cum mihi corporalia defecerint juvamina, ut merear collocari in requie perpetua, filii nec non uxor mea, monachis monasterii patroni nostri sancti Dionysii, in quo corpus ejus requiescit, et nos recondi tumulo cupimus termino depositionis, ubi preesse videtur abbas Astulfus [Dub., Aygulfus abba], villam Gyuretis [Dub., de Giurettis] vocitatam, cum adjacentiis suis, jure perpetuo annuimus habendam, que sita est in Bituricensi pago, duobus millibus a Caro fluvio distat. Et si quevis [Dub., quis] prepotens persona villam depopulando pretioso martyri Dionysio intulerit damna, vel quislibet regum in regni solio nobis succedentium in suum si maluerit revocare dominium, Dei et martyris patiatur iram, cujus donando ditamus ecclesiam. Hoc autem donum, ut multo magis sit firmum, et per futura tempora posteris non videatur apocrifum, cartaque hec firmiorem obtineat vigorem, signo nostre manus roborari atque confirmari decrevimus.
Since bodily aids have failed me, so that I may deserve to be placed in eternal rest, I have granted by perpetual right to the monks of the monastery of our patron Saint Dionysius, in which his body rests, that the villa called Gyuretis, with its appurtenances, be held—for my sons as well as my wife and myself, whom we desire to be laid in the tomb at the end of our deposition—where the abbot Astulfus is seen to preside; which villa is situated in the territory of Bituriges, two miles from the river Caro. And if any very powerful person, laying waste the villa, has brought losses upon the precious martyr Dionysius, or if any of the kings succeeding us on the royal throne should prefer to revoke it into his own dominion, let him suffer the wrath of God and of the martyr whose church we enrich by this gift. But so that this gift may be much more firm, and may not seem apocryphal to posterity through future times, and so that this charter may obtain stronger force, we have decreed that it be strengthened and confirmed by the sign of our hand.
Signum Dagoberti regis. Signum Clodovei [Dub., Chloudouvii] filii sui. Signum Eligii aurificis sui. Signum Dadonis cancellarii sui. Signum Geremari [Dub., Geremari abbatis]. Signum Aistulfi [Dub., Aygulfi] abbatis.
Datum sub die Kal. Decembris [Dub., Septembris], anno XXX regni nostri. Actum Spinogilo villa, feliciter, in Dei nomine, amen.
XXXVII.
Diploma Dagoberti I, regis Francorum, quo jubet filios mancipiorum aut servorum monasterii sancti Dionysii sub lege mancipiorum ecclesiasticorum in perpetuum cum prole sua mancipio subjici (ann. 637).·
Dagobertus, rex Francorum, vir illuster, omnibus episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, ducibus, vicariis, centenariis, auctoribus [Dub., actoribus], judicibus, et cunctis in universo Francorum regno principatum agentibus. Si ea que ad reverentiam locorum sanctorum Dei, et testamentum mancipiorum ad ea pertinentium adtinere videntur, regia censura decernimus, juste quidem agere videmur, ac proinde nos habituros eterne renumerationis apud Deum mercedem sine dubio speramus.
Sign of King Dagobert. Sign of Clovis his son. Sign of Eligius his goldsmith. Sign of Dado his chancellor. Sign of Geremar. Sign of Aistulf the abbot.
Given on the Kalends of December, in the thirtieth year of our reign. Done at the villa of Spinogilum, happily, in the name of God, amen.
XXXVII.
Diploma of Dagobert I, king of the Franks, by which he orders that the sons of slaves or servants of the monastery of Saint Dionysius be subjected in perpetuity, together with their offspring, to the status of ecclesiastical slaves (year 637).
Dagobert, king of the Franks, illustrious man, to all bishops, abbots, counts, dukes, vicars, centenaries, agents, judges, and to all who exercise authority throughout the whole kingdom of the Franks. If we decree by royal judgment those things which are seen to pertain to reverence for the holy places of God, and the testament concerning the slaves belonging to them, we appear indeed to act justly, and therefore we hope without doubt to have the reward of eternal recompense with God.
