Archive of Barcelona Cathedral, Pía Almoina, Llibres Extravagants, 1440.

El llibre de comptes com a font per a l’estudi d’un casal noble de mitjan segle XV. Primer llibre memorial començat per la senyora dona Sanxa Ximenis de Fox e de Cabrera e de Novalles 1440-1443 (The Accounts Book as a Source for Study of a Noble Household of the Middle of the Fifteenth Century. First Memorial Book Begun by the Lady Sanxa Ximenis de Fox e de Cabrera e de Novalles, 1440-1443). In the care of Jordi Andreu Daufí, Josep Canela Farré and Maria Àngela Serra Torrent. Barcelona, Fundación Noguera, 1992.

Fragments of an accounts book belonging to Sancha Ximenis de Cabrera, widow of Arquimbau de Foix, which contains the expenses made in the maintenance of her house from 1440 until 1444, and also contains various notes about daily events. The book was written in part by Sancha herself and in part by her helpers, but always under her review.

The veils

[fol. 12v.] On 22nd February [1442] I counted my head coverings.

They are: firstly the large coverings 12. Likewise the middle sized 4. Likewise the small ones 17.

Likewise on 2nd October I placed an order with Ballester, the veil maker, to make me veils of linen and of cota with the long crepe: firstly 2 small veils for the temples, of four and a half palms each.

Likewise two veils to wear on the forehead, each one 6 palms long.

Likewise two veils under the jaw each one 5 palms long.

Likewise two double veils, one of 8 palms and another of 8 and a half.

Likewise a large veil over all the others, of 9 palms.

The length of the above-mentioned veils adds up to: 41 palms, making 5 canas and one palm.

The daughters

[fol. 41.] The things the lady sends to her daughters:

First six pairs of gloves.

Likewise two ases of white thread.

Likewise two bags of woollen yarn and one of leather burell.

Likewise three violet crespinas, one of them blue.

Likewise three old large pieces and two small ones.

Likewise seven gold and silk key rings.

Likewise a pair of knives with a white and black silk string.

Likewise a necklace of black rosary beads.

The rest to be sent: a house mirror, and the pretty bag, and the belt and the clogs with the little balls.

She already has the mirror. She already has it all.

The letters

[fol. 42.] 1441. Letters sent from December.

On 30th December I wrote to Father Arnau [...] warning of this, that Juan had mentioned to me that the widow was disturbed by my daughter’s arrival, and I ordered the carrier to only give the letter to Father Arnau or my youngest daughter.

Likewise on Saturday 31st December I sent a letter to my brother don Juan de Híjar with a delivery note inside, addressed to Besalú. In my brother’s letter it mentioned the illness of my sister, Timbor, and of the falcons. I sent it to the house of Gabriel Homedes.

On 20th January answer to the three letters of Father Arnau, and that of the countess. I mentioned the meeting I had had with don Juan de Híjar, about dressing and lining.

On 30th January I answered the lord cardinal’s letter where he commented on whether I had anyone in Bearn to ask for my daughter’s rights; I gave the said letter to Juan so that he could send it to her.

Likewise on Wednesday the first day of March, I wrote to mylord de Comenge via Sancho, servant of the countess of Foix. It was because of the arrival of my daughter.[...]

On spinning and weaving

[fol. 48v.] Friday 17th February [1441] I sent by mylady Constanza to Beralle thread to be bleached at the rate of three sueldos the pound as follows: Likewise spun thread of the said mylady Constanza 14 skeins weighing 6 ounces, untreated; it is returned at 4 ounces. Likewise thread of Juliana 11 skeins, weighing 9 ounces, untreated; it is returned at 6 and a half ounces. Likewise spinning by me, Sancha Ximenis. There are 40 skeins weighing 2 pounds, 7 ounces, untreated; it is returned at 6 pounds one and a half ounces.[...]

