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A Letter From a Gentleman in Transilvania to his Friend in America - 7

added, that those of the Emperors’ Religion had behav’d in such a cold indifferent manner (a few in Weissenburg excepted) as plainly made it appear that they were as well affected to the Emperor as himself;---that their principles in Religion and the maxims by which they and their Ancestors were govern’d for one Thousand years, were peculiarly adapted to support the Emperial Family;-----that these things being consider’d, he cou’d not expect their firm attachment to his person, or their general concurrence to his measures; and therefore in good policy they ought not to be trusted at such a criminal conjuncture. He therefore desir’d the Council to to give their opinions, whether any other Sect was to be trusted as Magistrates in the Government, besides the Piss--brute-tarians, a Sect whose principles have ever been diametrically opposite to Monarchy; and not only * sworn Enemies to the Emperial Family, but murder’d one of their Emperors before his own palace; and have always been the foremost in all the Rebellions that have been rais’d against his Successors ever since. He also said, that there was a few of his Enemies, who have dared publickly to espouse the Emperor’s cause, and whom he “mark’d” out for punishment; he wish’d it cou’d be with the Loss of their heads, instead of their Commissions. The Enemies were Pottonius, Paulinus, Mortonus, and Trumponius, the last he was somewhat sorry for, as he suppos’d his Ancestors were great Musicians; for they had taken a name, to perpetuate their posterity, by which, some Nations call a Jews-Harp.

*This has reference to their solemn League and Covenant.

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