Report and Answer to the Bavarian-Anhalt Secret Chancellery

to seek various Vicars The Imperial Vicars were princes who governed the Holy Roman Empire during an interregnum—the period between the death of an Emperor and the election of a successor.. The compiler should know, however, that there are not only three, but four Vicariates in the Empire. For Maximilian I conferred upon his son Philip, original Latin: tanquam Principi Belgii as Prince of the Netherlands, the Imperial Vicariate original Latin: Vicariatum Imperii original Latin: in partibus Frisiæ in the regions of Friesland, as can be read in the Political Treasury printed in octavo in Milan, in Italian, in the "Account of Flanders." As to how the granting of this Vicariate was handled at that time, and whether it occurred with the knowledge and consent of the Estates of the Empire, and what the current understanding of it is—one would very much like to learn and hear this from the compiler.

On page 41, the compiler arrives at the Bohemian and Roman Crowns, and the manner in which they were offered to the well-known potentate Frederick V, the Elector Palatine. Regarding this, he points to many places—especially on page 68, the mission and journey of Prince Christian of Anhalt to the said potentate; on page 69, a memorial; and on pages 94 and 98, a protocol and various excerpts from it. With these, he supposedly intends to prove that they allowed themselves to desire the transfer of the Empire and Kingdom (page 43, the section "What Christopher," and page 50, the section "From this" etc.) The etc. here appears as "re." in the original, a common early modern shorthand for 'remain' or 'the rest' and to plot all sorts of things against the Imperial Constitutions.

But the impartial reader, upon diligent examination of all the instructions, memorials, protocols, etc. cited by the compiler on these points, will find that in the treaty with the well-known potentate, the Electoral Palatinate the territory and government of the Elector Palatine primarily looked to four things, and expressly stipulated them for his own honor and protection.

First, to prevent a hereditary succession original Latin: successionem hæreditariam in the Empire (page 69, at the end).

Second, that the point regarding the Roman Crown was explicitly raised original Latin: ob causam vacationis Imperii because of the vacancy of the Empire and the original Latin: occasionem novæ electionis occasion of a new election, as seen on page 69 at the end; also on page 113, the section "It is further" etc. where it expressly states: "Upon the death of Emperor Matthias" etc.

Third, that the Palatinate wished to reserve a free vote original Latin: votum liberum until such an occasion arose (page 70).

Fourth, that the Palatinate wanted primarily to look to the Electoral Oath original Latin: juramentum Electorale and help propose and elect the person who would be most useful to the entire Empire for the preservation of its liberty and authority (page 70).

No matter how odious and outrageous one tries to make this treaty, these four described circumstances and reservations will be enough to excuse and represent the Elector Palatine to all impartial people, both within and outside the Empire. For what can the compiler, or anyone else, reply or criticize regarding this? Is not the first point beyond all controversy? Is not hereditary succession in the Empire a loathsome and intolerable thing? Is it not expressly forbidden in the Imperial Capitulation the formal agreement between the Emperor and the Electors, defining the Emperor's powers and the rights of the Estates?