[Constitutiones synodales ecclesiae Constantiensis, 1481]

Furthermore, we inhibit that from now on any ecclesiastical person of the city and diocese of Constance, subject to us, should in any way assume, invoke, or procure for himself the privilege, aid, or subsidy of laymen against us or our jurisdiction. Those doing the contrary shall be subject to the sentence of excommunication by that very act.

Concerning proofs

To obviate the frauds of certain people who obtain letters of grace or justice signed by us or our vicar or official, and, content with the sign alone, use such letters pre-sealed, we, attending to the fact that such signs only signify that the letters to which they are affixed ought to be expedited by our seal-bearer, decree by the present constitution that all letters obtained in such a way, or to be obtained in the future, shall be of no force, efficacy, or moment. We also bind those who henceforth use such letters as true and effective, or receive them fraudulently, with the sentence of excommunication by this statute.

On the same matter

Because, as we have learned, dangers to souls often arise due to defects in the proofs of spiritual relationships, in that impediments of spiritual relationships—which can be proven with difficulty or scarcely or not at all—sometimes stand in the way of those restricted to one another by the sacrament of matrimony, we, desiring to obviate such dangers for those subject to us, decree and command by this perpetual statute to be observed that the rectors of churches, parish priests, vice-parish priests, and all curates throughout our city and diocese, when baptizing the children of their subjects, shall write down the names of the lifters godparents and the baptized in the common register which they have in their church, and shall assume several witnesses. Similarly, they shall induce and inform their subjects that henceforth, at the confirmation of their children, they shall require discreet and understanding witnesses before the bishop who, when there is need, may be able to give testimony regarding the confirmation and the holding before the bishop and the name of the holder, so that such impediments may be able to be proven more easily and with lesser labors and expenses at an opportune time.

Concerning sentence and a matter judged

We have understood that sometimes the rectors or parish priests of the churches of our city and diocese of Constance come to our curia of Constance with their subjects in matrimonial causes, both simple ones and those of impediments, where they ought to be expedited. And, having passed definitive sentences, pretending it is sufficient that the parties were present at the reading of the sentence, they order them to depart without the letters and sentences. Often it also happens that, those sentences having been passed, the parties assert before their parish priests and others that they were passed differently than they were, and then, visiting our curia a second time, they vary their depositions and bring back contrary sentences. And because sometimes, due to the length of time, one cannot provide for the sentence, from which not small dangers to souls have resulted, as we have been taught by experience, desiring therefore to obviate such dangers, we strictly inhibit by the present edict that henceforth any church rector or parish priest should do the aforementioned in any way, decreeing that parties asserting sentences have been passed for or against matrimony without properly sealed letters of the sentences are not to be believed, and nevertheless, we exclude the same persons asserting [this] from the communion of the sacraments, saving the article of death, until and unless they obtain such sentences...