[fol. 50r.] Likewise Monday 19th June I sent to Beralle 9 skeins of yarn to be bleached, weighing 5 ounces. Antonio brought them, there are 3 skeins woven by mylady Constanza, the others are woven by me, by Juliana and by Esperanza.

Likewise 15th August I received the said 5 ounces and I paid for them.

Likewise Wednesday 26th September I asked Torruella to send on my behalf to Bofill in Barcelona 33 skeins of thread, 10 skeins were spun by the hand of mylady Constanza and the other 22 by all of us. They weigh 15 ounces, enough, and I sent 3 sueldos to pay him.

Depositary of women’s knowledge: A kitchen recipe

[fol. 55v.] Year 1440, Tuesday 20th of the month of September [...].

Next the way to make aubergines in vinegar to keep until Lent.

First, take the aubergines that are small and open them at the middle but do not let them come apart [...] boil them in water and salt, but do not put the aubergines in until the water is boiling. When you see they are beginning to soften, take them out of the water and lay them on a board so that they are exposed to the air. When you see that they are dry, after a day or a day and a half, put on each part of the aubergine one or two cloves of spice, according to taste. Next take spices, such as pepper, cinnamon and ground ginger, more pepper than the others, and put them inside one by one. And when everything has been done in this way, take white vinegar, if it is too strong add water, and put in honey until it becomes bittersweet; boil it all two or three times and after add the aubergines and boil them until cooked, then take the saucepan off the fire and after a while take out the aubergines and put them in a pot well covered with the vinegar they were cooked in, then they can be eaten, but do not cover the pot until it is all completely cold.

The feudal lady

[fol. 59r.-v.] Receipts I made in the year which will end 1442, as it appears below written by my hand [...]

Likewise I received as an agreement of rent a certificate of repayment of men and women of Piemonte, for two farms, three florins: 1 pound, 13 sueldos.

Likewise as an agreement of rent a certificate of repayment of men and women of Crosa, for the Simón farm, one florin: 11 sueldos.

Likewise as an agreement of rent a certificate of repayment of men and women, 1 sueldo [...]

Likewise I received for the agreement of the son of Bosch part in money, part in chestnuts: 6 florins.

[fol. 69r.] Jesus. In the name of God.

Today being Wednesday, we are at the 18th of the month of April of the year 1442, in the castle of Verges I, Sancha Ximenis de Foix y de Cabrera, lady of the Valle de Osor, have come to count. And I have counted with Pedro Sobirà, deputy mayor of the said valley, and we have counted from the first day of June of the year 1441 which will finish the last day of May of the year 42, I have counted all of the taxes, both of wheat and dinars, and white wheat, and oats, and barley, and seeds and of pulses sold up until the said day; and all the tithes of scraps of meat received up until the said day, and that we have sold up until the said day; and payments, agreements and certified rentings and all the agreements received up until the said day. You have to give back to me in payment of the previously said things: 22 pounds, 2 sueldos, 4 dinars.

[fol. 73v.] The receipts start in the year that begins the first day of June of the year 1444 and will end on the last day of May of the year 1445.

In the first place and having received the agreement of Camp Pla de Agualts 5 florins that Father Pedro Joan has agreed with him and with another at 5 florins, three florins, I am left with 2 florins: one pound, 13 sueldos.

Likewise by payment of Pedro Caldés 3 florins: 2 pounds, 3 sueldos.

Likewise more from Masferrer for the purchase of a piece of land: 11 sueldos.

Likewise more from Masferrer for the entry of the woman 25 sueldos: one pound, 5 sueldos.

Likewise from Mont de Santa Creu for the payment of a daughter: 2 sueldos, 5 dinares.

Likewise Vilanova has paid for the jarring of the wine of the year 1444: 12 pounds.

Likewise more from the rents: 33 pounds [...]

Housewife

[fol. 78r.] Costs of white wheat, and grinding, for help and oven. Year 1443.

[...] Likewise Tuesday 22nd October Father Pedro Joan, priest, bought, 4 quarters of white wheat at 15 sueldos the quarter, cost of sieving 4 dinars: 3 pounds, 4 dinars.

