WE the vnited Protestant Princes Electors , & others &c. send gréeting with all obedience , offer of seruice , friendship , fauor , and grace first to the Romane Emperours Maiesty , our most gratious Lord and soueraigne , and to all other Christian Potentates , Electors , Princes , Prelates , Earles , Lords , Knights , Cities , Townes , and to euery man both within and without the Dominion and Country of Germany , of what estate , quality or condition soeuer they be , certifying the said Emperours royall Maiestie , and all and euery one of them , according to their estates and qualitie .

That although in this our natiue Countrey of Germany , by the consent and agréement of the head , and particular members thereof , many wholesome , good , and profitable ordinances , and among them also a common and religious peace is established ; and for the better obseruation and maintenance thereof hereafter , openly published and proclaimed : to this end specially , that , not onely iustice , as the foundation of good Gouernement , but also inward loue , peace , and vnity might be vpheld and maintained ; wherein the Emperors Maiestie , as well as all Princes Electors , Princes and members of the holy Empire , openly and faithfully promised and bound themselues together , That none of them , of what estate or quality soeuer they were , for any cause whatsoeuer : nor vpon any outward shew or ground that might be made or deuised , should or would make warre , trouble , molest , vex , robbe , spoile , ransacke , besiege , nor secretly conspire or make aliances or compacts against any others of the said State and holy Empire . And also that no man should by force of armes dispossesse , or violently take from any other , any of their possessions , hereditary or committed vnto them in custody , whether they be Townes , Castles , Villages , Churches , Cloysters , Cluysen , Tinsen , Reuenues , Tenths , moueable or vnmoueable goods , Royalties , Jurisdictions , Rights , Signeories , Lordships , Toles , Waters , Medowes , or any other their propertie and lawfull Dominions , none excepted : nor once moue nor stir their Tenants and Subiects to rise vp against them in armes , or to shew them any vnnaturall disobedience : But that euery man should suffer each other to enioy and possesse his owne peaceably and quietly , without any molestation or trouble , and by no meanes to endure that any man ( submitting himselfe to law and iustice ) should by force be put from his right , nor any wayes impeached in his honour , priuiledge and fréedome ( although there is sufficient prouision made by former lawes concerning the points aforesaid , against all those that shall in any wise whatsoeuer doe contrary to the same ) That then the townes of the holy Empire should ioyne together , and by force of armes ayd , assist , helpe , defend and maintaine the parties or Townes , &c. in their right , and withstand the violence and oppression , by such parties vsed , as seeke to doe contrary thereunto .

But for that within certaine yeares forepast ( as experience sufficiently sheweth ) such Statutes of the holy Empire ( which truely in themselues are very commendable , and made to a good end and purpose ) and especially the penalties therein set downe for the execution thereof , are partly hardly taken and misconstred , and partly obstinately and wilfully broken and not obserued : and that the parties grieued and oppressed are neyther aided , assisted , comforted nor relieued , how earnestly , submissiuely and publiquely soeuer they haue sued and complained : whereof hath ensued , that such oppressions and misdemeanours in the holy Empire , the longer , the more haue encreased : whereby vnlesse prouident care be specially had therein , ( if we should any longer wincke thereat , and by Gods helpe , by our Assemblies and méetings together , not take some good and spéedy orders to stay and preuent the same ) in the end certainely there would ensue an vtter ouerthrowing , and subuersion of all such wholesome Statutes and Ordinances , and of the common peace and tranquility of the holy Empire .

