Villa Magna

The earliest document for the monastery, translated

In the name of God our savior Jesus Christ. In the favorable year of our Lord, the second year of the pontificate of our lord and pope Benedict VII, the highest priest and most blessed priest in the Holy See of the blessed apostle Peter, in the fifth indiction [976 AD], October 23. It has been decided that we Ildebrand, a noble man and current judge and Joseph, who is called Guarnero, and Peter and Leo, young men, full brothers and inhabitants of the city of Anagni, on this here day give, donate, concede, hand over, as well as offer on our own accord through this sheet, a document of the donation, for the recompense and redemption of our souls and for the pardon of our sins, to you, blessed Mary, our lady, and Peter, the blessed apostle, to whom now there is a monastery, the things located on the property which is called Villa Magna, a territory of Anagni, and likewise to the priests of God and the impoverished brethren of Christ, who are in the aforementioned respectable monastery: the property which is called Villa Magna, with the residence called the Casa Calcinaria, at the same time also the other casale which is called Sancta Felicitate, or if it is called by any other names, with all its associated or adjacent things which are placed within its confines: on one side the mountains above it, on a second side a stream, from which on occasion water flows and in the same way leads into the base of the meadow, from a third side the property which is called Aprunianus, from a fourth side a larger stream, which is called Licini, and, in the same way, it leads back into the land of the heirs of the late Raisica, of good memory, and reaches the road which runs along the mountain which is called Julianum. [We give] these things of the aforementioned properties in full, which is called Villamagna and the house which is called Calcinaria with the farmhouse which is called Sancta Felicitate, positioned between these aforementioned sides, as is read above, and at the same time, [we give] the things of both the estates in full which are called Tracciano and Summavilla, or if there seems to be any other names among them, with all of their pertaining things or adjacent things which are positioned within their borders: on one side the already stated rushing stream which is called Licinus, on a second side, the church of Sancti Agapiti, and similarly it reaches to a larger stream which is called de Orti, on a fourth [sic] side the field, which is called Tursurano, [which] is of the church, and the property which is called Saccu, and it also leads back into the aforementioned range which is called Licinus. [We give] these aforementioned things of the two fields which are called Tracciano and Summavilla, or if they are called by any other names, placed within these aforementioned borders, as is read above, with all things pertaining to them. Similarly, [we give] also the entire property which is called Villamagna with the farmhouse which is called Casa Calcinaria with another entity which is called Sancta Felicitate, which are the arable lands, the plains, meadows, pastures, woods, willows, fruit trees, fruit-bearing or not, cultivated or uncultivated lands of different kinds, springs, wells, streams, perennials, buildings, walls, and sandy areas, with its bordering, adjoined, and adjacent things, with everything pertaining to it or adjacent to it. May you have from us, the aforementioned venerable monastery of the blessed Mary, our lady, and likewise of the blessed apostle Peter, in which has been founded a church in the aforementioned parcel of land which is called Villamagna. May you have [it] forever in your entire, true control, priests of God and brethren who are in the aforementioned venerable monastery at this time, to whom never by us nor by our heirs nor by any outsider, a big or small person, never at any time, may you have a claim or legal dispute, but we promise to establish with our heirs the aforementioned properties, as has been promised, unto the aforementioned venerable monastery and to the priests of God and their brothers, who are in this aforementioned venerable monastery and we promise to defend it at all times from all people and in all places, whenever it will be necessary. In this document of the transaction, we speak, having sworn through omnipotent God and the Holy Apostolic See and the true health of the most blessed apostle of the lord Pope Benedict the Seventh, the highest of priests and universally most holy, but we promise without violation to preserve and carry out all these things which this document of the cession of the current donation [presents]. But if we do otherwise and do not carry through with our promised defence and do not want to protect them in the least or we are not able to protect either the aforementioned fields, which are called Villa Magna, and with it the Casa Calcinaria and Sancta Felicitate and likewise the two parcels of land which are called Traccanum and Summa Villa, with the named things are between them, or we dare to make any controversy in the aforementioned venerable monastery of the blessed apostle Peter and likewise for the priests of God and brethren who are in the aforementioned venerable monastery, then we, on the verge of giving, promise that we, the aforementioned Hildebrand, a noble man and current judge, Joseph, who is called Guarnerus, and Peter and Leo, noble men and full brothers, together with their heirs, will donate to the aforementioned venerable monastery and to the priests of God who will be there throughout time, before the beginning of any legal suit, in the name of punishment, three standard measures of gold [ebritias] and above all, may [we] have a curse by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and may [we] have association with Judas, the traitor of our Lord Jesus Christ, and afterwards the deprivation of absolution lasting forever. For the writing of this, we asked Magius, the civil officer and the clerk of the city of Anagni, in which we signed below in our own hands and we asked the witnesses to sign below in the month and indiction written above. I, Hildebrand, a noble man and current judge and Joseph and Peter and Leo in this letter of the handing over of the donation of the aforementioned lands, as is read above, wrote with my own hands, and they asked the witnesses to sign below. Georgius, an eminent man, invited as a witness. Leoninus, an eminent man, invited as a witness. Silvo, a noble man, invited as a witness. I, Magius, civil official and clerk of the city of Anagni, after all the witnesses, completed and approved this.

Translated by Margaret Andrews
NB This is a working translation, and SHOULD NOT BE REPRODUCED OR CITED WITHOUT PERMISSION

— Caroline Goodson· May 17, 19:06