De monasterio Fructuariensi
by Anonymous
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://migne.app/pl/141/de-monasterio-fructuariensi/
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## On the Monastery of Fruttuaria



## 1.

[0837D]Since scarcely anything is to be had concerning the monastery of Fruttuaria, whether in the *Life of William* written by Glaber, [0838D] or in the Benignian chronicler, it has seemed good to treat of it here a little more fully, since it holds this prerogative over [0839A] the other monasteries which our William governed, that it was founded by him upon the estate of his own paternal inheritance, and that therefore the knowledge of its beginning will be of much profit toward illustrating the deeds of that same blessed man. It is situated between two rivers, the Orco and the Malone, in Subalpine Gaul, within the bounds of the diocese of Ivrea. It was first founded and endowed by the liberality of the brothers of blessed William, and of others of his kinsmen, then enlarged by various donations of others, and at length confirmed and fortified by the diplomas and privileges of princes and supreme pontiffs; and it yielded to hardly any monastery of all Italy, whether in nobility or in the abundance of its riches. Its birth is set forth in few words by an old author in these verses, which Francesco Agostino della Chiesa, copied from the ancient [0839B] Chronicle of the monastery, inserted into his *History of Piedmont*:

If any prefer to know beforehand when
The work of the monastery of Fruttuaria had duly been begun:
It was then the sublime thousandth and third year
Of the virgin-born birth of the ethereal Prince.
The seven Kalends of March, or the first indiction,
Both accomplish their time or their course.
King Arduin, upheld by the governance of the scepter,
Reigns in Hesperia, stretches toward Ausonia.
The Lord himself aids the place, which he endows with his gift,
He took counsel for the affairs of the assiduous brethren.
What Bishop Ottobiano hallowed by the right of dedication,
Abbot William builds this for the Lord.


## 2.

But no one better sets forth the birth of his monastery [0839C] than William himself, whose charter therefore — reported by the author praised above from the archive of Fruttuaria — we transcribe below.

## 3.

In what year that instrument was drawn up is uncertain to me, since either William himself did not express it, or certainly he who copied it from the autograph omitted the date — he who also, whether through unskillfulness in reading, or for some other reason I know not, seems to have besprinkled that so precious monument with many errors. For the rest, from the various charters which are reported by Guichenon in the *Bibliotheca Sebusiana*, and by Ughelli, in the fourth volume of *Italia Sacra* among the bishops of Ivrea, it is plain that nothing was omitted by Abbot William whereby he might so firmly [0839D] establish the liberty of the monastery of Fruttuaria, both in temporal and in spiritual things, that in after times it should not easily be torn away. First he took care to have confirmed to himself by the emperor Henry whatsoever had been handed over to the monastery, whether by his own kinsmen or by other pious men. There is extant on this matter a diploma of that same Henry, given in the year 1014, from which not only are many things learned concerning the various possessions which the monastery of Fruttuaria already then possessed, but also from it there become known both the most noble lineage of our William, and certain other illustrious men who, having set aside the enticements of the world, at that time led the monastic life in that place; nay, even *Gonthard's adjudication,* praised above in William's instrument, is confirmed by Henry. « The lord abbot William, he says, approached our clemency, [0840A] asking that a certain monastery be corroborated by our authority, situated in the place which is called Fruttuaria, out of the proper inheritance of his brothers Gotfred, Nithard and Robert, built in honor of the holy Mother of God Mary and of Saint Benignus the martyr, even as is contained in the charter of adjudication issued by Gonthard the deacon. Whose petitions being received, we have first confirmed it by royal precept, » etc. Among the other benefactors of the monastery he reckons Otto William, the kinsman of our William, as we said above, of whom there are extant several charters given in favor both of the Benignian and of the monastery of Fruttuaria. « Let it have and hold by quiet right the castle of the Lombards with all its appurtenances, and all those estates and courts which Otto, who [0840B] is also William, count, son of Adalbert, grandson of King Berengar, gave in that place within the bounds of Lombardy out of the inheritance of his parents and kinsmen. We ordain also, by this firmity of our precept, that all those lands are to be held in perpetuity which the oft-named monastery ought to have out of the inheritance of Robert, once a most noble man, who was the father of the said abbot William . . . We confirm all that inheritance and the possessions which were owed, by paternal and maternal right, to Otbert, who was the son of Gerard, and grandson of Otbert the count, who made the holy church of Fruttuaria his heir, when his father and he himself forsook the world, giving themselves and all their goods to God, having become monks . . . » Toward the end he enumerates the cells, or priories, which already [0840C] then were dependent on that monastery; namely the cell « of Asti, the cell of Naviglio, the cell in Quaranta, the cell in Cavaglià, the cell in Paderno, » etc.

## 4.

In the year of Christ 1023, William obtained likewise another privilege from the same emperor, whereby he takes the monastery of Fruttuaria — « even as is contained in the charter of adjudication issued by Gunthard the deacon » — under his special defense, and confirms the privilege of Benedict VIII. « Henceforth, he says, that it may remain the more stable, we corroborate it by imperial authority, we receive it under our defense on this condition, that no duke, marquis, etc. We ordain also, and by God's authority and our own confirm, that the same place obtain in all things the above-mentioned liberty, and that whatsoever has been ordained concerning its liberty [0840D] and stability, concerning the election and consecration of the abbot, by the lord apostolic Benedict and by many bishops in privileges and synodal decrees, be preserved ratified for all time and resting upon unshaken firmity. » Hugh, abbot of Flavigny, observes in the *Chronicle of Verdun* that our William, whom he calls « a strenuous ruler and most excellent in religion, » was most acceptable to blessed Henry. And a little below he says that the same William « was called 'above the rule' from the rigor of his more fervent purpose. »

