THE GOLDEN bull: OR, The Fundamental Laws and Constitutions of the Empire.  
Showing, The Persons and Privileges of the Prince's Electors, the manner of the Election, the form and Ceremonies thereof, with other politic Orders to be observed by the States and Subjects of the Empire, which shall be assembled at Francford (for the Election of the now next Emperor) the tenth day of july next ensuing. 1619.  
LONDON: Imprinted by T. S. for nathanael Newberry, and are to be sold at the sign of the Star under S. Peter's Church in Cornhill, and in Popes-head Alley. 1619.   

The Imperial Laws and Constitutions, set down in the Golden Bull, or Letters Patents of CHARLES the fourth, Emperor of Rome, for the Election of Emperors. (* ⁎ *)  

In the Name of the most holy, inseparable and glorious Trinity. Amen.  
CHARLES the fourth, by the Divine grace of God, Emperor of Rome, semper Augustus, and King of Bohemia; for a perpetual memory to all Posterity, Sendeth greeting. Every kingdom divided in itself, shall be mad esolate; for the Princes thereof are become fellows with thieves: therefore the Lord sendeth the spirit of Blindness amongst them, that at noon day they grope about as if they were in darkness; and removeth their Candlestick out of their place, that they should be blind leaders of the blind, and they that walk in darkness offend, and are deceived, and being blind, commit wickedness, and fall into division. Tell me Pride, how didst thou reign in Lucifer, but by the means and aid of Dissension? Say envious Satan, how didst thou cast Adam out of Paradise terrestrial, but by making him to disobey God? Speak Lust, how didst thou destroy Troy, but by causing Helena to forsake her husband? Say Wrath, how didst thou destroy the commonwealth of Rome, but by moviug julius Caesar and Pompey to civil and intestine war? Thou Envy, like a crafty Serpent, creeping into the Christian Empire (which by the power of the holy and inseparable Trinity is grounded on the Theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity) and whose foundation is happily established upon the most Christian Kingdom of God, by pouring thy ancient and most impious venom amongst the imperial branches, and nearest members of the same, (that the Pillars thereof being shaken, the whole building might fall to the ground) oftentimes hast set ungodly division among the seven Electors of the Empire, by whom (as by seven Candlesticks, shining in the unity of a sevenfold Spirit) the holy Empire should be illuminated.  
Therefore, by virtue of our office, which by the Imperial Crown we hold, to prevent the dangers of future divisions and dissensions among the Electors, whereof (as being King of Bohemia) we acknowledge ourself to be one, by a double reason, as well of our Imperial Command, as by our right of Election, which we execute, among other Laws prescribed for the nourishing and maintaining of correspondency among the Electors, and thereby to induce them unto an unity of Election, and a detestation of the aforesaid division, and to stop the passage unto divers perils thereby ensuing at an Imperial assembly, holden in our Court at Norembergh, in the presence of all the Prince's Electors, Spiritual and Temporal, and of a great number of other Princes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, and Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of our Empire, sitting in our Throne, appareled in our Imperial Robes, and Crown upon our head, with mature deliberation, and by imperial power, ordain, declare, and establish, etc. In the year of our LORD GOD 1356. in the ninth Indiction, and the fourth Ideses of january, and of our reign the tenth of Bohemia, and the first of our EMPIRE.   

