Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/239

 The Thirty Years' War 20I Roman Empire, to rouse the several governments against their subjects and vice 7'ersa, and to check and suppress our true Christian religion and bring it back into the condition and contempt in which it was before the establishment of the religious and secular peace. We know, however, that his Reman Imperial Majesty [Rudolf II] and the peace-loving Catholic estates, with their Christian and loyal German feelings, have no pleasure in the dangerous practices of the Jesuits and their adherents. . . . Moreover, since the nature and character of the Jesuits and their followers are as notorious among Catholics as among Protestants, and since what they have been up to in Sweden, Poland, France, the Netherlands, and, recently, in Italy, is well known, they should be estimated accord- ingly and precautions taken against their dangerous plots. An English historian of the time, Rushworth, thus describes the opening of the Thirty Years' War. James I of England was deeply interested in 1618 in negotiating a marriage between his son and heir, Charles, and a Spanish princess. Whilst Spain and England were thus closing, the fire 293. An brake out in Germany between the states and princes En S lish -^ 1, , r. • m. • view °f the Protestant and the house of Austria. These commotions openin g f involved and drew along the affairs of most Christian the war. princes, especially of the two potent kings now in treaty. * r0 ™. us The Catholic cause and the lot of the house of Austria engaged the king of Spain, who was the strongest branch of that stock. King James must needs be drawn in, both by common and particular interest : the religion which he professed and the state of his son-in-law, the elector pala- tine, who became the principal part of those wars and the most unfortunate. It was an high business to the whole Christian world, and the issue of it had main dependence upon the king of England, being the mightiest prince of the Protestant profession. But this king's proceedings were wholly governed by the unhappy Spanish treaty.