Of the renewed Schmalkaldic League.
1263 Renewal and extension of the Schmalkaldic League between the Elector John Frederick of Saxony, Philip, Ernst and Francis, Dukes of Brunswick, Ulrich, Duke of Würtenberg, Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, Barnim and Philip, Duke of Pomerania, and other princes, estates and cities of the Holy Roman Empire, for protection if they were attacked for their faith. Schmalkalden, September 29, 1536.
In Hortleder, lik. VIII, eap. 9, p. 1327; in Dumont's eorp. (iiploin., torri. IV, pari. II, p. 141 and in Lünig's Reichs-Archiv, xart. spse. oont. I.
1. By the Grace of God, we Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, for ourselves, and on account of the Highborn Prince, Herr Johann Ernsten, also Duke of Saxony, our friendly dear brother; Philipps, Ernst, Franz, brothers and cousins, Dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg; Ulrich, Duke of Würtemberg and Teck, Count of Mümpelgart; Philipps, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen, of Dietz, Ziegenhain and Nidda; Barnim and Philipps, Gevettern, Dukes of Stettin, Pomerania, of the Cassuben and Wenden, Princes of Rügen, Counts of Butzkau; 1) Wolfgang, Hans, Georg and Joachim, Gevettern and brothers, Princes of Anhalt, Counts of Ascanien and Lords of Bernburg; Gebhard and Albrecht, brothers, Counts and Lords of Mansfeld;
1) At the beginning of the next number it says: "zu Gutzkaw"; in No. 1265: "Gutzkow". The latter is probably correct. In No. 1266: "Butzgau".
and burgomasters, aldermen, guild masters, and appointed councillors and commoners of the Upper German, Saxon and maritime cities named below, as Strasbourg, Augsburg, Frankfurt, Costnitz, Ulm, Esslingen, Reutlingen, Memmingen, Kempten, Lindau, Bibrach, Isni, Magdeburg, Bremen, Brunswick, Goslar, Hanover, Göttingen, Eimbeck, Hamburg, Lübeck and Minden: hereby confess for us, our heirs and descendants, and announce to all men:
2. After the events of this time, from time to time, have been so careful, so swift, and so forth, as to desire those who preach and proclaim the bright, clear, pure, and untainted Word of God in their "principalities," cities, lands, and territories, by grace and bestowal of the Almighty, thereby preventing and changing all kinds of abuses, to forcefully and effectively stop their Christian endeavors, and it is the duty of every Christian authority not only to have the holy Word of God preached to their subjects, but also to ensure with all diligence, earnestness and ability that they are not forced or disparaged by the Word of God: Our supreme necessity and the duty of the authorities require us to determine whether it should happen now or in the future that someone should force us or our subjects from the Word of God and the known truth by force or by deed (which the gracious, merciful God graciously prevents, and we do not want to provide for anyone), and thus again to prevent the abuses that have been committed and changed with all possible diligence.
(3) So that such violence may be averted, and the destruction of both body and soul, ours and theirs, may be avoided.
our subjects may be prevented: We have therefore, to the praise of God Almighty, for the greater prosperity and growth of divine free doctrine, for the awakening and promotion of a Christian, unanimous being and peace, for the Holy Roman Empire, German Nation, and all respectability, as well as for the good of our common principalities, cities and regions, We have resolved to unite with and against each other in a Christian and friendly spirit for the sole purpose of defense and salvation, which is permitted and granted to each of us not only by human and natural, but also by written law, and we have adopted and accepted the same; And do so presently, in and by virtue of this epistle, in the measure, form, and shape which followeth:
(4) Namely, that we should and will faithfully and wholeheartedly mean, hold, and warn against harm all parts, one to the other, and also not drag through, advance, or abstain from the other's enemies and repugnants, publicly or secretly, with knowledge.
5. And therefore this mind is only for defense and salvation, and not at all for the reason that someone among us should start a war: whether it should happen that some part of us, whoever it might be, should be attacked for the word of God, evangelical doctrine and our holy faith, or for things that follow from the word of God, evangelical doctrine and the holy faith and are dependent on it, or that some other thing should be brought forward against one of us for a pretence; But since we, the others, who are not attacked at such a time, would like to see it happen primarily for the sake of this word of God, or who would want to be raped and attacked, or would be attacked and attacked, and he would suffer other, immediate, final rights on us; that then we, the others, all understood in this Christian sense, and each for himself, as soon as we are informed and understand this by the raped, or otherwise by credible experience, should not let the matter concern us in any other way, than as if each of us were himself attacked, attacked, attacked, and thus his own things; Then, without any dangerous delay, each of us, to the best of his ability, shall unexpectedly help, rescue, unburden, give air and space to the other, to the one who has been attacked or raped. How then at any time, according to the opportunity of the trade, by the others most easily and most fruitfully considered good and serviceable, and our each Christian love
and faithfulness, also his own conscience and even welfare, and thus faithfully help each other to conduct the trade, also no part, without the other's knowledge and will, let itself or go into some direction, contract or decency.
(6) This Christian mind of ours shall not be contrary to His Imperial Majesty, our most gracious Lord, or to any state of the Holy Roman Empire or to anyone else. Majesty, our most gracious Lord, or to any state of the Holy Roman Empire, or to anyone else, but solely for the preservation of Christian truth and peace in the Holy Roman Empire and the German Nation. The only reason for this is to preserve Christian truth and peace in the Holy Roman Empire and the German nation, and to prevent unjust violence for us and our subjects and relatives, solely in the interests of defense and salvation, since each of us, as mentioned above, may give and take the right and not the wrong. may give and take right, and not be meant otherwise.
(7) If anyone desires to come further into this Christian understanding of ours, and was not previously comprehended therein, who adheres to the holy Word of God and the Gospel, and to the same, and to the pure doctrine, and to our Confession, shall be handed over to Imperial Majesty Augsburg and to all the Estates of the Empire. Maj. and all the states of the empire, shall teach and preach uniformly in their lands and territories, and shall also firmly hold to it: he or they shall be admitted and accepted into it with the knowledge and will of all of us.
8. And after this Christian understanding on Invocavit, the next year, which will be written in the lesser number of 37 years, with us, the others, in which we, outside of our Duke Ulrich of Würtemberg, our Duke Barnim and Duke Philipp of Pomerania, our Hansens, Georgens and Joachim, Princes of Anhalt, and our cities, Augsburg, Frankfurt, Kempten, Hanover, Hamburg and Minden, have stood with each other for six years, will be over and come to an end: We have accepted and accepted their loved ones and them, at their friendly, gracious and official request and entreaty, and, according to the Schmalkaldic Farewell, in the 35th year, we have all and especially agreed to stay there. There they were erected, unanimously united with each other and agreed that such Christian understanding shall be extended from Invocavit of the 37th year touched, for ten years, the following years, so that also the Christian understanding mentioned shall last for the ten years indicated, following each other, and shall be carried out and kept by all of us together and especially faithfully, sincerely, honestly, and without any danger.
(9) And whether it be a matter of coming to war with any one thus, by reason of the divine word, and causes flowing therefrom, and that before
If the end of certain ten years is not brought to an end at all, nevertheless, regardless of the fact that the years in question have passed and this Christian understanding has come to an end, it shall be faithfully maintained and carried out to the end, no part shall withdraw or separate from it, and then this Christian understanding may well be extended longer, if it pleases the parties.
