the Brethren. Some of the other provisions of this document were, that the States might build schools and churches upon their lands, but were not allowed to compel their subjects to attend either; the lords and knights were to have the privilege to call to their Churches priests ordained either according to the old Utraquist system, or according to the new; in the royal cities, and upon the crown estates, the citizens were to enjoy the privilege of building churches wherein the worship should be either Catholic or Protestant as they wished.
Then Rudolph proclaimed an amnesty, whereby he declared that no one should be held to answer for participation in the above defense of their rights. This amnesty was signed also by the Catholic lords, except by the three above mentioned, the chief chancellor, Slavata, and Martinec. Upon the refusal of these lords to sign the amnesty, the States entered a protest in the public records, that in the future, should any one do anything to violate the provisions of the Letter of Majesty, the three lords would be looked to as the cause, since in refusing to sign the amnesty they showed themselves to be the enemies of peace and harmony. The Silesians also gained similar liberties to the Bohemians. This business being settled, the States dismissed their forces, and proceeded to the other questions, and for a while it seemed that peace and harmony were restored to the land.
The loss of so many possessions weighed heavily upon the mind of Rudolph, and he constantly thought how he might regain them. Rudolph’s Plots.He first turned to the electors of the empire, but gained nothing there except that Matthias should acknowledge
