Report and Answer to the Bavarian-Anhalt Secret Chancellery

offered; and does not every Roman Emperor bind himself with hand, seal, and oath, never and in no way to strive for the same? Who would also, regarding the second point, wish to deprive the Elector Palatine or any other Elector of the right original: jus and power, such that it should not be permitted for him, in the event of a vacancy in the Empire original: in casum vacantis Imperii; referring to an interregnum between emperors, to consider a capable successor who is useful to the Empire, even while the Emperor is still living original: etiam vivo Cæsare, and to hold conferences about it? Where is this forbidden to an Elector in the Golden Bull The Golden Bull of 1356 was the fundamental "constitution" of the Holy Roman Empire, detailing how emperors were chosen. or in any other Imperial Constitution? Elector Augustus of Saxony had no hesitation in holding communications and conferences regarding the election of a successor original: super electione successoris with a Prince of the Empire who was not an Elector, while Emperor Ferdinand was still alive original: vivo Cæsare Ferdinando. Indeed, in the instructions given to Doctor Kramb, a Professor at Leipzig, regarding this point, this prerogative of the Electors is explicitly called the "single jewel" remaining from the meager ancient liberty.

And in truth, it would look strange and cause bad consequences if the Emperors and the Princes of the House of Austria The Habsburg dynasty were allowed (as the Compiler suggests in his defense regarding several intercepted letters) to apply themselves and work to keep the Roman Crown within their House—which to some extent looks as if it might run contrary to the Imperial Capitulation The Wahlkapitulation was a written agreement a candidate for Emperor had to sign before election, limiting his powers and protecting the rights of the Princes.. But should an Elector and pillar of the Empire original: Electori & columnæ Imperii, who is obliged by his duty to watch over the freedom of the Empire and the Estates, be forbidden from reflecting upon a vacancy of the Empire original: in casum vacantis Imperii and holding conferences on how to preserve the free election—the highest jewel of the Empire—and to prevent a hereditary succession original: hæreditaria successio?

Concerning the third and fourth points, neither the Compiler nor anyone else can rightfully bring anything against them, as they are entirely consistent with the Golden Bull and the Electoral oath original: juramento Electorali. And it should be noted here that the Elector Palatine had all the more reason for this disclosure to the Lord of S. because Archduke Maximilian, in his opinion regarding the succession in the Empire dated at Prague on February 16, 1616, moves that Emperor Matthias should endeavor to have the Electors grant the succession during His Imperial Majesty’s lifetime; however, so that in every way the designation The nomination of a successor remains reserved to His Imperial Majesty, while preserving the right of election original: salvâ electione. It is easy to judge what kind of introduction and precedent original: præjudicium that would be. For firstly, the way is thereby paved for a hereditary succession, since it is well to consider...