Folio 172. Kurzer Bericht', i.e. Brief account, of the nature of the constitutional...

Folio 172. Kurzer Bericht', i.e. Brief account, of the nature of the constitutional dissent within the circle of Upper Rhine 'ratione condirectorii'. Traces the origin of the conflict to the accession of the house of Pfalz-Neuburg [Roman Catholic] to the electorate palatine after the extinction [in 1685] of the house of Pfalz-Simmern [Lutheran Protestant] whilst since the Reformation religious parity had prevailed in the circle directorate and in the filling of circle offices; no convention has been called since 1655 and lately the directorate, led by two Roman Catholic princes, had made no attempt to restore the former parity. At this Hessen-Cassel and the Protestant estates aligned with it had taken umbrage. Yet it was, in these days of incessant war against France, the dearly paid-for 'unions alliance' between Catholic and Protestant principalities and other estates, approved of by the Emperor, which secured the defence of the Middle Rhine and saved Coblenz and Rheinfels and made possible the 'recuperation' of Mayence and Bonn. As despite that, no amicable settlement seemed possible, the landgrave of Hessen-Cassel had written to the bishop of Worms and the elector palatine asking them, since there was no 'periculum in mora' to agree to differ 'amore publici' and to postpone the general circle convention [of Upper Rhine] until a more 'convenable' time and observe the status quo. He has, moreover, offered to mediate with the other Protestant estates to do likewise and instructed his envoy at the imperial court to ask the Emperor to intercede with the princely directors of the circle. Endorsed by Stepney 'Information concerning the director [sic] of ye circle of Upper Rhine'.

Date and Place: 1697 no date [?Jan]; no place [Frankfurt]