§ 10. Once they appear, it is usual to hold a service before the beginning of the procedures, and God the Almighty is petitioned for a good outcome. After the service, in a chamber or closed room, the territorial lord has his chancellor or chief council spell out orally to all estates the reasons why they have been assembled, also the points on which their deliberations and council are sought; (he himself should sketch it out in a few thoughts and then have the subsequent elaboration done by the aforementioned person), thereafter to transmit this also in writing to the leaders of the territorial estates, and to ask that the estates come together, consider well the proposed points, and then be heard with humble, loyal disclosure of their sentiments. [ . . . ]
§ 11. Thereupon, they are sent into separate chambers, as is the custom in principalities and lands made up entirely of freeholders, the prelates into one, the counts and lords into one, the knighthood into another, and the cities also into one, or, as the situation may be, two or three classes stay together, depending on whether the estate of the knights, or lords, or prelates is exempted from the territorial princely rule. With every assembly, the chairperson, or whoever is authorized by old custom, asks the estates for their opinion, and they each reach a certain decision: every class communicates the same to the others, until they have agreed upon a common opinion, or, if that is not possible, the opinion or decision of every estate or class is recorded, and after that a written response to the territorial lord is composed, or to his chancellor and counsels, or whomever he has appointed for this, and as is customary, is delivered by several deputies from the estates.
§ 12. Now, if the territorial lord is content with this declaration, after it has been carefully considered against the proposed points, and examined for its motives, he informs them of the same. Thereupon, a written decision of what has been transacted and decided is composed in his chancery, and if publicly read in the presence of the lord and all estates, confirmed with the territorial lord’s seal and signature. It is then filed in the same lord’s chancery, as well as in the archives of the territorial estates, in as many copies as there are classes of the same. It is considered a decision and law of the land and is proclaimed in open writs and charters and the territorial estates are sent home again with gracious thanks and courtesies.
print version
return to list
previous document