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... In the name of the most holy and individual Trinity:
Be it known to all, and every one whom it may concern, or to whom in any
manner it may belong, That for many Years past, Discords and Civil Divisions
being stir’d up in the Roman Empire, which increas’d to such a degree,
that not only all Germany, but also the neighbouring Kingdoms, and France
particularly, have been involv’d in the Disorders of a long and cruel War:
And in the first place, between the most Serene and most Puissant Prince
and Lord, Ferdinand the Second, of famous Memory, elected Roman Emperor,
always August, King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia,
Arch-Duke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola,
Marquiss of Moravia, Duke of Luxemburgh, the Higher and Lower Silesia,
of Wirtemburg and Teck, Prince of Suabia, Count of Hapsburg, Tirol, Kyburg
and Goritia, Marquiss of the Sacred Roman Empire, Lord of Burgovia, of
the Higher and Lower Lusace, of the Marquisate of Slavonia, of Port Naon
and Salines, with his Allies and Adherents on one side; and the most Serene,
and the most Puissant Prince, Lewis the Thirteenth, most Christian King
of France and Navarre, with his Allies and Adherents on the other side.
And after their Decease, between the most Serene and Puissant Prince and
Lord, Ferdinand the Third, elected Roman Emperor, always August, King of
Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Arch-Duke of Austria,
Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Marquiss of Moravia,
Duke of Luxemburg, of the Higher and Lower Silesia, of Wirtemburg and Teck,
Prince of Suabia, Count of Hapsburg, Tirol, Kyburg and Goritia, Marquiss
of the Sacred Roman Empire, Burgovia, the Higher and Lower Lusace, Lord
of the Marquisate of Slavonia, of Port Naon and Salines, with his Allies
and Adherents on the one side; and the most Serene and most Puissant Prince
and Lord, Lewis the Fourteenth, most Christian King of France and Navarre,
with his Allies and Adherents on the other side: from whence ensu’d great
Effusion of Christian Blood, and the Desolation of several Provinces. It
has at last happen’d, by the effect of Divine Goodness, seconded by the
Endeavours of the most Serene Republick of Venice, who in this sad time,
when all Christendom is imbroil’d, has not ceas’d to contribute its Counsels
for the publick Welfare and Tranquillity; so that on the side, and the
other, they have form’d Thoughts of an universal Peace. And for this purpose,
by a mutual Agreement and Covenant of both Partys, in the year of our Lord
1641. the 25th of December, N.S. or the 15th O.S. it was resolv’d at Hamburgh,
to hold an Assembly of Plenipotentiary Ambassadors, who should render themselves
at Munster and Osnabrug in Westphalia the 11th of July, N.S. or the 1st
of the said month O.S. in the year 1643. The Plenipotentiary Ambassadors
on the one side, and the other, duly establish’d, appearing at the prefixt
time, and on the behalf of his Imperial Majesty, the most illustrious and
most excellent Lord, Maximilian Count of Trautmansdorf and Weinsberg, Baron
of Gleichenberg, Neustadt, Negan, Burgau, and Torzenbach, Lord of Teinitz,
Knight of the Golden Fleece, Privy Counsellor and Chamberlain to his Imperial
Sacred Majesty, and Steward of his Houshold; the Lord John Lewis, Count
of Nassau, Catzenellebogen, Vianden, and Dietz, Lord of Bilstein, Privy
Counsellor to the Emperor, and Knight of the Golden Fleece; Monsieur Isaac
Volmamarus, Doctor of Law, Counsellor, and President in the Chamber of
the most Serene Lord Arch-Duke Ferdinand Charles. And on the behalf of
the most Christian King, the most eminent Prince and Lord, Henry of Orleans,
Duke of Longueville, and Estouteville, Prince and Sovereign Count of Neuschaftel,
Count of Dunois and Tancerville, Hereditary Constable of Normandy, Governor
and Lieutenant-General of the same Province, Captain of the Cent Hommes
d’Arms, and Knight of the King’s Orders, &c. as also the most illustrious
and most excellent Lords, Claude de Mesmes, Count d’Avaux, Commander of
the said King’s Orders, one of the Superintendents of the Finances, and
Minister of the Kingdom of France &c. and Abel Servien, Count la Roche
of Aubiers, also one of the Ministers of the Kingdom of France. And by
the Mediation and Interposition of the most illustrious and most excellent
Ambassador and Senator of Venice, Aloysius Contarini Knight, who for the
space of five Years, or thereabouts, with great Diligence, and a Spirit
intirely impartial, has been inclin’d to be a Mediator in these Affairs.
After having implor’d the Divine Assistance, and receiv’d a reciprocal
Communication of Letters, Commissions, and full Powers, the Copys of which
are inserted at the end of this Treaty, in the presence and with the consent
of the Electors of the Sacred Roman Empire, the other Princes and States,
to the Glory of God, and the Benefit of the Christian World, the following
Articles have been agreed on and consented to, and the same run thus. ...
... As for what concerns the Castles of Ehrenbreitstein
and Homestein, the Emperor shall withdraw, or cause the Garisons to be
withdrawn in the time and manner limited hereafter in the Article of Execution,
and shall restore those Castles to the Elector of Treves, and to his Metropolitan
Chapter, to be in the Protection of the Empire, and the Electorate; for
which end the Captain, and the new Garison which shall be put therein by
the Elector, shall also take the Oaths of Fidelity to him and his Chapter. ...
... That all the Vassals, Subjects, Citizens and Inhabitants,
as well on this as the other side the Rhine, who were subject to the House
of Austria, or who depended immediately on the Empire, or who acknowledg’d
for Superiors the other Orders of the Empire, notwithstanding all Confiscations,
Transferrings, Donations made by any Captains or Generals of the Swedish
Troops, or Confederates, since the taking of the Province, and ratify’d
by the most Christian King, or decreed by his own particular Motion; immediately
after the Publication of Peace, shall be restor’d to the possession of
their Goods, immovable and stable, also to their Farms, Castles, Villages,
Lands, and Possessions, without any exception upon the account of Expences
and Compensation of Charges, which the modern Possessors may alledge, and
without Restitution of Movables or Fruits gather’d in. ...
... That the Inhabitants of each Place shall be oblig’d,
when the Soldiers and Garisons draw out, to furnish them without Money
the necessary Waggons, Horses, Boats and Provisions, to carry off all things
to the appointed Places in the Empire; which Waggons, Horses and Boats,
the Governors of the Garisons and the Captains of the withdrawing Soldiers
shall restore without any Fraud or Deceit. The Inhabitants of the States
shall free and relieve each other of this trouble of carrying the things
from one Territory to the other, until they arrive at the appointed Place
in the Empire; and the Governors or other Officers shall not be allow’d
to bring with him or them the lent Waggons, Horses and Boats, nor any other
thing they are accommodated with, out of the limits they belong unto, much
less out of those of the Empire. ...