In what manner the Electors are to be conducted to the Election, and by whom.  
WE ordain, and by this our present Imperial Edict, perpetually to be observed, command, of our mere motion and free Imperial power, that as often, and whensoever, in time to come, upon necessity, or the cause of Election of the King of Romans' to be Emperor, it shall happen and fall out, that the Prince's Electors, according to the ancient and laudable custom for the said Election, are to travel, and set forward on their journey, every Prince Elector shall (upon request made by the said Electors) be bound to conduct and accompany his co-Electors, when they are for that cause to travel, through their territories, lands and jurisdictions; and further also, as necessity requireth, and without refusal, convey them to the City or place where such Election is to be made and celebrated, and also at their return from thence, upon pain of perjury, and loss (for that time only) of his or their voice, which he or they is, or are, to have in the said Election.  
Which said penalties, to him or them, that shall show themselves rebellious, obstinate, or negligent, in the said conduction, we ourselves will judge and impose.  
We further ordain and command all other Princes, Feodaries, and belonging to the Imperial jurisdiction, by what name soever they are called, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Knights, and their Retainers, Gentlemen and others, Burgesses and Officers of Castles, Cities and places whatsoever of the sacred Empire, that at such time as the King of the Romans is to be elected Emperor, upon request unto them made by the Prince's electors, or any of them, for conduction, either of themselves, or their Deputies, which they shall appoint, as aforesaid, without any denial, to conduct & guide them thorough their territories, lands & possessions, & further, as need shall require. And that if they shall presume or refuse not to do as we herein ordain and appoint, they shall be liable to the pains and penalties hereafter following, viz. All Princes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Nobles and Gentlemen, doing the contrary, shall incur the pain of guiltiness of perjury, and deprivation of all liberties and immunities whatsoever they hold and enjoy by Imperial right, or otherwise; as also of all other their offices and functions: And all Burgesses, and Commons of Cities and Towns, that presume to do the contrary, are likewise guilty of perjury, and shall be deprived of all the Rights, Liberties, Privileges, and Immunities, which by Imperial liberty and grant they hold and have obtained; which together with their bodies and goods shall escheat and fall into the emperors hands; and further, ipso facto, be deprived of all Law and Right whatsoever; so that from thenceforth, it shall be lawful for every private man, of his own authority, without lawful proceed, or aid of Magistrates, freely to assail, and set upon them, not once incurring any penalty, pain, or punishment whatsoever, by Imperial authority, or otherwise, for the same, they being so convinced for disobedience against the Commonwealth, and the sacred state and dignity of the Empire, as also against their own honours and credits, and found to have rashly neglected their duties, and done as rebels, disobedient subjects, and perjured persons against the Decree aforesaid. Decreeing further, and commanding, That the Citizens and Inhabitants of all Towns and places where the said Princes Electors, and either, or any of them, as also their Deputies, or their servants shall lodge or rest themselves, in their journey towards, or in the place of the Election aforesaid, to sell, and cause their victuals to be sold at the common rate and price accustomed, without enhancing, or extraordinarily raising the price of the same, unto them and their retinue, for their necessary provision; as also in their departure or returning home from thence again. And whosoever shall do the contrary, we will that they shall incur the same penalties that are formerly set down against Citizens and others, for disobedience in the cases aforesaid. Further, if any of the Princes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Burgesses, and Inhabitants of Towns and Cities whatsoever, shall offer to presume maliciously to wrong or do any injury openly or privily, by any means whatsoever, unto the Prince's Electors in the way or otherwise, as they travel to the place where the King of the Romans is to be elected, or in their return from thence again; or shall presume to assail or trouble them, or any of them, personally, or any of their Deputies aforesaid, traveling to and from the said place, whether they shall demand conduction, or not, such person or persons, together with their adherents and complices, shall presently thereupon incur the pains and punishments aforesaid, every man according to his state, quality, and condition, as aforesaid. And if any of the Prince's Electors shall fall out or have any particular quarrel, contention, or controversy, one with or against the other, notwithstanding the same, they shall be bound to convey and conduct one the other, or their Deputies by them appointed for the said Election, to the place of Election, and back again as aforesaid, upon pain of incurring the dishonour of perjury, and the loss (for that time only) of their voice in the Election, as aforesaid. And if any other Princes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, or Commons of Towns whatsoever, shall have any particular quarrel with, or bear any evil will or envy unto, the Prince's Electors in general, or any of them in particular; or if that there shall suddenly arise any quarrel, contention, or war between them; nevertheless, all controversies and contentions set apart, they shall conduct the said Prince, or Prince's Electors, or his or their Deputies, appointed to go to the said Election, in their journey both forward and backward, as they will shun and avoid the pains and penalties aforesaid, by us set down to be inflicted upon them that shall do the contrary, wherein we ourselves will be judges, etc.  
For the better and further establishing and confirming of all the premises, we will and command, That every & all the Prince's Electors, and the rest of the Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Cities, Towns, & Inhabitants thereof, shall, by their oaths, set down in writing, under their hands, promise & bind themselves, to observe, fulfil, and keep all the premises, in every point faithfully and truly, according to the tenor thereof: And whosoever shall deny or refuse to do the same, shall forthwith incur the pains and punishments, that are formerly inflicted upon every man, according to his or their estate and degree.  
If any Prince Elector, or any other Prince, of what estate or condition soever he be, feodary to the Empire, Earles, Barons or Knights, or any of their heirs and successors, shall not hold, perform, and observe our aforesaid and ensuing constitutions and laws, or presume to contrary the same, if the said Prince Elector continue therein, than the rest of the Electors shall from thence forward exclude him out of their company, and he shall be excluded from his voice of Election, and place of Elector among the rest of the Electors; neither shall he enjoy his feodary preferments which he usually had in the Empire: And all other Princes and Noble men aforesaid, committing the like offence against our said laws, likewise, shall not enjoy their feodary rights, by the Empire given and granted unto them; and yet nevertheless, they shall incur the danger of all the pains and penalties aforesaid, personally concerning them, according to their degrees and qualities, ordained and appointed. And although all and every one of the Princes, Earls, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Cities, Towns, and Burgesses of the same, are bound to conduct and accompany every or any one of the said Electors or their deputies as aforesaid; nevertheless, we think it convenient to ordain and appoint several and fit conductors and conductions through the Countries, Towns, and Territories near or nearest adjoining unto them, as hereafter more at large appeareth.  
First, the King of Bohemia, chief BUTLER, or Cupbearer of the Empire, shall be conducted by the Archbishop of Mentz, the Bishop of Bamburge, and Wirtzenburgh, the Burgesses of Wremburgh, Hohenloe, Werthen, Brunecke, and Hanow, the towns of Noremburgh, Rotenburgh, and Wyndeshem.  
The Archbishop of Collen, Chancellor for the Empire in Italy, shall be conducted by the Archbishop of Mentz and Tride, the County Palatine of the Rhine, the Landgrave of Hessen, the Earls of Katsenellenboghen, Nassaw, Dyetz, Isenburgh, Westerburgh, Runkell, Limburgh, and Valkenstein, the cities of Wetflaria, Beylenhuysen, and Fredebergh.  
The Archbishop of Trevers, Chancellor for the Empire in France, and the Kingdom of Arles, shall be conducted by the Archbishop of Mentz, the Earls Palatine of the Rhine, Spanheim and Veltentz, the Rhingraves of Wildegraven, Nassaw, Isenburgh, Westerburgh, Runkell, Limburgh, Dyetz, Katsenellenboghen, Eppenstein, and Valkenstein, and the City of Mentz.  
The county Palatine of the Rhine, chief SEWER of the Empire, shall be conducted by the Archbishop of Mentz.  
The Duke of Saxon, Martial of the Empire, shall be conducted by the King of Bohemia, the archbishops of Mentz, and Madeburgh, the Bishop of Banburgh, and Wirtzenburgh, the Marquis of Misnia, the Landgrave of Hessen, the Abbots of Fulden and Herffelden, the Burgraves of Noremburgh, Hohenloe, Wirthen, Brunecke, Hanow, and Valkenstein, the Cities of Erford, Wulenhuysen, Noremburgh, Rotenburgh, and Wyndelsthem.  
And all these last named shall conduct the Margrave of Brandenburg, chief Chamberlain of the Empire.  
Also we will, and expressly ordain, that every one of the Prince's Electors that shall desire any such conduction, shall certify those that shall so by him be required, in such convenient time, and withal signify unto them what way he intends to ride, that they that shall be thereunto required, may have sufficient time to prepare themselves of all things necessary for the same.  
These ordinances aforesaid, concerning this conduction, our meaning is shall in such sort be understood, that every one above named, or others not named, that shall be required to conduct the said Electors, shall be bound to prepare themselves willingly and readily to do it, not only through their own Lands and Territories, but further also, if need require, upon pain of the penalties aforesaid set down.  
We further appoint and ordain, that the Archbishop of Mentz, that for the time shall be, shall by express messengers in writing signify unto every one of the Princes his fellow Co-electors, both spiritual and temporal, the said Election, in which his Letters he shall specify with as much speed as those Letters can conveniently come unto their hands, the day on which within three months next after ensuing in the said letters contained, all the said Electors, are to be at Frankford upon Maine, either in person or by his or their lawful deputies thereunto appointed, with full power and authority under their hands and seals, to elect the King of the Romans to be Emperor. In what manner & form such Letters shall be made, and perpetually penned, and in what manner and form also the said Princes Electors shall authorize their deputies in that case of Election by them so appointed to be done, at the end of this book you shall find it set down, and more plainly expressed, which form so set down, by our imperial power and authority we do command in that manner to be observed.  
And whensoever it shall happen, that the death of the Emperor, or of the King of the Romans', is known in the Diocese of Mentz, then within a month from the day of the notice of the same, justly accounted, our will and pleasure is, that the said Archbishop shall by his Letters signify the same unto every one of the Prince's Electors, in manner as aforesaid; which if the said Archbishop shall neglect or carelessly put off, than the said Princes Electors shall of themselves, without calling or warning (in performance of their oaths and allegiance to the Empire) at the end of three months aforesaid, as in the former institution is declared, repair to the said town of Frankford, there to proceed to the Election of the King of the Romans to be Emperor.  
And every Prince Elector, or his deputy, shall enter into the said town of Frankford at the said Election, with a train of, not above two hundred horsemen, and not more, whereof fifty of them only, and not above, shall be armed.  
And every Prince Elector, that is called and summoned to the said Election, not coming thereunto, nor yet sending his lawful deputy, with his Letters Patents under his hand and seal, with full power & authority to elect the King of the Romans to be Emperor, or if after, the said Prince, or the said deputy, shall go from the said place of election, the King of the Romans not being elected to be Emperor, nor his said deputy fully authorized, he shall lose his voice which he ought to have in such election.  
We also charge, command and enjoin the citizens of Frankford to defend and protect all the said Princes Electors in general, and every one of them in particular, from all invasions or tumults that may happen among them, upon any particular dislike, and also from all other men that may attempt any thing against them, and likewise their servants and followers, which they or any of them shall bring, to the number of two hundred aforesaid, into the said City; and they shall take their corporal oaths upon the holy Evangelists, for performance thereof, upon pain of incurring the danger of Perjury, together with the loss of all their Rights, Liberties, Privileges and Immunities, which by Imperial authority they hold and enjoy, and to fall into the danger of outlarie, both in body and goods: and in that case it shall be lawful for every man, at his or their own liberties, without orderly proceeding, to invade and assault them and every one of them, when they will, and at all times, (being thereby deprived of all Law, as traitors and Rebels to the Empire,) without any punishment to be inflicted on them for the same, neither within nor without the Empire. The said citizens of Frankford also, during all the time of the said Election, shall not suffer any man, of what estate or condition soever he be, in any sort to enter into the said Town, (the Prince's Electors themselves, and their deputies aforesaid excepted) who are every one of them to enter with two hundred horsemen, as aforesaid: And if after they are entered with their trains aforesaid, or in their presence, any man be found to be there, contrary to our decree; the said Citizens presently and with all speed shall take order for his speedy departure out of the City, without stay, upon pain of incurring the penalties aforesaid to be laid upon them, or else of the breach of their oaths, which they are to take upon the holy Evangelists for the performance of this our decree, as it is formerly expressed and declared.   

