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An Abbot Negotiates with his Rural Subjects – Weingarten (Upper Swabia) (1432)

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[2] Further, we unanimously conveyed to them that charters produced by the aforementioned Lord Abbot and his monks, including all charters of liberties from the Roman emperors and kings, plus the judgment concerning the property at Hagenau, which was issued by the late Schwarzenburg, and others, justices of the royal court of our most gracious lord, the king – which were read to us – shall remain in effect.

[3] Further, in order that the aforementioned Lord Abbot and his monks of Weingarten and their serfs shall remain at peace and without conflict for all future time, and so that they shall stand by and support one another, we three have unanimously decided and announce as follows. When a person departs his community by death and leaves no children, or if the children have been manumitted, then the abbey shall claim a fine, namely, the person’s best garment, the one that he wore on "Proud Monday" to church and on the street; and also as head tax the best animal from the livestock, plus one-third of the entire estate left by the deceased. Excepted from this shall be all iron implements, and all wagons, carts, and plows – which are needed for cultivation – because these should properly remain with the farm.

[4] If a person dies and leaves heirs who are not manumitted, the abbey shall claim a fine and head tax only, as specified above, and all the rest of the property shall go to the heirs.

[5] Further, we three have unanimously decided that if a person, man or woman, dies unmarried, the abbey shall claim the fine, the head tax, and a third of the estate, as specified above. The rest shall go to the heirs.

[6] Further, we three have unanimously decided that if a man dies, and if he was married to a woman belonging to another lord, and if he had not compensated the abbot and the monks, the abbey shall claim a fine of the best garment, a head tax of the best animal, and one-half of the entire estate he left behind, including both real and personal property.

[7] If a woman who belongs to the abbey dies and leaves behind a husband who does not belong to it, the abbey shall claim a fine of the best garment, the one she wore on "Proud Monday" to church and on the street, plus a third of the entire estate she left behind, except for the iron implements, wagons, carts, and plows, which ought to remain on the farmstead. The remainder shall go to her heirs.

[8] Further, we three have unanimously decided that if someone has voluntarily bought his freedom from, or sold it to, the abbey, and if he has documents to that effect, the aforementioned Lord Abbot and the monks of Weingarten shall, upon being shown these documents, be content with the situation as documented.

[9] Further, we three have unanimously decided that if one or several persons who occupy lands of this abbey act against our judgment and these articles or refuse to obey any of them, that if this be proven, from that moment on their properties and lease shall revert to the abbey of Weingarten, and the abbot and the monks may then dispose of them as they think best for the abbey. And in this they shall receive protection from the Imperial bailiff [Landvogt] in Swabia.

[10] If anyone who is not a tenant of the abbey acts against our judgment and any of its articles, or fails to obey this letter, where this is proven the Imperial bailiff in Swabia shall fine them 20 Ravensburg measures of oats, which shall be paid immediately and in full. Further, all rights of such folk who have acted against this judgment shall revert to the aforementioned Lord Abbot and the monks of Weingarten, who shall produce their charters and privileges to document their rights. And the Imperial bailiff in Swabia shall protect the abbot and the monks in this matter.

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