We therefore in the name of Almighty God , for the maintenance and aduancement of his godly Maiestie , the vpholding of iustice , and the furtherance of peace and vnity , haue already for certaine yeares vnited and ioyned our selues together , thereby to intertaine a greater , néerer and faithfuller combination and contract of friendshippe ; and that in no sort , nor by no meanes , to the hinderance or molestation of the Romane Emperours Maiestie , our most gratious Lord and Soueraigne , to whom we are lawfully bound to shew all dutifull and submissiue obedience , nor of any members of the Empire ( that shew themselues conformable vnto the Statutes and Ordinances aforesaid ) whereunto we all together , and euery one in particular , with all friendship , fauour , grace , and neighbourely good will are bound and obliged , nor also to any man in particular , and much lesse to the breaking of any of the Constitutions of the said holy Empire : but much rather for the maintenance thereof , and for the more assured vpholding of better peace , quietnesse and vnity , in such manner and forme , as the like contracts and combinations of amity haue heretofore beene made and obserued by our auncestors and forefathers of famous memory , in regard of the great loue and affection which they beare vnto their naturall Countrey .

Therefore wee most humbly require and beséech the Emperours Soueraigne Maiestie , and all other Kings , Princes , Electors , Lordes , Knights , &c. in generall , and euery one in particular , if it perchance ( as we vnderstand ) his Maiestie , or they should be already perswaded ( by the meanes and deuises of turbulent , enuious , and vnquiet persons ) or hereafter might be seduced to beléeue , that such our Assemblies and méetings , were made , done or tended to the contempt or dispising of the Imperiall Maiestie , or for the suppression of the Romish Religion , or specially for the disanulling , subuerting and present oppugning of ancient Iurisdictions , to the great hinderance of Knights and Gentlemen , to whome the benefite and properties thereof , haue vntill this time belonged and appertained : to take and draw them from them , and to put and turne them to their owne proper vses . That it would please them not to giue any credite vnto any such false and vntrue suggestions , and slaunderous calumniations ; but rather to assure themselues , that it is done by vs onely of méere and déere fidelity , loue , and affection to our natiue Country , and for the maintenance of a peaceable estate ; which ( if it pleaseth God ) wee will in time make knowne , and manifest to the world ; so that none that are or haue vnited themselues with vs , shall haue cause to dislike of our procéedings , but which is more , others both of the one and the other Religion shall haue cause , to vnite themselues with vs , that so all hurtfull distrust , hitherto had and entertained , may be taken away , and good and perfect vnity planted and vpholden .

But we cannot refraine , but must let the Emperours Maiestie , and all other Potentates Electors , Princes and States , both within and without the Land ; Vnderstand , and be aduertised , That it is manifestly and openly knowne vnto all men , how that after the death of the high and mighty Prince our friendly louing Vncle , cousin , brother in law , brother , and gossip of famous memorie , Iohn William , Duke of Gulick , Cleaue and Bergh , Earle vander Marcke , Rauensburgh and Moers , Baron of Rauensten , and Christmilder , in the right of the wiues of the Electors of Brandenburch , and the Palsgraue Philip Lodowicke , and of eyther of them by themselues : the temporall Possessions of all the aforesaid Duchies , Earledomes , and Baronies not clam or precario , but fréely , openly , and with the good wil of most of the Countries and Townes , is lawfully discended and fallen vnto them : and that with manifest protestation and Declaration by them made , that it is not done of couetousnesse or wrongfully to with-hold any man from being a Competitor therein if he hath any right thereunto , but that both the said heires protest , touching the same , eyther for any part , or for the whole in generall ; vnto euery man that will not desist from their claime : before an vnpartiall Iudge , and in such Townes and places , where the cause properly ( and according to the authority of the holy Empire , and specially of the Princes Electors ) belongeth to be heard , to yéeld good sufficient , and true reasons and answeres vnto them to maintaine their right ; and which is more , if néede be , to giue sufficient Cautio de iudicio sisti & iudicatum solui , to proue their cause . And therfore we altogether séeke to foresée and preuent that no man shall hinder nor molest them herein with vnlawfull power and forces , contrary to the Ordinances and Constitutions of the holy Empire .

