Managing Cluniac Accounts

Dispositio rei familiaris Cluniacensis

Editions

Baluze, Étienne, ed. Miscellanea novo ordine digesta et non paucis ineditis monumentis opportunisque animadversionibus aucta. Edited by Giovanni Domenico Mansi. Lucca, 1762. Vol. III, p. 72.

Migne, ed. PL189, col. 1047-1054.

Migne takes PV directly from Baluze.

Receuil des chartes de l’abbaye de Cluny (802-1300), éd. A Bernard & A Bruel, Collection de documents inédits sur l’histoire de France, 1 série: Histoire Politique. 6 vols. Paris: 1876-1903; # 4132.

• from the Corpus de la Bourgogne du Moyen Âge (Chartes de la Bourgogne du Moyen Âge) website, the volumes can be downloaded as .text, .doc or .pdf files.

Secondary Sources

Duby, Georges ...

Leclercq, Pierre le Vénérable. p. 145-148. (essentially a summary).

Peter was dominated by a concern with charity of which the first consequence was discretion: to respect each of the domains and to take account with justice of its means and abilities. In the economic sphere the monasteries were to maintain a good balance between imports and importation- and maintain both economic stability and the tranquillity of souls. [Connection of economics to virtue- birth of capitalism?]

Riche, Denyse. pgs. 90-93.

Takes interpretation and dating from Leclercq, but provides a good picture of economic life of Cluny under PV. To establish a financial balance, Peter needed to reduce expenses and expand revenues. She dates the DRF to 1148 (and Statutes to 1146) as an ambitious reform program. She names the supplying deaconries (a new name for obedientiaries): Chaveyriat, Cluny, Peronne, Ecussoles, Chevignes, Lourdon, Laizé, Bézornay, Saint-Gengoux; also Jully-les-Buxy and Saint-Hippolyte, Mazille. Suggests that the Constitutioexpensae Cluniaci (CC 4143) gives a new picture of the situation at Cluny, seven years after the DRF. (98) Five years after the DRF, the situation (if it was so bad to start off with) was on solid footing, the mission had been decentred into the deaconries which were elevating production… however, it had the effect of alienating some priories

Summary

Author: Peter the Venerable

Date: 1148

Summary: A methodical account of the resources and expenses of the abbey. Part of Peter’s reorganization of the economic side of the abbey.

Translation:

[Sections of this translation are adapted from Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 318-321.

Preface.

Since human memory is truly faulty, and men continuously dying are not able to leave behind for those coming later a truthful reportof things done, the assistance of writing was invented by the first wise persons. For what is written is known not to receive change, and unless it is corrupted by accident or intention, it passes the truth of deeds done in one and the same way unchanged to those coming after. That which previously I only did in the spiritual realm [i.e. statuta], now I do for the domain which is at one time spiritual and corporeal.

I make it known therefore, that I, the humble brother Peter, the abbot of Cluny, to all reading this that when I was raised, 26 years ago, to the responsibilties of the abbot, I found a Church vast, religious, illustrious, but very poor. The expenses were considerable, the revenues, compared to the expenses, were almost nothing. There were 300 and more brothers and the house could not feed a hundred from its own resources. There was always a throng of guests, an infinite number of poor. The harvest collected by the deaconries lasted scarcely four months, and other times, not even three; the wine often did not last more than a month, definitely not beyond two. The bread was low in weight, black, and mixed with bran; the wine, mixed with water, was weak and really just a swallow. Besides the other expenses and the great loan of hay, in buying the harvest and the wine the cameriusof Cluny spent more than 20,000 Cluniac solidion acquiring bread and wine. I seeing such narrow straights, after taking council with the wise brotherswho were then living, as seemed reasonable to me and them, constituted a mesaticaby deaconries, and I made ordinances so that they provide a sufficient amount of bread, of beans and such for the community at Cluny some for one month, some two, some three weeks, some fifteen days, others eight days, that is, for the entire year. And, so that always this order will be followed annually, I commanded it with the assent and desire of all the brothers in the chapter, and I strengthen it by writing.

[(where does this come from?) The harvest of hay hardly sufficed to feed the horses of the dignitaries of the community and often there did not remain any for those of travellers.]

Thus, it was followed as it is decreed for many years afterwards. In the subsequent time it seemed both to me and to the brothersthat some things of the original regimen ought to be changed, and other deacons were chosen who made the mesaticafor other uses of the monatery, according to what reason demanded….

