Friday, March 12, 2004

Qu(ot)e?


While I was Googling up references for another post, which has so far been about two weeks in the making and probably won't ever appear here anyway, I found this interesting tidbit from a famous historical document:

10. If anyone who has borrowed a sum of money from Jews dies before the debt has been repaid, his heir shall pay no interest on the debt for so long as he remains under age, irrespective of whom he holds his lands. If such a debt falls into the hands of the Crown, it will take nothing except the principal sum specified in the bond.

11. If a man dies owing money to Jews, his wife may have her dower and pay nothing towards the debt from it. If he leaves children that are under age, their needs may also be provided for on a scale appropriate to the size of his holding of lands. The debt is to be paid out of the residue, reserving the service due to his feudal lords. Debts owed to persons other than Jews are to be dealt with similarly.


I'll leave it to you to track down the document in question; it should be simple enough for proficient Googlers. I think you'll be surprised when you find it.

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