Law-ref.org TREATY OF WESTPHALIA
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amnesty [Global Index]


... That there shall be on the one side and the other a perpetual Oblivion, Amnesty, or Pardon of all that has been committed since the beginning of these Troubles, in what place, or what manner soever the Hostilitys have been practis’d, in such a manner, that no body, under any pretext whatsoever, shall practice any Acts of Hostility, entertain any Enmity, or cause any Trouble to each other; neither as to Persons, Effects and Securitys, neither of themselves or by others, neither privately nor openly, neither directly nor indirectly, neither under the colour of Right, nor by the way of Deed, either within or without the extent of the Empire, notwithstanding all Covenants made before to the contrary: That they shall not act, or permit to be acted, any wrong or injury to any whatsoever; but that all that has pass’d on the one side, and the other, as well before as during the War, in Words, Writings, and Outrageous Actions, in Violences, Hostilitys, Damages and Expences, without any respect to Persons or Things, shall be entirely abolish’d in such a manner that all that might be demanded of, or pretended to, by each other on that behalf, shall be bury’d in eternal Oblivion. ...


... According to this foundation of reciprocal Amity, and a general Amnesty, all and every one of the Electors of the sacred Roman Empire, the Princes and States (therein comprehending the Nobility, which depend immediately on the Empire) their Vassals, Subjects, Citizens, Inhabitants (to whom on the account of the Bohemian or German Troubles or Alliances, contracted here and there, might have been done by the one Party or the other, any Prejudice or Damage in any manner, or under what pretence soever, as well in their Lordships, their fiefs, Underfiefs, Allodations, as in their Dignitys, Immunitys, Rights and Privileges) shall be fully re-establish’d on the one side and the other, in the Ecclesiastick or Laick State, which they enjoy’d, or could lawfully enjoy, notwithstanding any Alterations, which have been made in the mean time to the contrary. ...


... Further, that all the Palatinate House, with all and each of them, who are, or have in any manner adher’d to it; and above all, the Ministers who have serv’d in this Assembly, or have formerly serv’d this House; as also all those who are banish’d out of the Palatinate, shall enjoy the general Amnesty here above promis’d, with the same Rights as those who are comprehended therein, or of whom a more particular and ampler mention has been made in the Article of Grievance. ...


... That Frederick, Marquiss of Baden, and of Hachberg, and his Sons and Heirs, with all those who have serv’d them in any manner whatsoever, and who serve them still, of what degree they may be, shall enjoy the Amnesty above-mention’d, in the second and third Article, with all its Clauses and Benefices; and by virtue thereof, they shall be fully re-establish’d in the State Ecclesiastical or Secular, in the same manner as the Lord George Frederick Marquiss of Beden and of Hachberg, possess’d, before the beginning of the Troubles of Bohemia, whatever concern’d the lower Marquisate of Baden, call’d vulgarly Baden Durlach, as also what concern’d the Marquisate of Hachberg, and the Lordships of Rottelen, Badenweiller, and Sausenberg, notwithstanding, and annulling all the Changes made to the contrary. After which shall be restor’d to Marquiss Frederick, the Jurisdictions of Stein and Renchingen, without being charg’d with Debts, which the Marquiss William has contracted during that time, by Reason of the Revenues, Interests and Charges, put down in the Transaction pass’d at Etlingen in the Year 1629. and transfer’d to the said William Marquiss of Baden, with all the Rights, Documents, Writings, and other things appertaining; so that all the Plea concerning the Charges and Revenues, as well receiv’d as to receive, with their Damages and Interests, to reckon from the time of the first Possession, shall be intirely taken away and abolish’d. ...


... But for those who are Subjects and Hereditary Vassals of the Emperor, and of the House of Austria, they shall really have the benefit of the Amnesty, as for their Persons, Life, Reputation, Honours: and they may return with Safety to their former Country; but they shall be oblig’d to conform, and submit themselves to the Laws of the Realms, or particular Provinces they shall belong to. ...


... Touching the Affair of Hesse Cassel, it has been agreed as follows: In the first place, The House of Hesse Cassel, and all its Princes, chiefly Madam Emelie Elizabeth Landgravine of Hesse, and her Son Monsieur William and his Heirs, his Ministers, Officers, Vassals, Subjects, Soldiers, and others who follow his Service in any manner soever, without any Exception, notwithstanding Contracts to the contrary, Processes, Proscriptions, Declarations, Sentences, Executions and Transactions; as also notwithstanding any Actions and Pretensions for Damages and Injuries as well from Neutrals, as from those who were in Arms, annull’d by the General Amnesty here before establish’d, and to take place from the beginning of the War in Bohemia, with a full Restitution (except the Vassals, and Hereditary Subjects of his Imperial Majesty, and the House of Austria, as is laid down in the Paragraph, Tandemomnes, &c.) shall partake of all the Advantages redounding from this Peace, with the same Rights other States enjoy, as is set forth in the Article which commences, Unanimi, &c. ...


... Finally, That all and every one either States, Commonaltys, or private Men, either Ecclesiastical or Secular, who by virtue of this Transaction and its general Articles, or by the express and special Disposition of any of them, are oblig’d to restore, transfer, give, do, or execute any thing, shall be bound forthwith after the Publication of the Emperor’s Edicts, and after Notification given, to restore, transfer, give, do, or execute the same, without any Delay or Exception, or evading Clause either general or particular, contain’d in the precedent Amnesty, and without any Exception and Fraud as to what they are oblig’d unto. ...


... The Restitution being made pursuant to the Articles of Amnesty and Grievances, the Prisoners being releas’d, all the Soldiery of the Garisons, as well the Emperor’s and his Allys, as the most Christian King’s, and of the Landgrave of Hesse, and their Allys and Adherents, or by whom they may have been put in, shall be drawn out at the same time, without any Damage, Exception, or Delay, of the Citys of the Empire, and all other Places which are to be restor’d. ...


... That it shall not for the future, or at present, prove to the damage and prejudice of any Town, that has been taken and kept by the one or other Party; but that all and every one of them, with their Citizens and Inhabitants, shall enjoy as well the general Benefit of the Amnesty, as the rest of this Pacification. And for the Remainder of their Rights and Privileges, Ecclesiastical and Secular, which they enjoy’d before these Troubles, they shall be maintain’d therein; save, nevertheless the Rights of Sovereignty, and what depends thereon, for the Lords to whom they belong. ...