Touching the Election of the King of the Romans'.  
AS soon as the said Electors or their deputies are entered into the said City of Frankford, the next day in the morning, in the Church of Saint Bartholomew, they shall cause the Mass of the holy Spirit to be sung before them, to the end that the said holy Spirit might open their hearts, and illuminate their minds, to choose and elect a good, upright and a fit person to be King of the Roman, and Emperor, and for the advancement of the Christian faith: And after the said Mass, all the Electors, or their deputies, shall approach unto the Altar on which the said Mass was celebrated, where the spiritual Prince's Electors, standing together with the temporal, the Gospel of Saint john, (beginning, In principio erat verbum,) shall be laid open before them, the spiritual Princes reverently laying their hands upon their breasts, and the secular Princes laying their hands upon the book, in the presence of all their company, who then are to be there shall take their oath, which oath the Archbishop of Mentz shall give unto them, and shall openly pronounce the same in this manner.  
I Archbishop of Mentz HIGH-CHANCELOR of the sacred EMPIRE in Germany, and Prince Elector, swear to this holy Gospel now laid before me, that upon the allegiance which I own to God and to the Empire of Rome, I will with all my heart and best endeavour by God's help, choose a temporal head for the people of Christendom that is, a King of the Romans to be Emperor, such an one as shall be fit and capable for the place, according to my allegiance aforesaid, and my voice, and the voices of the Electors, without any fraud, or other sinister and particular dealing, by me therein to be used, so help me God and all his holy Saints.  
This oath in this manner being taken by the said Electors, or their deputies, according to their said oath, they shall proceed to the Election, and shall not in any manner depart out of the said City of Frankford, before that the greater sort of them shall have chosen a temporal head or governor of the world, or of Christendom, a King of Romans, to be Emperor; which if they shall prolong or defer the space of thirty days from the day of taking their oaths, than the said thirty days being expired, they shall eat nothing but bread and water, nor by any means go away from the said City, until or before they or the greater number of them shall have chosen the ruler or temporal head of Christendom, as aforesaid. And after that in the same place, they or the greater part of them shall have made their Election, the same shall be as lawful and good, as if it had been made by the voice and consent of them altogether, without gainsaying, and so shall be celebrated. And if it shall happen that any of the Electors, or their deputies aforesaid, shall stay longer from coming to Frankford to the Election, than the time appointed; yet if he or they shall come thither before the said Election i● made, we ordain and decree that he or they shall nevertheless be admitted to the said Election, as well as if they had come thither at the first day and time aforesaid, which in the same manner we will and command to be continually and perpetually observed. We also ordain, and by our imperial power and authority command, that he, who in manner aforesaid shall be chosen to be King of Romans, the Election being made, before he shall do any thing, or proceed to the ordering of any affairs whatsoever, touching the Empire, by virtue of his place and dignity of King of Romans, he shall by his Letters Patents confirm all the privileges, rights, liberties, grants, ancient customs, and dignities unto the Prince's Electors both Spiritual and Temporal, which are known and reputed to be the principallest members of the Empire, and whatsoever else they shall have obtained and enjoyed in the Empire until the day of the Election; and when he shall be crowned Emperor, he shall ratify and confirm the same unto all the Electors in general, & every one of them in particular, without any denial or contradiction whatsoever. And in case whereas three Prince's Electors, present, or their deputies in their absence, shall together choose one of the Prince's Electors, either present or absent, to be King of Romans; the voice of him that is Elected, (if he be present, or his deputy in his absence,) shall be of sufficient power and means to increase the greater number of the Election, and to make the same as effectual, and of as good force, as if it had been made by all the Electors together.   

The manner how the Spiritual Prince's Electors shall sit by the Emperor, when he is set in his Imperial Throne.  
In the name of the holy and inseparable Trinity. Amen.  
Charles' the fourth, by the divine grace of God, Emperor of Rome, Semper Augustus, and King of Bohemia; in perpetual memory, and for the glory and grace of the holy Empire, the honour of the Emperor, and for an order hereafter to be prescribed to the commonwealth, to the end that the most reverent and illustrious Prince's Electors, may be maintained in peace and unity of mind, who as principal pillars, circumspectly, prudently, wisely, and holily, sustain, support and uphold the sacred edifice of the Empire, and whose assistances and aids strengthen and corroborate the right hand of the imperial power; and how much the more by mutual favour and ample dignity they are united together, so much the more peace and tranquillity and commodity the people of Christendom thereby obtain and enjoy: therefore that among the venerable archbishops and Prelates of Mentz, Collen, and Trier, Prince's Electors of the sacred Empire, all dissension, suspicion, and contention touching Superiority, or sitting in counsel, in the imperial Courts, and resorts, that may arise or grow hereafter, may be cut off and ceased, and that they being peaceable and quiet in mind may the better and freelier consider of the important affairs of the Empire, and with one will, and consent, and unity, meditate thereon, for the consolation and comfort of the christian people: By the counsel and deliberation of all the Prince's Electors, both spiritual and temporal, we Decree, and by our imperial power and authority ordain, this Order and Law, perpetually to be observed, that the aforesaid reverent Archbishop of Trier, shall sit opposite right before the Emperor's face. The Archbishop of Mentz, in his own Diocese and Provinces, and also out of his Provinces in all his chancellors regiment throughout Germany, the Province of Collen only excepted: And the Archbishop of Collen in his Diocese and Provinces, and out of his Provinces throughout all Italy, may, shall, and aught to sit on the right hand of the Emperor of Rome, in all public acts, Imperial judgements, Assemblies, feodary Courts, Feasts, Counsels, and all other actions, which may happen and fall out for the service and honour of the Empire: which mutual order aforesaid, of sitting, so appointed for them, we ordain and command to be observed and kept among the said Archbishops of Collen, Trier, and Mentz, and their Successors for ever, that hereafter no contention or distaste may, for the same, grow and breed among them.   

Touching all the Electors sitting in the emperors presence.  
We further ordain, That whensoever the Emperor shall hold his Imperial Court of Parliament, in every Session, as well in Counsel, as in Parliament, and at meat, or any other place whatsoever, where the Emperor and the King of Romans' shall happen to sit with the Prince's Electors, next after the Archbishops of Mentz, or Collen, which of them, at that time, in regard of the quality of their places, or variety of Provinces, and his other Privileges, shall be set down on the right hand of the Emperor, the King of Bohemia, being an anointed and a crowned Prince, shall sit next unto him; the Earl Palatine of the Rhine, shall have the next place on the left side of the Emperor, after, one of the Archbishops aforesaid, whose chance it shall be then to sit on the left side of the Emperor. Then the Duke of Saxon; and after him the Margrave of Brandenburg, shall sit down: But, when, and as often as the Emperors shall be dead, than the Archbishop of Mentz shall have power, as it is formerly set down, by Letters, to summon all the Princes aforesaid, to come together for the election; who being all, or as many of them as can or will come, within the time of election, assembled, the said Archbishop of Mentz, and none other, shall ask every one of his fellow Electors, their voice in the election, as followeth: First, the Archbishop of Trier, whom we ordain to speak first, & to whom we find that it hath still belonged: Then the Archbishop of Collen, to whom it belongeth to crown the King of Romans': The third, the King of Bohemia, who amongst the Temporal Electors, in regard of his Royal dignity, is the chief of them: The fourth, the Earl Palatine of the Rhine: The fift, the Duke of Saxon: and the sixth, the Margrave of Brandenburg: who sitting orderly, the Archbishop of Mentz, shall ask every one of them, whom they will choose, or give their consent unto.  
Further, in the celebration of the Imperial Offices, the Margrave of Brandenburg shall hold the Basin, whilst the Emperor or King of Romans wash his or their hands: Next, the King of Bohemia shall bear the King's cup to drink, which, by reason of his regal Crown, and according to the privilege of his kingdom, unless he will voluntarily do it, he is not bound to do: The Earl Palatine of the Rhine, shall serve in the first dish; and the Duke of Saxon, shall exercise the place of Marshal, as he hath anciently used to do.   

The Privileges of the Earl PALATINE of the Rhine, and the Duke of Saxon.  
AS often as the Empire shall happen to be void, the illustrious Earl Palatine of the Rhine, chief Sewer of the Empire, in place of the future King of Romans, by right and privilege of his Earldom, aught to be Oner-seer in the territories of the Rhine, Swevia, and Franconia, for the Emperor; with power of exercising justice, presentation of Ecclesiastical Benefices, receiving Rents and Revenues, and in the name of the Empire, to take the oaths of fidelity and feoffments; which nevertheless, after the King of Romans' is elected, shall all be reiterated, and they shall again renew their oaths unto him, the oaths of the Princes, and of those that are called Vanlehen excepted, which we specially reserve for the Emperor himself, or the King of Romans: but all kinds of Alienations, or Obligations of Imperial things, are excluded out of his power. The like power of Overseer, we give and appoint unto the illustrious Prince the Duke of Saxon, as Marshal of the Empire, in those places where the jurisdiction of Saxon extend, in like manner and form as aforesaid: and although in the interim that the Emperor or King of Romans' are to be elected, justice shall be done by the Earl Palatine, as chief Sewer, and Prince Elector; yet the County Palatine shall not execute the said judgement in any other place, then openly in the emperors Court, where the Emperor himself, or the King of Romans, if they were present, should do it.   

