A numer of authors refer to this as the 1336 Hainaut (ancient spelling Hainault) Ordinance. The source gives the date 11 mars 1336 below the title, but the final lines give the actual date 4 May 1335 rather than 6 March 1336. The error seems to have been repeated in multiple references to the document. Bertus informs me this is known as the 1336 Ordonnance of Mechelen in Flemish, but there may be two separate regulations in place.clifford rogers wrote:Thanks for posting this interesting document, but I'm afraid you've misunderstood what it is all about-- which is understandable since the Old French is rather difficult. As the first part (which your transcript does not include) shows, it addresses the question of what items of equipment should go to a vassal's lord when the vassal dies.
Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=gBFQA ... ES&f=false
1335 Count of Hainaut Ordinance aka Malines (FR) or Mechelen (FL) Ordinance
ORDONNANCE SUR LES FIEFS LIGES
Ordinance of the Fief's Lords
Premiers, se uns homs a cheval d’armes k'il tiengne en non de cheval d'armes ou ronchi pour iestre sups armes, li sires le doit avoir; mais s'il a palefroit ou ronchi qu'il ne tiengne en non de cheval d'armes ou que sus n'ait estet armés, li sires ne le doit mies avoir.
First, If one horseman of arms that it fits has no warhorse (has lost it in action?) but a rouncey in need of arms, the Lord must supply them; but if he has a palfry or rouncey and doesn't take a warhorse, or have the arms of his estate, the Lord does not have to provide them.
Item, de l'armure qui à le liegie appertient li sires doit avoir le haubierch, s'il i est, et les cauches avoech, se elles y sont.
Item, of the armor which appertains to a Lord, he must have a hauberk, and if he has it, the chausses to go with it.
Item, s'il n'y a haubierch et il y ait haubregon, li Sires doit le haubregon avoir et le coiffe, se elle y est, les cauches de maille et les wans de maille, s'il i sont, et se coiffe n'y a, il doit avoir le barbière.
Item, if he had a hauberk and now has a haubergeon, the Lord who has the haubergeon must have a coif, then also, the chausses of mail and mail gauntlets, if he has no coif, he must have a “beard” (aventail).
Item, s'il n'y a ne haubierch ne haubregon, li Sires doit avoir les pans et les manches le barbière, les musekins et les cauchons et les wans de maille, s'il y sont; car autre armure ke li homs a d'armure de maille ne puet li sires avoir ne demander.
Item, if there was no hauberk nor haubergeon, the Lords must have a paunce and sleeves, the aventail, the musekins and chaussons, and mail gauntlets, if documented; because other armor of mail which the man of arms doesn’t have, he only has to ask of his Lord (to provide).
Et se li homs liéges n'a keval tel que dessus est devisez, li sires ne doit avoir que LX solz de blans pour le lieget tant seullement.
And if the Lord’s man loses his horse such as above and it is undone (in his service), the Liege must have 60 sols of silver for his liegeman, as compensation.
A cest acort et à che conseil donner ensi que devisé est furent Comme hommes monseigneur le comte de Haynnau, avoech Gérart dit Sausset d'Aisne, adont bailliu de Haynnau, messire de Liny, messire d'Enghien, messire Gérars d'Enghien, castellains de Mons et sires de Havrech. Jehans de Barbenchon, adont abbés de Bonne-Espérance, messire Wistasses, sires de Vertaing, messire Florens de Biaumont, sires de Beaumont, messire Ostes d,Arbre, chevalier, messire Pieres de Herninsart, Aoustins li Taye, Obierz de Hauchin, Gérars d'Escaussines, Coteron de Hourle, Gilles li Bamoneres, prévos de Mons, Willammes de Somaing, frères Jehans de Carnières, commanderes d'Avesnes les Seckes, Henris dou mareshirel, Jehans de le Glisoelle, prouvos de Biaumont, Colart Lukes, Villains du Marquiet, Jehan Despiennes, Mahieu de Mainsencouture, Gillemans d'Estainquerque, Jaquemart de Laire, Andrieus Pauwaige, Jehans Auwequitte, adont clers de laditte court, et pluiseurs autres.
To this agreement, and giving council and affirmation were the men: My Lord, the Count of Hainaut....(all of the witnesses)...and several others.
Ce fu fait en laditte court lendemain du my-quaresme en l'an mil troix cens trente-chieneq.
This was done by my hand the day after court, May fourth,of the year 1335.