medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> "bier" is correct for one sort of object called "ferculum" but the object
more likely to underlie the present usage is a tray (Schale) or platter
(flache Schale). "ferculum" in this latter sense is standard Latin from
ancient times onward. Best, John Dillon
Thank you for this philologic hint. I often thought about this object and I
didn't find any charter in early 12th century which could give more
"physical" information about these "fercula". On the other hand, there were
a lot of people inside and outside the cloister who must be provided by
these "free groceries" (most probably more than 200 persons: canons +
relatives+ ancillae + serv i + guards + officials = about 10 adults per
statio). Over and above, the canons had to give important anniversary gifts
to the chapter to "finance" the future provisions (e.g. Fulbert gave six
arpents vineyards of best quality at Yvry). So I can't believe that they
were four simple platters. I *imagine* that the fercula were a certain kind
of wooden biers or tables with some crockery (portable by 4 handles?), which
could be put on a statio = stand (correct English?), somehow comparable with
those on the following Parisian illumination of 15th c.
http://www.abaelard.de/abaelard/images/020paris43.JPG
Perhaps one could find more information in later documents. Guérard wrote
that from 13th century, the "statio quatuor (or quinque) ferculorum" figured
as mere cash value, without any natural products (60 sous or 3 Parisian
pounds).
Is there is anybody on this list, who could give more information?
Christopher: Were these "fercula" a specific Parisian custom or was there a
corresponding institution in Chartres?
Best, W. Robl
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