How the Prince's Electors shall take place before other Princes and Noble men of the Empire.  
We further ordain, That whensoever, and as often as the Emperor shall summon a Court of Parliament; the Prince's Electors aforesaid, both Spiritual and Temporal, according to the order prescribed, shall sit on the right and left hands of the Emperor, and so hold their places, and no other Prince, of what degree, state, or condition soever he be, in any place within the said Court, in going, sitting, or standing, shall be preferred before them. And this is specially to be observed, and noted, that the King of Bohemia, at the celebration of the said Court of Parliament, in all and every the actions aforesaid, (what other King, Prince, or Princes, of what estate soever he or they be, that may upon any occasion be present therein,) shall have the pre-eminence and preferment of sitting before him or them.   

Touching the Succession of the Temporal Princes, Electors.  
AMong the innumerable cares wherewith we are busied for the maintenance of the happy state of the Empire, by the aid and help of God, our heart and mind daily laboureth to this end, that a desired and wholesome union may always be had and maintained, with sincerity of heart, among the Prince's Electors of the Empire, whose providence, in time, will so much the sooner and easilier appear, and take effect, when no error shall arise among them, and thereby Charity better observed, difficulty prevented, and right and equity given to every man. It is generally, manifestly, and publicly known to all men, far and near, that the illustrious Princes, the King of Bohemia, the County Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxon, and the Margrave of Brandenburg, by virtue of his Kingdom, and their Principalities, in the election of the King of Romans to be Emperor, with the rest of the Spiritual Princes their Co-electors, by right have their Places and Voices, and together with them, to choose them, as true and lawful Electors of the Empire: lest that among the said Temporal Prince's sons, in time to come, there may grow or arise any trouble, dissension or contention, touching the right, voice and power of election aforesaid, and thereby to prevent all future impediments, lets, and hindrances therein, desiring (by God's help) carefully and wisely to stay and stop all dangers, We ordain, and by our Imperial authority command, this present Law perpetually to be observed and kept; That whensoever the said temporal Princes, Electors, or any of them shall leave their right, voice, and power of election aforesaid, the same shall justly, lawfully and freely escheat and fall to the eldest son and heir of him or them, being a Temporal person, without any contradiction whatsoever: And if the said eldest son, shall die without lawful temporal heirs male, by virtue of this our Imperial Edict, the right, voice, and power aforesaid, shall fall to the next brother, being a Temporal person, rightly descending from his father; and after him, to his eldest son, being a Temporal Prince: And such succession from the eldest sons and heirs of the said Princes, in the right, voice, and power aforesaid of election, shall from time to time perpetually be observed; with this condition and clause nevertheless, That if the said Prince Elector, or his eldest son, being a Temporal person, shall die, and leave his heirs male, being Temporal persons, at the time of his decease, under age, than the next brother to the said eldest son, shall be tutor, and administrator of the said children, until the eldest of them shall attain to lawful years: whom we do ordain and appoint to be Elector, at the age of eighteen years, and at that time, the said right, power, and voice, and other appendances thereof, shall escheat unto him: and then the said administrator shall resign the said office and rights aforesaid wholly unto him. And if any of the said Princes houses shall happen to fail, and be extinguished, for want of heirs male; then the Emperor or King of Romans', for the time being, shall and may take order therein, and provide an other Elector, as an escheat lawfully fallen to him and the Emperor, always excepting the privileges, rights, and customs of our Kingdom of Bohemia, touching the election of their King, in case of vacation, by the Subjects thereof, that have right and authority to elect their King: Observing their privileges, and ancient customs continually used, and by divers Emperors of Rome, or Kings, granted unto them, which by this our Decree we will by no means break nor infringe, but rather confirm the same, from hence forward, to be and remain in as full power and effect as heretofore they have been, and so for ever to continue.   

Of the immunities and privileges of the Kings of Bohemia, and the Subjects thereof.  
WHereas by two illustrious Emperors of Rome, and Kings of Bohemia, our Progenitors and Predecessors, it was given and granted unto the said Kingdom and Crown, and at this present, in the said Kingdom, from time out of mind, is and hath been a laudable custom and law without any contradiction, and misconstruction, used among them, that no Prince, Baron, Knight, Gentleman, retainers to Nobles, Burgesses, Citizens, nor any other person or persons of the said Kingdom, or their adherents, of what estate, dignity, pre-eminence, or condition soever they be, at any man's suit or summons whatsoever, shall be called, cited, warned, or summoned to appear before any judge, or judgement Seat, Court of Law or justice whatsoever, out of the Realm of Bohemia, and the Courts of law and equity therein holden, which time out of mind, hath so been holden and used among them: We therefore, to renew and confirm the same Privilege, custom and indulgence, granted them by Imperial authority aforesaid, of our special grace, and by our Imperial authority, do ordain, That if any Prince, Baron, Nobleman, Knight, Gentleman, retainers to Nobles, Burgesses, Citizens, Peasants, or any other person or persons of the said Realm and Kingdom, shall be summoned, warned, or adjoined to appear or answer to and before any judge, judgement Seat, Court of Law, or justice, out of the Realm and Kingdom of Bohemia aforesaid, either for any criminal, civil, or any other cause or action whatsoever, and at any time or times what or wheresoever, they are not in any manner or sort bound to appear or answer to the same; and if that, for not appearing or answering, at, or before any such incompetent judge or judgement Seat, or whatsoever authorities out of the Realm of Bohemia aforesaid, their adverse parties shall in such manner proceed against them, and that Sentence definitive, or execution thereupon, shallbe given and pronounced in any cause whatsoever in those Courts against them, by foreign authority as aforesaid: We ordain, appoint, and judge the said Citations, summons, precepts, processes, sentences and executions thereupon ensuring, and all things, which by the same, or any of those means, shall, or may follow, be done, & attempted, in that manner against them, to be utterly void, disannulled, and of no force nor effect. Further adding, and expressly ordering, by our said Imperial authority, for ever to be held, That although in the said Realm of Bohemia, (time out of mind) the same hath always been observed, if from hence forth any Prince, Baron, Nobleman, Knight, or retainer to Nobles, Citizens, Burgesses, Peasants, or any Subjects of the Realm of Bohemia, of what estate, pre-eminence, dignity, or condition soever he be, in any process, sentence definitive, precepts of the King of Bohemia, or any of their judgements and executions thereof, made, pronounced and executed against them in judgement, either before the King, or the tribunal Seats of judgement in the said realm, thereunto commonly appointed, shall appeal to any other judge or judgement seat out of the realm of Bohemia, whosoever he be that shall do so, and if the party Defendant doth not resist nor gainsay the Plaintiff, both the Defendant and Plaintiff, in that case, shall incur the danger of losing their suit.   

Of Gold, Silver, and other kinds of Metals.  
THis present statute we ordain for ever to be observed, and thereby declare that our successors, Kings of Bohemia, as also all and every one of the Prince's Electors, both spiritual and temporal, which for the time perpetually shall be, shall lawfully have, hold, enjoy, and possess all Mines of such Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, Iron, Lead, and other kinds of Metals, and also of Salt already found, or hereafter to be found, as at any time heretofore were within the said Realm of Bohemia, or the territories thereof: And likewise, that the said Princes Electors, in the provinces, parts, lands, in particular dominions, and territories to them or any of them appertaining, shall lawfully possess & hold and enjoy the same, together with all rights whatsoever, (none excepted) whereby they might, may, and were wont to hold and possess the same, as also to take lawful tolls and customs, heretofore given and granted unto them for the same, & which our Progenitors, Kings of Bohemia, and the said Princes Electors, and their Predecessors and Progenitors lawfully might claim, until this time, according to the ancient, laudable, and approved custom at this day, and long time before, used and observed.   

Touching Money.  
WE also ordain, that the King of Bohemia our successor, that for the time shall be, as it appeareth, that the illustrious Kings of Bohemia our predecessors, were wont to have and peaceably used in former times, shall have the use, liberty, and custom of Coining, Making, and uttering of Money stamped, in Gold and Silver, in all places and parts of the said Realm, or territories thereof, where the said King shall be pleased to Coin, and make the same, in what sort, fashion, & stamp soever they will, as until this time, it hath been, and shall perpetually be used. And further, we give unto the Kings of Bohemia, by this our imperial Constitution, liberty to authorize the Princes, Nobles, Earls and other persons of the said Realm, to buy Lands, Castles, Possessions, goods and Mortgages, whatsoever or wheresoever in the Empire, or to receive and take them of gift by any manner or means whatsoever, according to the tenor of the said Lands, Castles, Possessions, Mortgages, or goods accustomed; so that freehold, may be bought for freehold, Copyhold as copyhold, feodary as feodary, and shall in such sort be holden, that whatsoever the Kings of Bohemia shall buy or receive, and shall be applied to the use and benefit of the said Realm, shall continue to yield and pay the accustomed and ordained quitrents and tallages due from them unto the Empire. This present constitution, grace and favour of our Imperial Majesty, so granted to the Realm of Bohemia, we also give and grant unto all the Prince's Electors, as well spiritual and temporal, as also to their lawful heirs and successors, in all points as it is formerly declared.   

