Lynn White, in his 1938 book, "Latin Monasticism in Norman Sicily",
presents the following information.
"Possibly somone cognizant of monastic appetites might calculate the
number of monks at St. John's from the following provisions. Every day
the monastery was to receive 62 loaves of bread made of fine flour ('simula'),
and 6 of coarser meal ('farina'), each weighing a pound; every month, 3
'tummini' of 'simula' and an equil amount of 'farina'; every year 998 (sic!)
'congia' of wine, of which a fourth part was to be 'de pede', and 21 barrels
of tuna fish, 'et quarta ad magnum barrilium cum sale et fustibus
preparata.'"
Is there a way to work out the number of monks? I am thinking that
the number of daily loaves of bread might give an estimation, that there might
be a rule-of-thumb applicable here?
Thank you.
Nancy
