I, PfalzGraf Jüng, sometime prime minister to the Arch-Dukes of Austria, come now with a message for the crowned heads of Europe:
First, the official response from Ferdinand Habsburg, Arch-Duke of Austria, etc., to the proposal received from the Markgraf Brandenburg for peace:
"Austria rejects this outrageous peace proposal utterly. Our troops are preparing for swift response to the unwarranted aggression by the heretic forces of Brandenburg and Sweden, whose true colors we now see. Gustav Adolf will not last long under the onslaught of our commanders and our Holy troops!"
Now, I must apologize as to the delay in bringing you this message. However, I believe the rulers of Europe should know that not all the Arch-Dukes of Austria support the zealous approach of Ferdinand to Catholic-Protestant relations. There are a substantial number of members of the family who believe that tolerance of religious dissent is the only way to a strong Christian society, especially given that the infidel Turks remain unmolested in their strongholds and in control of the Holy Land. These family members understand the Markgraf's unhappiness over the bold grab of Magdeburg and Sachsen, and would prefer to assuage his pique rather than play a game of tit-for-tat.
Indeed, this message has been delayed in large part because there rages in Wien and in Wiener Neustadt a fierce battle for control of the foreign policy of the state. It is quite unclear, I am afraid, exactly who will win this battle.
So, as the titular Prime Minister, and with the blessing of a majority of a rump meeting of the ruling nobles, I would like to see if some agreement can be reached that will be acceptable to those who would tip the balance in the battle for control. Specifically, I offer two options:
1. Austria accepts the proposed peace resolution of three provinces ceded to Brandenburg, in which case, I should advise that no lasting agreement will be forthcoming regarding future aggression between the two powers, as the yielding of Silesia, however reasonable in light of its religious tendencies, will be seen as requiring a future effort to regain the patrimony of the Bohemian realm.
2. Austria could offer instead the return of the wrongly taken provinces of Magdeburg and Sachsen, plus a payment of indemnity in the amount of 750 ducats, and a binding agreement between Austria and Brandenburg not to attack each other for a period of not less than 100 years. In addition, Austria would guarantee the religious freedom of the provinces of Silesia, Bohemia and Mainz, making no effort to convert said provinces to the practice of Catholicism as set forth by the Papacy.
To the Markgraf, I offer the hope that he can understand the delicate nature of the present situation. An insistence by our neighbors to the north on taking lands more than those taken from him in the prior war will most certainly strengthen the hands of Ferdinand and the Catholic reactionaries. I can forseen in such circumstance nothing but endless war, back and forth, to the detriment of both our nations, though I remain confident such a cycle would eventually work to the favor of the Habsburgs. By the same token, a patient and tolerant approach from the Markgraf would most likely result in the removal of Ferdinand from day-to-day control of affairs of state and allow for a rapproachment of our two countries.
I await the answer of Brandenburg. Once again, my apologies for the unsettled nature of Austrian affairs.