The Immunities and privileges, of the Prince's Electors.  
We ordain and decree also, that no Earls, Barons, Nobles, feodary Vassals, Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, nor any other person subject to the Ecclesiastical jurisdictions of Mentz, Trier and Collen, of what state, condition, or dignity soever they be, shall not upon occasion, or by any procurement whatsoever, be cited or summoned to appear, without the Territories, Bounds and Limits of the said Churches, and the appurtenances thereof, before any other Tribunal seat or place of justice or judgement, then only in the liberties and jurisdiction of Mentz, Trier and Collen, and before the judges thereof, in time to come, nor hereafter, according to the custom of the said churches in times past observed. And that if contrary to this our present Edict, the subjects of the Churches of Mentz, Trier, and Collen, or any of them, upon any occasion whatsoever, shall chance to be cited or summoned to appear before any tribunal seat, for any criminal, civil, or other cause or business out of the limits and territories of the said Churches, or any of them, they shall not be bound to appear, nor in any sort to answer thereunto, as also that the Citations, Processes, and Sentences, diffinitives, or otherwise, against them begun, for not appearing before such foreign judges, or hereafter to be made and pronounced, as also the precepts and executions of the same, and all things which from them, or any of them, or by that means shall or may be done and attempted, are and shall be void and of none effect; expressly commanding, that no Earl, Baron, feodary vassal, Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, Peasants, nor any other person, subjects to the said Churches, or their inhabitants, of what estate, condition, or dignity soever they be, shall appeal from the processes, sentences definitive or other, & precepts of the said archbishops, and their Churches, or the executions thereof made & pronounced, or to be made and pronounced against them, in the Arch-Bishopricke or their Consistories & tribunal seats, as long as they are not denied Law and justice in the Archbishoprickes, nor their Consistories aforesaid; and that such appeals in that sort made, shall not be received, accepted, nor allowed, but to the contrary, shall be void, and of none effect. But for want of justice, they and every one of them may immediately appeal from them to the imperial Court and tribunal seat of the Emperor, & not to any other Court whatsoever, either ordinary or extraordinary; & that whatsoever, shall be done, contrary to the premises, we pronounce it to be void and of none effect. The same Law, Order, and Statute by virtue of this our Imperial Decree, the illustrious Duke of Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxon, and the Marquis of Brandenburg, temporal Princes Electors, and their heirs, successors, and subjects, shall also hold and enjoy, in manner and form as aforesaid.   

Touching the assembling or meeting of the Prince's Electors.  
AMong many other cares, wherewith we are daily busied, it seemeth much to import our greatness and sublimity, that the Prince's Electors of the sacred Empire, should often meet and assemble together, to sit about and consult upon the affairs of the Empire, and the good of Christendom in general: Which sound pillars and steadfast and immovable supporters of the Empire, as they are a great way distant one from another, on the other side, meeting in counsel, they may consult upon the defects of the Countries and Territories about them, by coming and conferring together, and by their wholesome and sound counsels apply good remedies thereunto: And to that end, we have ordained our general meeting in Noremburgh, with the Venerable, Ecclesiastical, and Illustrious temporal Prince's Electors, and many other Princes and Nobles of the Empire, there, with good deliberation, and their counsel and advise, for the common good of the Empire, to consult with the said Princes Electors, ecclesiastical and temporal. It is further by us thought good, that the said Princes Electors, from henceforth, every year once after the feast of the Resurrection of our Saviour jesus Christ, commonly called Easter, for the space of four weeks together, shall meet & assemble in some one of our imperial Cities, and at the same time to come or ensue in the next year, the same meeting or counsel to be holden by us and the said Princes in our imperial City of Vianna in Austria; and then at that place by our said Counsel, it shall be determined upon the place where we shall meet again the next year, for the same purpose; this our order to hold no longer than we and our Counsel shall be pleased to continue it: & during the assemblies aforesaid, we will defend and protect them by our imperial conduction, both coming to, staying, and departing from thence. Further, lest the furtherance of the common good and peace of the Empire, might by too much solacing, or excessive frequenting of banquets be delayed, and put off, as many times it falleth out, and happeneth to be so; we have agreed, that from henceforth, while this meeting aforesaid shall hold, it shall not be lawful to call and assemble any general Court of all the Princes of the Empire together, in any other place; particular assemblies and expeditions moderately assembled, only excepted.   

Privileges.  
We further ordain, and set down for a perpetual imperial Law, that all Privileges, and letters patents of any person or persons, of what estate, pre-eminence or dignity soever he or they be, or of any Cities. Towns or Universities, etc. whereby any rights, graces, immunities, customs, or any other things, either by us or otherwise by the Emperors and Kings our predecessors, in any manner or form of words hath unto them been granted, or that are to be granted, by us or our successors, Emperors & kings, in time to come, neither shall, may, nor ought at all to derogate and contrary the liberties, jurisdictions, rights, honours, and dominions of the Prince's Electors, temporal, ecclesiastical, or of any of them in particular, notwithstanding, that in such privileges, and Letters patents, made to any person of what estate, dignity, or quality soever they be, as aforesaid, or to any University, it be or shall be expressly set down therein, that they shall be irrevocable. If the said privileges and immunities be not found any ways to derogate or contrary the privileges, liberties, jurisdictions, rights, honours and dominions, as aforesaid, of the said Princes Electors or any of them; if otherwise we censure them to be revocable, and to be disannulled; and by these presents, understand, repute, and hold them to be revoked.   

Of those to whom as unworthy thereof, Feoffments are made.  
IN divers parts and places, the feodaries, vassals of lands & benefices, which they have peaceably obtained from their Lords often times by word of mouth, and fraudulently pass them over again unto their said Lords; which having done, they defy and maliciously fall out with their said Lords, and thereby wrong them, and under pretence of war, or enmity, re-enter upon the same, and forcibly hold and possess them: Therefore, this present law shall for ever be observed, that such resignations or surrenders shall be held and esteemed to be void and of no value, unless they be freely, orderly, and lawfully passed over, in such manner, that the said benefices, & feoffments may be really & effectually assigned into the Lords hands again, that so in time to come, there may no quarrel nor claim be made for them with the Lords, either by themselves or any other in their names, or by the counsel, aid or procurement of them, or of any man whatsoever; And doing to the contrary, or troubling and molesting the Lords for the said benefices and feoffments, resigned or not resigned, or doing them any wrong, or counseling, aiding, or abetting others against them, in that case they shall lose their said benefices and feoffments, and be accounted, holden and esteemed to be infamous persons, and outlaws, and not worthy to enjoy or repossess the same, by any means: and if by any new contract, or bargain by them made with their said Lords, they shall at any time be remitted into the same, by all manner of construction, the said feoffment shall be void and of no effect. Lastly, we will and ordain that they or any of them that shall not fraudulently make such resignations unto their Lords, and yet afterward trouble them for the same, or fraudulently making them, wilfully molest, invade, and assail them by force of this our-imperiall decree, shall incur all the penalties aforesaid.   

Of Conspiracies.  
further, detesting (as our laws import) all conspiracies, assemblies, or unlawful confederations, made, either in, or out of Cities, or between Cities and Cities, persons and persons, or persons private and Cities, (under pretence of banquets, or meetings of friends and Citizens at funeral feasts, etc.) those kind of assemblies, confederations, or compacts, as also the customs of the same, we censure to be corrupt, and do reprove, condemn, and upon good advice disallow and disannul them) of what estate, dignity, or degree soever they be, either among themselves, or without the authority of the Lords, whose subjects or ministers, or under whose jurisdictions they are, (their said Lords not excepted) or shall from henceforth do, or in time to come presume to do, as by the sacred Laws of our excellent, imperial predecessors, they are without doubt prohibited, and disannulled: those confederacies and Laws excepted, which Princes, Cities, and others, for the general peace of their Provinces and Countries shall make, conclude and agree upon among themselves: which being in our Decree specially reserved, we judge to be and remain in force and vigour; until by us other order shall be taken for the same;) And conclude, that if any particular person, contrary to the tenor of this our Decree, and the ancient Laws made concerning the same, shall hereafter enter into any other confederacies, meetings, conspiracies, and compacts: besides the penalties for the same set down in the Laws, they shall incur the danger of infamy, and the forfeiture of ten pounds; and those Cities or Universities, that shall (in that case) do contrary to our said Laws, the forfeiture of an hundred pounds, together with the loss and deprivation of their Imperial liberties and privileges; the one half of their said forfeitures, to be paid into the emperors Exchequer, and the other half to the Lord of the place, in whose jurisdiction the same was committed.   

