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Law-ref.org | TREATY OF WESTPHALIA |
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... That those of the Confession of Augsburg, and
particularly the Inhabitants of Oppenheim, shall be put in possession again
of their Churches, and Ecclesiastical Estates, as they were in the Year
1624. as also that all others of the said Confession of Augsburg, who shall
demand it, shall have the free Exercise of their Religion, as well in publick
Churches at the appointed Hours, as in private in their own Houses, or
in others chosen for this purpose by their Ministers, or by those of their
Neighbours, preaching the Word of God. ...
... And since for the greater Tranquillity of the
Empire, in its general Assemblys of Peace, a certain Agreement has been
made between the Emperor, Princes and States .of the Empire, which has
been inserted in the Instrument and Treaty of Peace, concluded with the
Plenipotentiarys of the Queen and Crown of Swedeland, touching the Differences
about Ecclesiastical Lands, and the Liberty of the Exercise of Religion;
it has been found expedient to confirm,and ratify it by this present Treaty,
in the same manner as the abovesaid Agreement has been made with the said
Crown of Swedeland; also with those call’d the Reformed, in the same manner,
as
if the words of the abovesaid Instrument were reported here verbatim. ...
... The most Christian King shall, nevertheless, be
oblig’d to preserve in all and every one of these Countrys the Catholick
Religion, as maintain’d under the Princes of Austria, and to abolish all
Innovations crept in during the War. ...
... If any of those who are to have something restor’d
to them, suppose that the Emperor’s Commissarys are necessary to be present
at the Execution of some Restitution (which is left to their Choice) they
shall have them. In which case, that the effect of the things agreed on
may be the less hinder’d, it shall be permitted as well to those who restore,
as to those to whom Restitution is to be made, to nominate two or three
Commissarys immediately after the signing of the Peace, of whom his Imperial
Majesty shall chuse two, one of each Religion, and one of each Party, whom
he shall injoin to accomplish without delay all that which ought to be
done by virtue of this present Treaty. If the Restorers have neglected
to nominate Commissioners, his Imperial Majesty shall chuse one or two
as he shall think fit (observing, nevertheless, in all cases the difference
of Religion, that an equal number be put on each side) from among those
whom the Party, to which somewhat is to be restor’d, shall have nominated,
to whom he shall commit the Commission of executing it, notwithstanding
all Exceptions made to the contrary; and for those who pretend to Restitutions,
they are to intimate to the Restorers the Tenour of these Articles immediately
after the Conclusion of the Peace. ...
... If any of those who are to have something restor’d
to them, suppose that the Emperor’s Commissarys are necessary to be present
at the Execution of some Restitution (which is left to their Choice) they
shall have them. In which case, that the effect of the things agreed on
may be the less hinder’d, it shall be permitted as well to those who restore,
as to those to whom Restitution is to be made, to nominate two or three
Commissarys immediately after the signing of the Peace, of whom his Imperial
Majesty shall chuse two, one of each Religion, and one of each Party, whom
he shall injoin to accomplish without delay all that which ought to be
done by virtue of this present Treaty. If the Restorers have neglected
to nominate Commissioners, his Imperial Majesty shall chuse one or two
as he shall think fit (observing, nevertheless, in all cases the difference
of Religion, that an equal number be put on each side) from among those
whom the Party, to which somewhat is to be restor’d, shall have nominated,
to whom he shall commit the Commission of executing it, notwithstanding
all Exceptions made to the contrary; and for those who pretend to Restitutions,
they are to intimate to the Restorers the Tenour of these Articles immediately
after the Conclusion of the Peace. ...
... That it never shall be alledg’d, allow’d, or admitted,
that any Canonical or Civil Law, any general or particular Decrees of Councils,
any Privileges, any Indulgences, any Edicts, any Commissions, Inhibitions,
Mandates, Decrees, Rescripts, Suspensions of Law, Judgments pronounc’d
at any time, Adjudications, Capitulations of the Emperor, and other Rules
and Exceptions of Religious Orders, past or future Protestations, Contradictions,
Appeals, Investitures, Transactions, Oaths, Renunciations, Contracts, and
much less the Edict of 1629. or the Transaction of Prague, with its Appendixes,
or the Concordates with the Popes, or the Interims of the Year 1548. or
any other politick Statutes, or Ecclesiastical Decrees, Dispensations,
Absolutions, or any other Exceptions, under what pretence or colour they
can be invented; shall take place against this Convention, or any of its
Clauses and Articles neither shall any inhibitory or other Processes or
Commissions be ever allow’d to the Plaintiff or Defendant. ...
... That nevertheless the concluded Peace shall remain
in force, and all Partys in this Transaction shall be oblig’d to defend
and protect all and every Article of this Peace against any one, without
distinction of Religion; and if it happens any point shall be violated,
the Offended shall before all things exhort the Offender not to come to
any Hostility, submitting the Cause to a friendly Composition, or the ordinary
Proceedings of Justice. ...