Quapropter, presentium atque futurorum sagacitas noverit quod, ad petitionem domni Chunaldi, venerabilis abbatis, et fratrum monachorum monasterii sancti ac beatissimi peculiaris patroni nostri domni Dionysii martyris, ubi ipse domnus in corpore requiscit, una cum suis preclaris sociis Rustico et Eleutherio martyribus, de copulationibus mancipiorum, servorum et ancillarum, et eorumdem sanctorum venerabilium martyrum, et aliorum omnium universaliter hominum in toto regno a Deo nobis commisso consistentium, seu etiam nostrorum seu quorumlibet hominum cujuscumque dignitatis, ordinis et potestatis, extiterint, hanc per hoc nostre dignitatis preceptum constituentes, sancimus ut amodo, per omnia seculi presentis futura tempora, quicumque mancipiorum, sive servorum et ancillarum prefatorum martyrum, sive masculus, sive femina, qualicumque pacto, seu legitimo seu furtivo complexu prolem genuerit, ediderit atque propagaverit, ex tunc et semper, absque participe vel divisore quolibet, inrefragabiliter ad supradictorum sanctorum martyrum potestatem cum omni prole sua revocentur atque subdantur lege [Dub., et lege] mancipiorum ecclesiasticorum, sub prefati abbatis et successorum illius monachorum in jam dicto monasterio Deo servientium ditionem perpetualiter mancipentur.
Wherefore let the discernment of those present and future know that, at the petition of the lord Chunaldis, venerable abbot, and of the brothers, the monks of the monastery of our holy and most blessed particular patron, the lord Dionysius the martyr, where the same lord rests in body together with his illustrious companions the martyrs Rusticus and Eleutherius, concerning the unions of bondservants, slaves, and maidservants, both of these same holy venerable martyrs and universally of all other persons throughout the whole kingdom committed to us by God, whether they be ours or those of any persons whatsoever of whatever dignity, order, or power, establishing this by this precept of our dignity, we decree that henceforth, through all the future times of this present age, whoever of the bondservants, whether of the slaves and maidservants of the aforesaid martyrs, whether male or female, shall have conceived, brought forth, and propagated offspring by whatever pact, whether by lawful or by secret union, from then and forever, without any sharer or divider whatsoever, they shall be irrevocably recalled and subjected, together with all their offspring, to the power of the aforesaid holy martyrs under the law of ecclesiastical bondservants, and shall be perpetually bound to the dominion of the aforesaid abbot and of his successors, the monks serving God in the said monastery.
Si quis vero contra hoc mee majestatis decretum presumpserit, et quod amore justitie decernimus infrigerit, et quoquo pacto violaverit, legibus artatus, auri purissimi decem libras, ac argenti probatissimi pondo viginti, ad pensum nostri palatii solvere cogatur, et eorumdem mancipiorum, si liber est, teneatur; si vero servus, idem solvat, et centum quinquaginta ictibus in publico coram judicibus feriatur. Ut vero hoc nostre preceptionis decretum inconcussum permaneat, atque pleniorem vigorem accipiens inviolabiliter per futura tempora conservetur, nostre dignitatis annulo insigniri precepimus. Datum anno X a regni domni nostri [nostri deest apud Dub.] Dagoberti gloriosissimi Francorum regis. Dado, regie dignitatis cancellarius, recognovit, legi et relegi [Dub,, legit et relegit].
XXXVIII.
Diploma Dagoberti I, regis Francorum, quo confirmatur charta precaria Sigranni, abbatis Anisolensis, et Hadoindi Cenomanensis episcopi, de monasterio Anisolensi (ann. 637).
If anyone, however, shall presume to act against this decree of my majesty, and shall break what we decree out of love of justice, and shall violate it in any way, let him be constrained by the laws and compelled to pay ten pounds of purest gold and twenty pounds' weight of most approved silver, by the weight of our palace, and let him be bound [to make restitution] for the same slaves, if he is a free man; but if he is a slave, let him pay the same and be struck with one hundred and fifty lashes in public before the judges. But so that this decree of our precept may remain unshaken, and receiving fuller force may be preserved inviolably for future times, we have ordered it to be marked with the seal of our dignity. Given in the tenth year of the reign of our lord Dagobert, most glorious king of the Franks. Dado, chancellor of the royal dignity, has acknowledged, I have read and reread it.
