Pere de Tavertet, sacristan of Vic, pronounces judgment on a controversy between the bishop and canons of Vic concerning violence committed by members of the canons' entourages.

April 15, 1199 (copy made in 1267)

This is a copy of a legal record whose text is as follows.

Controversy arose between Guillem, bishop of Vic, and the cergy of the cathedral with regard to beatings and invasions committed by the canons' men and also over jurisdiction [bannum] and attacks within the town. The matter was discussed in the chapter a nd Pere, sacristan of Vic, delivered a judgment that if the men of those clerics fought or attacked eachother within the houses [of the canons], the bishop should not receive any fines, neither for violation of jurisdiction nor for attacks within the town . If, on the other hand, the attacks take place outside the houses, in any part of the town, its outskirts or public streets, the clergy shall receive amends for this violence. And [in such cases] the bishop should have, and may demand, [fines for] viol ence within the town and breach of his jurisdiction but he must receive the fines for these men from the clergy. Following disturbances in the market, the bishop may demand fines for violation of jurisdiction and violence within the town even if he did n ot witness the altercation.
Moreover, it was decided that if any thief or robber takes refuge in the clerics houses, or anyone who has despoiled or attacked what belongs to the bishop of his men, the bishop can demand of the clerics that such persons be handed over. And if they re fuse to give up these men or amend the wrong they have committed, the bishop may compel those men and seize their possessions. Similarly they [the canons] must not obstruct public streets by building houses or any other sort of construction. And Pere, s acristan of Vic, himself, in the presence of the chapter, paid a fine for a man of his for the violation of jurisdiction and of the town.
Done the 17th kalends of May, in the year of the Lord one-thousand 198. Signed Pere, sacristan of Vic. Bernat, archlevite, signed thus. Signed, Ramon d'Avinyó. de Bigis, Guerau. Berenguer de Sentfores. Bernad,sacriscrinius signed. Gros, Gui llem concedes here with a song. I, Arnau of Manlleu, primicerius of Vic, sign. I, Guillem de Viver, sign. Pere, priest, wrote this with the indications in the 13th line where it says "himself" until the point where it says "town," in the day and year as indicated above.
{there follow the authentications of the copy}

Translated by Paul Freedman, Vanderbilt University