We, the aforementioned Elector, Princes, Counts and Councillors of the cities, by our honor, dignity, true words and good faith, speak and promise all these things in lieu of an oath, for ourselves, our heirs and descendants, in and by virtue of this present letter, to keep them true, steadfast, firm and unbreakable, to comply with them completely and to live, not to do anything against them, nor to be done against them, in any way or manner; all honestly, faithfully and safely.
11. and of this, for the sake of greater evidence, certainty and confirmation, I, every one of the above-named, Elector, Prince, Count and City, for us, our heirs and descendants, have knowingly affixed his seal to this, and give it on the day of Michaelmas, after the birth of Christ our dear Lord, in the year 1536.
12 We have also agreed and granted that if any prince, count, lord, city or estate in this agreement would not seal such our agreement, for whatever cause or hindrance this might be, then nevertheless such agreement shall remain strong and binding against the others who have sealed it, without any delay, and no one shall and will resort to it; without any danger.
1264 The Schmalkaldic League's Order and Constitution for Rescue, Resistance, Help and Repression. Made at Schmalkalden, September 29, 1536.
See the previous number.
By the Grace of God, we Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen, for ourselves and on behalf of the Highborn Prince, Lord Johann Ernst, also Duke of Saxony 2c., our friendly dear brother; Ernst and Franz, brothers and dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg; Ulrich, duke of Würtemberg and Teck; Philipp, landgrave of Hesse, count of Katzenelnbogen, zu Dietz, Zie
genhain and Nidda 2c.Barnim and Philipp, Gevettern, Dukes of Stettin, Pomerania, Cassuben and Wenden, Princes of Rügen, Counts of Gutzkaw; Wolfgang, Hans, Georg and Joachim, Gevettern and brothers, Princes of Anhalt, Counts of Ascanien, Lords of Bernburg; Gebhardt and Albrecht, brothers, Counts and Lords of Mansfeld; and masters, mayors, town councillors, guild councillors, and decreed councillors and commoners of the Upper German, Saxon, and maritime cities named below, as Strasbourg, Augsburg, Frankfurt, Costnitz, Ulm, Esslingen, Reutlingen, Memmingen, Lindau, Biberach, Isni, Magdeburg, Bremen, Brunswick, Goslar, Göttingen, Eimbeck, Hamburg, Lübeck, and Minden: confess for us, our heirs and descendants and declare to all men:
2. After we, for movable Christian and good causes, but first of all to praise and honor God Almighty, for the promotion and reception of His holy Word and Gospel, and so that we may remain in the holy kingdom as obedient members of it, also keep our subjects, who are commanded by God to govern and preside over us in a Christian manner, in that which is Christian, divine, honorable and fair, also conducive to the salvation of their souls, We shall also keep our subjects, who are commanded by God to govern us in a Christian, godly, honorable and fair manner, also conducive to the salvation of their souls, and may be prevented from unreasonable, unlawful rape and damage by the grace of God, united and determined in the name of God of a Christian and friendly mind, content and by virtue of the united covenants, which we have established and executed with each other for this reason.
3. However, since we have further considered and considered it most necessary and good for the reasonable and Christian salvation of ourselves and ours, we judge that in these careful, swift and difficult times we should establish a constitution for salvation and resistance (which shall last and endure as long as we unite and agree on the Christian understanding; as such is to be clearly noted and determined in the charter of agreement and extension of the same), also to make the same a help and emphasis, as much as possible and as much as God Almighty will grant grace. Accordingly, we have unanimously agreed, bound and obligated ourselves with each other on several articles, and do so in the name of the Almighty, knowingly, in virtue of this prescription, for us, all our heirs and descendants, as follows:
4 Initially and for the first time, this constitution shall have no other cause or opinion than solely for the purpose of resistance and salvation, and to
The term "unjust violence" means and is to be understood as the compensation for unjust violence by us, our subjects and our relatives, in the event that we should be attacked, raped, or otherwise subjected to other forms of harassment by someone for the sake of the Christian, just and lawful things of which our Christian understanding is informed.
(5) Secondly, if anyone of the estates related to this agreement is threatened with conquest or rape, or otherwise complained about in other ways, for the sake of things on which this understanding stands, on account of which he believes that he is in need of advice or help from the other parties related to the agreement, he may at any time bring this up and report it to the ruling captain of the same six-month period. If the matters or complaints are such that the ruling captain, together with the aggrieved estate, hopes that they can be averted by writs, letters, or other such means, he shall have the power to do so for himself, and with the advice and assistance of the other captain, at the expense of the common estates and in their name. If, however, the matters are such that a general meeting of the estates is necessary, such a meeting shall be announced and announced by the captain every six months in a convenient place and venue to all estates with avoidance of the matters, which shall also appear by themselves or their authorized representatives.
(6) Whenever and as often as the united ones come together, or send, and want to talk about the matters on which the understanding stands, all the united ones or their skilful ones shall be heard, after God has often given to the last one what he has given to the first one, and therefore they shall be obliged to settle amicably and amicably in the assembly of a unanimous opinion.
If, however, it should happen that there is no unanimous agreement in the assembly, then such an agreement shall be made by the following votes. But nevertheless, as is set forth below, there shall be no more than thirteen votes, which shall finally have to decide in the matters in question, and the aforementioned votes shall also be distributed, as follows, namely: We, the Elector of Saxony, on account of our and the thought of our dear brother, shall have two votes. We, the Dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg, brothers, together with Prince Wolfgangen, Hans, Georgen and Joachim, Princes of Anhalt, and the Counts of Mansfeld, one. And we, the
Landgrave of Hesse, Two. We, Duke Ulrich of Würtemberg, one. We, Duke Barnim and Duke Philipp zu Pommern, one. And then we, the free imperial and Hanseatic cities, six votes; namely: the Oberlanders, as Strasbourg, Ulm and Augsburg, from their and our side, three. And the Saxon and maritime cities, as Magdeburg, Bremen and Hamburg, for their sake and ours, also have three.
In order that order may be kept in the votes, and also with the questioning, in the indicated assembly of our unions, we, Duke Hans Friedrich of Saxony, Elector, as we are also otherwise entitled to the questioning in the realm, or our councils, shall have to question. And if all the Estates of the Union, or of their skilful ones, have concerns, then these same Estates, or their skilful ones, who are related to the thirteen votes, shall join each part with those who belong to the Union, and what is decided by the thirteen votes and considered best, that is what shall remain. However, if the thirteen voices do not agree on a unanimous opinion, the majority among them shall have the power to decide.
(9) If the defense and assistance are thus decided by the common estates, or by the majority of the thirteen votes, then how and in what manner, as well as in which places they are to be carried out, everything shall stand and remain at the discretion of the captain and the council of war, as follows.
(10) If the matters were so urgent that the captain could not describe the states related to the unification, he shall, by virtue of the following articles, summon the other captain together with the ordered councils of war, and, as will be reported hereafter, have the power to decide and act.
And thirdly, the aid, so that it may be comforting and useful to all the Unificationists, shall be provided hereafter. Therefore, we, the Unificationists, for the preservation of such warriors, have paid the following sum, and shall pay it to the most advantageous places, as follows. Namely: We, the Elector, Princes and Counts of Anlag, in Torga and Cassel, to us, the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse; and we, the cities of Upper Austria, in Ulm; and we, the Saxon and maritime cities, in Brunswick, all to be deposited with the mayor and council there. And captains and councillors of war of the cities indicated shall take assurance that they will take care of the sum deposited, and that they will pay the sums due to them.
