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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Dear John > Their presence would safeguard the donation against theft and it would also provide a means of conveniently returning the biers, if these were indeed used, to their owner's servants (one of the reasons I had been suspicious about the actual use of biers was the problem of their return). That's exactly my impression, and it sheds some light on criminality in the cathedral's quarter. Sometimes, the serfs must have been in danger of death. Theft and robbery, manslaughter and murder were an increasingly serious problem in central Paris, caused by the accelerated growth of population in the inner city district and a permanent public traffic in the cloister: That's why all important possessions (canons' houses, but even gardens and vineyards and the cloister itself) were protected by surrounding walls. That's why the canons of ND had their own port on the north bank of the river Seine, protected by the cloister's wall. That's why lodging for foreign students in the cloister was forbidden in 1127 and all private schools were transferred on the left (bishop's) side of the cathedral, under episcopal surveillance (birth of the cathedral's school of Paris). And finally, that's why the three doors of the cloister were carefully guarded during the day and closed at night. From 1108 on, the serfs of Notre-Dame (and subsequently from other churches like Saint-Martin or Sainte-Geneviève) got the right to defend themselves and to act as witnesses, even against nobles and knights. This was a rather liberal legislation which might correct some modern prejudices against feudal society. In 1128, a time of heavy quarrels between the king and the church of Paris, deacon Berner and the chapter decided to persecute everybody who attacked persons within the cloister. In 1155 there was even a chapter's decision against the canons themselves - "pro frequentibus homicidiis que in terra Beate Marie contingebant." If a canon was involved in murder, he was removed from his ecclesiastical honor and severely punished with confiscation of all his possessions. With this background, a portable ferculum makes really sense. The guarding serfs could take to flight, if it was necessary. Best, Werner ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html