\"Hec sunt consuetudines, privilegia ac ordinationes civitatis Balagarii\": The Legal Background of...

$Page 1: \"Hec sunt consuetudines, privilegia ac ordinationes civitatis Balagarii\": The Legal Background of Lleida as a Base for the Local Law of the City of Balaguer (13th-15th Centuries).$
HEC SUNT CONSUETUDINES, PRIVILEGIA

AC ORDINATIONES CIVITATIS BALAGARII:

THE LEGAL BACKGROUND OF LLEIDA

AS A BASE FOR THE LOCAL LAW OF THE CITY

OF BALAGUER (13TH

-15TH

CENTURIES).

A LINGUISTIC APPROACH1

ROBERT CUELLAS CAMPODARBE UNIVERSITAT DE LLEIDA

Introduction

In the field of municipal law in medieval Catalonia, the new law of the

city of Lleida emerged very early, just after the Christian conquest in the

mid-Twelfth Century,2 the first real city law in its own right that was put

in writing, and which would become one of the primary and fundamental

sources of Catalan law.3

Normally, the law is summed up in three generic sections – tam

canonico quam civili aut municipali et cuicumque consuetudini, scripte et

1 The following study forms part of the PhD thesis project, Corpus pergaminorum civitatis Balagarii. El testimoni documental de la puixança medieval i la decadència moderna d’una ciutat catalana, directed by Dr. Flocel Sabaté and funded through PhD grants awarded by the Vicerectorat de Recerca at the Universitat de Lleida (UdL), during the period from 2013 to 2016. Abbreviations used: ACL, Arxiu Capitular de Lleida; ACN, Arxiu Comarcal de la Noguera;

ACUR, Arxiu Comarcal de l’Urgell; AML, Arxiu Municipal de Lleida; BC, Biblioteca de Catalunya; BN, Biblioteca Nacional. 2 Flocel Sabaté, Història de Lleida. Alta Edat Mitjana (Lleida: Pagès Editors, 2003), pp. 215-291. 3 Josep Serrano, “La projecció del dret de Lleida”, Revista de Dret Històric Català, 3 (2004), p. 233.

Robert Cuellas Campodarbe

167

non scripte –4 in which the capacities of local governments and others do

not depend on a jurisdictional assignment, and a description of its contents

includes, perfectly naturally, the element defined as municipal. In turn, in

a field that involves all entities under full baronial jurisdiction, the law is

summed up by citing iuribus communibus et municipalibus.5

Custom, instituted as a new element of legislative nature, appears as

one of the essential sources of general territorial law, but is also the basis

of the new municipal and stately rights that arise and which, together,

make up the juridical system of our territory.6

Consequently, even though the challenges and new stimuli developed

througout the feudalism involved many problems that cannot find a solution in the traditional codes, legally the Visigoth law continued been

still used and invoked until the twelfth century.7 There were, however,

many issues that should be resolved through a specific focus on

applications and usages, which in the county of Barcelona led to a new

code, the Usatici Barcinone.8 In the case of the city of Lleida, one can

understand how this process of fixation of own law began in 1228, when

the consul Guillem Botet9 arranged aliquantulam operam, ut

consuetudines civitatis varias et diversas in unum colligerem et scriptis

4 ACUR, Fons Municipal de Tàrrega, Llibre de Privilegis III, unit: T1-3, f. 89v; Gener Gonzalvo, Josep Hernando, Flocel Sabaté, Max Turull and Pere Verdés, Els llibres de privilegis de Tàrrega (Barcelona: Fundació Noguera, 1997), p. 383 (doc. n. 202). 5 ACN, Fons Ajuntament de Balaguer, Pergamins de Privilegis, n. 25, unit: 2025, 111, 00 X 64, 50 cm; Dolors Domingo, Pergamins de Privilegis de la ciutat de Balaguer (Lleida: Edicions de la Universitat de Lleida-Institut d’Estudis Ilerdencs,

1997), p. 111 (doc. n. 25). 6 Joan Egea and Josep M. Gay, “Eficàcia de les normes a la tradició jurídica catalana des de la baixa edat mitjana fins al decret de nova planta”, Revista Jurídica de Catalunya, 2-3 (1979), pp. 249-294. 7 Flocel Sabaté, “Evolución del sistema judicial”, La feudalización de la sociedad catalana (Granada: Universidad de Granada, 2007), p. 87. 8 Aquilino Iglesia, “De Usaticis quomodo inventi fuerunt”, Initium: Revista Catalana d’Història del Dret, 6 (2001), pp. 25-212; Aquilino Iglesia, “The birth of the Usatici”, Imago Temporis. Medium Aevum, 5 (2011), pp. 119-134. 9 On the figure of Guillem Botet and his work, see: Antonio Hernández, “El régimen dotal en las ‘Consuetudines Ilerdenses’ de Guillermo Botet”, Ilerda, 3/2 (1945), pp. 5-17; Antonio Hernández, El derecho civil en las “Consuetudines Ilerdenses” de Guillermo Botet (Lleida: Gráficas Larrosa, 1985); Ferran Valls-Taberner, Las “Consuetudines Ilerdenses” y su autor Guillem Botet (Barcelona: without publisher, 1913).

The Legal Background of Lleida

168

comprehenderem, ut aufferretur quibusdam occasio malignandi, qui

quando erat pro eis consuetudo et esse consuetudinem affirmabant.10

Thanks to the embodiment of this first code and its projection over the

lands of new Catalonia and those to the north of the kingdom of Valencia,

custom became one of the primary sources in the configuration of

municipal law in the Catalan region.

1. The Llibre Verd Petit of the city of Lleida

The codex known as the Llibre Verd Petit of the city of Lleida11

contains, in leaves 69r-92v, the oldest collection of text available, that of

Consuetudines Ilerde,12

that, at least, forms part of the set that is appraised

on the back of the same manuscript, where we read: Privilegis, statuts e

ordinacions de la ciutat de Lleida. Anys 1299 a 1413.