The following shall follow, upon due receipt, all or any of their requirements.
12) And so that in this Christian and honest understanding each one may miss what he should deposit and, if the need requires, show in this facility and help: so we, the Elector of Saxony, the Dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg, brothers, Landgrave Philipp of Hesse 2c, Prince Wolfgang, Hans, Georg and Joachim, cousins and brothers, Princes of Anhalt, and the two Counts of Mansfeld, seventy thousand florins; Also, all the Upper German and maritime cities, including Augsburg, Frankfurt, Kempten, Hanover, Hamburg, and Minden, to pay seventy thousand florins in coin, calculated as one and twenty Meissen groschen, six and twenty Weisspfennig, fifteen batz for one florin; namely, two and fifty thousand florins for ten thousand servants, as well as the Uebersoldten for two months; all of this to be paid over without danger. Then we, the aforementioned estates, agreed on such a sum among ourselves, and what each of us is entitled to lay down, according to the agreement, was united.
However, we, the people of Goslar, have been released from our obligation to keep our assets, on which we have been appraised and posted, until the time of the aforementioned emergency, and not to deposit them. On the other hand, we have obligated ourselves in special bonds, if the emergency were to occur in such a way that the counter-defense had to be undertaken and used, and the deposited money was required by captains and the ordered war councils, that we then from that time on, without default and all excuses, that we then from that time on, without delay and without any excuse, bring and deposit our due investment money, by virtue of this constitution, first for the two months, then the third, fourth, fifth and sixth month, to the mayor and council of the city of Brunswick, and that we shall not allow anything to prevent us from doing so at any time.
14 We, the cities of Göttingen and Eimbeck, agree that on our occasion after this time, each of us will not pay more than one month's rent to the above-mentioned mayors and council of Brunswick, and then also the second month in the time of the aforementioned emergency, at the request of the regular captain and war councilors, and without any stay and excuse, even in the case of the remaining four months, by virtue of this constitution, we shall thereupon submit and pay our rent to Brunswick.
15 But when I, the foregoing, Duke Ulrich of Würtemberg, Duke Barnim and Phi
We, the cities of Augsburg, Frankfurt, Kempten, Hanover, Hamburg, and Minden, have recently and since then, and after the now reported attack on the Reuter and servants has been made, joined the Christian unification and this constitution for resistance, therefore our share of help is not included therein; and we, however, according to such a proposal, have also had ourselves proposed to this constitution by our kinsmen on the next held day in Frankfurt, then we, and our every prince, estate and council, shall and will submit our share of the help, as we are proposed, in the most beneficial way and without neglect, as follows:
(16) Namely, we, Duke Ulrich, are to deposit ten thousand florins for one month with our dear faithful of the city of Stuttgart or Tübingen; in turn, those of Stuttgart or Tübingen, with whom we, Duke Ulrich, will deposit our part, shall pledge against the Landgrave that they will deliver it to Sr. Liebden, as the captain, at their request immediately and unhindered deliver and judge; and we, the landgrave, common estates shall further assure under our letter and seal, everything according to the treaties of Schmalkalden and Frankfurt.
17 And since we, Duke Barnim and Duke Philip of Pomerania, have not been compared with the Protestant estates for the sake of our estate, and yet we give our prescription that we want to be compared according to the Schmalkaldic decree, we shall and will, if we are not immediately compared according to the same Schmalkaldic decree, be compared according to the decision of the same estates, comply with the same decision in its entirety.
18 And we, the city of Augsburg, for two months ten thousand florins. We, the city of Frankfurt, for two months six thousand florins. We, the city of Kempten, for two months eighteen hundred florins, to Ulm, with the mayor and council there. And we, the city of Hamburg, eight thousand. And we, the city of Hanover, fifteen hundred and thirty and four florins to Brunswick, also for two months, with the mayor and council of the place.
19th And after we, the people of Lübeck, because of the fact that we come to noticeable and great trouble because of the past war action, found ourselves burdened for the sake of our property to pay our investment according to the previous tax; where we now on the half part of the same previous tax by previous negotiations also not compared.
If we want to be a part of this, then we should and will comply with the findings of the Estates, in accordance with the Schmalkaldic Agreement.
(20) The same shall be done with us, the people of Minden, of the negotiation, also in the case of the judgment, for the sake of our facility, which we also want to execute faithfully.
21. As much as the sum of the aid money exceeds the first sums of the two times seventy thousand guilders, in which we, the next-named princes, estates and cities, who have now come into the agreement and constitution, as reported, have not been assessed and have not been collected (except those of Lübeck): Therefore, the assistance of two thousand on horseback and ten thousand on foot shall now be increased and improved with men, cavalry and servants, according to the number of the increased and improved funds; however, all with the advice of the regular captain and the war councils; all by virtue of and according to the instructions of this constitution of ours.
(22) And if it should happen that such a present arrangement and help would be attacked and used for the above emergency, then every prince, count, city and estate, related to this arrangement, shall within eight days, the next after such an arrangement is attacked, certainly pay his due share of the third month to the places as notified, and yet, if necessity would require it, follow with the fourth, fifth and sixth month.
23. Whether the matters of the war are now soon to begin, or within the six months, so burdensome that such help to meet the great burden will be too weak, or will last beyond the six months, and the appointed captains and war councils deem it good that the common estates of the united states should meet in the appropriate place, to deliberate and decide how to strengthen or obtain the help that has been requested and touched upon, and to draft it in such a way that the counterattack and counterviolence may be met in a proper manner, and the previous help may not be in vain, and with disgrace, harm, and loss, may be refrained from, and thereby not be diverted from divine truth: The ruling captains and councillors of war shall summon the princes, lords, earls, cities and estates of these united nations to a convenient place, on a named day, at the most convenient time, and at any time when they feel the need; and each estate shall appear in person, or by its own, with perfect and sufficient force, and shall bring the aforesaid distress and
And what is then considered and decided by the common estates, according to each one's heard fortune and opportunity, with each one's knowledge, will and full word, to be good, useful and necessary, therein we, as the faithful fellow relatives, shall and will, with fortune of body and good, keep and show ourselves unquestionably and favorably comply with what is thus decided.
And if any more princes, counts, lords, cities and others come into this agreement, they shall also be duly enjoined for this help; and if it were God's will that such money should not be needed until the conclusion of this agreement, then each prince, count and estate shall again be delivered his deposited sum at the conclusion of the same.
25 And in order that this unity may remain all the more constant, we have decided that we shall appoint thirteen councillors of war from the whole assembly; as reported hereafter: Namely, we, the Elector of Saxony, for ourselves and on account of our dear brother, two. And we, the Princes of Brunswick and Lüneburg, brothers, above named, Prince Wolf, Hans, Georg and Joachim of Anhalt, and both Counts of Mansfeld, one. And we, Landgrave Philip of Hesse, Two. We, Duke Ulrich, one. We, the Dukes of Pomerania, one. And we, the cities of Oberland, three. And we, the Saxon and maritime cities, also three. However, we, Duke John Frederick, the Elector, shall have the captaincy of our half year in administration, and we, the Elector, shall decree no more than one council of war during that time. Likewise, we, Landgrave Philip, shall not use more than one war council from ours during the time of our captaincy. And such councillors of war shall be notified by name by each estate that appoints them to the two captains, who shall be notified of them thereafter, and, at the request of the ruling captain, shall send them at any time, if they are not prevented by marital causes. But in the event of such hindrance, others shall be appointed who are skilled and qualified for such matters; which twelve war councillors shall be required at any time of necessity by the ruling captain from the estates, which they have appointed, to a named place, according to the occasion, since they shall also be obliged to appear at their duties, to act and advise on all matters in an emergency manner, and also to inform beforehand of the
Captain's concerns diligently and faithfully. And if one can compare oneself with the captain in general, this shall be done, and one shall find such of the cities' war councils, namely the Upper German ones at Strasbourg, Ulm and Augsburg, and the Saxon and maritime cities at Magdeburg, Bremen and Hamburg.
