Forerunner of the Necessary Defense of Noble Evangelical Persons

only in fragments / and moreover riddled with false, fabricated,
defamatory, and sophistical glosses interpretive notes / which
distort the true intentions original: "intentiones" and opinions that they had
shared with one another in good faith and confidence / what
was conceived original: "concipirt" in a foreign language is wrongly translated original: "vertirt";
what individual persons perhaps discussed original: "discurrirt" amongst
themselves, or only mentioned as a proposal / is immediately and
quite odiously original: "odiosè" imputed original: "imputirt" to a whole body original: "corpori" and
union original: "union" as if they were common decrees original: "communia decreta" and
conclusions original: "conclusa". Any sensible and impartial person
can easily judge this. And what sort of tactic is this / when
perhaps the best part / which might save original: "salviren" or explain the rest /
is either completely omitted / or struck out with an etc.?
One will, for now, say nothing / of the countless
gross errors / and mistakes / falsehoods / lies original: "mendacia"
and slanders original: "calumnias", which partly refute original: "refutirn"
themselves, and partly shall be uncovered in time / and the
oppressed innocence / with God's help and honor / shall
be rescued. For whoever considers the foundation /
as mentioned above / will find nothing in the accused
other than an upright zeal / to preserve the Empire of the
German Nation The "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation," the complex political entity that preceded modern Germany. / in its constitution / ancient rightful form /
fundamental laws / but especially the harmony original: "harmonia"
sanctioned original: "sancirter" between the Head The Emperor. and the Members The Princes and Estates of the Empire.
through sworn capitulations Capitulations|The 'Wahlkapitulationen' were written contracts that an Emperor signed upon his election, promising to respect the rights and privileges of the German princes. and treaties original: "pacta";
and furthermore, to maintain that liberty original: "libertet" and
freedom so dearly acquired by their laudable ancestors /
German-born Electors and Princes / with their property
and blood / and simultaneously to prevent the
Papal power original: "Päbstliche gewaldt" and the Spanish yoke A common Protestant fear that the Catholic Habsburgs were trying to turn Germany into a Spanish-style absolute monarchy under the Pope's influence.
from [prevailing] over the free German Na-