The reading of the customs of Lleida,13 where we find contained the

origins of the different institutions of public and private law of the city,

brings the various problems of everyday life in this city to us and its

corresponding regulations through the drafting of a series of chapters, distinguished perfectly thanks to a series of individual rubrics in a

different colour to the text.

2. The Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions

of the city of Balaguer

The compilation of Balaguer’s own law, written at an uncertain date,14

passes through the creation of a codex that adds several conceptual

10 AML, Fons Municipal de Lleida, Llibre Verd Petit, unit: 1376, f. 69. 11 AML, Fons Municipal de Lleida, Llibre Verd Petit, unit: 1376. 12 Despite not having the original thirteenth century manuscript, there are five copies preserved from between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries: ACL, cupboard L, drawer M (14th century); BN, ms. 865 (14th century); BC, ms. 483 (14th century); BC, ms. 702 (15th century); AML, Fons municipal de Lleida, Llibre Verd Petit, unit: 1376. 13 We take as a basis for our study the superb critical edition by: Pilar Loscertales, Costumbres de Lérida (Barcelona: Publicaciones de la Universidad de Barcelona, 1946). 14 Robert Cuellas, El “Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions” de la ciutat de Balaguer (Lleida: Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Lleida, 2012), pp. 71-73.


169

categories15 which, in turn, refer to a central point: the articulation of the

city of Balaguer as a municipality.16

The manuscript, created with a clear practical purpose, concentrates,

throughout the 68 pages of which it is made, all those elements that were

necessary to prevent new conflicts over the city's law, as it is stipulated at

the moment in which the magistrates of Balaguer utile visum est hic illa

ponere, inserere et manifestare, in simul congregata et sub verbis

brevibus, concludere ea que in multis cartis et aliis diversi mode erant

sparsa.17

The juxtaposition of the various elements which make up this code –

which are perfectly encompassed by the epigraph [...] consuetudines et privilegia hac ordinaciones civitatis Balagarii –18 become the result of a

clear fixation on the paradigm of the Lleidatan text, if we consider, for

example, the relationship of geographic vicinity or political relations of the

two cities.

3. A comparison of two sources of medieval municipal law

The former local law of the city of Balaguer; a sample of which is

enclou al seu torn unes proporcions modestes en la seva extensió i sense

massa personalitat en el seu contingut,19 is presented as a clara selección,

adaptación y ajuste20 of the text drafted by the consul from Lleida,

Guillem Botet, in the first half of the Thirteenth Century.

15 Just as the Llibre Verd Petit of the city of Lleida, the Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions of the city of Balaguer brings together a diverse selection of privileges granted by the Counts of Urgell and the Kings of Aragon and the ordinances of the market, dictated by the municipal government of the city. 16 Flocel Sabaté, “Reivindicació de la ciutat de Balaguer com a municipi medieval”, El “Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions” de la ciutat de Balaguer, p. 11. 17 ACN, Fons Ajuntament de Balaguer, “Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions” o “Llibre dels Juraments” de la ciutat de Balaguer [1300]-1435, unit: 3070, f. 11r. 18 General rubric encompassing the content of the entire codex. ACN, Fons Ajuntament de Balaguer, “Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions” o “Llibre dels Juraments” de la ciutat de Balaguer [1300]-1435, unit: 3070, f. 11r. 19 “encloses in its turn modest proportions in its extension and without much personality in its content” (Josep Maria Font, “L’antic dret local de Balaguer”, Els grans espais baronials a l’edat mitjana. Desenvolupament socioeconòmic, ed. by Flocel Sabaté [Lleida: Pagès Editors, 2002], p. 83). 20 “clear selection, adaptation and adjustment” (Josep Maria Font, “El antiguo derecho local de la ciudad de Balaguer”, Estudis sobre els drets i institucions


170

The juridical colouration offered by these procedural or civil nature

precepts, adds to other customary chapters which also are adjusted, for

direct affiliation, to the family from Lleida,21 which allows us to

understand the great influence of this text in the configuration of

legislative codes elsewhere.

The intensity of the relationship between the two texts which occupy

this study can be assessed in the sense that, of the 22 chapters that make up

the text of the code of Balaguer reproduced here, 32 have a close

relationship with the wording of Lleida,22 either by content, syntactic

structure or affiliation of the respective precepts.

Cases which allow us to see firsthand these similarities are the following:23

Customs of the city of Balaguer

Customs of the city of Lleida

De minoribus etate

Statuerunt, insuper, paciarii cum con-

siliariis et assensu hominum civitatis

predicte quod minor XXVe annis qui

vicesimum annum perfecerit, non

restituantur ut minor, set pro maiore XXVe annis in litibus et aliis omnibus

censeatur.

De minoribus

Item, idem consules hanc consue-

tudinem firmaverunt: Quod minor

XXVe annis a XIIII annis comple-

tis non restituatur racione minoris

etatis, set pro maiori XXVe anno-rum in omnibus habeatur.

locals en la Catalunya medieval [Barcelona: Publicacions i Edicions de la

Universitat de Barcelona, 1985], p. 225). 21 The main cases, all related to the legal background screening of Lleida, demonstrate to us the importance of having taken this text as a basis: Arcadi Garcia, “Las ‘Consuetudines Ilerdenses’ y los ‘Furs de València’”, Boletín de la Sociedad Castellonense de Cultura, 41 (1956), pp. 1-26; J. L. Garriga, “Diferències entre les ‘Consuetudines Ilerdenses’ i les d’Horta i Miravet”, Miscel·lània Borrell i Soler (Barcelona: Institut d’Estudis Catalans, 1962), pp. 183-188; Ana María Barrero, “Las costumbres de Lérida, Horta y Miravet”, Anuario de Historia del Derecho Español, 4 (1974), pp. 485-536; Josep Maria Font, “El

antiguo derecho local de la ciudad de Balaguer”, pp. 207-278. 22 In this regard, the division into chapters that appears in the case of code of Balaguer and the division into rubrics found in the case of Lleida are continued. 23 In this present comparative study we omit the fragments of text referring to laws relating to paeria, given that they have already been studied in: Robert Cuellas, El “Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions” de la ciutat de Balaguer, pp. 45-51.


