Archives Nationales Séries JJ 172 folio 180 number 348 (Himanis p. 365)
Henry by the grace of God King of France and of England. We make known to all present and to come that we have received the humble supplication of Pierre Terry tailor living in Fauquembergue. Containing that around the day of Saint Maur that was the 15th day of January 1422 last past, the said supplicant had gone to the said town of Fauquembergue here and there for some of his errands, on the which day there was a great fall of snow on the ground and it was very icy and greatly cold. And so as the said supplicant came back from the said town of Closquans into the said town of Fauquembergue the said day of Saint Maur he was very sick an ill in his person both by the coldness of the weather and otherwise, holding in his hands a stick which he had, high with three pointed iron tips to help him to go along the road. And when he came to one of the streets of the said town of Fauquembergue, he found many people and children who were throwing the said snow one to the other, it happened that one named Pierre le Rat, son of Jehan le Rat of the said town of Faquembergue who held in his hands a wooden shovel with which he threw the said snow at many people who passed and such that he spoke with many others ahead of the said supplicant crying in a loud voice that he would strongly throw some snow on the said supplicant, to whom this supplicant said and requested that they leave him in peace and that he was not at all at ease and that he was not interested in their games and nevertheless the said Pierre le Rat threw with the said shovel that he had some snow on the said supplicant, and sought strongly to throw more on him, the said supplicant put and threw his said stick in front of the said shovel that the said Pierre held such that he hit this Pierre, and so continuing to do this the said supplicant attained one hit with his said iron stick as is said above in the head of the said Pierret le Rat such that one of the said pointed tips entered into the head of the said Pierret such that he had a blood and a wound of the said blow and the wound thus made, by being badly attended and taken care of by medicine or otherwise grew ~~ the said wound and such that the said Pierre went to his sick bed and at the end of 15 days after or thereabouts he went from life to death. For the occasion of the said deed and act abovesaid the said supplicant, doubting the rigor of justice, left the country to which he dares never return, and fears that because of his absence he may be called to our law of the said place of Fauquembergue by some quinzaines. For which he would be likely to be forever more destroyed and alone if our grace and mercy were not to be imparted to him in humbly requesting us that since the said supplicant has always been and is of good life, renown, and honest conversation without ever before having been taken for any other villainous act or blame and that the said act came about due to hot blood, not thinking to injure him so and that the said supplicant has made peace and satisfaction to the friends of the said dead man, we wishing to impart our said grace and mercy to him for which we these things considered wishing mercy to be preferred to the rigor of justice, to the said supplicant in the case abovesaid have acquitted, remitted, and pardoned, we acquit, remit, and pardon by our special grace, full power, and royal authority by these present the act and deed abovesaid together with all punishment, offense, and fine corporal, criminal, and civil which for the deed and occasion abovesaid he can and could for this have incurred against us and justice. And we restore and replace him to his good reputation and renown in the country and to his moveable goods and inheritances not confiscated. Satisfaction given to the other party civilly if it is not done. And we impose silence on our procurer as long as the said Pierre makes a pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Boulogne. So given in commandment by these present to the Bailli of Amiens, to the Prevôt of Monstereuil sur la Mer and to all our other justices and officers present and to come or to their lieutenants and to each one as appertains to him, that by our present grace remission and pardon make, suffer, and allow the said supplicant to enjoy and use fully and peaceably without making or giving or allowing him to be made or given any disturbance or impediment in any way to the contrary in body nor in goods, but if his body or any of his goods not confiscated are or were for this taken, seized, arrested, or impeded, to give or have given each in law to him be completely delivered. And so that this will be a firm thing and stable forever we have had placed our seal to these present Except in other things our law and to the other in everything. Given at Rouen in the month of April the year of grace 1423 And the first of our reign. So signed by the King at the Relation of the council.