26 If, however, it should happen that they do not compare in such a way in general, or by the more part, then chance shall stand with the captain, and it shall remain so at last. And what is decided by the greater part than by the captain and the councillors of war, or, if they had equal votes, by the captain's chance, the captain shall faithfully carry out, without any delay or hindrance, and for himself, outside the councillors of war's decision, even of other opinion (for as is reported) shall neither undertake nor do anything.
27 The thirteen councillors of war shall also vow and swear to the common assembly to be faithful and faithful, obedient and faithful to it, to promote its best, to warn against harm, and to advise, decide and vote in case of necessity on the matters for which they are appointed, according to their highest understanding and conscience; without any danger, inasmuch as for this reason special form of an oath is understood and held out to them, which follows from word to word:
We N. and N. vow and swear, promise and pledge to God Almighty and to the states of the Christian confession of the same faith in Christ, His eternal and salvific Word, that we will first and foremost seek God's praise and glory, also warn the same relatives of harm, promote piety and the best, and strive by His grace, and, in accordance with the points and articles of the Christian understanding, agreement, and constitution of the counter-defense, of which we have received a true copy, which we have overlooked and over-read in its entirety, act faithfully, and in all of this, with the help of God, will do so: especially the articles therein, that in case of urgent and unavoidable need, after faithful consideration of our assigned captain's decision, we shall exercise and use such unification and constitution solely for the Christian salvation and defense of the same lords and princes, counts and related honorable free, imperial, maritime and Hanseatic cities, their all subjects, and no other opinion or under any other appearance, by the bestowal of divine grace; and before that all Christian, honorable, amicable and lawful
We shall seek moderate means and ways, diligently reminding and exhorting us to prevent mischief and evil; not to undertake any matters of our own, outside of the praise and honor of God's holy word concerning this Christian unification, and let us be moved to counsel and seek that from which sedition and discord may be aroused and outraged. Thus we also want to promptly report and disclose the information that comes to us in addition to our appointed captain, who carefully presides over the matters, to the prominent estates that are appointed to the main votes, and also to make further provisions therein according to the content of the constitution; and in everything, in accordance with such aforementioned written agreement of resistance and help, indicated Christian salvation and resistance, with the ordering of war and other necessary provisions and considerations, by the advice and decision of our captain, and according to the difference and opportunity that this gives, we want to act, do and carry out carefully with God's grace, putting all dangers at bay; and thus in such everything act faithfully and sincerely, and comply with it. As God helps us and His holy eternal word.
28. If, however, one of the same captains, according to the will of God, which the Almighty will have mercy on, should perish fatally or otherwise, we, the other captain, shall from that time on, within one month's time, summon the estates, of which the votes are commanded, to send theirs to a place and day of note with sufficient force, and at the same time require the thirteen councils of war to choose and appoint another suitable captain to their duties, according to the manner in which the first one departed was appointed; without probation and delay. Since the same councillors of war shall also appear at their duties and, as mentioned above, be obliged to act, and thus be diligently and faithfully advised and acted upon by the captain with the councillors of war. If, however, they do not wish to compare themselves with such a captain in a common council, they shall have to do so by votes; and then the votes shall not be ordered to the councillors of war, but to the other councillors sent next to them; the same councillors sent shall also have the power from the beginning to compare themselves with the captain of his appointment, and to accept in the duty, to the extent of the envoys so departed.
29 Whether one or more members of the Council of War shall die, or otherwise be prevented from performing their duties due to marital incapacity.
If the captain who appointed him could not wait, he shall immediately, at the request of the appointed captain, appoint another who is competent, trustworthy, and capable in these matters, so that the captain may have no lack of them; who shall then, before he is called upon for counsel, do to him, the captain, the duty in moderation as the others have done.
(30) Accordingly, we have elected as our captains, ordered and enabled our dear cousins, grandparents, brother-in-law and brother, most gracious and gracious lords, Duke John Frederick, Elector of Saxony 2c., and Landgrave Philip of Hesse 2c., who then, related in this so Christian cause, kindly and graciously consented to keep themselves faithfully and diligently in this. So that their l. and churl. and princely. In order that their lords and graces may actually know at what time and in what measure, form and manner each of them is to use his office and authority, so that in the future no error or hindrance may occur, several articles have been agreed upon by us and finally decided upon, as those that follow:
(31) Namely, this constitution and counter-defense, also by order of the thirteen councillors of war, shall be undertaken by the two captains for nothing else than, as reported, for counter-defense; in such a way that, if an attack were to be made, or if it were certain that the attack would be made against us, the united states, or against someone from among us, for the sake of a cause of which our Christian understanding is informed, then the counter-defense shall only be used. As well as this, the captains, who have already committed their relatives to such unification 1) with letters and seals, must swear to the trust and faith that the unification relatives have in them, and to their promise, and the war councils must swear in their oath, which has been given to them.
32. also that our deposited money shall not be used for any other cause, as the names may have, other than as reported; and nevertheless the sum of the deposited money shall be divided equally, and each captain shall be assigned half the part, to use the same in case of need, as reported, and to use it in the name of God.
33 And therefore the two captains whom we have chosen and appointed for such help shall be one thousand each on horseback and five thousand on foot, and as much as the help increases.
1) With Walch: "of such unification relatives".
and improved, appoint half of each of them, and according to the number of the same, further suitable foreign warriors, to require them in the aforementioned emergency, and also to appoint and accept their sub-chiefs from both the Upper Austrian and Saxon districts, with the knowledge and will of the war councils, according to the opportunity of the time, persons and things, so that in matters and actions that arise one may have and use those who are known and reported to be of the country and people's opportunity, also nature and custom.
34) One captain after the other, each for half a year, shall have to do the demand of the war councils, and all other demands together: namely, the Elector Johann Friederich's captaincy and authority for a time, that of the first half year, shall begin on St. John the Baptist's Day and last until Christmas Day; then Landgrave Philip's captaincy and authority in Hesse shall begin and last until St. John the Baptist's Day. And the landgrave's rule shall begin on the next Christmas and last until St. John's Day.
However, we, the Elector of Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, reserve the right, if a campaign is to be undertaken, to decide at our will and pleasure whether we want to march in person or arrange and send a suitable lieutenant in our place. The councillors of war shall also declare in each case to which place one should go, or whether one should go to two or more places; if, however, the councillors of war cannot unite or agree on this, it shall be settled and concluded by the chance of the captain, as aforesaid.