Of Psalburgerie.  
BEcause no Citizens and Subjects to Princes, Barons, or such like persons, shall seek to cast off the original yoke of subjection (as they oftentimes do complain thereof unto us) and to that end boldly procure their admission to dwell and inhabit in other Cities, and often in times past practised the same, and nevertheless still hold their Privileges in those Cities, Lands, Towns and Villages, wherein they formerly resided, and yet seek to enjoy the Liberties and Freedoms of those places whereunto they so remove, and claim protection of the same, which in Germany was wont commonly to be called Psalburgerie; To the end that no deceit nor guile should in such cases be favoured or upholden, by our Imperial power, together with the counsel and advice of all the Prince's Electors, both Spiritual and Temporal, we will and ordain this Law, perpetually to be holden, That such Citizens and their Subjects, so deluding or fraudulently dealing, in all the territories, places, and provinces of the Empire, from this day forward, as so fraudulently procure, and hereafter shall procure themselves to be entertained, and to dwell in other cities, shall not in the same Cities enjoy any rights or liberties whatsoever; unless they dwell corporally in the said City, and therein continually keep house, and truly, and not feignedly, reside in the same, paying Lot and Scot due and payable therein. And if any, contrary to the tenor of this our Decree, are or shall be so received, from henceforth such their acceptance or receiving shall be void, and of no force, and such as are so received, of what dignity, condition or state soever they be, from henceforth in no manner shall enjoy any rights or liberties within the said Cities whatsoever, notwithstanding any rights, privileges or customs by them obtained, used, or observed in former times: Which, in as much, or so far, as they are contrary to this our Decree, we do hereby revoke, and by our Imperial power and authority, pronounce them to be void of all vigour and force. Touching the premises, concerning the Princes, Lords, and others, which shall happen so, or hereafter, to be forsaken by their Subjects, their rights in the persons and goods of their Subjects that so shall leave them, always excepted. Those nevertheless, that have presumed, or shall hereafter presume so to receive and entertain other men's Citizens and Subjects, contrary to the tenor of this our present Decree; If they do not remit and send them away, within one month after the intimation of these presents made unto them, shall for every time so offending, forfeit and pay one hundred marks, the one half into the emperors Exchequer, and the other half to the Lords of those that were so received, without favour or pardon.   

Of Defiances.  
Such men as pretend to have just cause of Defiance against any man, in those places where they dwell not or commonly inhabit, and suddenly defy them, we declare, such damages as shall happen or arise, by burning, spoiling, or pillage of the parties defied, with their honour, be satisfied: And because other men's fraud and deceit should not be upholden nor maintained. We ordain this Law for ever to be kept and observed. That such Defiances made, or that in time to come shall be made against any Lords, or persons, with whom they are conversant, familiar and friends, shallbe of no force nor value; neither shall it be lawful, under any pretence whatsoever, to defy any man, and to spoil, burn, and bereave him of his goods, etc. unless such defiance be certified, and made personally unto the party defied three days before, or else, in the place where he was wont to dwell, and that the party defying can testify the same Defiance to be so made, by lawful witnesses: And whosoever shall do the contrary, shall for the same, incur infamy and disgrace, as if no defiance had been made: whom we also censure by the Law to be punished as a traitor: We likewise prohibit and condemn all war, and unjust quarrels, & every unlawful burnings, spoilings, & pillages, undue and extraordinary tolls, & safeconducts, and such extraordinary exactions, as are used to be made and taken for such safeconducts, upon the pains in the Laws aforesaid, and such like, ordained and set down.   

A Letter of Certificate or warning, to be given to the Electors to assemble about the election of the King of Romans'.  
ILlustrious and magnanimous Prince H. Margrave of Brandenburg, High-Chamberlaine of the Empire, Prince Elector, and our most especial friend; The election of the King of Romans, which for good causes is now to be made, we do by these presents certify unto you, and according to your office and duty, call you to the Election aforesaid, to the end that at such a day, etc. within three months, orderly ensuing one the other, either you, or your deputy, or deputies (sufficiently authorized) may take care to be at the place for the same appointed, according to the Law in the same case provided, there to deliberate, confer, and agree, with the other Princes our co-Electors, upon the election of the said King of Romans' (by God's help) to be made Emperor, and there to stay and remain, until the said election be fully finished and accomplished, and to do and perform all other things thereunto appertaining, as by the Laws in that case provided are set down; wherein we pray you not to fail: otherwise, notwithstanding yours, or your deputies absence, we will, (with the Princes your co-Electors and ours) (according to the authority in that case provided by the Law) proceed to the Election.   

A form of a Letter of Depulation to be made by one of the Prince's Electors unto his Deputy or Deputies, by him to be sent to the Election.  
We by the grace of God, etc. of the holy Empire etc. by these presents make known unto all men, That forasmuch as the Election of the King of Romans', for certain special causes is to be made; we respecting the honour of the Empire, and desiring to further and advance the same, lest it should be neglected or omitted, being assured of the fidelity, industry and circumspection of our loving friend, or friends, etc. and knowing by indubitate presumption, the singular confidence of them in general, and of every one of them in particular; so that without contrariety, whatsoever one of them shall take in hand, the others will agree, consent unto, and performe● according to Law, and reason, in the best manner, means and form that we may or can devise, we have made, elected and chosen them to be our lawful Deputies, in any place wheresoev, together with the other Princes our co-Electors, aswell ecclesiastical as temporal, to agree and consult upon some fit person to be chosen King of Romans', and for us, and in our name, in the same consultation to be made, to name a person, and the same to choose to be King of Romans', and after to be Emperor: And further, in our name to take any necessary due, and accustomed oath in that behalf used, or to be used, as also to make and appoint one or more deputies in his or their places, and them again to revoke at his or their wills and pleasures; and to do and perform all other things, which, in, or about the premises (until the said consultation, deliberation, and election be finished and done) shall be necessary fit, and convenient, as we, and in such manner and form, as we may, can, or might possibly do, if we were personally present, at the said consultation, deliberation, nomination and election, holding, accounting and conferring, and by these presents, for ever hereafter confirming, whatsoever our Deputies and Substitutes aforesaid, as also their Deputies or Substitutes, or every, or any of them in general or particular shall do, act, and perform in the premises, in what manner soever, etc.   

Of the order in Procession to be holden by the Archbishops, electors of the Empire.  
FOr that it is before set down and declared in the beginning of these our Constitutions, what order shall be held and observed by the Ecclesiastical Prince's Electors, in sitting and placing themselves in Counsel, at the Table, and other Solemnities imperial, where the Prince's Electors are to go with, sit, or accompany the Emperor, or the King of Romans, wherein we think to have sufficiently declared what shall be done at those times, and those places: We think it convenient to declare what order shall be used by them, when the Emperor, or the King of Romans' shall go abroad or in procession; Therefore we ordain this perpetual order to be observed, That as often, and when as the Emperor or King of Romans', with the said Princes Electors, is to go on procession; and that the Banner is to be borne before him, the Archbishop of Trier shall go directly next before the Emperor, or the King, and he only that bears the Banner, shall go between them: And when the Emperor or King goes abroad without the Banner, than the said Archbishop shall go in like manner directly before the Emperor or King, and no man shall go between them; and the other two Archbishops, Electors shall observe their places, according to the distinction of their Provinces, touching their sitting in places aforesaid, formerly declared, and so likewise to be observed in Processions.   

Of the order in Procession to be holden by the temporal Prince's Electors, and by whom the ensigns of Honour shall be borne.  
TO declare what order is to be used when the Emperor or King of Romans' goes in Procession, by the secular Prince's Electors (whereof we have formerly spoken,) We ordain and appoint, that as often as any celebration of the Imperial assemblies is to be done, where the Prince's Electors are to accompany the Emperor or King of Romans' when he goeth abroad, or on procession, and that the imperial or regal ensigns are to be borne before them, the Duke of Saxon, bearing the imperial or regal sword, shall go next before the Emperor or King, between the Archbishop of Trier and him; the County Palatine of the Rhine, shall bear the imperial globe on the right hand; the Margrave of Brandenburg, the Sceptre on the left hand, and the King of Bohemia shall directly go next behind the Emperor.   