Adam
>Henry par la grace de dieu roy de france et dangleterre Savoir faisons a tous presens et advenir nous avoir receue lumble supplicacion de Pierre terry cousturiez demourant a fauquembergue Contenant comme environ le jour saint mor qui fut xve jour de janvier mil iiijc xxij derrenier passe ledit suppliant feust ale en ladicte ville de fauquembergue ailequans ou ailleurs pour aucunes ses besoingnes aquel jour il estoit grant son de nesge sur terre et estoit moult gelee et faisans grans froidures Et ainsi que ledit suppliant revenoit de ladicte ville de closquans en ladicte ville de fauquembergue ledit jour de saint mor lui estant moult malades et mesaisiez de sa personne tant par froidure quil faisoit que autrement tenant en ses mains un baston auquel il avoit en hausse trois aguz cloux de fer pour soy aidiez a aler sur chemin Et quant il vint en une des rues de ladicte ville de fauquembergue trouva plusieurs gens et enfans qui ruyoient lun a lautre de la nesge et aux gens qui passoient leur chemin es rues et entre les autres gens et enfans qui ruyoient ladicte nesge lun a lautre advint que un nomme pierre le rat filz jehan le rat de ladicte ville de fauquembergue qui tenoit en ses mains une pelle de bois dont il ruoit ladicte nesge a plusieurs gens qui passoient et tant quil se adreca avec plusieurs autres pardevant ledit suppliant en craint a haulte voix que len ruast fort dicelle nesge audit suppliant ausquelz icellui suppliant dist et pria quilz le laissassent en paix et quil nestoit point bien aise et quil navoit cure de leurs jeux et neantmoins ledit pierre le rat rua de ladicte pelle quil tenoit de la nesge audit suppliant Et sefforcoit fort de lui encores ruer lequel suppliant mist et gecta de son dit baston audevant de ladicte pelle que tenoit ledit pierre et tellement que il fery sur ycellui pierre Et tant continuerent en ce faisant que ledit suppliant ataingny ung cop de son dit baston ferre comme dit est dessus en la teste dudit pierret le rat tellement que lun desdiz cloux aguz entra dedans la teste dudit pierret tellement quil y eut sang et playe du quel coup et playe ainsi fait par mauvaisement este appareillie et gouverne de mire ou autrement enfleuy ~~ ladicte playe et tellement que ledit pierre acoucha malade que au bout de xv jours apres ou environ il ala de vie a trespassement Pour occasion du quel fait et cas dessusdit ledit suppliant doubtant rigueur de justice sest absente du pays ouquel il noseroit jamais retourner Et doubte que pour cause de son absence il nait este appelle a noz droiz dudit lieu de fauquembergue par certaines xvnes Parquoy il seroit en adventure destre a tousiours mais destruit et desert se notre grace et misericorde ne lui est sur ce impartie en nous humblement requerans come ledit suppliant ait tousiours este et soit de bonne vie renommee et honneste conversacion sans oncques mais avoir este reprins dautre villain cas ou blasme et que ledit cas est advenu par chaude cole non cuidant le ainsi blecier et que ledit suppliant a fait paix et sattisfacion aux amis dudit deffunct nous lui vueillons notre dicte grace et misericorde impartir pour quoy nous ces choses considerees voulans misericorde est preferee a rigueur de justice audit suppliant ou cas dessusdit avons quicte remis et pardonne quictons remectons et pardonnons de notre grace especial plaine puissance et auctorite royal par ces presentes le fait et cas dessusdit ensemble toute paine offense et amende corporelle criminelle et civile En quoy pour le fait et occasion dessusdit Il puet estre et pourroit pour ce estre encouru envers nous et Justice Et le Restituons et Remectons a sa bonne fame renommee au pays et a ses biens meubles et heritages non confisquez. Satisfacion faite a partie civillement se faite nest Et imposons scilence a notre procureur Parmj ce que ledit pierre fera un pellerignage a notre dame de bouloingne Si donnons en mandement par ces presentes au bailli damiens au prevost de monstereul sur la mer et a tous noz autres Justices et officiers presens et advenir ou a leurs lieuxtenans et a chacun deulx sicomme alui appartendra que de notre presente grace Remission et pardon facent seuffrent et laissent ledit suppliant joir et user plainement et paisiblement Sans pour ce lui faire ou donner ne souffrir estre fait ou donne aucun destourbier ou empeschement en aucune maniere au contraire en corps ne en biens Mais se son corps ou aucuns de ses biens non confisquez sont ou estoient pour ce prins saisiz arrestez ou empeschiez lui mettent ou facent mettre chacun en droit soy a plaine deliverance Et afin que ce soit ferme chose et estable a tousiours nous avons fait mettre notre scel a ces presentes Sauf en autres choses notre droit et lautruy en toutes Donne a Rouen ou mois davril Lan de grace mil iiijc xxiij Et le premier de notre Regne Ainsi signe Par le Roy ala Relacion du conseil