Likewise on Thursday 25th October, the flour of the said wheat arrived, I paid the youth who brought it, the grinding and the help: 6 sueldos, 4 dinars.

We began to knead the said flour on Thursday 7th November.

Likewise on Saturday 7th December I paid María, the baker, to cook the bread made from the above which are, 8 quarters, I have given her 9 sueldos, 4 dinars [...]

[fol. 109r.] 1443. List of clothes washed outside of the house:

On 15th October Salvadora Sunyera, of San Cugat del Vallés, took: first some white curtains, five items, to wash they will cost: 2 sueldos, 6 dinars.

Likewise two large tablecloths at 3 dinars the piece: 6 dinars.

Likewise two small tablecloths at one dinar the piece: 6 dinars.

Likewise two serviettes and dusters: 1 dinar.

She was paid: 3 sueldos, 3 dinars.

On 4th November she took 9 tablecloths, three of them large: 1 sueldo, 2 dinars.

Likewise serviettes 6: 3 dinars.

Likewise dusters 3: Likewise cloths for the knives 3: 1 dinar.

Likewise towels 2: 1 dinar.

Likewise on 26th November she brought the said washing and was paid: 1 sueldo, 7 dinars.

Likewise the said woman took away with her on the same day: a pair of thin sheets from my bed, of three materials: 4 dinars.

Likewise two pairs of accompanying sheets, at 4 dinars the pair: 8 dinars.

Likewise two large new towels to be measured, at 4 dinars each roll, in each one four rolls.

Amounting to: 2 sueldos, 8 dinars.

This page adds up to: 8 sueldos, 6 dinars.

[fol.119v.] Year 1440. Extraordinary expenses.

[...] Likewise on Monday 26th September for a hundred pins: 2 sueldos, 1 dinar.

Likewise on Tuesday one and a half rolls of canvas to mend a mattress at 20 dinars the roll, and for 25 pounds of Sardinian wool for the mattress: 6 sueldos, 5 dinars.

Likewise the cost of the said mattress which is 15 palms long and 12 wide, from Valsens, the cost of dinar to one: 4 sueldos.

Likewise the same day for a mass: 1 sueldo.

Likewise on Wednesday 27th of the said month, oats, half a quarter for the hens: 3 dinars [...]

[fol. 122v.] [...] Likewise on Tuesday 8th November rye for the hens: 6 dinars.

Likewise on Wednesday 9th of the month, to mend the rugs: 5 sueldos, 8 dinars.

Likewise on Thursday 9th of the month for three black pieces of fur for the sleeves and a small collar, and for thread in the front to the waist, at three sueldos 6 dinars the piece of fur: and labour 2 reales. It all adds up to: 13 sueldos.

Likewise the same day, for honey for the quince jelly, at three dinars the pound, 17 and a half pounds: 4 sueldos, 3 dinares [...]

[fol. 124v.] [...] Christmas. Likewise on Friday 16th of the said month for nougats with alegría (sesame), and mylady Constanza went for, 4 pounds of honey, 1 sueldo; for 4 pounds of toasted hazelnuts, 1 sueldo and 9 dinars; and a pound of muscatel 6 dinars, and for a pound of alegría 5 diners. It all adds up to: 3 sueldos, 8 dinars.

Likewise for the Christmas obispillo for the young lads: 1 sueldo.

Transmitter of oral culture: some dawn songs

[Added to the end of folio 118v.]

In my heart I love a lady.

I love you so much, my lady,

That I could never show it to you. Verse

But I love you secretly

That I do not show you such a bearing,

If they were to discover my torment

My life would be better. Verse [...]

[fol. 12v.] […] A XXII de febrer [MCCCCXLII] comté les toveloles mies de cap. Són: primerament són les tovalloles grans XII. Ítem són les miganes IIII. Ítem són les petites XVII.

