The Thirty Years' War - James Aitken Wylie

the empire, to make immediate restitution of their
usurped possessions. Behind the imperial
Commissaries stood two powerful armies, ready
with their swords to enforce the orders of the
Commissaries touching the execution of the edict.
The decree fell upon Germany like a
thunderbolt. The bishoprics alone were extensive
enough to form a kingdom; the abbacies were
numberless; lands and houses scattered throughout
all Northern Germany would have to be reft from
their proprietors, powerful princes would be left
without a penny, and thousands would have to
exile themselves; in short, endless confusion would
ensue. The Elector of Saxony and the Duke of
Brandenburg, whose equanimity had not been
disturbed so long as religion only was in question,
were now alarmed in earnest. They could no longer
hide from themselves that the destruction of the
Protestant religion, and the ruin of the German
liberties, had been resolved on by the emperor and
the Catholic League.
A commencement was made of the edict in
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