XXXVIII.
Diploma of Dagobert I, king of the Franks, by which is confirmed the precarial charter of Sigrannus, abbot of Anisola, and of Hadoindus, bishop of Cenomanum, concerning the monastery of Anisola (year 637).
Dagobertus, rex Francorum, vir inluster. Si ea quae opportunitatibus ecclesiarum vel sacerdotum pertinent libenter praestamus, vel ad effectum perducimus, retributorem Dominum exinde habere confidimus, et nobis ad mercedem vel stabilitatem regni nostri in Dei nomine pertinere confidimus. Igitur compertum sit omnibus fidelibus nostris praesentibus et futuris, quia miserunt ad nostram clementiam Hadoindus Cenomannis urbis venerabilis episcopus, et Sigrannus, abbas de monasterio Anisolae, quorum missi nobis innotuerunt, et per epistolas praedictorum virorum adsensum et deprecationem confirmaverunt, dicentes eo quod praedictum monasteriolum Anisolae per titulum precariae supplicasset praedictus Sigrannus abbas, ad suum supra citatum Hadoindum episcopum, in quo etiam monasteriolo domnus Karileffus corpore requiescit, quod et ipse construxit, et in dedicatione ecclesiae domno Innocente, praefatae urbis episcopo, per strumenta cartarum tradidit, quod etiam in beneficium per precariam jam dictus abbas a supradicto Hadoindo adeptum habet. Unde et scriptum precariarum nobis eorum missi ostenderunt, in quibus continebatur qualiter praefatum mo nasteriolum a memorato episcopo jam dictus abbas petisset, atque ab eo beneficiario jure diebus vitae suae percepisset, et ob rei firmitatem censum ei per singulos annos solvere spopondisset, id est, ad lumen matris ecclesiae IIII lib.
Dagobert, king of the Franks, illustrious man. If we willingly bestow or bring to effect those things which pertain to the needs of churches or of priests, we trust to have the Lord as recompenser thereof, and we trust that it pertains to us for reward and for the stability of our kingdom in the name of God. Therefore let it be known to all our faithful, present and future, that Hadoind, venerable bishop of the city of Cenomannis, and Sigrannus, abbot of the monastery of Anisola, have sent to our clemency; whose messengers made known to us, and by the letters of the aforesaid men they confirmed their assent and petition, saying that the aforesaid little monastery of Anisola the aforesaid abbot Sigrannus had petitioned by title of precaria from his above-mentioned bishop Hadoind, in which little monastery also the lord Karileffus rests in body, which he himself also constructed, and at the dedication of the church handed over to the lord Innocent, bishop of the aforesaid city, by instruments of charters, which also the said abbot has obtained in benefice by precaria from the above-said Hadoind. Whence also the messengers of these men showed us the writing of the precariae, in which it was contained how the said abbot had petitioned the aforesaid little monastery from the remembered bishop, and had received it from him by beneficiary right for the days of his life, and for the firmness of the matter had promised to pay him a census each year, that is, four pounds for the light of the mother church.
de cera, et ad opus fratrum canonicorum in praedicta civitate Deo militantium, in coena Domini, plenum modium de ovis, et plenas buticulas paratas de optimo vino, et ad opus episcopi cambuttam unam et duos subtalares per singulos annos, partibus memorati episcopi, vel rectorum ejus persolvere debuisset. Petentes ergo ad nostram miserunt celsitudinem epistolas ambo et missos, ut super precariam memorati antistitis, gratia firmitatis, fecissemus praeceptum, per quod monasteriolum praedictum memoratus Sigrannus abbas tutum et securum, dum advixerit, tenere et possidere cum omni integritate vel supraposito valeret. Proinde banc nostram auctoritatem memoratis venerabilibus viris fieri jussimus, per quam praecipimus atque jubemus ut praescriptum monasteriolum, sicut memorato abbati a supra memorato venerabili Hadoindo episcopo sibi beneficiario ordine collatum est, ita deinceps in ejus beneficiaria dominatione permaneat, et suprascriptum censum partibus rectorum ejusdem Cenomannicae sedis, absque ulla dilatione, persolvere studeat; post ejus vero dicessum, ad ejus et potestatem memorata; urbis Cenomannicae matris ecclesiae, a qua in beneficium illud accepisse dinoscitur, absque ullius detentione aut contrarietate revertatur, ut rectores ejusdem sanctae ecclesiae, quidquid de eo jure ecclesiastico disponere voluerint, faciant.
