Deduction Concerning the Free Exercise of the Augsburg Confession in Silesia

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...might graciously deign to be helpful and supportive in the preservation of their religious freedom / however, all means and ways for this have been cut off and taken away from them / so much so / that if the highly-mentioned Protestant [Evangelical] Princes did not, of their own free will and motion original: spontaneo & proprio motu and out of Christian zeal / for the protection of Divine honor and teaching / and the general Protestant cause, take up their defense / no human hope would remain among them.

Truly, as far as the aforementioned axiom A reference to the legal principle cuius regio, eius religio, meaning "whose realm, his religion," which usually allowed a ruler to dictate the faith of his subjects. is concerned / it is remembered / that such things have been disputed at universities for and against original: pro & contra. While such a thing may not be unfairly placed in its own context / it is undeniable / yes, certain / that the same does not apply / where specific pacts or privileges are present original: ubi adsunt peculiaria vel pacta vel privilegia. Since it is a matter of established law that a Prince and Lord of a territory is bound by specific pacts and special promises to permit the free exercise of religion to his subjects, and for that reason, the faith given by him in this name must be kept in every way. original: Quippe cùm certi juris sit Principem ac Territorij Dominium per pacta specialia promissa ad liberum Religionis Exercitium Subditis permittendum adstringi, ob idque fidem ab eo hoc nomine datam omnimodo servandam esse. The Silesian Principalities are by no means lacking in such pacts and privileges. And among these, the foremost / indeed, to be esteemed as the best, highest, and inestimable jewel of the land, is the Letter of Majesty A landmark 1609 document issued by Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II granting religious tolerance to Protestants in Bohemia and Silesia. published in the land of Silesia in the year 1609 by the Emperor Rudolf II of most blessed Christian memory / concerning the free exercise of religion of the Augsburg Confession. This was also confirmed, sincerely stated, and promised by Emperor Matthias and his successor Ferdinand II of glorious memory / both upon entering their government and during the Saxon Accord The Peace of Prague (1635), which involved negotiations with the Elector of Saxony. / and indeed under the clause of faithful, steady, firm, and inviolable adherence. This Letter of Majesty was brought about with heavy costs, not only by the illustrious Princely persons / but also by the appointed ambassadors of the Hereditary Principalities Territories ruled directly by the Bohemian Crown (the Habsburgs) rather than by semi-autonomous local dukes. and cities / such as Sigemunden von Burckhauß of Stoltz / and Ottern, Council of the city of Schweidnitz. It applies not only to the Princely persons / but also to the Hereditary Principalities and each and every inhabitant of the entire land of Silesia / whether they are settled under ecclesiastical or secular Princes / Lords / Commanders / or in the Imperial Hereditary Principalities / in the countryside, cities, and villages / who are adherents of the Augsburg Confession and profess themselves to the same, none excepted / and accordingly, the Hereditary Principalities are mentioned therein not just once, but at several different times / such as:

¶ According to this and then ¶ Thirdly ¶ Alongside this in particular ¶ So that here within ¶ All of which [was] not only thought and mentioned recitatively As a mere recital or summary of facts. but expressly dispositively With the full force of a legal decree or binding settlement.; this said Letter of Majesty was not founded or based upon territorial jurisdiction / but solely and uniquely upon the interdict of "as you possess" original: Interdictum, uti possidetis; a legal injunction protecting a party's current possession of property or rights until a final decision is made..