Ítem a II de octubre trametí an Balester, lo veler, que·m fes vels de lí e de cota ab lo cresp larch: primerament II vels petits per los polsos, agen IIII palms e mig de larch cascú.

Ítem dos vels per portar la horeta al front, agen VI palms de larch cascú.

Ítem dos vels per dejús les bares que agen V palms cascun de larch.

Ítem dos vels per dobles, le hun age VIII palms e l’altre VIII e mig.

Ítem un gran vel sobre tots los altres, qui age VIIII palms.

Some tota la lergària dels damont dits vels: XXXXI palm, qui fan V canes e I palm. […]

[fol. 41r.] Les coses qui la senyora tramet a sas fillas:

Primo sis parells de goans.

Ítem dues asses de fil blanch.

Ítem dues bosses d’estam e una de cuyro burel.

Ítem tres crespines violades, la una blava.

Ítem tres pesses de vells grans e dos petits.

Ítem VII claves de or e de sede.

Ítem un parell de ganibets ab cordó de seda blancha e negra.

Ítem un collar de paternostres negres.

Reste que hi fal a tremetre: un miral de foch, e le belle bose, e le corege, e los tapins ab les boletes.

Ja té lo miral. Ja u té tot.

[fol. 42r.] MCCCCXLI. Letres trameses de deemebre.

A XXX de dehembre scriví a mossen Arnau [...] avisant d’assò que Johannes m’havia dit qui torbave la venguda de ma filla, la vídua, e avisé lo portador que no donàs la letra sinó a mossen Arnau o a ma filla petita.

Ítem dissabte a XXXI de desembre trametí una letra a mon frare don Juan de Ixer ab un alberà dins qui anave en Besalú. En la qual letre de mon frare fehie menció de la maleltie de me sor, de ne Timbor, e dels falcons. Trametili a casa d’en Gabriel Homedes.

A XX de gener resposte a les tres letres de mossèn Arnaud, he a la de la comtessa. Fahie mensió a la cort que havia agut ab don Johan d’Íxer, del vestir he del folrar.

A XXX de gener fiu resposte al senyor cardenal de le letre qui deie qui jo tingués algú en Bearn per sol·licitar los ets de ma file; la qual letre doné a Juannes qui le·y tremès.

Ítem dimecres lo primer die d emarts, escriví a mossèn de Comenge per Sanxo, servidor de la comtese de Fox. Fou per la vengude de me file[...]

[fol. 48r.] Ihesus. Ayn CCCXLI. Ne Berala.

Divendres a XVII de febrertremetí per madone Constanse a ne Berale fil per blancagar a rahó de tres sous le lliura segons se segueix:

Ítem fil filat de la dite madone Constanse XIII rams qui pesen sis onces, cru. Es tornat a 4 onces. Item filat de Juliane 11 rams, qui poesen 9 onces, cru. E tornat a 6 onces e mige. Ítem filat de mi, Sanxe Xomenis. Son los rams 30 rams qui epsen 2 lliures, 7 onces, cru. És tornat a VI lliures I onsa e mige. [...]

[fol. 50r. ] […] Ítem diluns a 19 de juyn tremetí a ne Barale 9 rams de fil per fer blanch, qui pesen 5 onses.

Aporta-le·y Antoni am tres rams, filat de madone Constanse, las altres són filats de mi e de Juliane e de Asperanse.

Ítem a 15 d’agost resebí les dites 5 onses e pegué-les.

Ítem dimecres a 26 de setembre tremetí a Torroelle que me trametessen a Barselona an Bofill 33 rams de fil, los 10 rams eren filats de mà de madone Constranse, e los 22 de nosaltres totes. Pesen 15 onses, bé bestants, e tremetí-hi per pagar 3 sous: 15 onses.

Item resebí la lliura desús dita de fil en lo mes de nohembre, portartale hen Vidal de Toroelle. Tornà cant fou blanch a 10 onses e mige. […]

[fol. 55v.] Ayn MCCCCXL dimarts a XX del mes de setembre[ ...]