If the captain finds in his six months that things are happening so quickly that the estates cannot all be described, he shall and may summon the councillors of war and discuss whether there is a need to take on the knights and servants and to take up arms against them. For this purpose he shall then also require the other captain, who shall also appear by himself or by perfect command; and then, by united conclusion of the two captains and twelve councillors of war, or by the several of the same, shall move with all diligence whether the causes of the resistance are present by virtue of the union? And the other captain, who is thus required because he has two councillors of war at the time, should separate the one and the other at the time of his presence, so that it is thus
The thirteen votes, namely the two captains and eleven councilors, shall remain. If then the form and occasion requires, the captains shall, in the name of God, attack the deposited money, and each shall raise his share of the governors and servants, appoint the same, with the advice of the councillors of war, as they may be most useful to the estates, and according to the occasion of the things, time and runs possible, shall have power in the name of and on account of the common estates; and what is thus promised by the captain and the councillors of war to the governors and servants shall be held and carried by the common estates, and otherwise act in accordance with the constitution.
37 If the procession goes out of Saxony, or the Saxon Westphalian territory, or seaward, and they, the captains, both assemble with the number (as aforementioned) of foreign horsemen and servants, ordered to help, and such is agreed upon by the councils of war, we, the Elector, shall be supreme, and we, Landgrave Philip, shall send our accepted horsemen and servants to S. Liebden.
If the procession goes to Hesse, and across the Main, to the states of the Rhenish or Swabian territory, or to the towns, then we, Landgrave Philip, shall be supreme, and we, the Elector, shall send to his lieutenant our accepted routers and servants.
39 Fourth: Although it is fair and proper that a captain, who is burdened with such a heavy load and burden, should be ordered to be entertained by those who appoint him, the aforementioned two captains, as Elector and Prince, who are related to this Christian understanding, have kindly and graciously granted that their loved ones, Electoral and Princely Graces, shall not request entertainment. The Almighty God, in His mercy, will prevent this from happening in the meantime and before the war trade reaches its beginning.
40 If, however, according to the divine will, the war is to continue, their beloved, electoral and princely graces have been ordered to appoint and entertain them. Grace, an appointment and entertainment has been decreed. Namely, if the reigning captain would go in his own person, which (as is indicated herein) shall be at his will, every month, 30 days for each month counted, he shall have twelve hundred florins for his tasel, for the maintenance of his officers, valets, chancery and others; but outside of the satellites, personal and wound physicians, which persons shall be paid by all united relatives above that.
41. but if the ruling captain in the person does not draw, but a lieutenant on
The latter shall have four hundred florins for his board, and for the maintenance of his officers, servants, chancery, and others, every month, even thirty days for the month; but outside of the trabants, physicians, and surgeons, which persons shall be paid by all the unifying mandates about that.
42 Every month, for as many days as has been mentioned, a hundred florins shall be given to each council of war on its table, and all its servants, except for the soldiers who have been mustered, shall be served and given, and the captain or lieutenant, as well as the war councils, shall be provided with their soldiers, who have been accepted in the muster, as well as other soldiers, and shall also be provided for by the unification booths at the same time. But before the beginning of the war, each one who has ordered them shall maintain them at his own expense.
43. We also have a sum of money, namely seven thousand florins, and to the same seven thousand florins so much and even more than our each of the princes, estates and cities, which we now newly come into the constitution, namely us Duke Barnim and Duke Philip of Pomerania, and the city of Augsburg, Frankfurt, Kempten and Minden, according to the greatest estimate, are entitled to these seven thousand florins, and with this and so much more the seven thousand florins have been increased and improved. We, however, Duke Ulrich of Würtemberg, and the two cities of Hamburg and Hanover have not been added to these seven thousand florins and their increase, but our share has been included in our main investment, by virtue of the Frankfurt agreement, and at the hands of the captains, namely half to each, according to the above-mentioned estimate of the large sum, deposited and answered.
44) What has not yet been paid in this sum by some of the estates shall be paid between now and the next Christmas, to make necessary announcements, to appoint sub-chiefs on horseback and on foot, to maintain scribes, to send messages and other necessities for daily matters; of which the captain shall give account every year on St. John the Baptist's Day, and what is left shall be kept for further needs. If, however, this is lacking, we, the estates, shall be summoned by the captain, if it is time, and the war councillors, and therefore acted upon for further provision, in the manner stated above in the articles of further provision for assistance.
45. there shall also be of such seven thousand gul-.
and what these are improved, the captain, with the advice and knowledge of the twelve war councillors, shall act for more sub-chiefs over the rangers and servants as reported; and if they want to be ordered to pay a higher maintenance fee, they must decide on the basis of the time, persons and things. If, however, the same sub-chiefs want to demand and have excessive maintenance money according to the time, persons and things, the captain shall have it sent to the unification relatives and act according to their order.
46 We, the captains, declare that we do not want to have our grant and acceptance of the captaincy for longer than two years; which our grant began on St. Thomas [Dec. 21] in the 35th 1) year, according to the Schmalkaldic farewell, and will end again on St. Thomas in the 37th year. So that each of us shall be captain for one year, and, as mentioned above, one for the other for half a year; and at the end of the two it shall be in our, and the others', will and favor. The captains shall also be commanded to seek as much as possible such cavalrymen and footmen as are not related to the united kinsmen.
47. fifth, and for the sake of greater prudence, let us, the estates, and each for himself, also as we know how to do most easily and conveniently, have and do good administration, and what each estate wants to be done (to the disadvantage of the united ones practiced by the adversaries). It is also stated that the same estates shall inform the captain, who is in charge of the administration of the half year at the same time, one estate to the other without delay; as the captains themselves appoint half good clients in and outside the realm.
48) Sixthly, we have especially united with each other and agreed that none of us shall undertake any campaign, war or siege for ourselves on account of things of which our Christian understanding gives notice, or shall do anything from which war exercises may presumably be carried out in the future, but where one or more of us would encounter something troublesome or necessary on account of Christian matters of unification, this shall at all times come to those who have been notified of it by name, as captains and councillors of war; and what
1) In the old edition: "75." and immediately following: "Thomä im 37. (39.)." Our correction is based on No. 1263, ?8.
The same councils of war of the several parts, or if they had equal votes, by the ruling captain's discretion, shall consider, decide and decree convenient and useful in the above-mentioned matter, which shall be lived and followed by us without refusal, nor shall anything be done or begun about it for the sake of the above-mentioned matters, although our one or more on his adventure, without our help and assistance to the others, would think of doing so; unless it were a matter of fact that someone would dare to do so. To attack and harm one or more of us or ours, unwarned and unawares, on account of preceding cases of which our Christian understanding reports; Against him or them, each of us shall be at liberty to make an urgent emergency and counter-defense, and nevertheless the matter shall be brought to our ruling captain, who shall be obligated to act according to necessity, according to the advice and consideration of his appointed councillors of war, as is obvious and proper.
49. Seventhly, since our Christian understanding and the constitution have been established solely for the purpose of resisting and averting intended violence, and since the attacks are likely to occur unevenly over time: We have placed in the captain's power and authority, which will be at that time, and in the appointed council of war, to use such assistance of ten thousand servants on foot and two thousand on horseback in whole or in part, and if necessity requires it, to beat the two months into one, to make the six months three, and thus, according to the occasion of the foregoing necessity and attack, to increase the assistance granted up to four thousand on horseback and twenty thousand on foot.
