§ 2. In addition, however, and in particular, there are also several main points which the territorial lord in his government must observe toward all his subjects, not only, as described in the above-mentioned general parts, for the sake of conscience, and out of the responsibility to which God Almighty will one day hold him, but also because of an externally binding obligation, either because he or his predecessors promised and granted as much, or because it is imposed upon them in this way in the general German laws and statutes, or is in accord with ancient custom.
§ 3. As the noblest of these points one must regard the preservation of the religion as it is usual and customary in the land. For in accordance with numerous imperial statutes, most German principalities and lordships, and their respective governing authority, are obligated not to trouble the subjects in their Christian creeds permitted in the religious peace, and in the public or otherwise customary exercise thereof, and instead to properly protect them therein, as is described in more detail below in chapter 11.
§ 4. For another, the subjects of a land tend to desire it as a special competence, and it is also provided for in the imperial statutes, that the territorial lord maintain law and justice in the land, and should strive that everyone receive a hearing and decision in response to his complaint, and be given proper help in places and courts, in keeping with ancient custom, for what he is awarded by law; also, that nobody is condemned or punished for unheard-of or unknown things. For in case the territorial lords make no proper efforts in this direction, leave the people without law and help, or wish to act according to their own mind without some form of the court, the estates and subjects of the land would have reason to complain about this, and, in case of persistent refusal and disorder, to complain to the high imperial authority for mediation.
§ 5. Third, the subjects of the German territorial principalities are entitled in their goods and possessions such that the territorial lord does not have the power, as may happen, for example, in many tyrannical or otherwise arbitrary, cruel lordships, to take them in whole or in part as he pleases, or to burden them with rents, dues, and impositions other than those placed upon them since olden times or by new, lawful causes, in other words, to assess and tax them at his discretion. However, if an impost is levied in the entire Empire or in the district to which the principality or the land belongs, or if, in response to the territorial lord’s request, for significant causes, something is granted by the estates of the land, the territorial lord is authorized to collect this from the subjects, as will be explained in Part. 3 Cap. 3 3 Tit., “Of the taxation of the land.”
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