All this notwithstanding , their protestations and lawfull right not once being considered nor respected , in the Emperours Court , and in the Emperours most Princely Maiesties Name and authority , it is euidently and earnestly practised and vndertaken de facto without due course of law and Iustice by power , and forcibly to dispossesse and vtterly to expell the said Princes , being lawfull heires thereunto , from the right and possession thereof . To the which end , not onely Leopoldus Arch-bishop of Austria , and Bishop of Stratsbourgh and Passauwe , suddenly and secretly first hath taken and entred into the town of Gulick , and the same hitherto holden and kept by force , but hath procéeded further , and seacute ; eketh to seaze vpon , and forcibly to hold certaine Gentlemens houses , vilages , and Schonses lying thereabouts , and to inuade other neighbour townes and places next adiacent , to kéepe the subiects thereof from their due obedience , and threatning the Princes Electors the right heires and possessours thereof as also all those , that with due obedience and fidelity submit themselues vnto them with the most vndeserued paine and punishment of contempt ( although in such a case neuer heard of before in the holy Empire ) if they resist him ; all to the end ( as it is manifestly made known and verified vnto vs ) That these Countries may be vnburthened , freed and cleansed ex faucibus hereticorum , as the States of the confession of Ausburg ( e diametro contrary to the religious peace ) are falsly called .

In regard therfore that our aforesaid brethren and members with their Adherents ( according to the force and power of the Lawes and Ordinances of the holy Empire , and for the peace of the Lawe ) haue desired ayde and assistance of vs , and therewithall protested , that their intent neuer was , nor yet is to oppose themselues against the most high and puissant Imperiall Maiesty , as being their gratious Lord and soueraigne Prince : And we diligently considering all the circumstances , cannot otherwise finde nor perceiue , but that they séeke and desire the accomplishing of the Ordinances and Imperiall Lawes of the holy Empire , as they themselues for the defence of their right , in a printed pamphlet haue sufficiently and truely declared : whereunto for breuitie sake we referre you . We cannot likewise thinke , imagine , nor once be perswaded , that the Emperours Imperiall Maiestie taketh any pleasure in , or is content to permit any such disorderly and vnlawful procéedings to haue their course against the said Princes ( specially being well enformed of the equity of the cause ) considering that their capitulation specifieth and containeth in it , that his Maiestie is bound in all cases and by all the meanes hée can , to maintaine ( not onely all the Princes Electors , but also all Princely members of the holy Empire , and all other Princes and States ) in their dignities , honours , rights , priuiledges , powers and forces , and to suffer them fréely to holde , possesse and inioy them , and for his owne part not to doe any thing to the contrary , nor yet to suffer nor endure the same to be done by any other whatsoeuer . And also if his Maiestie or any other whatsoeuer had any thing to say vnto the Princes Electors , Princes , and States aforesaid , or any intent to doe any such thing ; that ( to cease all vprores , contentions and other Controuersies in the holy Empire , to maintaine peace and vnity therein ) he should suffer and permit them altogether & euery one particularly , to be heard , and haue their causes adiudged before lawfull Iudges , and in open Courts of Law ; but by no means to permit them ( in any such or other causes , vnder any pretence , or any mans name whatsoeuer , whrein they may haue Iustice , and offer and submit themselues thereunto ) to be robbed , taken , ransomd , burnt , fought withall , besieged , exposed , or in any waies ouer-run , spoiled and forcibly handled .

Therefore we haue thought it our dueties , according to the faiths and fidelities , whereby one Territorie ( in such like case ) is bound and obliged to another , and by the force and power of the foresaid Ordinances of the holy Empire , to aide and assist our brèthren and fellow members as obedient Princes Electors of the Empire : but in no other maner , but that euery one may lawfully procéede in his right , touching the principall matter without hinderance , and that they procéede not vnduely with vnlawfull power , against the aforesaid capitulation and Ordinances of the Empire , but that they may be suffered peaceably in their possession , and to enioy the benefite of the Law , for the due procéeding therein , as also without it ( according to all equity ) they ought to haue .