Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

murder them, as he had before given orders, but that we should by fair means, or force, convert them to the Catholick religion; to which end he gave us his dragoons to be at our devotion and service, that we might use them as we saw convenient, to convert them to the true religion. Now, when we had got the commission, we presently put it in practice, and, what the issue of it hath been, you very well know. But, now in England, the work cannot be done after this manner, as you may perceive by what I have said to you; so that I cannot give you better counsel, than to take that course in hand wherein we were so unhappily prevented; and I doubt not, but that it may have better success with you than with us.

I would write to you of many other things, but that I fear I have already detained you too long; wherefore I shall write ne more at present, but that I am

Paris, July 8th,

Your friend and servant,

LA CHAISE.

1688.

THE CAUSES AND MANNER OF DEPOSING

POPISH KING IN SWEDEN,

TRULY DESCRIBED.

London, printed for R. Baldwin in the Old Baily, 1688. Folio, containing two Pages.

GUSTAVUS

USTAVUS Ericson King of Sweden, having settled the reformed religion in Sweden, and reigned thirty-eight years, left his kingdom to his son Erick, who, for his cruelty and ill government,_was deposed, and his whole line exhereditated, to make way for John Duke of Finland, his younger brother.

John had a son, called Sigismond, who being secretly bred up in the Romish religion by his mother, who was of the Sagellonian royal family of Poland, was, in his father's time, elected king of Poland.

The said King John had also a younger brother, called Charles Duke of Sudermania, Nericia, &c. and a younger son of his own name, called, Duke of Ostrogothia.

King John died in the year 1592, in the absence of King Sigismond, his eldest son; during which, Charles, Duke of Sudermania, his uncle, at the desire of the States, took upon him the government : but sent to invite his nephew Sigismond, to come and take possession of his native kingdom, as soon as might be promising in the mean

[blocks in formation]

time, to keep all quiet, and intimating, that he hoped his majesty, when in possession, would maintain all in the true religion and divine worship, and preserve the laws of Sweden.

At the end of the year he arrived in Sweden, having in his company Francesco Malespina the Pope's legate, who hindered him long from consenting to any security, either for religion or property; but finding the coronation would be obstructed without that, he gave way, as baving yet, as the historian says, one starting-hole remaining, which was, that faith was not to be kept towards hereticks. In the mean time, he himself would have crowned the king in the cathedral at Upsal, but was opposed by the Archbishop of Upsal, whose right it was, even if that kingdom had been Popish.

The coronation being over, which had been delayed above a year, during which time, several secret attempts had been made upon Charles, Duke of Sudermania, to make him away, King Sigismond, contrary to his coronation oath, erected a Popish church in the capi tal city made a great man of his religion, governor of the castle of Stockholm, in which the records of the chancery, and the arms and ammunition of the kingdom were kept, and in the port, were the best part of the royal navy, under command of the castle.

A certain Jesuit, called Adam Steinhall, obtained the Arcentian temple, and the Queen's island, with the Vastheman monastery, which was presently filled with Romish priests.

Sigismond, also by his followers and attendants, continually af. fronted the established religion, and was sending into Poland, for a body of forces, able to subdue the kingdom, upon which discontent. ments grew so high, that he hastily withdrew thither himself.

He left Sweden in confusion, having only for form's sake, writ to his uncle Charles, to assume the administration jointly with the senate but, at the same time, leaving others with greater power, both in Sweden and Finland, as appeared when he was gone.

Charles, Duke of Sudermania, to avoid discord and confusion, called a convention at Sudertopia, which was opened with an oath of állegiance to King Sigismond, and did likewise assert the kingdom's right, to have the coronation oath performed; which having been violated in the tender point of religion, they redressed the grievance, and suppressed the exercise of the Romish religion, banishing all priests and preachers of the same, and the ancient incumbents of the Vastheman monastery were restored.

