Introduction:
I have not yet performed the prosopographical research necessary to
narrow a date range for this charter. I think it likely, however,
that this text was recorded in the last quarter of the eleventh century.
You who will be our successors, namely the inhabitants of this place of Saint-Peter of Chemillé, ought to know that in that time in which our brother Lord Peter of Poitiers, formerly archpriest of Marolio, was ruling this cell, a certain Eremburga and her current husband, William Coctus, and her sons Robert and Girard, introduced a claim to two arpents of land located near the church of Saint-Peter. These arpents formerly belonged to Bernard, servant of the said woman and of her first husband (who was the father of her sons). When a hearing concerning their claim was put in motion, it was judged to the monks that one of their men ought to undergo the ordeal of hot iron. A certain blacksmith [faber] named Ralph not only carried the hot iron safely, but when after his ordeal he was examined frequently and with great curiosity, he appeared wholly safe. And thus that land remained quietly in the monks' possession thereafter.
The witnesses who were present while the ordeal was undertaken: Peter son of Sigebrand, Geoffrey, Maino his brother, Peter the seneschal, Berenger the seneschal, Girald of Doué, Geoffrey the clerk, Almarus Gastnillus, Mainard his brother, Alberic his brother, Rainald his brother, William the son of Gislemarus, Theobald the vicarius, Odo the nephew of Adam the monk, Guy our provost, Arnulf the tailor [sartor], Geoffrey the cook, Andrew our household-man, Cavallonius, Rainard the cook, Geoffrey Bufardus, Gilbert of the burg, Bernard son of Alfred, Hervey brother of Geoffrey the priest, Martin the tailor.
The witnesses who were present when the man who undertook the ordeal was inspected: Walter the dean, William his nephew, Guihenoc the priest, Geoffrey the priest, William son of John, Geoffrey son of Adraldus, Evan Brito, Geoffrey the clerk, Rainald brother of Peter the seneschal, Gibert Belotus, Almarus Gasvillus, Sigebrand son of Dacbert, Walter son of Frodoard, Theobald the vicarius, Lisiard, Fulcoin, Vivian his brother, Guy our provost, Andrew the household-man, Cavallonius, Rainald the cook, Walter Rotundellus.
This translation is copyrighted by Richard Barton. Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate the document, please indicate the source. No permission is granted for commercial use.