These states are deemed to run their public affairs more properly hold sacred with laws, that, if anyone has received anything about public affair(s) from neighboring peoples by hearsay or rumor, (that) he report (it) to the magistrate and not share (it) with anyone else, because it has been known that often imprudent and inexperienced people have been frightened by false reports and have been driven to (a) misdeed and have adopted a plan about very important matters (i.e., make decisions about life and death).

The magistrates keep secret what has seemed (best to keep secret) and reveal to the common people what they have decided was of service. It is not allowed to talk about public affairs except through an assembly.