“Syndic and overseers,” replied the baron, “whatever may be your
decision, I submit to it beforehand.” Peyrou then said, in a loud
voice: “Talebard-Talebardon, Raimond V., Baron des Anbiez, your cause
is heard. We, overseers and syndic, will now consider it.” The five
fishermen rose, and retired into the embrasure of a window. They seemed
to be arguing very animatedly, while the crowd awaited their decision
in profound and respectful silence; the lord of Anbiez talked in a low
voice with Honorât de Berrol, who was much impressed by the scene.
After about a half-hour’s discussion, the syndic and overseers resumed
their places, and stood with their hats on, while Peyrou read from a
large book of registration the following formal statement, which always
preceded the decree of this tribunal:
“This day, 20th day of December, in the year 1632, being assembled in
the town hall of La Ciotat, we, syndic and overseers of the port, having
made Talebard-Tale-bardon, consul of the city, and Raimond V., Baron
des Anbiez, appear before us, and having heard the aforesaid in their
accusation and defence, aver what follows:
“The demand of Talebard-Talebardon seems to us a just one. According
to the title of Raimond V., his right of fishery does not extend
indifferently over a space of five hundred steps, but over the space
lying between the coast and the Seven Rocks of Castrembaou. The waters
have retired from the part which belonged to him; that is the will
of the Almighty, and Raimond must submit to it. If, as in the Gulf of
Martignes, the sea had advanced on the coast, the fishery of Raimond
V. would have been so much increased, and the community could not have
exceeded their limits beyond the Seven Rocks; the opposite has taken
place, which, no doubt, is unfortunate for the lord of Anbiez, but
the community cannot surrender its rights of fishery. God controls the
waters as pleases him, and we must accept what he sends. Our conscience
and our reason then decide that henceforth Raimond V. can lay no more
nets or seines outside of the Seven Rocks; but we also decide, in order
to prove the gratitude of this city to the said Raimond V., who has
always been her good and courageous protector, that he has the right to
ten pounds of fish for every hundred pounds of fish which are caught in
the bay. We know the good faith of our brother fishermen, and are sure
that they will honestly fulfil this condition. The provost and other
officers of the city are hereby notified to execute our judgment
pronounced against Raimond V., Baron des Anbiez. In case the said lord
of Anbiez opposes our judgment, he will be required to pay one hundred
pounds forfeit, of which one-third goes to the king, one-third to the
hospital of St. Esprit, and the other third to the said community. The
hearing of the said misdemeanours and disputes of fishery being by
the letters patent of Henry II. prohibited to Parliament and all other
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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