Therefore, it is instituted that, since the first ordinance, which provided for the community for the whole year in those things which above were written down, thus were varied and altered, once again a new ordinance was made, which likewise provided for all the brothers through the whole year in bread, beans and nourishment, as was said. Which is such: the deacon of Cavariacoprovides for the whole of September; the deacon of Cluny, the whole of October and half of September, the deacon of Perronathe remaining days of November, the deacon of Scutiolis, the first sixteen days of December; the deacon of Caviniisthe remaining days of December and all of January; the deacon of Lordono the whole of February and March, the granatorius, all of April, May, Jun and Half of July. During which months and a half, however, the chamberlain ought to provide/ purchase for the granatoriusthe beans. The deacon of Laisicoprovides for the rest of July, the deacon of Bersoniacothe whole of August, with the eight final days excetped; the deacon of Saint Gengulfolooks after those last final eight days of August.

This mesaticawas thus constituted that obedientaries now mentioned do not give three nor four pints of grain either more or less for the labour of each day, but only what is necessary. The very granatorius however must faithful watch over those things which the obedientiaries render to him, as a faithful dispensor who gives a measure of wheat in time lest, he making a deception with the goods of the monastery, according to the judgement of the blessed Benedict, experience in his soul the death of Anania and Saphira. But if arising general refections (either owed or spontaneous) excuse them by giving bread or beans, they are excused. But if either there should not be gratuitous, or they fail to be owed by another reason, nonetheless they are furnished those days. However….

This second ordinance for some long time has waited. But since, as is written, where …

And it is of this type:

It is constituted that the deacon of Lordono (both the one from Lordono and of Saint Hippolytus….The deacons are accustomed to render also as much grain and of such a sort of grain, when thy make the mesaticato the granatorius, of such a sort and amount as they render to the chamberlain. Likewise they render to him also the also a sufficiency of beans; the beans, however, …

But it ought not be kept silent what pertains to the thing from which its is undertaken, that had been ancient manners that each day on which the names of dead brothers of our congregation (that is of the professed) are read out from a book in which the rule is written on the day on which they died, for them, bread, wine and universal thing is given. But on account of the universal recompense of such things by Saint Peter, is was made by our Hugh that certain overs of the town of Cluny and their production, which belongs to the Chamber beforehands, the almoner of Cluny obtains.

But I alone grant to the almoner whatever of bread or wine remains to those eating in the refectory or the infirmary because originally either the grainerer or the wine custodian claimed [it] for themselves according to custom. Indeed, it is therefore instituted about bread that the fifty pound in weight (not which is now given to the brothers, but what was accustomed to be given before our time to the brothers) now are rendered to the aforesaid almoner. And as those weights have become known to the ignorants, they have renewed that there were three different ones: one which was less, which is called, ‘the guest’; another is biggere than it, which was accepted for the whole year besides Quadragessima; the quadragesiaml weight is even larger than the previous one.

But when, as is written above, the mesaticawas first instituted, we have changed that second weight into the third which was the greater, that is, such that it was given in that weight to the community the whole year which was originally was only given during Quadragessima.

This is now instituted about about the said fifty pound which we recommended to be given upon the anniversary of publically known dead brothers, that not in the weight whichh is formerly called quadragessimal, and which now the brothers consume, but in that weight which is less, and which before this our institution, they were accustomed to have.

Lest, however, anyone marvel at this infinite number of dead that is ended at with the unequivocal number of fifty, let him know this was done with such counsel in order that over the passage of time, the dead becoming immeasurable, displace the living, since the little of the Church are not able to provide an offering for three hundred or less living and perhaps at some time a thousand dead. For, as one said, what is rhymed in the proverb:

The mean is in things, the boundaries are finally fixed. [Hor. Sat. 1, I, 1, v. 106]

And, as another says:

Consider for a while what shoulders refuse to bear,

Consider what they are able to bear. [Hor. De arte poet. v. 39]

For, it is foolish that deserving men place that burden (which he (on whom it was imposed to carry) is unable to bear) on their shoulders with weight, or rather, to which one, unwilling and overcome, is compelled to succumb. Therefore, upon this consideration of these fifty pounds, the number and weight is thus decreed. If however, the procuration of the brothers is done from [a position of] debt, then it is given to the community in such a weight, in the same it is given also for those dead to whom it is undertaken. However, three paupers (to whom according to custom daily bread and wine is given in alms) receive daily of such quality and such amount, no less or no different in type but the very type and amount of bread the community receives.

