Emperor Henry IV:
Revision of the Tolls of Utrecht, 1122
Excessive tolls tended to destroy the purpose for which the tolls were created by
hampering trade to such an extent that the revenue obtained from them fell. Political and
fiscal reasons were sufficient to bring the Emperor Henry IV to a more reasonable attitude
on the rates. Note that the tolls appear to be heavier on those who come from greater
distances.
Be it known to all, both present and future generations, that we have recognized
the rights, customs, and privileges granted by Bishop Godebald to the people of Utrecht
and to those who live in the vicinity. Moreover we have confirmed those privileges on
condition that our people stand firm in their faith to us and our crown, by suppressing
our adversaries with all their might, humiliating the infidel, and strengthening the
faithful. Our faithful servants Giselbert Galo, our bailiff, and Arnold the castellan, and
the honest citizens of Utrecht have complained to us of the violent injury sustained by
them in the matter of the toll at Utrecht. They say that the exactions from merchants
frequenting the city do daily become oppressive, and are contrary to the ancient
constitution with which the city is furnished. We have therefore taken counsel with
prudent men upon their ancient constitution and on the amount of toll to be justly paid.
We have learned that we should define what reasonable toll should be taken; and therefore
we have commanded that the ancient method and practice is as follows:
Whoever comes from beyond Duisburg bringing grain shall pay 8 denarii, but the eighth
shall be returned to him; for cloth he will pay 2 denarii, for each muid 1 denarius.
Whoever comes from places decreed to be within Duisburg shall give 7 denarii, the
seventh to be returned to him; 2 denarii for cloth and 1 for each muid.
Those bringing wine shall give 16 denarii for each vessel of whatever kind it be; the
sixteenth shall be returned. If they have 10 vessels or more the toll on 1 vessel will be
returned, commonly called vullewin; if they have less than 10, nothing shall be
repaid.
If they buy herrings in order to sell them again, if the toll on fish be greater than
that on wine, let them pay the toll on fish. Frisians bringing salt shall pay one handful
of salt and 1 denarius; Frisians coming from Osterlant shall pay 24 denarii, and 4 shall
be returned.
Those who come from Saxony shall pay 17 denarii and the seventeenth shall be repaid.
Those who bring food for sale shall pay a quarter of a mark on each last.
Danes who enter the city to trade pay 4 denarii as head-tax on those who are called
masters of ships.
We learn that the Normans are free from all toll.
Whoever shall come within the limits of this toll, and be convicted of craftily
avoiding payment thereof, shall pay 3 talents in the money of Tiel. Whoever enters the
city for the sake of trade, together with his goods shall be under the protection of those
who have sworn to judge fairly in public, i.e., the assessors.
And in order that this charter of confirmation may endure we have signed it with our
hand and ordered that it be sealed with our seal. Witnesses, etc.
Source:
G. Waitz, ed., Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte, (Kiel: Ernst Homann, 1875),
Appendix 2; reprinted in Roy C. Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for
Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed.,
New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp. 409-410.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
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