Then they desired the Duke Charles, to accept of the administration, for the good of the kingdom, which he did. Then began a treaty between Sigismond, and the convention, with Duke Charles at the head of it, which was by Sigismond spun out, and obstructed with much artifice; at length the convention made several decrees for security of religion and property, and entered into an association, for the defence of them, which they desired the king to confirm, and gave six weeks time to all that dissented, to submit, on pain of being declared enemies to the publick peace.

They invited him home, to return in a peaceable manner, and settle the other affairs of his native kingdom; but instead of that, he invaded them with an army of eight-thousand horse and foot, and ♣

hundred sail, to which several Swedes joined themselves, whom he had gained with money.

An agreement was endeavoured, and, after much intercourse of negotiation, both armies being near one another, it was consented to on both sides, that twelve of the nobility of each side should meet and decide the whole controversy. But by the persuasion of the Jesuits, the royal army in the night, conducted by Weyerus, set upon the ducal camp; in which onset, several thousands were slain, but at last the king and all his army had been cut off, had they not called out for peace, which the duke yet hearkened to.

An agreement followed, in which the king demanded to be supa plied with a navy to go to Stockholm, promising there to call an assembly of the States; but he no sooner had the shipping, but he sailed away for Calmar, in which place he left a garison of foreigners, and then continued his voyage to Dantzick.

The king being gone, an assembly of the States met at Stockholm, where they declared King Sigismond fallen from the crown and government, and were so inclined to continue the succession, that they offered to receive his son, Prince Vladislaus, provided he might be sent home, bred up a Protestant, and committed to the guardianship of Duke Charles, but Sigismond refused it.

Afterwards another parliament met at Lincopia, and there they first did expresly renounce King Sigismond, and his government, as

also his laws.

Then they acknowledged Duke Charles of Sudermania, for their lawful king, and after him settled the crown upon his son Gustavus Adolphus, and his heirs male.

Duke John concurred with the parliament, and renounced his pretence to the crown, and was content to come in after the line of Duke Charles.

The daughter and sister of Sigismond were also rejected.

Then followed the coronation of King Charles, in the year 1607, by the name of Charles the Ninth.

These were the proceedings in Sweden, whereupon I shall only make these few short reflexions:

I. That the Swedes were desirous, to the last degree, to preserve the succession, according to one part of the laws of the kingdom, provided that might be done, without overturning all the rest; they were wise enough to preserve laws, while laws preserved the nation, which is the true end of all laws, but no longer.

II. That King Sigismond, according to the spirit of his religion, where ever it is grown up to bigotry, broke through his oaths, and all rules of justice and morality, when they crossed the insatiable ambition of his priests.

III. That though the Swedes, when they found that they could not keep their king, his direct heirs, their religion and liberties, all together, resolved to part with the former, they were forced to be very cautious, and endeavour to gain time by treaties, to unite themselves against Sigismond, who had Poland and several allies to back him; without which considerations, the prudence, they shewed

on this affair, may assure us, they would not have suffered the government in so loose a posture, so long as they did.

IV. That the Swedes knowing, that it is impossible on any occa sion, that all men should be of the same mind, wisely ordained, that the minor part should submit to the major, or be declared enemies to the publick peace. And sure this example will be followed, where-ever reasonable and disinterested men meet on the like occasions; for sure no body can deny, but that it is better for any nation, that some laws should be made, and others broken, against the opinion of the minor part, than that all laws, morality, and good nature, should give place to passion, injustice, and cruelty, through their obstinacy.

Now may God Almighty open the eyes of all Englishmen to see, and their hearts to embrace this truth.