Of the blessing to be given by the Archbishops, in the emperors presence.  
AS often as in the Emperors or the King of Romans' presence, Mass is to be celebrated, & that the Archbishops of Mentz, Trier, and Collen, or two of them shall chance to be present, at the Confession which is wont to be said before Mass, and in reaching or offering the Gospel to be kissed, and the Pax after the Agnus Dei is borne about, as also in the Benediction, after the solemnity of the Mass is finished, and likewise before Mass is said, and at grace after meat, this order shall be observed among them, which by their counsel and advise we have set down, that the first day all these things shall be observed and done by the first, the second day by the second, and the third day by the third of them, and in the absence of the first, second, or third of them, in that case the second shall do that which the first or the last should have done, and so orderly as it falls out when any of them is not present, that they may one after another orderly by course obtain that honour, and give example unto others to do the like, when time shall fall out, and thereby incite them to the same connivence and charitable inclination, in observing the same course. If any man shall enter into any wicked conspiracy or faction, by oath or promise, with any Princes, Gentlemen, or private and common people, or shall give them any counsel or advise to kill the reverent and illustrious Prince's Electors, ecclesiastical or temporal, or any of them, for they are a part or our body, he or they, that in such case are found guilty, shall be punished for the same fact of conspiracy, as if they had really committed the fact, and were guilty of high-treason, by loss of their lives, and forfeiture of all their Lands and Goods to the Emperor, and his or their sons, whose life, (by our special imperial favour) we spare, shall be punished, for his father's fault, he shall lose his father's inheritance, and others shall enjoy the same; he shall be incapable of making any will, or of receiving any thing by another man's will, he shall always be needy and poor, his father's infamy shall ever be imputed unto him, he shall never be admitted into any honour, nor his oath allowed to be good; and to conclude, he shall be so miserable, and in perpetual poverty, that death to him shall be a comfort, and life a punishment. And further, we command him so to be noted & observed, that without our special licence, he shall not at any time presume or be permitted to have access unto our person: Touching the daughters, how many soever they be, they shall not have the full fourth part of their Mother's goods; whether she die intestate or not, we will take order, that they shall have an indifferent part thereof for their relief, rather than the whol● as if they were her heirs; for their sentence in truth, ought not to be so rigorous, that by infirmity of sex are of less power to commit evil. Emancipations or Feoffments made by the parents, either to the sons or daughters, shall be void and of none effect, neither shall any fraudulent alienations, made by the said parents, from the time that they once entered into the said conspiracies and factions, be good nor allowable in law: And touching their wives dowries, if they were so made by their husbands unto them that the reversion thereof should revert unto the sons, after the wives decease, they shall acknowledge that reversion to revert unto our Exchequer, the fourth part whereof aught rather to fall unto the daughters then to the sons; and that punishment which we set down and appoint, for the parties and their sons, the same severity also shall be used towards the Servants, Officers and Abetters of them, and of their sons. But if any of them, that in the beginning and entrance into the said faction, shall seem to keep counsel with the parties guilty, and afterward shall disclose it, and rather seek to cross it for our good and honour, and they also that shall have sought to put their malicious faction in practice, if at last, unknown to the other conspirators, they shall secretly disclose it, we judge them to be worthy of pardon and forgiveness. We further ordain, that if any conspiracies, shall have been made against the said Princes Electors, spiritual or temporal, by any man that is dead, and the same after his death is known and discovered, that crime concerning the hurt and danger of the life of the Prince's Electors, touching the imperial majesty, for if the members be hurt, the head cannot be well, nor in safety, therefore we will and command, that after the death of the party that is known to have been guilty in his life time, the same fault shall be punished, that the dead party being found guilty, his memory may be extinguished, and his goods taken away from his successors; for if any man conceiveth or imagineth mischief, if followeth thereby that his mind was depraved; and therefore seeing that he did imagine and invent such a mischief, he had no power to alienate nor enfranchise the same, nor yet by right in this case to take order for the payment of his debts. Therefore if the members be hurt, the head must needs be the worse, that is, if any conspiracy were made against the Prince's Electors, spiritual or temporal, by any man that is dead, the goods and lands of the said person shall be attached, as if he had been executed for the same offence.   

Touching the integrity that is to be observed among the Prince's Electors.  
IF other Princes of our Empire do agree in unity of spirit and wills to observe justice and equity, that the Subjects of the Empire may thereby live in peace and tranquillity; much more ought the Prince's Electors of the Empire to seek to maintain and preserve the same; for where the danger is most evident, there it ought more speedily to be prevented, left those the pillars breaking, the whole house should fall to decay. Therefore We decree and ordain this to be a perpetual Law, That as in former time, out of the memory of man, so in time to come, the illustrious and magnificent Princes, the King of Bohemia, the Earl Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxon, and the Margrave of Brandenburg, being strictly bound together by their Territories, ought not touching homages, vassalage, and other rights to them belonging, to be separated, divided, or in any wise dismembered, but to the end that they may rather be, and remain in their perfect integrity, their eldest son, shall succeed them in their rights, privileges and dominions; unless he shall chance to be distracted of his senses, foolish, or otherwise defective in mind, for the which cause he ought not, nor cannot govern others; in which cases, being prohibited of succession therein, the second son (if there be any) or some other elder brother or cousin, that is a Temporal Prince, and next of blood, that lineally descendeth from the father, shall be his successor, who then shall deal kindly with the other brethren and sisters, touching their maintenance, and as he shall think good, and according to his means, without dividing or dismembering the principality and appurtenances thereof in any sort.   

Touching the emperors Court and Sessions.  
THat day whereon the Emperors or the King of Romans' Court is to be holden, at an hour appointed, the Prince's Electors both Spiritual and Temporal, shall come to the Emperors, or King's Palace, and there the Emperor or the King shall put on all his Imperial Robes, and mounting upon their horses, all of them shall go with the Emperor, or the King, to the place where the Court is to be holden, orderly, and in manner and form (as it is formerly set down in our Decree, to that end made;) The chief Chancellor, in whose precinct or jurisdiction it shall happen to be, shall bear or carry all the Seals and imperial and regal types upon a silver wand: The Secular Prince's Electors, shall bear the Sceptre, the Ball, the Sword, every one as he is orderly to do it, according to the Decree for the same purpose made; They shall likewise bear, (going directly next before, the Archbishop of Trier, keeping his ordinary place) first the Crown of Aqusgranie, than the Crown of Milan, before the Emperor, as then appareled in his Imperial Robes, which shall be borne by other inferior Princes, thereunto appointed by the Emperor. The Empress or the Queen of Romans' appareled in her Imperial vestures, shall go and follow after the Emperor or the King of Romans', and the King of Bohemia, (whose place is to go next after the Emperor) an indifferent space from them; her Ladies and Maids of Honour orderly following her to the Court.   