of wax, and for the use of the canonical brothers serving God in the aforesaid city, on the Lord's Supper, a full measure of eggs, and full casks prepared of the best wine, and for the use of the bishop one cambutta and two subtalares each year, to be paid to the parts of the remembered bishop, or of his rectors. Therefore, both sent letters and messengers to our highness, asking that, concerning the precaria of the remembered bishop, for the sake of firmness, we should make a precept, through which the remembered abbot Sigrannus might be able to hold and possess the aforesaid little monastery, safe and secure, as long as he lives, with all integrity and with what is placed upon it. Accordingly, we ordered this our authority to be made for the remembered venerable men, through which we command and order that the aforesaid little monastery, just as it was conferred in beneficiary order by the above-remembered venerable bishop Hadoindus to the remembered abbot for himself, so hereafter may it remain in his beneficiary dominion, and let him strive to pay the above-written census to the parts of the rectors of the same see of Cenomannum, without any delay; but after his departure, let it revert to the power of the remembered mother church of the city of Cenomannum, from which it is known to have received that in benefice, without the detention or opposition of anyone, so that the rectors of the same holy church may do whatever they wish to dispose of concerning it by ecclesiastical law.
Et ut haec auctoritas firmior habeatur, vel per tempora conservetur, manus nostrae subscriptionibus subter eam decrevimus roborare.
XXXIX.
Diploma Dagoberti I, regis Francorum, quo ecclesiae sancti Dionysii donut ecclesiam de Plumbata, et alias ecclesias plurimas, cum appenditiis; ac eidem privilegia concedit·c (ann. 637).
Novimus a predecessoribus fuisse decretum patribus, ut quecumque fierent posteriorum memorie profutura scripto commendarentur, ne oblivionis caligine supprimerentur. Quapropter ego Dagobertus, Dei gratia Francorum rex, notum volo fieri omnibus, tam futuris quam presentibus, quod ecclesie beatorum martyrum Dionysii, Rustici et Eleutherii de Francia, damus et concedimus, nostrorum consilio optimatum, et assensu domni Ansoaldi, Pictavorum episcopi, et aliorum tam archiepiscoporum quam episcoporum, ecclesiam de Plumbata, ecclesiam scilicet quam in honore beate Marie semper virginis, et sanctorum angelorum, beati confessores Ursinus, Martialis, Lucianus [Cacianus] et Julianus composuerunt, eandem vero ecclesiam ipsi angeli Deo consecraverunt; ecclesiam dico que est inter duas valles, sita prope aquam que dicitur Vigenna [Vigona], supradictis martyribus libere servitio [liberam et ab omni servitio] absolutam concedimus.
And so that this authority may be held more firmly, and preserved through the ages, we have decreed to strengthen it by the subscriptions of our own hands beneath it.
XXXIX.
Diploma of Dagobert I, king of the Franks, by which he grants to the church of Saint Dionysius the church of Plumbata, and many other churches, with their appurtenances; and concedes privileges to the same (year 637).
We know that it was decreed by our predecessors among the fathers that whatever was done for the benefit of the memory of later generations should be committed to writing, lest it be suppressed by the darkness of oblivion. Wherefore I, Dagobert, by the grace of God king of the Franks, wish it to be made known to all, both future and present, that to the church of the blessed martyrs Dionysius, Rusticus and Eleutherius of Francia, we give and concede, by the counsel of our nobles and with the assent of lord Ansoald, bishop of the Pictavi, and of others, both archbishops and bishops, the church of Plumbata—that is, the church which they established in honor of the blessed Mary ever virgin, and of the holy angels, and of the blessed confessors Ursinus, Martialis, Lucianus [Cacianus] and Julianus; and indeed the angels themselves consecrated that same church to God; I say the church which lies between two valleys, situated near the water called Vigenna [Vigona]—we concede it to the aforesaid martyrs, free and absolved from every service.