50. Eighth, the ruling captain and the councillors of war shall from this time on, in addition to calling for and enlisting the help of the people of war, confine ourselves to a special peaceful place, where they may deliberate and decide whether and where necessity would require further assistance; and since Christian unification and constitution are meant to be resisted, and not otherwise, than by the bestowal of divine grace, so that those who are in the process of unification may not be adversely affected, contrary to God's word, in law and equity: The ruling captain and his assigned councillors of war shall be commanded, where the certain findings and experiences of the enemy practices and attacks or other incidents, by him, the captain, or councillors of war, are not considered in such a way, that the help is still necessary at the time: then the same shall
We shall also appoint a day at a convenient time when we shall appear personally, or by the full authority of each of us, before the captain and the councillors of war, and consult with them as to how the aforementioned complaint may occur and be averted for peace, by action or other suitable means, with the least harm and damage.
(51) However, if anyone has been noticeably damaged in this war, he should be restored by our adversaries, or otherwise, if it has been done, reimbursed; but if peace and reimbursement cannot be obtained, then, if the matter will suffer, it will be sought by us in every way, so that the defense, as necessity requires, will be done in the name of the Lord with heart and all faithfulness.
52. Ninth, it would come to pass that our adversaries would attack us Unificationists in many places, as they easily and undoubtedly have in mind to do, thinking that each Unificationist, or the several parts, should have much to do with himself, that one could not come to the aid of the other, from which complete separation would follow, and that the adversaries would create their will, take over all or part of our Christian lands, expel the Word of God, and re-establish the papacy; to which the almighty God may have mercy: so the ruling captains and war councils, ordered to help, shall diligently and faithfully consider and (as reported) decide in which place they consider the most necessary and fruitful. They will be able to help and rescue the victims in whichever place they deem most necessary and fruitful. However, so that no one is neglected, the ruling captain together with the councillors of war shall immediately and most beneficially summon us, the estates, to deliberate and decide as above.
53. Tenthly, because all the cases that will occur in the future according to God's will cannot be provided for this time, our reason, beginning and resolution of this understanding should finally rest on the fact that above all things God's honor and His holy word should be considered, and for this reason each of us should assist the other, and all of us in general, with a right heart and faithfulness in these matters, nor should we consider anything in this, as we owe it to God to do, and as each of us would like the other to do or have it.
54 Where and how the ordnance, together with its ammunition, is to be most conveniently obtained and received shall at all times be the concern of the ruling captain and councilors of war, and this shall be previously discussed and decreed in their rules of war. However, in this and other matters, equality shall be maintained, so that no state shall be charged more than the other according to its opportunity, and the expenses incurred for such ammunition and ordnance shall be reckoned and paid according to the number of installations of the aid.
55. Eleventh, if it should happen that one or more of our united kinsmen should need to open up in one or the other's castles, cities, lands or territories, that the united kinsman or kinswomen, of whatever standing he or they might be or might be, 1) with their warband and goods in the other's country, principalities, dominions and territories, with their warband, possessions and goods, in the other's country, principalities, dominions and territories, castles, towns or other places, as long as this unification lasts, shall be allowed and given access; But this shall not be understood differently or further, except in matters concerning the divine word and what is dependent on it, and not in other matters outside the Christian union. Those who thus seek and use the opening to their need shall also be held, defended and handled kindly and benevolently by the one or ones who permit and give the opening, as if it were their own. In turn, those who seek the opening shall also use it at their own expense and damage, and shall also hold themselves in the same place, in siege and otherwise, as the same opening's sovereigns' own people of war, and help preserve, protect, and shield the place, nothing less than [as] if it were incumbent upon the one or ones who seek and use the opening themselves.
56. If it should happen that in this agreement some confusion should arise between us all and our relatives, servants or men of war, it would be for the explanation of help, costs, damage, profit, loss, ambiguity of the persons in the field, or in the hostel, before, in or after the marches, or of what things this would come to: All this shall be at the discretion of the captain and the twelve councillors of war; and what the one or more of them discern from them, or, if they are equal in votes, by chance of the supreme captain, it shall remain so at last, and to which each shall be bound by his duties.
1) In the old edition: "demselbigen".
shall be required. All servants and men-of-war are to be appointed in the same way.
Item 57: All profits shall also be distributed according to the number of facilities and aid. And if it should happen that one of us has to vacate his land and fortress for the sake of common necessity, for rescue, and thereby loses something of cities, fortresses, lands or people, or receives damage therein, no peace shall be made without the knowledge and will of the person concerned, unless the damaged party is first restored to his lost goods and reimbursed for the damage he has received. Likewise, if someone is captured or put down by the rulers of these united relatives, this shall also be done.
58 Since in this constitution, however, the destruction and prosperity of the unification allies, next to God, stands to the aid of the two captains, together with their assigned war councils, this unification and constitution shall be commanded and bound to them with the utmost diligence, just as the captains, with princely loyalty and promise, have taken the lieutenants and war councils with oaths and duties in such a way as to require such a high necessity in such a great work. The lieutenants and councillors of war are to take oaths and perform duties in such a way that such an important work requires great necessity.
(59) Nevertheless, this constitution and the articles agreed upon and adopted to oppose the Christian unity and understanding which we have established and carried out with one another here before, shall not cause any break, change or some hindrance, but the same shall be and remain constant and unchanged in all points and articles.
(60) Every prince, duke, count and estate shall faithfully carry out what this union and constitution imposes on it and otherwise brings with it, and yet no one shall be bound or bound in any way for the other for this reason. Everything faithfully and safely.
61 We have also agreed with each other that this naming of the sovereigns and princes, counts, cities and estates, if anyone among us should think that his rightful place was not given to him, should not cause any break or reduction in his old status or origin, as one should be called against the other. Without danger.
62. in witness whereof the seals hereunto affixed are sealed by all and every one of our delegates, princes, counts, and cities, for ourselves, our heirs, and our descendants. Given on the day
Michaelmas, after the birth of Christ our Lord, fifteen hundred and six and thirty years.
63 We have discussed and agreed that if any prince, count, lord, city or estate, understood in this constitution, would not seal such our constitution, for whatever cause or hindrance this might occur, that nevertheless such constitution shall remain strong and binding against the others who have sealed it, without any withdrawal, and that no one shall and will resort to it. Without danger.
Johann Friedrich, Elector, m. pp. sst. Philipp, Landgrave of Hesse, m. pp. sst. Jakob Sturm, old town master at Strasbourg.
Jakob Görg, mayor of Magdeburg. Görg Besserer, old mayor of Ulm. Martinus Michaelis, Secret. Bremensis.
1265 Revers of the Dukes Henry and Moritz of Saxony, father and son, because of their admission to the Schmalkaldic Renewed Union. Freiberg, July 7, 1537.
In Hortleder, lid. VIII, eap. 10 and in Dumont's eorp. ckipt., toin. IV, part. II, P. 146.
