Ramon de Tous swears fidelity to Pere, Bishop of Vic, for the castle of Tous.

March 5, 1177

I, Ramon de Tous, son of the woman Ermessendis, swear to you Pere, Bishop of Vic, that from this hour in the future I will be faithful to you with regard to your life, and the members of your body, in good faith and without deception. And I will be faithful to you concerning that castle of Tous and the territory that belongs to it within its entire boundaries. And neither that castle nor its territory will I seize from you, not I, nor any man or men, woman or women, acting by my advice or instigation. And I will help you to hold, have and defend against all men and women who might wish to seize or deprive you of all these above mentioned things. And I will give you posession of that castle and that fortress which is or will be inside it as many times as you demand them of me, either you yourself or by your representative or representatives. And all that has been written above I will hold and observe faithfully and without deception, by God and these holy [Gospels or relics].
Done the third nones of March, in the fortieth year of the reign of Louis the Younger. Signed Ramon de Tous, who performs this oath, signs and asks others to sign. Signed Ramon de Timor. Signed Guerau de Jorba. I, Bernat, Bishop of Barcelona, sign.
Thomas confirms this who wrote this on the day and in the year as above.

Translated by Paul Freedman, Vanderbilt University


Vic, Arxiu Capitular, calaix 9, Pergamins del Bisbe Guillem de Tavertet (unnumbered)

Pere de Tavertet, sacristan of Vic, pronounces judgment on a controversy between the bishop and canons of Vic concerning violence committed by members of the canons' entourages.

April 15, 1199 (copy made in 1267)

This is a copy of a legal record whose text is as follows.

Controversy arose between Guillem, bishop of Vic, and the cergy of the cathedral with regard to beatings and invasions committed by the canons' men and also over jurisdiction [bannum] and attacks within the town. The matter was discussed in the chapter a nd Pere, sacristan of Vic, delivered a judgment that if the men of those clerics fought or attacked eachother within the houses [of the canons], the bishop should not receive any fines, neither for violation of jurisdiction nor for attacks within the town . If, on the other hand, the attacks take place outside the houses, in any part of the town, its outskirts or public streets, the clergy shall receive amends for this violence. And [in such cases] the bishop should have, and may demand, [fines for] viol ence within the town and breach of his jurisdiction but he must receive the fines for these men from the clergy. Following disturbances in the market, the bishop may demand fines for violation of jurisdiction and violence within the town even if he did n ot witness the altercation.
Moreover, it was decided that if any thief or robber takes refuge in the clerics houses, or anyone who has despoiled or attacked what belongs to the bishop of his men, the bishop can demand of the clerics that such persons be handed over. And if they re fuse to give up these men or amend the wrong they have committed, the bishop may compel those men and seize their possessions. Similarly they [the canons] must not obstruct public streets by building houses or any other sort of construction. And Pere, s acristan of Vic, himself, in the presence of the chapter, paid a fine for a man of his for the violation of jurisdiction and of the town.
Done the 17th kalends of May, in the year of the Lord one-thousand 198. Signed Pere, sacristan of Vic. Bernat, archlevite, signed thus. Signed, Ramon d'Avinyó. de Bigis, Guerau. Berenguer de Sentfores. Bernad,sacriscrinius signed. Gros, Gui llem concedes here with a song. I, Arnau of Manlleu, primicerius of Vic, sign. I, Guillem de Viver, sign. Pere, priest, wrote this with the indications in the 13th line where it says "himself" until the point where it says "town," in the day and year as indicated above.
{there follow the authentications of the copy}

Translated by Paul Freedman, Vanderbilt University


Barcelona, Arxiu de la Corona de Aragó, Monacals, perg. Sant Llorenç del Munt, no. 396.

December 4, 1215

Controversy between the representative of the monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt and Ramon Fabri of Matadepedra whom the monastery claims as its serf.

Dissent and litigation arose and was considered by Pere de Palau, bailiff of the lady Guillelma of Castellvell, between Bernat de Vallevert and G. de Comars, monk of Sant Llorenç, procurator in the name of the abbot of Sant Llorenç, acting on one side, and Ramon Fabri of Matdepedra on the other. [Those acting for the monastery] implored the restitution of Ramon's body by reason of servitude and long-standing custom affecting the men of Matadepedra and other men of the monastery's lands lying this side of the [river] Llobregat. They demanded his obedience as he was the son of one of their good men of Matadepedra and moreover solid and belonging to them, and in possession of a fief from them. Contrary to this on the other side Ramon Fabri responded, saying he was indeed the son of one of the monastery's good men, but not a solid man nor belonging as a man who had commended himself with his hands joined to the monastery. Moreover, he denied that he held anything from the abbot, and asserted that he had received many evils and injuries from the abbot and his men concerning alleged dues and had received no relief. Having heard again the arguments of both sides and their responses, alleagtions, reasons and assertions, and after diligent consideration, I, the aforementioned Pere de Palau, with the assistence of G. Sandre, absolve Ramon Fabri of this claim of servitude. And I say this by authority of the edict of Prince Alfons of happy memory, now deceased, between whom and the magnates of the land who objected to this there once was great controversy. Concerning which by common consensus on the part of both sides in a general council it was declared that any free person taken from a lord and kept by another should be released from that second lord's control and jurisdiction and returned henceforth. This should not hold for those dependent tenants called "serfs of the land"*. Truly if anyone doubts this, let him return to the question concerning the law, beyond which I find nothing and thus I absolve the said R[amon] of all obligation to the abbot, and with regard to the injuries and contumly done to him in this matter, let him receive what he is entitled to by law. Done 2 nones of December, in the year of Our Lord 1215. Signed, P. de Palau, bailiff of the lady Guillelma, Sendred, Guillelmus.
Signed Guillelmi de Leucata who wrote this.

Translated by Paul Freedman, Vanderbilt University

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