270 LETTERS FROM STEPHENS. 



majesty will graciously consider how easy it is for me 

 to mistake, or not to attain, which his majesty in his 

 wisdom will pardon, correct, and direct. 



For that part touching the elections, I have communi 

 cated it with my colleagues, Sir Edward Coke, the two chief 



any good office or royal endeavour, for the quenching of the sparks of troubles 

 and discords in foreign parts. Wherein, as we have been always ready and willing, 

 so we wish that we had been always as happy and prevailing in our advices and 

 counsels that tended to that end. 



And yet do we not forget that God hath put into our hands a sceptre over 

 populous and warlike nations, which might have moved us to second the affec 

 tion and disposition of our people, and to have wrought upon it, for our own 

 ambition, if we had been so minded. But it hath sufficed unto us to seek a true 

 and not swelling greatness in the plantations and improvements of such part of 

 our dominions as have in former times been more desolate or uncivil, and in the 

 maintaining of all our loving subjects in general, in tranquillity and security, 

 and the other conditions of good government and happy times. But amongst 

 other demonstrations of our constant purpose and provident care to maintain 

 peace, there was never such a trial, nor so apparent to the world (as in a 

 theatre) as our persisting in the same resolution, since the time that our dear 

 son-in-law was elected and accepted king of Bohemia ; by how much the mo 

 tives tending to shake and assail our said resolution were the more forcible. 

 For neither did the glory of having our dearest daughter and son-in-law to wear 

 a crown, nor the extreme alacrity of our people devoted to that cause, nor the 

 representations, which might be set before us of dangers, (if we should suffer a 

 party in Christendom, held commonly adverse and ill affected to our state and 

 government, to gather further reputation and strength) transport us to enter into 

 an auxiliary war in prosecution of that quarrel : but contrariwise finding the justice 

 of the cause not so clear as that we could be presently therein satisfied, and weigh 

 ing with ourselves likewise, that if the kingdom of Bohemia had continued in the 

 house of Austria ; yet, nevertheless, the balance of Christendom had stood in no 

 other sort than it had done for many years before without increase of party ; and 

 chiefly fearing that the wars in those parts of Germany, which have been hitherto 

 the bulwark of Christendom against the approaches of the Turk might, by the 

 intestine dissensions, allure and let in the common enemy, we did abstain to 

 declare, or engage ourselves in that war, and were contented only to give per 

 mission to the ambassador of our son-in-law, to draw some voluntary helps of 

 men and money from our subjects, being a matter that violated no treaty, and 

 could not be denied in case of so near a conjunction. 



But, while we contained ourselves in this moderation, we find the event of war 

 hath much altered the case, by the late invasion of the Palatinate, whereby 

 (howsoever under the pretence of a diversion) we find our son, in fact, expulsed 

 in part, and in danger to be totally dispossessed of his ancient inheritance and 

 patrimony, so long continued in that noble line ; whereof we cannot but highly 

 resent, if it should be alienated and ravished from him in our times, and to the 

 prejudice of our grandchildren and line royal. Neither can we think it safe, for 

 us in reason of state, that the county Palatine, carrying with itself an electorate, 

 and having been so long in the hands of princes of our religion, and no way de 

 pending upon the house of Austria, should now become at the disposing of that 

 house ; being a matter, that indeed might alter the balance of Christendom im 

 portantly, to the weakening of our state, and the estate of our best friends and 

 confederates. 



Wherefore, finding a concurrence of reasons and respects of religion, nature, 

 honour, and estate, all of them inducing us in no wise to endure so great an 

 alteration, we are resolved to employ the uttermost of our forces and means to 

 recover and resettle the said Palatinate to our son and our descendants, purposing 

 nevertheless, according to our former inclination so well grounded, not altogether 