171

De foro competenti

De quolibet potest homine querimonia

proponi sub curia Balagarii, si inveni-

antur. Ibidem licet sit alterius fori, cle-

ricis, religiosis, rem ad censum tenen-

tibus et illis qui conveniuntur de pos-

sessione in alio territorio constituta ac

aliis qui sub alia curia sunt conventi,

dumtaxat exceptis. Milites, autem, licet ibi inveniantur,

nisi racione delicti, domicilii seu con-

tractus aut rei, de qua contra eos cau-

sa movetur, hic iudicium suscipere

non cogantur, set querelator, vicinus

noster, si debitum fuerit liquidum,

bona eorum que ibi habuerint poterit

pignorare, nisi ibi iustitiam facere

sint parati.

Si qui plura tenuerint, de franquitate quam de feudataria, cum conveniun-

tur, firment directum in posse maioris

domini.

Si, vero, plura tenuerint, de feudata-

ria quam de franquitate in posse

castllani firmabunt.

De franquitate sunt hec:

De his qui sub curia ilerdensis

tenentur respondere vel non

[...] Sub curia huius civitatis tene-

tur quilibet respondere, dummodo

hic inveniatur. Non obstante, eo

quod sit de alio loco vel foro, nisi

sit clericus vel religiosus vel is qui

ad censum tenet [...] possessio in

alio territorio constituta vel is qui

in alia curia firmat directum [...]. Miles, vero, cogitur respondere

sub curia huius civitatis, racione

contractus hic initi vel dampni

dati nobis vel rebus nostris, alias

non cogitur illati hic vel extra, set

conquerens potest eum pignorare.

With no correspondence.

De libelli oblacione

Si de VII solidis aut infra querimonia

exposita fuerit, libellus hic non offer-tur, sed sufficit simpliciter dicere:

“De tali conqueror qui ex tali causa

michi tantum debet”.

De proponendo

Non offertur hic libellus, set actor

viva voce proponit iudici quod in libello erat proponendum.

De conquerente

Cum, autem, quis conqueritur, de

aliquo debet persona nominare et

rem quam petit.


172

De iuramento calupnie

Non prestatur hic de calumpnie iura-

mentum.

De ius iurando

Non iuratur hic de calumpnia, nisi

in casibus supradictis [...].

De dilacionibus

Reus potest, si voluerit, in continenti

respondere libello, alioquin dabitur

trium dierum dilacio et, ex tunc,

ducatur causa de tercia in terciam diem. Et si actor extraneus fuerit, ute-

tur iure vicini, set, si reus fuerit

extraneus non dabitur actori licencia

negocium pro trahendi, set ducetur de

die in diem, nisi gracia testium vel

instrumentorum dilaciones sibi con-

cedende fuerint longiores.

De indutiis

Reus, si statim, vult respondere

querimonie facte potest. Sin, autem,

habet inducias trium dierum. Dein-

de, de tercio in tercium diem trac-tatur causa et ad vanandum, etiam,

datur dilacio trium dierum, nisi gra-

tia auctoris longe manentis dilacio

maior petatur, secundum modera-

men locorum vel gratia testium vel

instrumentorum vel alterius iuste

cause.

Si, vero, actor sit extraneus, utetur

iure vicini, set, si reus fuerit extra-

neus non datur auctori licencia

differendi, set tractatur causa de die

in diem, nisi gratia auctoris vel testium vel instrumentorum.

De feriis humanis

De feriis habemus duos menses,

iunium pro messibus, septembrem

pro vindemiis, si lis non fuerit con-

testata, lite, enim, contestata predicte

ferie denegantur.

De eodem

Item, differtur causa gratia mes-

sium et vindemiarum ante litem

sive sit rustici sive alterius, set, si

sit cepta, non differtur propter

tempora statim dicta.

De feriis divinis

Molendina non molent a die sabbati,

post pulsacionem vesperorum usque

ad diem dominicam pulsatis vesperis,

alioquin molendinarius amittat unam

De molendinis

Molendinum non molat in die

sabbati pulsantibus vesperis usque

in diem dominicam in pulsacione

vesperarum. Sin, autem, constet


173

fanequam mixture pro pena. molendinario illam fanecam bladi

quam in sabbato accipere debet.

De dolo et contumacia

Si conventus hic non inveniatur, bona

eius cum inveniantur creditore ins-

tante, iudex non debet bona illa em-

parare et sufficientem terminum eo-

rum domino assignare, ut venit.

Eciam, si sit miles et querimonie res-pondeat et, si non venerit vel se iuste

non excusaverit, iudex debet tradere

querelanti, si iustam causam habuerit,

tantum de bonis debitoris quod suffi-

ciat peticioni eiusdem recepta.

Tamen, primitus a querelante fideius-

soriam cautionem quod quandocum-

que dominus rerum illarum venerit,

faciat eidem de bonis illis iusticie

complementum.

Faticha domini maioris est X solidos,

castllani, autem, quinque.

De eodem super conquerente

Si, autem, res debitoris vel

fideiussoris hic invenintur me de

debitore illo conquerente debet iu-

dex eas emparare et tempus com-

petens assignare, ut dominus re-

rum veniat et respondeat conque-renti. Etiam et si miles, quod, si

non venerit vel iuste se non excu-

saverit, hostendet curie conque-

rens ius suum et, si summatim, vi-

derit iudex actorem bonam cau-

sam habere, tradet ei de rebus illis

iuste extimatis, si suffecerint iuxta

petiti debiti quantitatem.

