15.03.2019 Views

The Thirty Years' War - James Aitken Wylie

  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

of Augsburg in 1555, when a proposed clause<br />

enjoining restitution had been rejected. <strong>The</strong>y might<br />

farther plead that they were entitled to an equal<br />

share in those foundations which had been<br />

contributed by their common ancestors, and that<br />

the edict would disturb the balance of the<br />

constitution of Germany, by creating an<br />

overwhelming majority of Popish votes in the Diet.<br />

<strong>The</strong> hardships of the edict were still farther<br />

intensified by the addition of a clause which<br />

touched the conscience. Popish landed proprietors<br />

were empowered to compel their vassals to adopt<br />

their religion, or leave the country. When it was<br />

objected that this was contrary to the spirit of the<br />

Religious Peace, it was coolly replied that<br />

"Catholic proprietors of estates were no farther<br />

bound than to allow their Protestant subjects full<br />

liberty to emigrate."[2]<br />

Commissaries were appointed for carrying out<br />

the edict; and all unlawful possessors of church<br />

benefices, and all the Protestant States without<br />

exception, were ordered, under pain of the ban of<br />

89

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!