Cartulary of Saint Trond:
A Renewal of Letters of Freedom, 1172
The position of a freed serf was precarious without the possession of written
evidence of freedom. The tax to be paid on the marriage of the descendants of Emma and
Ikha was known as merchet, the twelve denarii being a capitation fee, an indication of
lack of full legal freedom.
In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity. Gery, abbot of Saint-Trond by the
grace of God.
We wish it to be known to the present generation and to posterity that Emma and Ikha,
two pious women, belonging to the ancient stock of our church, have lost by fire the
charter of their liberty, have come to us, and have sought from us that we would give them
another. Now we, already assured of the truth of their statement, grant freely, and by
this charter confirm to them, liberty for themselves and their posterity. But on the Feast
of Saint Trond each will pay one denarius into the common box, and twelve denarii tax to
the abbey. But if a man should marry a woman of equal standing he shall give nine denarii.
But if he should marry an alien [one born outside the manor], he should seek the
permission of the abbot.
Witnesses, etc.
Source:
C. Piot, ed., Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Trond, (Brussels: Académie Royale
de Belgique, 1870), p. 120; reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source
Book for Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936;
reprint ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), p. 301.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
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