Seguex-çe la manera com sa fan les elbergènies en sols per stogar fins a la Corema: Primerament pendre les dites albergènies qui sien poguetes e fendre-les pel mig, però que stigan que no·s depertenguen, e feneu la coste e traurem lo fustet que tenen dins, però no fa lavar las barbas, que bones hi són, e bolir les dites albergènies en aygue ab sal, però fins que l’aygua bulla no y matau les albergínies. E com conexerets que comensan a blanir, traure-les de la dita aygua, e stendre-les sobre una post e posant-la a l’ayra. E com conexerets que sian axutes, a cap d’un dia o un e mig, agau clavels de girofle e a cada part de la albergènia meten-n·i un o dos, segons que bons vos sabran. Aprés, agau salses, axí com és pebre, canela e gingibre, polvoritsat, però ageu més pebre que naguna de les altres salses, e salpistan-les-ne totes de dins d’una n’una. E fet tot açò, agau vinagre blanch, e si masa és fort, meteu-hi aygua e meteu-hi cantitat de mel fins que torna agre-dols; e bolits-ho tot dos o tres buls abans que·n matau les algergènies, e puys, meteu-hi les albergènies e fent-li donar un bul o dos fins que sien moletes e cuytes reonablement, e puys treets la parola del foch e a cap d’un poch trets-ne les albergènies e meteu-les en una ola e fets que sien be cobertes del vinagra ab què an bulit, e tanttost na poden mengar, però no tapen la ola fins que tot sia ben fret.

[fol. 59r.-v.] Reebudes que he fetes de l’ayn qui finerà a XLII, segons apar desús escrit de ma mà [...]

Ítem resebí per composesió de ferme de hune carte de remensa de hòmens e de dones d’en Pidemont, per dos masos, tres florins: I lliura, XIII sous.

Ítem per composesió de ferme d’una carta de remenses d’omens e fembres d’en Crose, per lo mas Simon, I florí: XI sous.

Item per composesió de ferma de hune cartederesemensa d’omens e fembres, I sou [...] Item resebí de la composesió del fil d’en Bosch entre diners e castaynhes VI florins […]

[fol. 69r.] Jhesus. En nom de Déu sie.

Vui, qui és dimecres que tenim XVIII del mes d’abril de l’ayn MCCCCLXII dins lo castel de Verges, jo, Sanxe Ximenis de Fox e de Cabrere, done de la Val d’Osor, són vengude a comtà. Hi e comtat ab en Pere Sobirà, loctinent de bayle de le dite Val, hi havem comtat del primerdie de juyn de l’ayn MCCCCXLI qui finerà lo derer die de magde l’ayn XXXXII, he comtat tots los sensos, axí de blat com de dinés, he de forment, e de sivade, e d’ordi, e de mestal, e de legums venuts fins a le desús dit jorande; e de tots los delmes de carnelatges resebuts finsa ledite jornade, he c.aguem venut fins a le dite jornade, e remenses, composecions e fermes de cartes, e tots aveniments resebuts fins a la dite jornade. Me avets a tornat a compliment de le emont dites coses XXII lliures, II sous, IIII dinés.[...]

[fol. 73v.-74r.] Comensen les resebudes de l’any que comensa al primer die de juyn de l’any MCCCCXLIIII, e finerà lo darer die de mag de l’any MCCCCXLV.

Primerament e resebut de composesió d’en Cam Pla de Aguats V florins que mossèn Pere Joan a composat ab el e ab un altre a V florins, tres florins, resten-me’n II floprins: I lliura, XIII sous.

Ítem per resemció d’en Pere Caldés III florins: II lliures, IIII sous.

Ítem més d’en Masferrer per compre d’una terre: XI sous.

Ítem més d’en Masferrer per entrade de la muler XXV sous: I lliura, V sous.

Ítem d’en Mont de Sante Creu per resensó de une file: II sous, V.