Adam
Summary
Pierre Terry was a tailor living in Facquembergue, a town in the north of France. On the 15th of January 1422, he traveled around his town as well as Closquans, running different errands. The area had received a large snowfall the night before, and the ground was covered in snow and ice with frigid air blowing around. While running his errands, Terry used a stick with three-pointed iron tips on the bottom to help him move around in the current conditions. As he walked down the road back towards his home, he ran into many young boys throwing snow at one another, playing in the cold weather. One boy in particular, Pierre le Rat, used a wooden shovel to toss snow at other children as well as those passing by. Le Rat shouted at those walking down the street, telling them that he was ready to toss snow on anyone who passed. Terry, in response to the shouts from le Rat, asked to be left alone. He was struggling to return home after his errands, and at his age and feeling sick with the cold, he did not want any snow thrown on him. Despite Terry’s request, le Rat threw snow at the old man. When the boy attempted to throw more, Terry lifted his stick up in the air to defend himself, and they exchanged a few blows until he accidentally hit le Rat in the head with one of the iron tips. Le Rat’s wound was poorly taken care of by doctors, and the boy died 15 days later. Terry, after hearing about the death of le Rat, left the country out of fear of the consequences. It is from his exile that Terry requested his pardon. In it, he says that this is the only horrible thing he has ever done in his life and that he is a good man who was overcome with “hot blood.” Terry additionally made peace with le Rat’s family and friends after the killing. His pardon was granted on the condition that he make a pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Boulogne.
Essays
In this letter, Pierre le Rat and his friends are play outside in the snow. While this playing eventually leads to the death of le Rat, this letter depicts aspects of medieval childhood. Firstly, childhood experiences from the medieval era look pretty similar to experiences from today. Children had toys that were played with and beloved. Hobby horses, doll houses, toy soldiers, and checker pieces are some of the surviving childhood toys. Children had time to play with one another and find joy within their daily lives. However, the largest difference between medieval childhood and contemporary childhood centers around schooling. Most medieval children did not attend school. A child of a high class may have a private tutor, but this would be reserved for male children. Children of artisans or workmen would typically learn the trade that their parents practiced, and the shop would be passed down generationally. Children were also extremely important when it came to peasant life: they were able to help maintain the land. They could work and help with the family’s trade. Children provided work within the family while also getting to experience the joy of play.
Further Reading
Hanawalt, Barbara. “Medievalists and the Study of Childhood.” Speculum Vol. 77, No. 2 (April 2002): pp. 440-460.
Heywood, Colin. A History of Childhood: Children and Childhood in the West from Medieval to Modern Times. Polity Press (2001): pp. 1-18.
French Museums: Medieval Louvre, Musée de Cluny, Tour Jean Sans Peur
Orme, Nicholas. “Childhood in Medieval England, c. 500-1500.” University of Exeter (2005). Accessed on September 25, 2023. https://www.representingchildhood.pitt.edu/medieval_child.htm
Errands
The reason Terry left his home on this snowy day was to run a few errands. In the medieval era, there were three main types of retail activity. Someone may be buying produce from a market stall. This produce would, obviously, feed them for the entire week; it’s a vital errand for people to complete. Customers may also be buying manufactured goods from an artisan at a shop or stall. If someone required robes, baskets, silks, medicines, and more, an artisan would be the one to provide these products. Finally, customers with more money could be buying products from a merchant. A merchant would sell more luxury items, but this was still an option for some during this time. Customers could either use coins to pay for these products, or they might barter with sellers depending on their occupation.
