Folio 149. The deputies of some of the Protestant princes and other estates of the...

Folio 149. The deputies of some of the Protestant princes and other estates of the circle of Upper Rhine, i.e. of the landgraves of Hessen-Darmstadt and Hessen-Cassel, of the city of Frankfurt, and of the counts of Pfalz-Zweybrücken and Veldenz, to the delegates ofthe circle writ office in Frankfurt assembled. Explain their principals' attitude towards the circle convention and give their reasons for their non-attendance. Refer to their appearance at the session of Dec 5 [1696] at the 'Römer' [town hall] when they asked that § 12 of the Proponenda dealing with the 'condirectorium' be brought forward and settled first, but were told that the remainder of the delegates had no leave or instruction to treat of the matter except informally and privatim and that they could not 'invent' the order of the agenda. Complain about the arrogance of the court-chancellor of the elector of the Rhine palatinate [Francis Melchior baron Wieser] who voiced the uncompromising views of his principal; all of which they found so unconstitutional that they saw no purpose in further attendance. State their principals' opposition to the nomination by the five other associated circles of a general officer ('Creyss General'), under whose command, as the other delegates should know, the landgraves would never place their troops, neither could they see why beyond the maintenance of their own seasoned territorial troops they should be burdened by furnishing additional contingents. Express their doubts about the delegates of the attending Protestant estates being representative of the Protestant faction, particularly since so many of their fellow powers could not attend and vote as they were now in enemy-occupied circle territory.

Date and Place: 1697 Feb 11/21 Frankfurt