Prestita, tamen, ab actore idonea

caucione quod quandocumque do-

minus rerum illarum venerit, faciat eis de rebus illis iusitcie

complementum.


De testibus

Testes qui nominati fuerint, veritate

quam noverint dicere compellantur.

De testibus

Numquam mulieres ad testimonium

admittuntur nisi in his que in balneis

feminarum fiunt. Non coguntur testes nisi se promi-

serint probaturos vel nisi in cartis

scripti inveniatur vel nisi eligan-

tur, ut sint testes et, tunc, congun-

tur vel iurabunt se nichil scire.


174

De presumpcionibus

Cum quis in testem producitur nisi ab

inicio expressum sit quod in presum-

cione producitur non facit, postea,

presumpcionem.

Ita, quod iuramentum producenti de-

feratur, set presumcio unius boni et

honesti testis admittatur, cum iura-

mento actoris usque ad summam XX

solidorum.

De presumptionibus

Quando producitur testis nisi ex-

presum fuerit quod pro presump-

cione producitur.

Non faciet, postea, presumpcio-

nem ille testis.

Ita, quod deferatur producenti ius

iurandum.

Admittitur, autem, presumpcio

unius testis, cum iuramento suo et

producentis usque ad summam centum solidorum tantum.

De iure iurando

Iuramentum a parte parti delatum nisi

iusta de causa recusari non posse uti-

mur, si pars cui delatum est illud

referre poterit, si viderit deferendum.


De prescripcionibus

Prescripcionibus trium, X vel XX

annorum non utimur, set solis XXX

et XL annorum prescripcionibus.

De prescripcionem temporis

Prescripcione usucapione triennii

vel X vel XX annorum non uti-

mur, set XXXª annorum.

De sentenciis et cuius expense fieri

debent

Non oportet in scriptis sentenciam

ferri in causa que sit usque ad VII

solidos vel infra. Sufficit, enim quod iudex eam referat et si aliqua partium

voluerit eam in scriptis habere, iudex

faciat eam scribi.

Primam difinitivam sentenciam ex-

pensis propriis fert curia seu baiulus

De sentenciis

Non est necesse quod sentencia

feratur in scriptis, set sufficit quod

iudex dicat eam et, si qua parcium voluerit eam in scriptis habere, fa-

ciat eam scribi iudex.


175

Balagarii et, si ab ea fuerit appella-

tum a principio, ambe partes conve-

niant de salario cum iudice appella-

tionis et victus victori in causis

appellacionis condempnabitur in ex-

pensis.


De expensis in lite factis

In causis negociorum principalium, victor victori in expensis non con-

dempnatur. In excepcionibus dilato-

riis aut peremptoriis sive aliis quibus-

cumque in negociis principalibus

propositis non fit condempnacio ex-

ceptis excepcionibus spoliacionis et

excomunicationibus, in quibus, si

pars eas apponens vel earum altera

non probaverit infra terminos a iure

statutos condempnetur parti alteri in

expensis, quas diebus illis se fecisse iuraverit, tatxacione iudicis preceden-

te.

De expensis non restituendis

Si quis defuerit cause sue sive semel sive pluries audientur,

postea, sine dacione impensarum

et victus victori non condempna-

tur in expensis.

De pignoribus

Creditor, qui aliqua tenet pignori

obligata, teneat illa per spacium X

dierum, quibus transactos potest illa

tradere cursori et exponantur venalia

et currantur per civitatem per tres

dies et, postea, possunt vendi.

Proponenti querimoniam de pecunia

quam mutavit ludenti ad ludum nisi

pignora tenuerit penes se ius non

reddatur per curiam vel baiulum, set

in continenti absolvitur reus.

De pignoribus

Pignus captum a creditore tenetur

per X dies ab eo, secundum car-

tam comitis Barchinone, quibus

completis curritur per tres dies per

civitatem venale et, postea, potest

vendi.

De aleatoribus

Illud quod quis lucratur, ad ludum

potest retinere, cum effectu vel

pignus, etiam, si illud possidet re-

tinebit, donec, ei sit satisfactum

de eo quod in ludo est lucratus.


176

Si quis alicui ludenti ad ludum taxe-

lliorum vel dugesse vel ad quemcum-

que alium ludum pecuniam suam

mutuaverit super vestibus conpella-

tur, vestes reddere sine pecunia.

Vestes vel panni lectorum pro tertio non pignoratur.

Quia usitatum fuerat actenus in civi-

tate Balagarii quod quilibet poterat

fideiussorem vel principalem quem

primo vellet convenire, statuerunt pa-

ciarii et consiliarii, cum assensu

universitatis predicte, illa de cetero non servari, set in presenti illis

deliberacione habita revocatis.

Statuerunt quod de cetero observen-

tur que de iure servanda fuerint in

predictis.

Si quis, vero, dederit pecuniam

mutuam ludenti, non cogitur eam

reddere qui accepit, set creditor

potest retinere, si habeat pignus.

Debitor, etiam, dictor vel fideius-

sor inde datus non teneatur nec

luedens habet licitum pignorandi.

De creditore ludi

Creditor ad ludum non mutuet su-

per vestes alicuius. Sin, autem,

sine pecunia vestes reddat.

Nemo traditur pro tercia curie...

Nemo traditur pro tercia curie nec capitur nec traditur aliquis pro

usuris nec pignorantur vestes pro

tercia neque lectum.

De fideiussore conveniendo

Consuetum est quod quilibet po-

test convenire, cum effectu primo

fideiussorem vel, si vult, rerum

principalem.