And since, as already I said, the [responsibility for the] granary is committed to the deacon of Lordonowith his deacons, for the procuration to be done for guests and family, as much as it pertains to bread, the chamberlain renders to him, such that he is accustomed to render to other grainerers, five hundred and sixty pints of grain and five hundred of [another grain].

And as the reason by which these were disposed is made known to those following, let them reading this know that originally only five hundred pints of grain were rendered by the chamberlain to the grainerer. But afterwards, so that he might feed certain noble clerics, who then were being taught in the town of Cluny, and that he might furnish with bread the dishes of the principal meal following the wish of the cooks to be lessened [?] the said five hundred and sixty pints were added. In this new and lastest ordinance, five hundred and sixty as well as three hundred pints of grain or beans are further enjoined for the mesaticaof Masiliis. Furthermore, also thirty for the beans and eighteen for beans; ten for eight of the praebends.[?]

In such a manner, with all these pints counted together, it will be (of both grain and beans) six hundred and three pints. …

But this is enjoined concerning the forementioned prebends, what bread was given to them before our time, a lesser type is accutomed to be given to the familia, that is concerning the vassallorwho afterwards, it is decreed such that such type is the bread of the community or guests in weight, since ancient manner commands to be given throughout the whole year to the convent (except for Quadragessima), as said above. However, the pounds of the prebends are eighteen, concerning which it is commanded, that the grainerer provides nine, the almoner the other nine.

And since I at this time began to speak about constitutions of this sort, also I add other similar things to them. Indeed, thus, these things are instituted concerning the bread and vegetables of the community and concerning the bread of the guests and family. I decree concerning wine, however, since it is not able to be done otherwise, nor do the offerings of the Cluniac lands suffer to be ordained here differently… This constitution, unless perhaps either the excessive sterility of the lands occurs or fault of those tending neglect the zeal of cultivating, is able to provide abundantly wine for three hundred, or rather almost four hundred people, not only monks, but it is able to be sufficient also for guests (for the most part).

About these preceeding things, and the general thing of the brothers, which after vegetables are accustomed to be given to them, about which much strife frequently has arisen, thus it is ordained: the Cluniac Chamberlain receives one hundred pounds and five hundred shillings in money from the town of Cluny, and …

Also, it behoves those reading this to know that after the preceeding things, it is insituted that the deacon of Masillis provides abundantly of oats for the equestrian needs of all guests, and if perhaps his recognizance is not sufficient…

And indeed before this institution, he rendered only one thousand and two hundred pints of oats to the chamberlain for every year from when first I made this institution, which undifferentiated was used both for guest and for the equestrian needs of the abbot, prior, cellarer and chamberlains. But since with each one of them seizing part of that amount for himself which he was able, frequent quarrels and neglect of the equestrians of guests were heard, I statute that, with other things removed, he provide for the guests alone howeversomuch they have need of, or howeversomuch they put off, and the surety of them, as is said, he will pay for. This chiefly concerning extraneous things.

Let them procure the things needed for horses from the domestics (that is, the brothers of the congregation), only for the first night, with those priors excepted who stay (loiter, linger) in Spain or those in England, and the prior of Paredoand of Borbonoand of Silviniacowhose supplies for the horse, as with hospitality, the chamberlain is accustomed to provide as long as they remain at Cluny, following ancient use. All these are equal to guest pilgrims, as much as it pertains to the procuration of their equestrian supplies.

This is constituted concerning the prior of Cluny that he receive 300 pints? of oats for the procuring of equestrian supplies from the deaconry of Scutiolis.

This is decreed concerning the chamberlain of Cluny with all his associates, that one hundred pints? of ats which are owed by the deaconry of Saint-Victor and another hundred

With these gone over, it is added wht is ordained concerning the clothing of the brothers, lest by the advancement of time, it pass into oblivion. For I do not know how, when I was summoned to this pastoral office, I found nothing ordained about this , just as about almost all the rest of exterior things.For the camerius, to whom all exterior things were charged, hindered both by the poverty of familiar affair and by the multiple occupation (to which he was insufficient) with difficulty, confusedly, insufficiently did he provide clothing for the brothers, and not according to the apostolic rule and the Rule of Saint Benedict, [but] he distributed the clothing to the brothers just as to whomsoever there was need.