Ítem és pagat en Vilanove del botatge del vi de l’any MCCCCLXIIII: XII lliures.

Ítem més de les rendes: XXXIII lliures. […]

[fol. 78r.] Despeses de forment, he de molture, de ajude he de forn. Ayn MCCCCXLIII Ítem dimarts a XXII d’octubre comprà mosèn Pere Johan, prevere, IIII corteres de forment a XV sous la cortere, coste de garbelar IIII diners: III lliures, IIII.

Ítem divendres a XXV d’octubre, vench la farine del dit forment, pegué al jove qui le aportà le multure e le ajude: VI sous, IIII.

Comensem a pastar de la dita farine dogous a VII de noembre.

Ítem disapte a VII de desembre pagué Ne Maria, le fornere, per lo coure del pa de tot sò desús escrit qui són, VIII corteres, e-li dat VIIII sous, IIII [...]

[fol. 109r.]

MCCCCXLIII. Memorial de roba qui·s levà de fora case:

A XV de octubre se’n portà na Salvadora Sunyera, de Sant Cugat de Vallès: primo unes cortines blanques, V peces, costaran de lavar: II sous, VI.

Ítem dues tovaylles grans a III diners la pessa: VI.

Ítem dues tovalles petites a un diner la pessa: II.

Ítem dos tovayllons e axugamans: I.

Fou pagade III sous, III.

A IIII de noembre se’n portà VIIII tovalles, les tres són grans: I sou, II.

Ítem tovallons VI: III.

Ítem axugamans III. Item torcacoltells III: I.

Ítem tovalloles II: I.

Ítem a XXVI de noembre aportà le dite robe e fou pagade: I sou, VII.

Ítem se n’aportà le dite done lo die matex: un parel de lensols prims del meu lit, de tres telles: IIII.

Ítem dos parels de lensols de companyhe, A IIII diners lo par: VIII.

Ítem dues tovalles grans noves per canegar, a IIII diners la cane, a cascuna cotre canes. Monten: II sous, VIII.

Sume aquesta pàgine VIII sous, VI.

[fol.119v. ] Ayn MCCCCXL. despeses extraordinàries

[...] Ítem diluns a XXVI de setembre per un sent d’agulles de cap: II sous, I.

Ítem dimarts I cane e mige de canemàs per adobar un matelàs a XX diners la cane, e per una rove de lana sardesca per lo matelàs: VI sous, V.

Ítem coste lo dit matalàs de fer de XV palms de larch e XII d’ample del lit, de Valsens, la mesió de dinar a I: IIII sous.

Ítem lo dia matex per I mise : I sou.

Ítem dimecres a XXVII del dit mes, sivade, mig cortà per les galines: III [...]

[fol. 122v.]

[...] Ítem dimarts a VIII de noembre segou per les galines: VI.

Ítem dimecres a VIIII del mes, per adobar les estores: V sous, VIII.

Ítem digous a VIIII del mes per tres pèls negres per les mànegues e colar petit, e per fil devant fins a le correge, a rahó de tres sous VI le pell: e de mans II reyals. Some tot: XIII sous.

Ítem lo die matex, per mel per lo codoynat, a tres diners la lliura, XVII lliures e mige: IIII sous, III [...]

[fol. 124v.]

[...] Nadal. Ítem divendres a XVI del dit mes per torons ab alegrie, he que fou madone Constanse, per IIII lliures de mel.

I sou, per IIII lliures d’avelanes torades I sou VIIII, e I lliura de vi bo VI, e per I liura d’alegrie V. Some tot: III sous, VIII.

Ítem per lo bisbe de Nadal dels fadrins: I sou.

[Afegit al final del foli 118v.]

A mon cor fay ham senyora.

Més vos am senyora mia.

que mostrar may no us poria. Cobla

Mes vos am secretament

que no us most tal continent,

si sentien mon turment

ma vida milor seria. Cobla [...]