177

De solucionibus

Si quis convictus fuerit, aliquid se

debere vel ad aliqua obligatum et

solvendo non reperiatur, iuret se non

posse solvere et post prestitum iura-

mentum preconizetur publice per

civitatem Balagarii ipsum non esse

solvendo, ut quilibet sibi caveat ne

secum contrahat in futurum.

Curia vel baiulus primo faciat satis-

fieri de pecunia creditori, quam ter-

tium levet.

De traditis

Moris est et carta statutum quod,

si debitor non potest suo satisfa-

cere creditori et creditor non hos-

tendat unde sibi satisfieri posset,

recepto iuramento ab eo per cu-

riam, quod non habet unde solvat,

statim debet iudex debitorem tra-

dere creditori, ut teneat eum penes

se captum in compendibus aut

catena et de ei panem et aquam tantum, donec sit ei pro debito

satisfactum aut compositum inter

eos.

Si, vero, iudex ad liberandum re-

rum fuerit necgligens vel remis-

sus, licet creditori, recepto iura-

mento in curia supradicta, suum

capere debitorem et tenere penes

se dicto modo.

Si, autem, creditor ille in fraudem

aliorum creditorum noluerit suum debitorem capere vel tenere vel in

curia vel in necgligentia.

Tali modo, illi alii creditores pos-

sunt per ordinem rerum predictum

capere vel tenere.

De usuris rei iudicate

Condempnatus non habet tempus

quadrimestre, set statim solvit nec

prestat usuras rei iudicate et est primo satisfaciendum de bonis

victi victori, quam iudex habeat

suam terciam.


178

Cum iuramentum deferetur alicui sub

hac forma quod iuret pecuniam sibi

deberi quam petit et illa pecunia vel

pignora, si pecunia non habet, debet

poni ante eum.

Ideo, ut facto sacramento, in continenti

pecuniam recipere possit.

De ius iurando

[...] Delato alicui iuramento, ut iu-

ret sibi pecuniam deberi in cons-

pectu debet esse posita, ut prestito

iuramento statim recipiat eam.

De instrumentis et testamentis

In omni instrumento sufficiunt duo

testes et in testamentis et codicillis,

licet heres institutus in testamento

non sit manumissores electi vel ordi-

nati non, tamen, minorem obtineat

firmitatem.

In legitimis servatur Balagarii lex

romana.

De heredibus

Non instituuntur heredes nomina-

tim per consuetudinem, set fiunt

manumissores in testamento, qui

rogantur sic: “Precor ut dividant

omnia bona mea, sicut inferius

apparebit”, et in legitima serva-

mus legem romanam de triente et

semisse.

De fide instrumentorum

In quolibet instrumentorum suffi-

ciunt duo testes et in qualibet re

vel causa.

Suspectum potest quis dicere

quodlibet instrumentum, etiam, si-

ne inscripcione non abolitum vel

deletum et est ei fides facienda.

De testamentis

Ideo, ad sollempnitatem testamen-ti sufficiunt duo testes nec sigi-

llantur testamenta et ita, nec pu-

blicantur et valet cum manumisso-

ribus et sine manumissoribus tes-

tamentum.


179

De religiosis domibus

Hospitalia et domus infirmorum sunt

sub defensione dominorum et univer-

sitatis predicte civitatis regimine ac

custodia constituta.

De hospitalibus

Hospitalia civitatis et domus le-

prosorum sunt in gubernacione et

regimine consulum et universitatis

nostre.

De censibus

Censatarius, si die qua censum facit, solvit censum et reddit instrumentum

domino rei quam tenet ad censum,

potest rem illam dimittere alioquin

non potest.

Statuerunt, insuper, quod, si quis

vendiderit vel alienaverit rem quam

tenet ad censum, habita fatica domi-

no rei vel, si dominus se emere nolle

dixerit vel maliciose distulerit et infra

spacium decem dierum dominus rem

noluerit retinere, censatarius possit

rem alii vendere et domini compe-

llantur firmare directum, salvo, ta-

men, censu et dominio eisdem.

De re ad censum data

Emphiteota, si in die pensionis solvende solverit precisionem do-

mino suo et instrumentum emphi-

teoticum reddiderit, eodem die

potest dimittere rem in emphiteo-

sim datam, alias non licet ei. In

instrumento emphiteosis non tene-

tur subscribere emphiteota.

De alienatione rei censualis

Concedit, etiam, nobis quod de

possessionibus ad censum datis, si

eas vel partem earum vendere vo-

luerit emphiteote vel pignori obli-

gare, facta fatiga in dominis vel

eorum baiulis in carta donacionis

apposita, si domini eas communi

precio noluerint retinere vel distu-

lerint maliciose, liceat emphiteotis

vel illis qui eas tenuerit vendere et

inpignorare, exceptis militibus et

sanctis et locis religiosis. Soluta, tamen, fideliter quinquage-

sima parte tocius precii rei vendite

vel inpignorate et, ex tunc, tenean-

tur domini cartam firmare velint,

nolint, salvis, tamen, censu et senio-

ratico eorumdem.


180

De dote et donacione propter

nupcias

Si centum in dotem data fuerint, Lª

pro sponsalicio assignentur et, sic

aliis quantitatibus.

Marito defunto vel vergente ad ino-

piam uxor nisi aliud inter eos con-

ventum fuerit, habeat medietatem

sponsalicii sibi assignati ad suas vo-

luntates perpetuo faciendas vel totum sponsalicium, prestita cautione suffi-

cienti quod ea mortua sponsalicium

ad ipsum maritum vel heredes eius

libere revertatur, ipsi marito vel here-

di eius super predictis obcione

relicta.

Item, utimur quod mortuo marito, de

rebus eius ministrentur necessaria

uxori per unum annum, si dos consis-

tit in rebus mobilibus nisi heredes

mariti in continenti dotem solvant ipsi uxori.