On this account, this responsibility for the most past was placed on the prior of Cluny, such that he provided sufficiently the tunics, that is, those which are commonly called frocks, hoods, pellices, … for all the brothers dwelling in Cluny. But that this injunction is able to made more open, twenty marks of silver are granted to him from the Italian census, twenty from the Spanish census…These are granted to the prior of Cluny.

[final paragraph about trabucasand pedules]

I, brother Peter, humble abbot of Cluny, make known to all who read this that when I was inducted into this office twenty-six years ago, I found indeed a large church, devout and famous also, but exceedingly poor, burdened with great expenses, and, in proportion, hardly any income at all. There were brethren to the number of three hundred or more, but the house could not support one hundred by its own outlay. There was always a crowd of guests and a countless number of poor. The combined yearly supply from all the deaneries was scarcely sufficient for four months, sometimes not for three months, and the wine from all sources was never enough for two months, nor even for one. The bread was scanty, black, and made of bran. The wine was exceedingly watery, tasteless, indeed, scarcely wine at all. Besides our other expenses, for which we borrowed at a high rate of interest, the treasurer of Cluny expended more than 20,000 solidi for the purchase of grain and wine only. Seeing these straitened circumstances, I took counsel with some prudent brethren who were living at that time, and, as seemed advisable to them and to me, I made arrangements for provisions throughout the deaneries and decreed that they should supply the community of Cluny with bread, beans, and oil; one of the deans for 1 month, one for 2 months, one for 3 weeks, one for 5, and one for 8 days---in fine, for the whole year. And in order that this regulation might be observed annually forever, I decreed it in chapter with the consent and approbation of all the brethren, and confirmed it in writing....

But, with the lapse of time, it seemed advisable to me as well as to the brethren that certain elements of the former regulation should be changed, and that certain deaneries which were furnishing provisions should be assigned to other services for the monastery, just as good judgment might determine. For this reason the care of the horses of all guests was assigned to the deanery called Marseilles, because it is especially productive in oats. Certain other commissions on behalf of the brethren were assigned to Gaillac. Julich was excused from the payment of provisions imposed upon it because we had transformed its demesnes into vineyards and because of annual charges payable on behalf of the community to Lord Hugh, Bishop of Auxerre. For a like reason the deanery of St. Hippolyte was also excused....

Our arrangement, namely, that the respective deans should in turn provide all the brethren with bread, beans, and oil, was as follows . . . (divisions of payments arranged for various deaneries). These provisions were so arranged that the said officials should give to the tax-collector not only three or four setiers of grain for each day's needs, but whatever amount should be necessary . .. both bread and beans. Likewise the treasurer shall do as has been said. Subsequently both treasurer and tax-collector shall exact the same from those who would formerly have furnished these supplies. If the deans can furnish them with these supplies let the treasurer and the tax-collector take them; but, if not, then the treasurer and the tax-collector shall supply the provisions. Nor is it to be forgotten that, in connection with the subject under discussion, it was an ancient custom for bread, wine, and better food to be given on each anniversary day in memory of those deceased brethren who were professed, and whose names are read from the book in which the rule is written. But in place of the better food the following exchange was made by our holy father Hugh, namely, that certain ovens of the villa of Cluny, together with their incomes, which formerly belonged to the treasury, should now be taken by the almoner....

Wherefore we have imposed this task [of providing clothing] for the most part on the Prior of Cluny, namely, that he should sufficiently provide for all the brethren dwelling at Cluny, i.e., tunics, vulgarly called frocks, cloaks or hoods, fleeces, fleece head coverings or caps, wool shirts, trousers, and pillow slips or coverings for pillows. However, in order that he may fully meet the obligation imposed on him there have been assigned to him twenty silver marks from the Italian income, twenty from Spain, twenty from a certain English manor called Offord, and fifteen marks from a certain manor in England given by Earl Eustace, which, aside from this grant to Cluny, he wished to belong to the monastery of Romille, which monastery itself he had already given. But if general refections, gratuitous or obligatory, should occur and excuse them from giving bread or beans, they should be excused.

This second plan likewise remained in effect for a long time. But since, as it is written, where there is more counsel there is greater security, and however good any plan might be, when a better appears, it must be changed without hesitation; so, it happened that, just as a second plan followed the first, a most excellent third plan followed the second. The nature of this is as follows . . . (rearrangement of payments from the deaneries).