Invictissimi Rudolphi II. Electi Romanor. Imperatoris, et In Hungaria Boemiaque Regis, pro libero exercitio religionis Augustanae confessionis in Silesia, clementissima confirmatio

Fragmentary marginalia: references to religious status, Silesia, and ecclesiastic administration.

Nor do those men yet cease, or put an end to those dangerous machinations, openly displaying enmity against GOD and the worshipers of the Divine Word: but rather more and more, as in Bohemia, so also in Silesia, they attempt and strive to promote unceasing plots and bitter persecutions. Although those Christian citizens in both Regions do not doubt in any way that GOD, most strong and most powerful, will—as before, so in the following years—preserve and defend the true religion, and eventually put those worst Counselors to shame, to the greatest detriment of themselves and their own; nevertheless, because GOD is accustomed to deal with men on earth through means that should not be despised when opportunities are given and offered, but should be used in a timely manner together with the most ardent and diligent prayer directed to that sole ARCH-GOVERNOR: therefore, for the sake of the unanimous work of DEFENSE in the cause of Religion, the Evangelical Estates in Bohemia, together with the Princes, Orders, and Estates of the Augsburg Confession in Silesia, have joined themselves together in a firm Union and Federation. They join and unite themselves with one another INSTEAD OF A SOLEMN OATH, for themselves and all their descendants, now and for all future times, under the serious invocation of GOD Himself: without whose protection and assistance nothing should or can be done: in such a way, however, that from this work of DEFENSE, the VERY PERSON of the Roman Imperial and Royal Majesty through Hungary and Bohemia, who holds the highest place of the Supreme Magistrate constituted by GOD Himself, must always be excepted, and against the Same, not the least thing that could be criticized or disapproved of should be attempted in fact. But if, outside the already mentioned person of the Imperial and Royal Majesty, anyone else, WHOEVER and of WHATEVER condition, dignity, pre-eminence, and origin he may be, whether he be in an Ecclesiastical or Political state, WITH NO ONE EXCEPTED, from the highest to the lowest: who—whether in the name of the sacred Imperial and Royal Majesty, or in his own, or in the name of any other—would wish to disturb the three Evangelical Estates in Bohemia, or the Princes, Orders, and Estates of the Augsburg Confession in Silesia, and their subjects and companions in faith; whether they live under Ecclesiastical or Political jurisdiction, or under the rule of Catholics or Evangelicals; in their Christian Religion, in Temples, in Schools, and in Consistories, or under any pretext or cause whatsoever, which the Catholics might perhaps have previously pretended in recovering Foundations, Monasteries, Temples, Schools, Consistories, Tithes, and other Revenues already subsisting in the dominion, power, and use of the Evangelicals of both Regions: then it shall be permitted to all those citizens and inhabitants of both Regions that, in such a case, all and singular shall concur; shall constantly join all their forces; and—