Set, si in rebus consistat inmobilibus

in continenti post mortem dotem re-

cuperaret et bona sibi pro sponsa-

licio obligata teneat et, ex tunch, non

vivit uxor de bonis mariti, set lucre-

tur fructus illorum bonorum, que sunt

sibi pro sponsalicio obligata quous-

que de sponsalicio satisfactum sit ei-

dem.

Si maritus fugerit aut latitaverit aut

alias uxori defecerit vel ei de neces-sariis non minstraverit, uxor potest

petere bona mariti sibi pro dote et

sponsalicio obligata, sicut posset pe-

tere eo vergente ad inopiam.

Actor licet in causa non obtineat, ter-

cium, tamen, non det.

De donationibus ante nuptias

Si centum dentur in dotem, quin-

quaginta erit sponsalicium et sic

de aliis summis.

Possidet, autem, sponsalicium

mulier in tota vita sua mortuo viro

vel ad inopiam vergente, etiam, si

nichil lucretur, de dote vir mortua

muliere. Si, autem, aliter convenerit inter

eos observatur iure aliquo non

obstante.

Mortuo, vero, viro, uxor debet ha-

bere victualia per annum integrum

de bonis viri, si dos consistat in

pecunia numerata.

Si, vero, consistat in possessioni-

bus rerum inmobilium statim post

mortem recuperat eas cum rebus

sibi pro sponsalicio obligatis et, ex tunc, non alitur de bonis mariti.

Fructus, vero, rerum pro dote et

sponsalicio obligatarum lucratur

uxor quamdiu possidet res predic-

tas, donec ei dos et sponsalicium

sit solutum.

Si, autem, vir fugerit vel alias

abfuerit vel uxori sue non dederit

alimenta, mulier potest petere res

mariti sibi pro dote et sponsalicio

obligatas, sicut posset viro ad

inopiam vergente.



181

De contumacia malefactoris

absentis

Si aliquis se absentaverit a civitate

Balagarii ratione furti, vulneris vel

homicidii, dominus facit illum publi-

ce preconitzari per villam Balagarii,

ut veniat firmare directum infra spa-

cium viginti dierum, alia pro confes-

so haberetur.

In molendinis teneant almut vendale

e mig almut.

Caminale molendini sit integrum et

unicum et amola usque ad caminale

predictum debet esse spacium unius

digiti tantum.

Quattuor sunt in civitate Balagarii

platee: Prima, apud Almudafar, cum

turre; alia, als Perxets et alia, ad car-

niceriam; alia, ad Capud Pontis, ultra

Sicorim, que omnes sunt omni popu-

De bannitis

Temporibus Bernardi Boteti, Petri

Valentini, Guillermi d’Oscha et

Gaufredi, consulum, statutum est

quod quicumque occiderit vel vul-

neraverit civem ilerdensem, si in-

fra decem dies postquam preconi-

zatus fuerit per civitatem se iure

non obtulerit, pro convicto et con-fesso deinceps habeatur.

Temporibus, autem, Guillem Bo-

teti et aliorum consulum fuit addi-

tum huic statuto: “Quod iudex,

cum consilio consulum, capiat

hunc preconizatum quandocum-

que poterit et faciat inde iusticiam

qualem decet, querelem, etiam,

nemine prosequente”.


De eodem

Caminallum molendini sit unicum

et integrum et debet esse de mola

ad caminallum unus digitus tan-

tum.

De donatione viarum et

platearum

Donat nobis idem Alfonsus rex et

concedit omnes vias et vicos et

plateas civitatis, ut possimus inde

ire, manere et reddire libere et

spaciose ad profectum nostrum, ut


182

lo eiusdem civitatis communes et in

quibus nulli est licitum edificare.

melius dici potest et quod non fa-

ciat vel fieri permittat opus ali-

quod vel structuram quominus

possimus inde ire ample et spacio-

se et expedite per superius memo-

rata.

De iniuriis

Si quis aliquem irato animo cum

palma vel pugno percusserit, LXª so-lidos det dominationi.

Sic, enim, nobilis dominis Poncius,

condam urgellensis comes, fieri man-

davit in Balagario.


4. Linguistic commentary of the two versions

To complete the study in another aspect of the text that we have

presented, we believe that it is appropriate to carry out a linguistic

commentary about the Latin text, in order to see, first hand, the

characteristic elements that have been taken into account when executing

the texts relating to the two legislative codes.

Thus, based on this comparison and their characteristics, we see

reflected in the Medieval Latin language aspects that are not often found in

classical Latin.

4. 1. Phonetics and Orthography

The diphthong ae, dative and genitive singular and nominative and

vocative plural ending of the first Latin declension, monophthong by

reciprocal assimilation of the two elements in e. The result of this process

is represented by some scribes by adding a kind of small tail to indicate the

aforementioned diphthong.

Some cases, although not in full, are included in the following

examples: [...] non restituatur racione minoris etatis; [...] vult respondere

querimonie facte; [...] contestata predicte ferie denegantur; [...] instrumentorum dilaciones sibi concedende fuerint; [...] cause sue sive

semel sive pluries audientur; [...] traditur pro tercia curie nec capitur.


183

Another characteristic element is the changing of the classic Latin -ti to

-ci, in front of a vowel, due to a process of palatalization. The

phenomenon entails the use indistinctly, as we can see exemplified in any

of the following examples: tertia > tercia; licentia > licencia; negotium >

negocium; dilationes > dilaciones; indutias > inducias; petitioni >

peticioni; cautione > caucione; iustitie > iusticie; prescriptionibus >

prescripcionibus.

The cases relating to an assimilation process, can be seen in the

following examples: nt > nct: santis > sanctis; mn > mpn: calumnia >

calumpnia, condemnabitur > condempnabitur, sollemnitatem >

sollempnitatem or damni > dampni. The cases of confusion between voiceless and voiced stops are almost

nonexistent with the exception of: sed > set, which we find numerously.

