A Source Book of Mediæval History: Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance
History
A Source Book of Mediæval History: Documents Illustrative of European Life and Institutions from the German Invasions to the Renaissance
Middle Ages -- Sources
=40.= That each steward on each of our domains shall always have,
for the sake of ornament, swans, peacocks, pheasants, ducks,
pigeons, partridges, turtle-doves.
[Sidenote: Household furniture]
=42.= That in each of our estates, the chambers shall be provided
with counterpanes, cushions, pillows, bed-clothes, coverings for
the tables and benches; vessels of brass, lead, iron and wood;
andirons, chains, pot-hooks, adzes, axes, augers, cutlasses, and
all other kinds of tools, so that it shall never be necessary to go
elsewhere for them, or to borrow them. And the weapons, which are
carried against the enemy, shall be well-cared for, so as to keep
them in good condition; and when they are brought back they shall
be placed in the chamber.
=43.= For our women's work they are to give at the proper time, as
has been ordered, the materials, that is the linen, wool,
woad,[156] vermilion, madder,[157] wool-combs, teasels,[158] soap,
grease, vessels, and the other objects which are necessary.
[Sidenote: Supplies to be furnished the king]
=44.= Of the food products other than meat, two-thirds shall be
sent each year for our own use, that is of the vegetables, fish,
cheese, butter, honey, mustard, vinegar, millet, panic, dried and
green herbs, radishes, and in addition of the wax, soap and other
small products; and they shall tell us how much is left by a
statement, as we have said above; and they shall not neglect this
as in the past; because from those two-thirds, we wish to know how
much remains.
[Sidenote: Workmen on the estates]
=45.= That each steward shall have in his district good workmen,
namely, blacksmiths, gold-smith, silver-smith, shoe-makers,
turners, carpenters, sword-makers, fishermen, foilers, soap-makers,
men who know how to make beer, cider, berry, and all the other
kinds of beverages, bakers to make pastry for our table, net-makers
who know how to make nets for hunting, fishing and fowling, and the
others who are too numerous to be designated.
19. An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates
In the following inventory we have a specimen of the annual statements
required by Charlemagne from the stewards on his royal domains. The
location of Asnapium is unknown, but it is evident that this estate
was one of the smaller sort. Like all the rest, it was liable
occasionally to become the temporary abiding place of the king. The
detailed character of the inventory is worthy of note, as is also the
number of industries which must have been engaged in by the
inhabitants of the estate and its dependent villas.
Source--Text in _Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Leges_ (Pertz
ed.), Vol. I., pp. 178-179.
[Sidenote: Buildings on the estate of Asnapium]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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