Folio 194. Recess of the assembly of the circle of Westphalia, convened by Frederick...

Folio 194. Recess of the assembly of the circle of Westphalia, convened by Frederick Christian [von Plettenberg-Lenhausen], bishop of Münster, Frederick III, elector of Brandenburg, and John William, elector palatine, directors, and held at Cologne from Mar 16. Being, in the main, an act of ratification of the Frankfurt recess of the six 'upper' circles of Jan 13/23 (f.24), with certain modifications: resolution concerning maintenance of a peace-time militia postponed to the next convention in November; in the event of margrave Louis William of Baden-Baden being unable to remain supreme commander of the imperial forces, the command to be given to a German elector, or prince, or count of the empire; during the campaign, circle troops to be subject to the discipline of the imperial army, but whilst serving within the circle, to that imposed by the circle general to be appointed; when assisting the forces of another circle, that circle to pay for their accommodation and basic rations; establishment of, and participation in, a common fund, i.e. 'operations cassa', is rejected; reservation against the use, in the main recess, of the words 'Churmaintzisches Directorium' (directorate of the electorate of Mayence) upheld; adjustments of the repartition to be postponed until next circle convention; the computation of contingents to furnished by armed and unarmed estates for the approaching campaign to be based on the rate currently in force and thus to be provisional; complaints by some estates about the [maintenance and complement of the mixed] circle garrison at Cologne to be amicably settled between the estates concerned and the directorate; Denmark has declared (at Oldenburg) to bear its share, dilatory contributors like Schaumburg-Lippe and others to be reminded of their obligations; John William Neumann to be circle secretary in place of [Daniel] Steingens who has resigned. - Further provisions concern the presentation and auditing of circle treasurers' ('Kreis-pfennigmeister') accounts from 1653, adjustments to the matricular contributions of Pyrmont and the city of Aix-la-Chapelle, and salaries for secretary and syndic during the Frankfurt convention. [Inscribed cover page].

Date and Place: 1697 May 10 Cologne