4. 2. Nominal Morphology

The use of declensions and syncretism of cases of Medieval Latin is as

a reflection of a very slow process of the evolution of language.

Regarding pronouns, there is a clear predominance of demonstratives,

especially hic, haec, hoc; iste, -a, -ud, a function shared also by, sometimes, ipse, -a, -um. Also the pronouns idem, eadem, idem are

frequently used or the anaphoric is, ea, id.

The adverb item is a typical formula used in notarial documents, as

well as legal documents. Generally, it can be found at the beginning of

successive paragraphs with added value in respect to its context. Some

examples are: I t e m, idem consules hanc consuetudinem [...]; I t e m,

differtur causa gratia messium et vindemiarum [...]; I t e m, utimur quod

mortuo marito [...].

4. 3. Prepositions

A fundamental feature in the transformation of Latin is the importance

taken by prepositions to strengthen the value of the cases. Besides, they

are also used to provide meanings/nuances by themselves if the case

doesn’t have one.

It is common, in medieval Latin, for prepositions to combine and form

new adverbs. A very clear example is the compound insuper, which is

detected in the following cases: Statuerunt, i n s u p e r, paciarii cum

consiliariis [...]; Statuerunt, i n s u p e r, quod, si quis vendiderit vel

alienaverit [...]. Another case is this: deinde: D e i n d e, de tercio in

tercium diem tractatur causa [...].


184

Furthermore, a significant proliferation in the use of prepositions with

their different cases can be seen.

First, it is notable the use of the preposition de, which has a lot of

nuances in its meaning. It can act as a substitute for other prepositions,

such as ex or ab, to express some of the meanings of the ablative without

preposition or replacing the genitive by other turns.

With regard to this preposition, we highlight mainly the uses with

locative values, economic sphere, possession and object or subject: eo

quod sit d e alio loco vel foro [...]; Si d e VII solidis aut infra querimonia

exposita fuerit [...]; qui conveniuntur d e possessione in alio territorio

constituta [...]; D e sentenciis et cuius expense fieri debent. The prepositions ex i ab usually accompany the ablative case. In

classical Latin, the first is used to express place, time of departure, cause,

matter or original state and point of reference. Regarding the second, and

the many uses that it can encompass, we emphasize the ones that

express point of departure, time, source/origin, cause, favour and job or

position. Regarding medieval Latin, as previously mentioned, some of the

uses of this preposition have been absorbed by de. Other values that can be

found are instrumental/causal, subject/agent, comparative and, in some

cases, economic material uses. Regarding the preposition ex, we can

appreciate the following: [...] qui e x tali causa michi tantum debet; [...] e x

tunc, ducatur causa de tercia in terciam diem. Respecte a la preposició ab: [...] Prestita, tamen, a b actore idonea caucione; [...] in testem producitur,

nisi a b inicio; [...] si a b ea fuerit appellatum a principio.

The use of ad + the accusative is also very frequent. In general, the

tendency in medieval Latin is to keep the meaning of classical Latin:

proximity, direction, purpose and value/comparison, but other meanings

have also been acquired over time, such as place with stillness verbs,

purpose or time when something happens. Some examples are: [...] rem a

d censum tenentibus et illis qui conveniuntur; [...] a d diem dominicam

pulsatis vesperis; [...] a d testimonium admittuntur nisi; [...] iudex a d

liberandum rerum fuerit necgligens vel remissus.

The uses related to the preposition in, are also important in terms to the

process of evolution of the Latin language. This can accompany both the accusative – to express “direction” with a secondary value – as well as the

ablative – to express “place where” with a primary value. In addition, it

retains its own uses from the classical and later periods.

The uses in which this preposition is predominantly used are eminently

simple, and we emphasize in both cases local and temporal values: [...] i n

omnibus habeatur; [...] i n alio territorio constituta; [...]; i n alia curia;


185

[...] fuerat actenus i n civitate Balagarii; [...] i n terciam diem; [...] i n diem

dominicam.

The prepositions per, pro i propter, maintain, on the whole, a very

similar meaning, especially in the first two cases, with considerable

frequency of use about the text that we are discussing.

The uses related to the preposition per + the accusative are those

containing both local and temporal value and intermediate or medium

person: [...] p e r villam Balagarii; [...] p e r annum integrum; [...] p e r

civitatem p e r tres dies; [...]; p e r spacium X dierum; [...] p e r curiam vel

baiulum; [...] p e r X dies ab eo; [...] p e r tres dies p e r civitatem; [...]

heredes nominatim p e r consuetudinem; [...] p e r unum annum. In classical Latin, the preposition pro already had little values. One of

the most common is the protection or defence of someone. In medieval

Latin, this takes also causal and final values: [...] p r o maiore XXe annis;

[...] septembrem p r o vindemiis; [...] p r o tertio non pignoratur; [...] p r o

dote et sponsalicio obligata.

The preposition apud, testified in a single case, takes a locative sense:

[...] sunt in civitate Balagarii platee: Prima, a p u d Almudafar, cum turre.

This text uses cum to highlight the preference of union of two subjects,

at the expense of the coordinated copulative conjunction et: [...] paciarii c

u m consiliariis et assensu hominum.

4. 4. Verbal Morphology

The Latin verb, unlike the cases mentioned above, resisted much better

the pass of evolution. However, we can only highlight some differences in

relation to its formation and syntax over the texts, which we will briefly

note below.

The use of adjectival participles with forms such as predicti,

supradicte or dicto and other variations, is frequent: [...] assensu hominum

civitatis p r e d i c t e; [...] contestata p r e d i c t e ferie denegantur; [...]

recepto iuramento in curia s u p r a d i c t a; [...] iure servanda fuerint in p r e d i c t i s; [...] ordinem rerum p r e d i c t u m capere.