The offices of the Prince's Electors at the Solemnities which are to be observed in the emperors Court at royal feasts and assemblies.  
WE ordain and appoint, that when the Emperor or King of Romans' shall celebrate any solemn feasts, whereat the Prince's Electors are to serve, and execute their Offices hereafter declared and set down; the Emperor or the King sitting in the Imperial Throne, the Duke of Saxon shall execute his office in this manner: Before the Gate of the Emperor, or the King, there shall be set a heap of Oats, so high that it shall reach to the breast or saddle of the horse, whereon the said Duke shall ride, who shall bear in his hand a silver Wand, and a Measure of silver, which both together shall weigh two hundred Marks of silver; and sitting upon his horse, shall first fill that measure full of Oats, and shall give it to his servant that is next unto him; which done, sticking his staff in the Oats, he shall go back again; and then his vicemarshall, Seigneur de Papenheym, coming thither, or in his absence, the Marshal of the Court, shall distribute the rest of the Oats. The Emperor or the King being gone in to sit at the Table, the Archbishops, Princes Electors, standing before the Table, with the rest of the Prelates, shall say grace, according to the order formerly set down: and when grace is said, the three Archbishops (if they be all there) or two, or one of them, shall receive the Imperial or Regal Seal and Type from the Chancellor of the Court, he in whose Chancellors jurisdiction that feast or solemnity shall chance to be celebrated, standing in the middle, and the other two on either side of him, shall all lay their hands upon the Staff, whereon the said Seal and Type hangs, and so carry it, and with great reverence lay it upon the Table before the Emperor, or the King, who presently shall deliver the same again unto them, & in whose Arch-chancelors precinct it shall then be, as aforesaid, he shall carry the greater Seal about his neck, to the end of the Table, and from thence to his house, riding from the emperors Court upon his horse.  
The Staff whereof mention was formerly made, must be silver, weighing two hundred Marks, the third part of the value whereof every one of the archbishops must pay and contribute equally, and that Staff with the Seals and Types, must presently be given to the Chancellor of the emperors Court, to use them when occasion serveth; & after that he who by order carrying the great Seal about his neck from the Court, is gone home to his lodging, as aforesaid, he shall presently send it back again by one of his friends on horseback to the emperors Court, to the Chancellor, which according to the dignity of the place, and the favour which he is to bear to the Court of the Chancery, he is bound freely to deliver to the said Chancellor. Then the Margrave of Brandenburg, Lord High-Chamberlaine of the Empire, coming on horseback with a Silver basin (weighing twelve Marks in Silver,) full of water in his hand, and a fine clean Towel on his arm, lighting down, must give the Emperor or King of Romans' water to wash his hands; after him the Earl Palatine of the Rhine, must come on horseback with four silver Platters in his hands full of meat, every one of them weighing three Marks in value, who lighting off from his horse, must carry and set them down upon the Table before the Emperor, or King; after him the King of Bohemia, chief Butler of the Empire, riding on a horse, with a Napkin on his arm, and a covered cup in his hand, (weighing twelve Marks) full of Wine mixed with water, lighting down, giveth the cup to the Emperor or King of Romans', to drink. Further, we ordain, that the Secular Princes, Electors, having performed their offices, the Earl of Falkenstein, vice-Chamberlaine, shall take the Horse and Basin from the Margrave of Brandenburg for his fee; the chief master cook of Noremburgh, the horse and dishes from the Earl Palatine for his fee; the Earl of Limburgh vice-Butler, the Horse and Cup from the King of Bohemia, for his fee; and the Baron of Papenheym, vicemarshall, the Horse, Staff, and Measure aforesaid, from the Duke of Saxon for his fee, if they be there personally present, to execute their offices; but if they or any of them shall be absent at that time, than the ordinary officers of the Emperors or King of Romans' Court, in their absence, that is to say, in every one of their places, that are absent, whose place is to execute the same, as to his office belongeth, shall take away and have the aforesaid things. The Emperor's table must be in such sort prepared & placed, that it must stand six foot higher than the rest of the tables in the hall, whereat (upon that day) the Emperor or King of Romans' must sit alone. The Table whereat the Empress or Queen of Romans' shall sit, must stand on the one side of the Hall, three foot lower than the emperors Table, and so many foot higher, above the Prince's Electors, which Princes shall have, their Seats or Tables, one as high as another, lower than the Emperors or King's Table, being seven in number, which shall stand, three on the right hand, and three on the left, and the seventh directly before the Emperor, or King, (as in our Ordinance formerly made for the order & manner by them to be observed in sitting down in the emperors presence, is at large declared) and no man shall sit with them at the said Tables, but themselves alone: Neither shall any of the said secular Prince's Electors, having performed his office, sit down at the Table appointed for him, as long as the rest of his Co-electors, Princes, are performing their offices; but while any of them, or their Officers, are about the performing thereof, he shall stand at the Table appointed for him, expecting the performance of their offices aforesaid, and then every one of them shall sit down at his several Table.  
Also, we find in the ancient Records, time out of mind, that those that were our Predecessors thought it fit and convenient to be observed, that the election of the King of Romans', to be future Emperor, should be made in the City of Franc●ford, and that his first Coronation should be done in the City of Aquisgranie, and the first solemn feast held in the City of Noremburgh: wherefore, for many considerations, we ordain and appoint the same to be so observed in time to come, unless any lawful cause of hindrance or impeachment thereof fall out to the contrary. And if that any of the Prince's Electors Spiritual or Temporal, upon just and good occasion; being summoned to be there at the said feast, cannot come, he shall send his deputy; but of what estate or dignity soever he be that is so sent for his deputy, yet he shall not sit down at the Table, or in the seat of him that sent him. Further, these offices and other things being performed at the said Imperial or Kingly feast: The master or Steward of the feast shall have all the tables, boards and scaffolds of wood for his fee, that was prepared against that feast for the Emperor and the King, as also for the Electors, at the celebration thereof, according to ancient custom.   

What Fees the Officers are to have when the Princes acknowledge Fealty to the Emperor or King of Romans'.  
WE ordain this Imperial Decree, that the Prince's Electors, Spiritual and Temporal, when they acknowledge their fealty to the Emperor or the King of Romans', shall not be bound to give or pay any money to any man, at that time, for that the money which is due to Officers in that kind, seeing the said Princes Electors, are every one superior Imperial officers, and have their Deputies or Substitutes in every one of their offices, given them by the Roman Princes; it were absurd, that under-officers or Substitutes should, upon any colour whatsoever, ask or exact any fees of their Superiors, unless the said Princes of their own free wills and liberalities, will give them any thing. But other Princes, both Ecclesiastical and Secular, when they (as aforesaid) acknowledge fealty unto the Emperor of Rome, or to the King, they shall give to the Kings or the Emperor's officers of the Court, sixty and six marks of silver, unless any of them can by special privilege or indulgence, by the Emperors formerly granted to them, discharge themselves thereof, and prove, that they are free from paying such, or any the like fees, used when they acknowledged their fealties; which said sixty six marks, the Master or Steward of the said Imperial feast, shall divide in this manner. First, reserving ten marks for himself, he shall give, to the Emperors or King's Chancellor of the court, ten marks, to the Masters of the Court, Clarks, and Doctors, three marks, and to the Clerk of the Seal, for Wax and Parchment, one mark; in such manner nevertheless, that the Chancellor and Clerks shall not take such fees of the Princes, but only to testify that they have done their fealty, and to signify the same. The said Master also shall give unto the vice-Butler of Limburgh, ten marks, to the master Cook of Noremburgh, ten marks, to the vicemarshall of Papenheim, ten marks, and to the vice-Chamberlaine of Falkenstein, ten marks; upon this condition nevertheless, if they, and every of them shall be present at the Court, to execute their offices according to their places; and that if they, or any of them be absent, than the Officers of the Imperial or King's Court, that use to serve in those Offices, shall supply their said places, every one as it falls out, and shall have the said fees accordingly. And when any Prince sitting upon an horse or other beast, doth his fealty to the Emperor or the King, that horse or beast, of what kind soever it be, belongeth as a fee unto the chief Marshal, the Duke of Saxon, if he be present, or else, to the vicemarshall of Papenheim; and in his absence to the Marshal of the Emperors or Kings Court.  
Forasmuch as that for the honour of the Roman Emperor, it is expedient, that the said Emperor having to deal and treat with divers Nations, of sundry and several Languages, should understand and speak the said Languages: It is fit and convenient in every man's judgement, that the Prince's Electors, being the pillars and supporters of the Empire, should be instructed and taught divers Languages, that they may understand every man, and be understood of them; and thereby assisting the Emperor in his principal and speciallest affairs, he may the more be honoured. Therefore we ordain and appoint, that the illustrious Prince's Electors, viz. the King of Bohemia, the County Palatine of the Rhine, the Duke of Saxon, and the Margrave of Brandenburg, their sons, heirs, and successors, when they can perfectly understand and speak their own mother Language, the High- German tongues, at the age of seven years they shall be taught to speak the Latin, Italian, and Slavonian tongues, so that at fourteen years of age, by the help of God, they may well understand the same, being not only necessary, but for special causes most necessary, for that those Languages are much used in the Empire, and by them they may the easier manage the Imperial affairs: Which, the better to effect, we think it fit and convenient, that the Fathers should leave the charge of their sons, if they have any, or of their next kinsmen, whom they know must and shall be their heirs and successors in their honours and lands, and either send them to such places where they may be instructed and taught those languages, or else keep such Masters and instructors for them in their houses, together with young Boys that are skilful in those Languages, to bear them company, that they may (by those means) the readilier, sooner and perfectlier learn, and be instructed in the same. (* ⁎ *)   
FINIS.