Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/211

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to it, which Feudalism '75 it, which it would be extremely long to enumerate, in all their completeness. But afterwards, at your request, it has seemed proper to us to cede to you the same possessions to be held for usu- fruct; and you will not neglect to pay henceforth annually the due censum, to wit, . And if God should give you a son by your legal wife, he shall have the same posses- sions for the days of his life only, and shall not presume to neglect the above-named payment ; and similarly your sons which you are seen to have at present shall do for the days of their life ; after the death of whom all the possessions above named shall revert to us and our successors perpetu- ally. Moreover, if no sons shall have been begotten by you, immediately after your death, without any troublesome con- tention, the property shall revert to the rulers or guardians of the above-named church forever. Nor may any one, either ourselves or our successors, suc- ceed in a rash attempt to nullify these arrangements, but just as present circumstances .call for the precaria in ques- tion, so may the agreement endure unchanged which we, with the consent of our brothers, have decided to corroborate. Done at - , in the presence of - - and of others, whom it is needless to enumerate. Seal of the said abbot who has ordered this precaria to be made. C. Commendation To that magnificent Lord , I, . Since it is known familiarly to all how little I have whence to feed and clothe myself, I have therefore petitioned your Piety, and your good will has permitted me to hand myself over or com- mend myself to your guardianship, which I have thereupon done ; that is to say, in this way, that 'you should aid and succor me as well with food as with clothing, according as I shall be able to serve you and deserve it. And so long as I shall live I ought to provide service and honor to you, suitably to my free condition; and I shall not during my lifetime have the ability to withdraw from your 75. AFranb ish formula of commen- dation of the seventh century.