Verfahren beim Gottesurteil

ea die qua accusati pro aliquo crimine sunt examinandi· primo haec missa

On the day on which those accused of some crime are to be tried, first this Mass

dicenda est. iustus esdomine. oratio. da quaesumus omnipotens. lectio. Esaiae prophetae. indiebus

is to be said: 'You are just, O Lord.' Collect: 'Grant, we beseech you, almighty [God].' Lesson from the prophet Isaiah: 'In those

illis. locutus est Esaias propheta dicens. quaerite dominumdum inveniri. potest. graduale. custodi

days the prophet Isaiah spoke, saying: Seek the Lord while he can be found.' Gradual: 'Keep

me. alleluia. domine refugium. evangelium. secundum Lucam. in illo tempore. respiciens

me.' Alleluia: 'Lord, [our] refuge.' Gospel according to Luke: 'At that time, looking

Jesus discipulos suos ait illis. amen amen dico vobis quia quicumque dixerit huic monti.

at his disciples, Jesus said to them: Truly, truly I say to you that whoever says to this mountain.'

offertorium. deprofundis. secreta. ap omni nos reatu. communio. amen dico vobis. post communionem. conspirantes

Offertory: 'Out of the depths.' Secret: 'Us from all guilt.' Communion: 'Truly I say to you.' Postcommunion: 'United in spirit,

domine. expleta missa itur at aquam ubiexaminandi sunt accusati. etaqua

O Lord.' When the Mass is finished, they go to the water where the accused are to be tried. And when the water

benedicta etaccusatis adiuratis simul etaccusator etaccusatus statuuntur

has been blessed and the accused adjured, both accuser and accused are set together

iuxta eandem aquam contra orientem. uterque tenens baculum in manu qui dicitur sunnestâp.

beside that water, facing east, each holding in his hand a staff which is called sunnestâp,

sacerdote haec verba inchoante etaccusatore eadem repetente. Kuonrât

the priest beginning these words and the accuser repeating them: 'Konrad,

oder swie sô dû heizest ich spriche dir zuo umbe mîn ros daz mir verstolen

or whatever your name is, I bring a charge against you over my horse that was stolen

wart. ich zîhe dich daz dû daz stælest. unde bite dich durch got

from me. I accuse you of having stolen it, and I ask you for God's sake

unde durch des reht daz dû mir wider gebest. unde zîhesdû mich

and for justice's sake to give it back to me. And if you accuse me

dâr übere daz ich mînen muotwillen andich vordere. dâ biute

besides of pressing my own wanton will against you, then I offer

ich dir umbe mînen voreeit. respondeat accusatus. den voreeit den

you my fore-oath on it.' Let the accused answer: 'The fore-oath

wile ich verkiesen durch got. daz er mir deste genædigersî zuo diseme

I will waive for God's sake, so that he may be the more gracious to me in this

mîneme rehte. etaddat haec verba. alse mich Ruodolf der hier gegenwertic

my right.' And let him add these words: 'As Rudolf, who stands here

stât ane gesprochen hât umbe sîn ros. daz ich ime

present, has accused me over his horse, that I stole it

daz stæle. des ne hân ich niwet getân. unde biute ime dâr ein reht

from him: that I have not done, and I offer him for it a lawful

lougen zesîner gagenwarte zediseme gesegeneten wâge ob er

denial in his presence at this blessed water, if he

ez geloben undegelouben wile. respondet accusator. ich gelobe unde geloube

will accept and trust it.' The accuser answers: 'I accept and trust [it]

unde setze indîne hant. mir alsô zeleistenne alsô dû mir hier

and put [it] into your hand, to be performed for me just as you have here

gewettet hâst. postea puer qui vice accusati mittendus est inaquam. consignatus

pledged to me.' Afterwards the boy who is to be put into the water in place of the accused, signed

cum evangelio. inprincipioe.. u.. simul cum accusato statuatur. etsacerdosdicat

with the Gospel 'In the beginning was the Word', is to be set beside the accused, and the priest is to say

haec verba. disen kristenen mennischen den lîche ich dir daz erdich

these words: 'This Christian person I lend to you, so that he

verwese zuodiseme gotesrehte. alsô dû selbe soltest. alsô

may stand in for you at this judgement of God, as you yourself should. So

tuonouch ich unde eische ein pfant.

do I also, and I demand a pledge.'