December 4, 1215

Controversy between the representative of the monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt and Ramon Fabri of Matadepedra whom the monastery claims as its serf.

Dissent and litigation arose and was considered by Pere de Palau, bailiff of the lady Guillelma of Castellvell, between Bernat de Vallevert and G. de Comars, monk of Sant Llorenç, procurator in the name of the abbot of Sant Llorenç, acting on one side, and Ramon Fabri of Matdepedra on the other. [Those acting for the monastery] implored the restitution of Ramon's body by reason of servitude and long-standing custom affecting the men of Matadepedra and other men of the monastery's lands lying this side of the [river] Llobregat. They demanded his obedience as he was the son of one of their good men of Matadepedra and moreover solid and belonging to them, and in possession of a fief from them. Contrary to this on the other side Ramon Fabri responded, saying he was indeed the son of one of the monastery's good men, but not a solid man nor belonging as a man who had commended himself with his hands joined to the monastery. Moreover, he denied that he held anything from the abbot, and asserted that he had received many evils and injuries from the abbot and his men concerning alleged dues and had received no relief. Having heard again the arguments of both sides and their responses, alleagtions, reasons and assertions, and after diligent consideration, I, the aforementioned Pere de Palau, with the assistence of G. Sandre, absolve Ramon Fabri of this claim of servitude. And I say this by authority of the edict of Prince Alfons of happy memory, now deceased, between whom and the magnates of the land who objected to this there once was great controversy. Concerning which by common consensus on the part of both sides in a general council it was declared that any free person taken from a lord and kept by another should be released from that second lord's control and jurisdiction and returned henceforth. This should not hold for those dependent tenants called "serfs of the land"*. Truly if anyone doubts this, let him return to the question concerning the law, beyond which I find nothing and thus I absolve the said R[amon] of all obligation to the abbot, and with regard to the injuries and contumly done to him in this matter, let him receive what he is entitled to by law. Done 2 nones of December, in the year of Our Lord 1215. Signed, P. de Palau, bailiff of the lady Guillelma, Sendred, Guillelmus.
Signed Guillelmi de Leucata who wrote this.

Translated by Paul Freedman, Vanderbilt University