By the Grace of God, We Henry and Moritz, Father and Son, Dukes of Saxony, Landgraves in Thuringia. After the Highborn Princes, Mr. Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave in Thuringia and Margrave of Meissen; Mr. Philipp, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen, of Dietz, Ziegenhain and Nidda 2c., our friendly dear cousins, brothers-in-law and godfathers, and the honorable and wise, our dear specials, mayors, Rathmanne and guildmasters of the cities of Ulm, Augsburg, Magdeburg and Brunswick, for themselves; and of the also highborn princes, Mr. Philipsen, Mr. Ernsten and Mr. Franzen, Gebrüdereund dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg; Mr. Ulrichen, Dukes of Würtemberg and Teck, Count of Mümpelgart; Mr. Barnim and Mr. Philipsen, Cousins, Dukes of Stettin, Pomerania, of the Cassuben and Wenden, Princes of Rügen, Counts of Gutzkow; 1) Mr. Wolfgang, Mr. Hans, Mr. Georgen and Mr. Joachim, Cousins and Brothers, Princes of Anhalt, Counts of Ascanien lind Lords of Ber-
1) See the first note to No. 1263.
bürg, our friendly dear cousins, brothers-in-law and grandparents; and of the well-born, honorable and wise, our dear faithful and special, Gebharden and Albrechten, brothers, Grasen of Mansfeld 2c., also of the masters, mayors, aldermen and decreed councillors and commoners of the Upper German, Saxon and maritime cities named below, as Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Constance, Esslingen, Reutlingen, Memmingen, Kempten, Lindau, Biberach, Isni, Bremen, Goslar, Hanover, Göttingen, Eimbeck, Hamburg and Minden, as their beloved and their united relatives, and as we, by the grace, providence and providence of Almighty God, have come to the knowledge of His holy, pure and only beatific Word, and have accepted the same, also their beloved, and their religion; Therefore we should and will be justly grateful to his omnipotence: At our friendly and gracious petition, request and desire, we have accepted and received the Christian and unquestionable understanding of their beloved, according to the thought of the Electors of Saxony, the Landgraves of Hesse, and those of Ulm, Brunswick, Augsburg and Magdeburg, under their love and their seals, made and delivered to us a letter of acceptance, and such understanding is the content, as is written from word to word hereafter: 1) By the Grace of God we Johann Friedrich 2c.
As we publicly confess with this our letter against male, we speak and promise also by our princely dignities and faith that we will keep the above mentioned Christian understanding. We publicly confess with this letter against men, speak and promise by our sovereign dignities and faith, that we will live and comply with the above Christian understanding, which is meant only for salvation and defense against violence, for the duration of years and time in all matters, points and articles, with the addition of body and good, as much as it binds and obligates us and our heirs, faithfully and firmly, and not to be or do contrary to it, or to create to be done by ourselves or anyone else, by any means, as such may be conceived.
If in the aforementioned time, according to the will of God, our brother and co-believer assaults us with his principality and land, then we and our dear son shall and will also accept the aforementioned constitution established by our cousin, brother-in-law, grandfather, faithful and special one for the purpose of defense, and let ourselves be put on the same basis as others, according to the possibility of the assaulted and responsible lands, and also comply with it faithfully; everything honestly, faithfully and safely.
1) No. 1264.
We, Duke Heinrich, have knowingly affixed our seal to this letter for ourselves and our dear son, Duke Moritz, as a firm and true document, and have also signed it with our own hand next to our beloved, which is given at Freiberg, after the birth of Christ, fifteen hundred, then in the seventh and thirtieth year, on Saturdays, after the Visitation of the Virgin Mary [July 7].
Henry, Duke of Saxony. Moritz, Duke of Saxony.
1266 Agreement between King Christian of Denmark on the one hand, and Elector John Frederick of Saxony and the rest of the Schmalkaldic United on the other, established for the protection of the true faith.
at Brunswick, April 9, 1538.
In Hortleder, lib. VIII, eux. 13, p. 1342; in Dumont's eorp. eipl., torn. IV, pLrt. II, p. 162 and in Lünig's Reichs-Archiv, part. spso. eont. I. cont. II, P. 207.
By the Grace of God, we Christian, King of Denmark, Norway, Wends and Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn and the Ditmarsen, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, on one; and by the same Grace, we John Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshal and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave in Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, on our behalf and for the sake of the High Lord. Archmarshall and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Landgrave of Thuringia, Margrave of Meissen and Burgrave of Magdeburg, for us and on behalf of the Highborn Prince, Lord Johann Ernsten, also Duke of Saxony 2c., our friendly dear brother 2c.; Ernst and Franz, brothers, Dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg 2c.; Ulrich, Duke of Würtemberg and Teck, Count of Mümpelgarten 2c.; Philipp, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen, of Dietz, Ziegenhain and Nidda 2c.; Barnim and Philipp, Gevettern, Dukes of Stettin and Pomerania, of Cassuben and Wenden 2c., Princes of Rügen, Counts of Butzgau 2) 2c. ; Wolfgang, Hans, Georg and Joachim, Gevettern and Gebrüdern, Princes of Anhalt, Counts of Ascanien, and Lords of Bernburg 2c. ; Gebhard and Albrecht, Gebrüdern, Counts and Lords of Mansfeld; Philipp, Count of Nassau and Sarbrücken; Heinrich, Count of Schwarzburg, Lord of Arnstadt and Sondershausen 2c.The following are the members of the council of the cities named: Strasbourg, Augsburg, Frankfurt, Constance, Ulm and Esslingen,
2) See here first note to No. 1263.
Reutlingen, Memmingen, Kempten, Lindau, Bibrach, Isni, Magdeburg, Bremen, Goslar, Hamburg, Brunswick, Hanover, Göttingen, Eimbeck and Minden, on the other part: publicly confess in this letter for ourselves and our descendants and heirs against all men:
2. after the almighty God has let his salvific word appear and be proclaimed in our kingdom, counties and principalities. counties, dominions, cities, territories, and those belonging to them, to the salvation and consolation of many Christian believing souls, and it is clear that some many, of high and low ranks, who are still of the papal faith, bear noticeable vexation and discomfort therein, and are undoubtedly seeking ways and means how they may bring the Gospel and our Christian religion out of our kingdoms, counties and principalities, countries, cities, and territories, and re-establish their opinion in the same. God Almighty may graciously prevent this; also, for the promotion of the same, a famous council was previously scheduled for Mantua by Pope Paul III, and has now been moved to Vincent, and the time has been extended to the first day of May. From this, all kinds of obnoxious, disorderly and unchristian declarations against the Word of God and our Christian religion, as well as all kinds of violent and burdensome actions, where the Almighty God would not graciously avert them, are to be feared.
3. so that in the same, by God's help, Christian, honest prudence may be used, and we may all stick to our holy Christian faith and religion, and to the Confession, which was handed over to Imperial Majesty in public audience at Augsburg. Majesty in a public audience, upon which we the aforementioned Electors and Princes, Counts, Cities and Estates have established our common understanding, which we have previously established among ourselves, which we have recognized and recognize as divine, true and right, and also intend, with the granting of divine assistance, to persevere in this until our end; also to remain as much as possible in our kingdoms, principalities and principalities, lands, people, cities and territories, for the advancement of the glory of God and His holy word, and not to be urged away from it: we have committed ourselves to His omnipotence for praise, for the promotion of His honor and holy word, also for the handling of a "united" Christian being, life and common peace, for right permissible Christian resistance, for us and our descendants, He
We, the members of this congregation, the members of the family, and the members of all men, are gathered together, united, bound, and obligated in the name of the Lord for the time named below, and do so in and by virtue of this letter. Thus:
4. That we, King Christian, on the one hand, and we, the lords and princes, also counts and cities, together, on the other hand, shall faithfully and wholeheartedly honor, promote, mean, and warn one another from harm, and, in matters reported, shall defend our holy Christian faith, the Word of God, and holy religion, and what hangs on it or may come from it; or if another matter were to be brought against a part of us or of the members thereof, and it were thought that thereby the gospel, our Christian religion, and what depends on it, would be removed from our kingdoms, churalships and principalities, lands, people, cities, and the same belonging to them, The members of the council,.
