Rules of the Toll-Gatherers at Freiburg, 1178

The introductory remark about the responsibility of the toll-gatherer for the repair of the bridges would indicate that this toll was in some way farmed out, though the amounts to be levied as toll were fixed, and the farmers' profits would be limited. Burgesses had preference over those who lived outside the town in the matter of paying tolls at Freiburg in Breisgau, and the commodities subject to toll were of great variety.

C.11. The toll-gatherer shall be held liable for the good repair of all bridges whereby the city is protected, and any cattle sent over them shall pay.

C.12. These are the rules of the toll-gatherers: From a horse, 4 denarii; from a mule, 16 denarii; from an ass, 8 denarii; from an ox, 1 denarius; from a hide, 1 obole; from a pig, 1 obole; from a berna, 1 obole; from 4 sheep, 1 denarius; from 4 goats, 1 denarius; from a sauma of wine which is bought here, 1 obole; from a sauma of salt, 1 obole; from a sauma of wheat, 1 denarius; from a centenum of tallow, 4 denarii; from a centenum of fat, 4 denarii; from a centenum of pure lead, 1 denarius; from a centenum of lead which is called malterbli, 1 obole.

Whoever pays toll on tin, pepper, cumin, incense, laurel, will give 4 denarii; likewise on wax; likewise on oil; likewise on clothing; likewise on the hides of sheep and goats; on salt which is taken into the town likewise; likewise on iron; likewise on rakisen.

A measure of iron, 1 denarius; a number of herrings, 1 denarius; a measure of wool, 1 denarius; from 4 horses leaving the city, 1 denarius; from bread taken out to be sold by the sporta, 1 denarius; by the saccus, 1 obole.

A stranger for a barrel of wine which he brings into the city, if he sells it, 4 denarii; if it is to be sold at the tavern he will give 4 denarii as toll.

From every kind of horse he will give 1 denarius; from each ass, 1 obole.;

From all kinds of vegetables and a measure of nuts, 1 denarius.

A horse with turnips, 1 denarius; an ass, 1 obole. From a load of hay, a bundle of straw, or chaff,

1 denarius. A new cart with 4 wheels, 1 denarius; with 2 wheels, 1 obole.

A sauma of honey, 4 denarii; a centenum of copper, 4 denarii.

C.13. Any one living in the city will pay less toll.

C.14. A monk or cleric or ministerial shall not give toll in this city.

C.30. A man living outside the city, if he buys anything taken into the city by a burgess will pay half the toll.

Source:

F. Keutgen, ed., Urkunden zur Städtischen Verfassungsgeschichte, (Berlin: Emil Felber, 1901), p. 124; 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. 411-412.

Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by Prof. Arkenberg.

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