THE

LAST WILL OF GEORGE FOX,

THE QUAKERS GREAT APOSTLE,

AS IT WAS ALL WRITTEN BY HIS OWN HAND,

AND IS

NOW LYING IN THE PREROGATIVE-OFFICE,

BY DOCTORS-COMMONS, LONDON;

Attested by three eminent Quakers, whose Names are undermen tioned: With a Copy of the Administration in Latin, taken out of the said Office, signed by Thomas Wellham, Deputy-Register, containing two columns; that on the left-hand, being the Ori ginal, in his false English and Spelling; the other, on the righthand, put into true English, the Original being unintelligible. Published to convince the World, That he who made this Will, and could not write one Line of true English (and yet pretended high Skill in the Learned Languages, witness his Battledoor, and Primer to the two Universities; who said, in his Battledoor, All Languages were no more to me than Dust, who was, before Languages were') is not the Author of any one Page in all those Books, which the Quakers have impudently published under his Name. Printed on a Broad-side

E Registro Curiæ Prærogative
Cant. Extract.

*1. J

DOE give to Thomas Lover

[ocr errors]

A Copy of the Will of George Fox, in true English, the Ori ginal being unintelligible.

my sadell, the ar at Jhon Nel. I Do give to Thomas Lower my

sons, and bridall, and sporg and bootes, inward letherethd, and the

saddle and bridle, they are at John Elson's, and spurs and

• Endorsed on the first paper, numb. 1, for Thomas Lover, this.

Newingland Indan Bible, and my great book of the signifing of names, and my book of the New Testement of eight langves; and all my fisekall things, that came from beyand the seay, with the ovt landesh cvp, and that thing that people doe give glisters with, and my tov diales, the one is an eknocksa diall.

And all my over pvesh bookes to be devided amovng my 4 sones in law; and also all my other bookes, and my hamack, I doe give to Thomas Lover, that is, at Bengamin Antrvbvs his closet, and Rachall may take that which is at Swarthmor.

And Thomas Lover may have my walnvt eqvnockshall diall, and if he can, he may geet one cut by it, which will be hard to doe; and hee shall have one of my prosspect glaseses in my trovnk at London, and a pare of my gloveses, and my seale G. F. and the flaming sword to Nat. Mead, and my other 2 seales J. Rose, the other Dan Abraham.

And Thomas Lover shall have my Spanesh lether hyd, G. F. And S. Mead shall have my magnifing glas, and the torkellshell com and cace.

*II. And all that I have writ. ten, consaring what I doe give to my relashons, ether mony or other waes, Jhon Loft may put it up in my tronke at Jhon El. sones, and wright all things downe in a paper, and make a paper out of all my papers, how I have orderd things for them; and Jhon Loft may send all things dovn by Povelesworth carrer, in the trovnke, to Jhon Fox, at Povelesworth in Waricksher; and let John Fox send John Loft

boots, inward leathers, and the New England Indian Bible, and my great book of the signifying of names, and my book of the New Testament of eight lan. guages; and all my physical things, that came from beyond the sea, with the outlandish cup, and that thing that people do give clysters with, and my two dials, the one is an equinoctial dial; and all my overplus books to be divided among my four sons-in-law: and also all my other books, and my hammock, I do give to Thomas Lower, that is at Benjamin Antrobus's closet; and Rachel may take that which is at Swarthmore; and Thomas may have my walnut-equinoctial dial, and if he can, he may get one cut by it, which will be hard to do; and he shall have one of my prospect glasses, in my trunk at London, and a pair of my gloves, and my seal, G. F. And the flaming sword to Nath. Mead, and my other two seals, J. Rouse, and the other, Daniel Abraham; and Thomas Lower shall have my Spanish leather hood, and S. Mead shall have my magnifying glass, and the tortoiseshell comb and case, G. F.

And all that I have written concerning what I do give to my relations, either money, or other. ways, John Loft may put it up in my trunk at John Elson's, and write all things down in a paper, and make a paper out of all my papers, how I have ordered things for them; and John Loft may send all things down by Poulsworth carrier, in the trunk, to John Fox, at Pouls worth, in Warwickshire; and let John Fox send John Loft a full

On the second, numb 9. This is to be put up among George Fox's sealed up papers, that pacquet that Sarah Mead hath.

« AnteriorContinuar »