5. that also in such matters of the Concilii, or what else is to be done about it, one party shall do nothing finite and conclusive without the other, but what we therefore shall, shall and must do, that we, our heirs and descendants, shall and will act, conclude and undertake with united counsel, without all opposition and danger. But that the other part of such action, dangerous or without good Christian causes, neither special nor external, or Christian and honest conditions not refuse.
6. And if it should come to pass that we do not hope to God that some party among us, or of the members thereof, by someone, who would be of high or low standing, no one excluded, would be subjected to violence or action on account of our holy religion, or what is pending to it, and thus be subjected to bring them from the word of God, his holy gospel and our Christian religion; or if another cause were to be brought forward against a part of us for a sham, and yet the opinion were that thereby the gospel and our Christian religion, and what is dependent on it, would be expelled from our kingdoms, churisdoms and principalities, lands, people, cities and their appurtenances, and the papal faith would be reintroduced therein,
The other party and its relatives shall then come to the aid and rescue of the overdrawn, burdened and attacked party, as will be reported hereafter, and shall not abandon the other in the same part.
7. And namely: If it should happen that we, the above-mentioned lords and princes, also counts and cities, all and especially, in the form indicated, would be raped, attacked or assaulted by someone, which the Almighty God may mercifully avert from us: then we, King Christian, our descendants and heirs, shall pay to the same raped or attacked state, or to the same descendants' heirs and their guardians in general, once three thousand servants at our expense, and within the next six weeks, if we are admonished to do so by the two princes and rulers of Saxony and Hesse, or by one of them, or after the death of both of them (which God Almighty will mercifully prevent) by the common captains of the Christian Order; and such servants shall serve their loved ones and them, or their heirs and guardians, for three months, and the months shall begin when the same servants of the Elector of Saxony or the Landgrave of Hesse reach land, whether in the reported lives of the Electors and Princes of Saxony and Hesse, or after their death; And the same servants of their loved ones and vow and swear to them to be faithful, kind, obedient and careful, to serve faithfully, not to refuse any march, storm, battle, or what is due in such dealings, but to do everything that is due to pious, honest men of war and well deserved. And if the three months have passed and the warring party is then in further need of the same servants, and wishes to retain and pay them, then the servants shall continue to serve.
8 And so that this may be done the more conveniently, the servants shall be accepted and appointed in this way, and we shall be relieved of the assistance. And this we shall do and execute at the request of our friendly dear hosts, Mr. Johann Friedrich, Duke of Saxony, Archmarshall and Elector, or Mr. Philippsen, Landgrave of Hesse, Count of Katzenelnbogen 2c., in the name of common understanding, or after both their deaths at the request of the common captains of the Christian understanding.
(9) Again, as stated above, it shall also be observed by us, the sovereigns and princes, also counts and cities, as mentioned above. If it should happen that the royal dignity, or its land and people, in the above-mentioned form and for the sake of the above-mentioned things, are attacked, damaged or assaulted, then we, the above-mentioned sovereigns and princes, also counts and cities, together, may demand that his royal dignity, or where it is in the above-mentioned form, be respected. If they should die in the course of the nine years, we shall pay to his royal heirs or regents three thousand servants at our own expense and send them to him within the next six weeks, if we are admonished to do so by his royal heirs. And such servants of His Royal Dignity shall also be obliged to serve their descendants, heirs, or regents in order, for three months, and the months shall begin at the time when the same servants reach His Royal Dignities in Denmark Kingdom or hereditary lands; also the same servants of His Royal Dignity shall vow and swear to serve His Royal Dignity for three months, and the months shall begin at the time when the same servants reach His Royal Dignities in Denmark Kingdom or hereditary lands. The same servants of his royal dignity also vow and swear to be faithful, loyal, obedient, and worthy of their royal dignities, to serve faithfully, not to refuse any march, storm, and battle, or what is proper in such dealings, but to do everything that is due and proper to pious, honest men of war. And when the three months for which we are to pay them have passed and expired, and the servants of these men are to be paid as servants, they will be paid as soldiers. W. would then need the same servants further, would want to keep them and pay them himself, then the servants shall continue to be obliged to serve.
(10) And so that this may be done the more conveniently, the servants shall be accepted and appointed in this way, and so that we may have help. And shall S. kön. W. shall seek help from us, the above-mentioned Duke John Frederick, Elector, and Landgrave Philipsen, or after both of our deaths from the captains of the understanding. However, since one of their loved ones is still alive, we should not and will not ask for such help anywhere else, except from one of their loved ones who survives the other, who should then also provide us with such help.
(11) Whether the demanded party should think that the servants would be difficult to obtain, and would prefer to send routers or give money, or send and give some routers, some servants, some money, that all this should be at his will. But that the number of three thousand servants or forty thousand guilders, as will be reported hereafter, be fulfilled. So should
For every three and a half hundred horses, ten thousand florins shall be paid to him for three months, according to the reported currency, and henceforth according to the number of horses the required part would send, and deducted. Namely, if he sends five hundred equipped horses, twenty thousand florins will be deducted; if he sends eight and a half hundred horses, thirty thousand florins will be deducted; if he sends one thousand equipped horses, forty thousand will be deducted. And then the demanded shall send and keep such horses at his own cost and damage.
(12) One thousand servants shall be counted for every thirteen thousand, three hundred and three hundred and thirty guilders, seven Schneebergs for three months; and if he sends servants, according to the number of servants and such reckoning, deduction shall be made for his help.
If the demanded part wants to give money, this shall also be at his will, and he shall then send forty thousand florins for the three thousand servants, one and twenty snowbergers, six and twenty albus or fifteen batz for one florin, in the time of six weeks, according to demand, to Hamburg, and there pay the demanded part, without all stay and danger. However, payment shall be made in gold florins or gold coins, and one gold florin for every six and twenty Schneebergers, and one gold coin for every five and twenty Schneebergers, and the required portion shall be sent to the person requesting help, and his servants shall deliver it.
14. and this agreement shall continue for the next nine years, starting from the Sunday Invocavit [March 10], from the date of this letter. Unless the same
would extend longer with all our knowledge and will.
15 We, the above-mentioned King Christian, as well as the counts and cities, all and every one of the above-mentioned points and articles, promise and pledge to keep, execute and enforce them steadfastly and firmly, by our royal, churonic and princely dignities, as well as countly honors and good faith and true words, without any danger.
16) In witness whereof there are five of these letters of understanding, one lute, erected, executed, and with our, King Christian's, sigil attached, for us and our descendants and heirs; and then with our, the aforesaid John Frederick, Duke of Saxony and Elector, Ernsten, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg 2c, Philipsen, Landgraves of Hesse, Counts of Katzenelnbogen 2c., Albrecht, Count and Lord of Mansfeld 2c., and mayors and councillors of the cities of Brunswick and Hamburg> for ourselves, and also on account of all our above-mentioned princes, counts, cities and estates. To which seal we have given other princes, counts, cities and estates, from their beloved, royal and princely sovereigns and from them, for ourselves and for all the above-mentioned princes, counts, cities and estates. The same letters have been delivered to us, King Christian, and the other four princes, counts and cities mentioned above.
Done and given at Brunswick, on Tuesday after the Sunday Judica [April 9], and Christ our Lord's birth in the 1538th year.
Christian.
Johann Friedrich, Churfürst, m. x. sst. Ernst, m. p.
Philip, Landgrave of Hesse, M. p.