonians should joyne themselves with his Army against the Muscovite, otherwise they were resolved to take some other course. The Polonians doe except the time & place for the Treaty, which the Muscovites are to name. This Affaire seemes to goe on very slowly. The Prussian Treaty at Marienburg is to begin tomorrow. For ought I can heare, there is but little hope of their Agreement. For the states are utterly averse for paying the new Impost & Excise, out of which both the Elector of Brandenburg & the Army are to bee satisfied. They pretend that this course is mainly against their Priviledges, which will vndoe all Commerce & Traffique.

There is a new Impediment fall'n out for cleering the waters of the great Inundation, which are so deepe, that the Pales are not long enough to serve that purpose; so that the worke is yet in a very dangerous Condition to overflow again. We heare from Poland, that the Cossacks make themselves ready for a Warr, or rather a new Rebellion. And it is very strange, that the Tartarians are mainly urging, that the Polonian Soldatesca should by all meanes joyne themselves with them against Moscovia: otherwise they are resolved to take in hand a certain Designe, that should not much like them. The New's, by the way of Poland are, that after the formidable Turkish inroade into Transylvania, the German forces failing or disappointing the expectations of Kemenj Ianush, he hath beene forced to subject himselfe to the Turkish Powers.

Here (at Amsterdam) is little New's, but that Giftheyl, the famed old Prophet, that hath beene so often in England & with other Kings & Princes, fore-telling their Punishments is departed this world. A Great man, that was willing to believe the New's, told me, that the Portugal had fought with the Spaniard, & beaten him. The Fleet which is to goe to Sea from hence, is thought to bee to preserve the Spanish silver-Fleet, & to watch the English Fleet. A rumours is here, that the Earle of Sandwich & de Ruyter, should have fought at Sea: but I believe it not.

[right margin, another hand:] Cleue. 7. Sept 1661/