Further Reading
Clark, David. “The Shop within?: An Analysis of the Architectural Evidence for Medieval Shops.” Architectural History Vol. 43 (2000). Pp. 58-87.
French Museum: Guédelon, Musée de Cluny
Weather in Medieval France
Weather plays a vital role in this letter and in medieval life. The premise of this crime revolves around playing in the snow, and this wouldn’t be possible if this didn’t happen at a specific time. Information about weather comes from not only written sources such as this letter but also from nature itself. Rings on trees inform historians and naturalists about huge weather spikes and changes throughout the tree’s life. During the medieval era, snowfall only occurred during January. December was extremely cold and dry, and peasants began returning to work in February. This would be one of the only times le Rat could play in the snow since it was the only month snowfall was likely. Additionally, cold weather made survival even harder for people of the medieval era. It was difficult to simply stay warm. Houses were poorly insulated, and people had to wear their thick clothes at all times, whether they were going outside or staying in their homes. If people had money during this time, they could line their clothing with fur to help keep heat in, but most people would either pad with felt or just wear multiple layers. The cold also killed many people who just couldn’t stay warm enough. Weather could determine life or death for many people living during the medieval era.
Further Reading
Laumonier, Lucie. “A Medieval Peasants’ Winter.” Medievalists.net (2020). Accessed on September 24, 2023. https://www.medievalists.net/2020/12/medieval-peasants-winter/
French Museum: Tour Jean Sans Peur
Mobility Aids in the Medieval Era
While Pierre Terry was running errands, he used a stick with three-pointed iron tips on the bottom. Most images from this period depict abled-body people going about their lives. However, there are many depictions of people utilizing mobility aids to move around. Many depictions show people using aids such as a walking stick or a crutch. There are also images that include complex mobility aids. One image from a 13th century manuscript depicts a man using “hand trestles” to move around. With these trestles, the man “would have used [them] to raise his upper body onto his hands and pull himself forward.” Other images show people with artificial limbs and supports for amputations. People living within this time, just as in our own, used mobility aids to be able to do the everyday tasks. Aids helped them to move around the world, and communities or religious groups would support disabled individuals who were unable to work. Mobility aids, in the medieval era and today, allow for people to access the world when physical limitations prevent it.
Further Reading
Disability in the medieval period 1050-1485.” Historic England. Accessed on September 6, 2023: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/disability-history/1050-1485/
French Museums: Tour Sans Jean Peur, the Louvre
Seal, Jude. “Medieval mobility aids.” Wellcome Collection. (November 2021) Accessed on September 6, 2023: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/YXKnDREAACMARWII
Pilgrimage
As a part of Terry’s pardon, he had to make a pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Boulogne. There was a belief that pilgrimage would allow the pilgrim to repent and grow from the experience of traveling. Pilgrims would don specific robes and hats, and they would use a walking stick for their journey. Depending on the severity of the crimes, criminals would have to make a pilgrimage to specific churches with specific religious associations. Distance and holiness were all considered when it came to dictating where someone would have to make their pilgrimage to. When pilgrims eventually reached their end destination, they were given specific broaches called Pilgrim Badges. These badges were worn for a time and then thrown into rivers as a vow. These broaches could either be a sign of devotion to God, or they could also help with other ailments, such as warding off disease. It’s unclear whether Terry ever made his pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Boulogne, but if he did, his journey would have been arduous as a way to repent for the killing of le Rat.
Further Reading
French Museum: Mussée de Cluny, Tour Jean Sans Peur, Guédelon
Webb, Diana. Pilgrims and Pilgrimage in the Medieval West. New York: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd, 2001. Pp 11-63.