Rursum notificamus presentibus et futuris supradictis martyribus, vineas, terras et prata, cum aquis et nemoribus, servis et ancillis, in eodem loco dedisse. Nolo vos preterea latere, quod quicumque, sive liber, sive servus, sive quolibet crimine damnatus, intra metas quo [quas] ego posui in loco qui dicitur Aula, usque ad alium locum qui dicitur Ternant, sicut indicat supradicta aqua, et terra sancti Martini, et beate Radegundis, quicumque, inquam, sive a duello, sive indigena, latro, fur, homicida, refugium quesierint, liber et immunis a quacumque persecutorum infestatione evadat: preterea manifestum sit omnibus eos qui intra predictum locum manserint nulli nisi soli Deo et monachis ecclesie debere obsequi. De limus etiam supradictis martyribus ecclesiam sancti Hylarii de intra Annam [Amnem], cum terris et decimis et aquis. Item in eodem loco qui dicitur Cursous [Cursona), ecclesias nostras, scilicet ecclesiam sanctorum martyrum Gervasii et Prothasii, et aliam in honore beati Martini, et a fonte qui dicitur Benedicta usque ad locum qui Claustrum vocatur, totam terram et aquam que Voda vocatur, et molendinum de Cumignech, et terram de Bosnay, cum servis et ancillis et decimis. Item terram de Laingniaco[Lingniaco], et ecclesiam beati Hylarii, cum terris et pratis et decimis.
Again we notify those present and those future that we have given to the aforesaid martyrs vineyards, lands, and meadows, with waters and woods, male and female slaves, in that same place. I do not wish it to escape you besides, that whoever, whether free or slave, or condemned for whatever crime, within the boundaries which I have set in the place called Aula, up to the other place called Ternant, as the aforesaid water indicates, and the land of Saint Martin and of blessed Radegund—whoever, I say, whether from a feud or a native, thief, robber, or murderer, shall seek refuge, let him go forth free and immune from any harassment of persecutors; moreover let it be manifest to all that those who shall have stayed within the aforesaid place owe obedience to no one but God alone and the monks of the church. Concerning the boundaries also, we have given to the aforesaid martyrs the church of Saint Hilary within the Annis, with lands and tithes and waters. Likewise in the same place which is called Cursous, our churches, namely the church of the holy martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, and another in honor of blessed Martin, and from the spring which is called Benedicta up to the place which is called Claustrum, all the land and water which is called Voda, and the mill of Cumignech, and the land of Bosnay, with male and female slaves and tithes. Likewise the land of Laingniacum, and the church of blessed Hilary, with lands and meadows and tithes.
Dedimus ex alia parte Vienne aque sanctis martyribus quarum vicum [aquae Vigennae vicum] nostrum Ingrandisse, cum ecclesiis scilicet apostolorum Petri et Pauli et sancti Apoliti martyris, cum terris et decimis, servis et ancillis. Item super eandem Viennam [Vigennam], ecclesiam sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli de Dangeo, cum terris et decimis et servis. Item nostrum fiscum de Odriaco, et ecclesiam sancti Sulpicii, cum terris et pratis et decimis et servis, cum vicariis. Item terram de Maleredo, cum pratis et vineis et nemoribus, servis et ancillis et vicariis; et alterum Laingniacum [Lingniacum], et ecclesiam beati Remigii. Item in pago Turonensi, Antigniacum et ecclesiam sancti Vincentii super Vigennam, et terram de Selignech, cum terris, decimis et servis. Item in eodem territorio terram de Pleis, cum ecclesia sancit Silvestri, et terram de Buymet. Ut igitur omnis adversariorum calumpnia sopita sileat, et omnis malignorum omnium infestatio damnata abscedat, gratia memorie placuit nobis hoc scriptum sigillo nostro confirmare.
