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GERMANY. [Swabia.
rifdiaion v/itlvthe ftates of the Empire lying in its diftrid, unlefs any ftatc
can prove an immunity. All caufes alfo belonging to towns in the firfl: inftance,
and all immediate and mediate members of the Empire in Swabia within
the diftrict of the provincial court are brought before it. Appeals were before
and even under the firft Außrian judges, brought only to the Aulic-
Council alone; but ever fince the year i 530 to the y^z///?7rt« chamber, and
at laft it was fiipulated by the Emperor Leopold in the capitulation of his
Election, that any part aggrieved fliall, without let or hindrance, have free
appeal from this provincial court, either to that of the Emperor or the Imperial
chamber.
The tribunals on the heath of Lcutkircher and in the Furs have anciently
had four particular court-towns, all lying within the Purs, namely, Lentkircby
Wangen, Lindau and Ravensburg; but the government of them
falling into the hands of Außria inftead oi Lindau, the Imperial markettown
of y^.Vo^y has been made a court-place, and inftead oi Letitkirch the
town of Tjni, In each of thefe four court-towns a country-court is held
twelve times a year, 'viz. at the beginning of each month at Altorf, thea
at Ravensburg, and at laft at TJhi. Each reigning arch-duke oi Auflria, as
fovereign of the Imperial country-court, appoints the judge over it ;
and the
perfon nominated to that office is certified to the four country-towns for their
approbation, till when he enters not on his office. The afleflbrs or affiftants
here are four Stab or Statthalters, of which each court-town appoints
one in particular to prefide in the abfence of the Imperial judge. In the
three Imperial towns this officer is generally a burgomafter, or one of the
council ; and at AltcrJ the Flecken-Ainmann, or juftice of the town. Each
court-town has alio its particular afleflbr, of whom there are twelve in all
who are appointed by the ufual magiftrates of the court-towns, but are always
chofen out of the council or college of juftice, or out of the moft
fubftantial citizens, ftriä: regard being had to their virtue and abilities.
The fee of a coadjutor for each juridical feffion is only fix kruitzers. The
Recorders of the provincial courts are generally the Chancellors of the three
Imperial cities ; and at Altorf, the clerk of the court. The perquifites of
the provincial court, though by no means confiderable, yet fufiice notwithftanding
to defray the charge without any grievance to the agents.
§. 8. Befides this provincial court many others of the like origin and antiquity
have been eftabliftied in Sicabia ; and fome of them even yet exift,
as namely, the free Imperial courts of Rankiiveil in Mujhen, mentioned
in vol. iv. in the defcription of the Außrian Sivabia. In Tburgau, which
at the dole of the 15th century was ceded to the confederates at the
-
treaty o( Bafil, and in their name is held monthly at Frauenfeld; at Nellenbur^,
(See vol. iv. in the defcription of the Außrian Sivabia ;) at Schackebuch,
in the county oi Heiligenberg ; and alfo in the county of Kempten and at
Oettiiigcn. Of the ancient provincial court here, and the fubfequent Imperial
Aulic Court at Rotbiccil a fufficicnt account will be given under the
article of that town. §. 9. In