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1 48 GERMANY. [Wetzlar.
year 1349, the Empror Charles IV. mortgaged it for 10,000 florins to
the counts of Scbicarzbu7-g, but with a referve of its dependence on the
Empire. This mortgage in the following century pafled from Schwarzkurg
to the Eledtor of Mentz, the lords of Epflein, the counts of IJenburg^
and the city o{ FroJikfort. The three firft of thefe made over their fhare to
the Imperial burg or caftle of Friedberg in this town, which the Emperor
not only confirmed, but enjoined the city oi Frankfort alfo to recede from
its part in favour of the burg. This was followed by an agreement betwixt
the burg and town, that on the eleäiion of a new burggrave, when confirmed
by the Emperor, the town, as an acknowledgment of the mortgage,
lliould do him homage in fome open place. In the year 1706 the town
notified to the burg that it would redeem the mortgage, and offered to pay
down the money ; but the burg alleged the mortgage to be irredeemable.
The burggrave and the fix magiftrates in it, who are nobles, are alfo members
of the general council and that of the States ; and when any affairs relating
to the Empire and Circle come on the carpet, notice is given to
them of it by the magiflracy, that they may jointly agree concerning the
perfon to be deputed and the nature and extent of his powers.
The Imperial Town' (^/"Wetzlar.
Wetzlar, a town feated on the Lafm, which at this place receives the
JVeizbach, and on the other fide the Dill; has two luburbs belonging to
it called the Langgajje and the Netigaffe. The magiflracy here, with the
greatefi part of the burghers, are hitthcram. Excluhve too of the cathedral
or city-church, which is held in common with the catholics, they
have a chapel and a grammar-fchool here, in a building which vvas originally
a Francifcan convent. The church of the hoipital of the Holy Ghofty
belonging alfo to the Lutherans, is rebuilding. The Proteftants have likewife
a church here. The Catholics have not only the ufe of the cathedral,,
but alio a Francifcan convent, with a church and a Jefuits college. In the
town-houfe are held the meetings of the Imperial chamber, which in the
year 1693 was removed hither from Spire. In 1714, a motion was made
for its removal from Wetzlar to fome other place, but was over-ruled ; and
in the year 1751 the chamber itfelf reprefented to the Diet at Ratisbon
the impofTibility of its continuance here, and at the lam.e time fignified that
Fra7ikjort on the Mayn was, of all others, the mofl proper and commodious
place for its refidence ; notwithflanding which, this alfo has produced no
alteration. The German houfe here belongs to the commandery of Heffe
and poifefTes revenues of divers kinds in that country- Wetzlar was an Imperial
town fo early as the days of the Emperor Frederick I. and has ever
fince continued fuch in the Diet. It fits the 13th on the bench of the Imperial
towns of the Rhine^ and alfo votes in the Diets of the Upper-Rhine.
Its