We have given, on the other side, at Vienne, to the holy martyrs, the waters of which our village of Ingrandes [the village of the waters of the Vigenna] is a part, together with the churches, namely, of the apostles Peter and Paul and of the holy martyr Apolitus, with lands and tithes, male and female slaves. Likewise, upon the same Vienne [Vigenna], the church of the holy apostles Peter and Paul of Dange, with lands and tithes and slaves. Likewise our fisc of Odriac, and the church of Saint Sulpicius, with lands and meadows and tithes and slaves, together with the vicars. Likewise the land of Malered, with meadows and vineyards and woods, male and female slaves and vicars; and the other Laigniacum [Ligniacum], and the church of the blessed Remigius. Likewise in the district of Tours, Antigniacum and the church of Saint Vincent upon the Vigenna, and the land of Selignech, with lands, tithes and slaves. Likewise in the same territory the land of Pleis, with the church of Saint Silvester, and the land of Buymet. Therefore, that all the calumny of adversaries may be lulled to silence, and that all the hostility of all the wicked may depart condemned, by the grace of memory it has pleased us to confirm this writing with our seal.
XL.
Diploma Dagoberti I, regis Francorum, quo, ad preces Auberti, Cameracensis episcopi, dena multa confert oratorio beatae Maria (ann. 637).
In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti, amen. Ammonente ac dicente Filio Dei: Date eleemosinam, et ecce omnia munda sunt vobis; idcirco ego Dagobertus, Austrasiorum rex, pro anima patris mei karissimi Lotharii, Francorum regis augustissimi, monitis salutaribus viri venerabilis et consanguinei mei Auberti, Kamaracensis episc., inductus, concedo et dono piissimis fratribus oratorii beatae Mariae regales fiscos duos, OEnengium, et Karubium, cum omnibus suis appenditiis, id est utriusque sexus slavis et mancipiis, villis, terris, silvis, pratis, aquis aquarumque decursibus, etc.; item villam Buriacam, villam Haidem, et ex parte villas Halogin, et Gleviam, etc.; idem do et trado eccles. sancti Petri Kamerac., in qua sanctissimus pater Vedastus canonicos constituit, fiscum Tilletum, villas Vinciacum et Harnam, cum appenditiis, etc., has donationes approbantibus palatii mei principibus et senioribus Arnulpho et Pipino. Ut autem haec nostra concessio, etc. Signum D. Dagoberti, regis Austrasiorum S. Arnulphi Metensis. S. Pipini Neustriensis, seniorum palatii. S. Ansonis, cancellarii, vice Cuniberti, archicancellar. recogno.... Data Kamaraci, XVII Kal. Maias, an D. I. sexcent. quadrag. ind. XIV.
XL.
Diploma of Dagobert I, king of the Franks, by which, at the prayers of Aubert, bishop of Cambrai, he confers many gifts upon the oratory of blessed Mary (year 637).
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Since the Son of God admonishes and says: Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you; therefore I, Dagobert, king of the Austrasians, for the soul of my most beloved father Lothar, most august king of the Franks, moved by the salutary counsels of the venerable man and my kinsman Aubert, bishop of Cambrai, grant and give to the most pious brothers of the oratory of blessed Mary two royal fiscs, OEnengium and Karubium, with all their appurtenances, that is, slaves and bondmen of both sexes, villas, lands, woods, meadows, waters and the courses of waters, etc.; likewise the villa of Buriaca, the villa of Haide, and in part the villas of Halogin and Glevia, etc.; the same I give and hand over to the church of Saint Peter of Cambrai, in which the most holy father Vedastus established canons, the fisc of Tilletum, the villas of Vinciacum and Harna, with their appurtenances, etc., these donations being approved by the princes and elders of my palace, Arnulf and Pippin. But in order that this our concession, etc. The sign of D. Dagobert, king of the Austrasians. S. of Arnulf of Metz. S. of Pippin of Neustria, elders of the palace. S. of Anso, chancellor, in place of Cunibert, archchancellor, I have acknowledged.... Given at Cambrai, the seventeenth day before the Kalends of May, in the year of the Lord six hundred and forty, indiction XIV.