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
=14.= That bishops, abbots and abbesses, and counts shall be
mutually in accord, following the law in order to render a just
judgment with all charity and unity of peace, and that they shall
live faithfully in accordance with the will of God, so that always
everywhere through them and among them a just judgment shall be
rendered. The poor, widows, orphans, and pilgrims shall have
consolation and defense from them; so that we, through the
good-will of these, may deserve the reward of eternal life rather
than punishment.
=19.= That no bishops, abbots, priests, deacons, or other members
of the clergy shall presume to have dogs for hunting, or hawks,
falcons, and sparrow-hawks, but each shall observe fully the
canons or rule of his order.[185] If any one shall presume to do
so, let him know that he shall lose his office. And in addition he
shall suffer such punishment for his misconduct that the others
will be afraid to possess such things for themselves.
=27.= And we command that no one in our whole kingdom shall dare to
deny hospitality to rich, or poor, or pilgrims; that is, let no one
deny shelter and fire and water to pilgrims traversing our country
in God's name, or to any one traveling for the love of God, or for
the safety of his own soul.
[Sidenote: The missi to be helped on their way]
=28.= Concerning embassies coming from the lord emperor. That the
counts and _centenarii_[186] shall provide most carefully, as they
desire the good-will of the lord emperor, for the _missi_ who are
sent out, so that they may go through their territories without any
delay; and the emperor commands all everywhere that they see to it
that no delay is encountered anywhere, but they shall cause the
_missi_ to go on their way in all haste and shall provide for them
in such a manner as they may direct.
[Sidenote: The crime of murder]
=32.= Murders, by which a multitude of the Christian people perish,
we command in every way to be shunned and to be forbidden....
Nevertheless, lest sin should also increase, in order that the
greatest enmities may not arise among Christians, when by the
persuasions of the devil murders happen, the criminal shall
immediately hasten to make amends and with all speed shall pay to
the relatives of the murdered man the fitting composition for the
evil done. And we forbid firmly that the relatives of the murdered
man shall dare in any way to continue their enmities on account of
the evil done, or shall refuse to grant peace to him who asks it,
but, having given their pledges, they shall receive the fitting
composition and shall make a perpetual peace; moreover, the guilty
one shall not delay to pay the composition....[187] But if any one
shall have scorned to make the fitting composition, he shall be
deprived of his property until we shall render our decision.[188]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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