In the case of the passive voice, we see the preference in the use of

verbal forms composed of simple tenses: [...] nisi ab inicio e x p r e s s u m

s i t quod in presumptione; [...] ei s i t s a t i s f a c t u m de eo quod in ludo

est.

Also, it is worth noting some significant cases of verbal periphrasis

formed from verbs in infinitive + the verb debeo: [...] illam fanecam bladi

quam in sabbato a c c i p e r e d e b e t; [...] iudex d e b e t t r a d e r e

querelanti; [...] uxor d e b e t h a b e r e victualia per annum integrum.


186

4. 5. Syntax

The cases that we found in the text, following the usual casuistry of

this type of texts in notarial and chancellery prose, present different characteristics that make the Latin in which they are expressed in both

versions of the customs different from any other text considered classic.24

The use of the conjunction quod with completive value – instead of the

classic conjunction ut – is very common, and in this sense, should be

mentioned as a clear tendency that does not correspond to the usual. Some

examples are: [...] q u o d minor XXVe annis a XIIII annis completis non

restituatur; [...] iudex debet tradere querelanti, si iustam causam habuerit,

tantum de bonis debitoris q u o d sufficiat peticioni; [...] utimur q u o d

mortuo marito de rebus eius ministrentur necessaria uxori; [...] q u o d

quandocumque dominus rerum illarum venerit; [...] de eo q u o d in ludo

est lucratus; [...] nobis q u o d de possessionibus ad censum datis.

4. 6. Copies

The configuration of texts with a clear relationship with Lleida,

presents several copies which are quite evident with regard to the original

text. The examples which enrich this statement present slight syntactical

changes or turns: [...] quod minor XXVe annis a XIIII annis completis >

[...] quod minor XXVe annis qui vicesimum annum perfecerit; [...] iuratur

hic de calumpnia > [...] prestatur hic calumpnie iuramentum; [...] non molat in die sabbati pulsantibus vesperis > [...] non molent a die sabbati,

post pulsacionem vesperorum; Hospitalia civitatis et domus leprosorum

sunt in gubernacione [...] > Hospitalia et domus infirmorum sunt sub

defensione [...].

Conclusions

Attempts to understand Late Medieval society cannot be successful

without understanding that the municipal strength25 passes the urban

projection over the region,26 which is depicted in a profile of regional

24 Most of these features have already been presented in previous cases – see the

corresponding sections on “nominal morphology”, “verbal morphology” and “prepositions” – and, therefore, we believe that it is not necessary to repeat them. 25 Carme Batlle, “La organización municipal de Cataluña”, Historia 16, 8 (1976), pp. 74-78. 26 Flocel Sabaté, “Ejes vertebradores de la oligarquía urbana en Cataluña”, Revista d’Història Medieval, 9 (1998), pp. 143-148.


187

ordinances where a network of cities and towns seek institutional

translation of the socio-economic pre-eminence.27

The perception of this vision has reached even the jurists themselves;

when providing a definition of Medieval Catalonia, it is specified that this

is la unión de una serie de ciudades que tiene a otra, Barcelona, por

centro28 and, therefore, makes it conceive its capital over a stretch of

towns and cities that articulate the country through various relationships

between municipalities and regions.

All this, moreover, is based on the actual dynamics of some urban

centres led by an oligarchy that founded its own income on the projection

of the regional environment. The combination of all these elements allows us to justify that the

fixation of a municipal own law of a royal city of great influence such as

Lleida, goes beyond the jurisdictional limits itself, if we look, for example,

at several cases from other western centres that have a clear influence in

the creation of their legislative codes.

Medieval Catalonia was a country of fragmented and impenetrable

jurisdictions because not all of them collaborate with each other. This is

the reason why territories like the royal city of Lleida, or the late-medieval

capital of the County of Urgell, Balaguer,29 or those of the Commanderies

of the military orders further south, Horta30 and Miravet,31 have no

apparent institutional relation. Interestingly, however, these four territories share certain common

characteristics, and very similar actions, which originate in Lleida. This

fact may lead us to deduce that despite the jurisdictional differences, social

and economic factors are an important element for establishing

relationships between them. The concordance among the respective legal

local texts testifies these relations.

27 Flocel Sabaté, “Els eixos articuladors del territori medieval català”, L’estructuració territorial de Catalunya. Els eixos cohesionadors de l’espai (Barcelona: L’Avenç, 2000), p. 40. 28 “the union of a number of cities which has another, Barcelona, as its centre” (Ángel López-Amo, “El pensamiento político de Eximeniç en su tratado de ‘Regiment de Prínceps’”, Anuario de Historia del Derecho Español, 17 [1946], p.

24). 29 Cuellas, El “Llibre de Costums, Privilegis i Ordinacions”. 30 Josep Serrano, Els costums d’Orta (1296). Estudi introductori i edició (Horta de Sant Joan: Ajuntament d’Horta de Sant Joan, 1996). 31 Josep Serrano, Els costums de la batllia de Miravet (Gandesa: Consell Comarcal de la Terra Alta, 1999).


188

The written representation of the first legislative code in the city of

Lleida, based on a stately and municipal law that includes a tradition

which collects a number of existing rules – scriptis et non scriptis – allows

us to capture a clear need which arose to fix an oral tradition in a new

procedural regulation, since this meant that many legal provisions would

be exposed susceptible to changes over time.

The linguistic study carried out in this contribution has enabled us to

identify and corroborate what we have just said, because many of the

inherent characteristics detach from the crystallization of the legal depths

of Lleida they present many ideas which can, once commonly placed,

relativize the jurisdictional weight, and in turn allow us to see how many of the characteristics that are in the text from Lleida are also in the text

from Balaguer.

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