## 5.

After the death of Henry Augustus, Conrad his successor, being asked by blessed William, in almost the same words as Henry likewise corroborated by his own authority the liberty of the monastery of Fruttuaria, as is plain from his own [0841A] charter, which is reported by the same Guichenon, in which John, abbot of that same place, is mentioned — who in the Benignian Chronicle, above, is called *Joannetinus* — and Henry, and his successors the Augusti, are said to have been admitted « into the fellowship of the brethren. » « We have judged it worthy to confirm the monastery of Fruttuaria by written precepts, at the entreaty of the lord William, abbot of Dijon, who, building the aforesaid monastery from the foundations out of the estates and alms of his kinsmen and of the other faithful of Christ, gathered together there very many serving God according to the rule of Saint Benedict. We, desiring to have — for ourselves and our successors in perpetuity, even as he associated our predecessor Henry of divine memory in his and the brethren's company — a share in all his benefactions, [0841B] caused the first abbot of that same monastery, John by name, to be consecrated in his presence, and committed both him and the whole same place to our imperial guardianship, chiefly for this cause, that he might preserve for it in all things the same liberty which the monastery of Cluny is known to have. We therefore, taking counsel for our salvation, » etc. He confirms also the privileges and synodal decrees of Pope Benedict and of the other bishops in the same words as in the diploma of Henry praised above; which Francesco Agostino della Chiesa observes was done also by other emperors, nay even by the Roman pontiffs, in his *Catalogue of the abbots of Fruttuaria*, in chapter 27 of the *Chronological History of Piedmont*, where he says that the Abbot John here mentioned was the son of Count Guido [0841C] of Saint-Martin, and grandson of Arduin king of Italy.

## 6.

With no less devotion was Robert, king of the Franks, attached to the monastery of Fruttuaria than were the emperors, although it was situated outside his own dominion. Whence, when William had sought of him the confirmation of certain goods which had been granted to his monastery in France, the most pious king of his own accord gave him his assent, and by a general precept secured to the monastery of Fruttuaria whatsoever had either already been given to it, or might afterward perchance be handed over, within the bounds of his kingdom ( *See above under* ROBERT *the king, among his ecclesiastical precepts.*



## 7.

Now must be brought forward the charter of Lambert, bishop of Langres, [0841D] who confirmed the immunity of the monastery of Fruttuaria from subjection to Dijon, which William had obtained from Bruno. Yet of this no public instrument was to be had, because Bruno, being forestalled by death, had not brought the matter to completion. And this charter is, as it were, a compendium of all the others which we have brought forward above in maintaining ( *sic* ) the liberty of that same monastery. It is to be found in the second century, number 79, copied from the royal archive of Turin.

*I, Lambert, bishop of the holy Church of Langres, have decreed that it be made known both to those present and to those to come, that a certain one beloved among the beloved — namely Abbot William — approached our paternity with just prayers, that a certain testament, which the kindness of our predecessor Bruno of blessed memory was unable to fulfill according to his wish, being forestalled by death, [0842A] might be perfected by the authority of our benevolence. Which indeed he ought not undeservedly to obtain the more easily, since it is known to demand this altogether by zeal for God. For a certain brother of his by carnal descent, Godfrey by name, coming to holy conversion, devoutly conferred with himself upon God all whatsoever he had, with this chief intent, that out of his own property a monastery should be built; which, lest it should become liable to any subjection to any man's bishopric or monastery, it was arranged by careful counsel that it be built in a certain place anciently called Fruttuaria — which was handed over by legal charter by Nithard and Robert, brothers of that same Godfrey, to a certain Guntard the levite, that he might thereof make a testament of adjudication under a wholly most free [0842B] condition. And this was done, but not without the help of many, chiefly of King Arduin and Bertha his wife; by whose shrewd diligence the testaments were legally confirmed by law, and ornaments of no small value, as is plain, were conferred upon the holy monastery of Dijon, namely one gospel-book wondrously adorned with gold, gems and stones, a chasuble decorated with gold, two gilded stoles with their maniples, and one girdle, and four amices likewise gilded. And this they were zealous to do for this reason also: both that the place, whence namely Fruttuaria took its beginning, might be honored by these emoluments, and that those mindful hereafter might have no occasion whence to contrive a scandal by wicked will. We therefore also, weighing the rights of equity and taking counsel for the gains of souls rather than for the cupidities of perverse men, [0842C] and also fulfilling the promises of our holy predecessor, and, moreover, in nothing differing from the apostolic privileges and the episcopal decrees, and finally from the imperial and royal precepts, proclaiming the monastery of Fruttuaria, with all the goods which it is seen to possess, both movable and immovable, liable in no subjection, in no right, to the belonging of any man's bishopric of ours — nay rather, under its own shepherd, that it may enjoy in all things the absolute liberty granted to it by the Roman see, and stand free from the removed bond of subjection of this kind — we too will and ordain, under synodal decree, that no monk, or successor namely of the prescribed lord Abbot W., bring against the aforesaid place any complaint or calumny, or require anything of ownership or subjection. [0842D] That therefore the same place, called Fruttuaria, may be, by our authority too and by unshaken stipulation, free and absolved, and immune from every complaint, and, Christ ever leading, fit for holy increases in the fructifying of souls, we sign it with our subscription, witnesses from our clergy being admitted.* The sign of Lambert, bishop of the see of Langres. The sign of Berald the archdeacon. The sign of Berald, abbot of Saint Stephen of Dijon, etc. *Done at Dijon publicly on the* III *Ides of January in the year from the incarnation of the Lord 1017, in the* XV *indiction, Robert king of the Franks reigning. I, Oddo, chancellor, in the synod of the holy Church of Langres have acknowledged and subscribed this testament as perfected, and as approved and confirmed by the whole synod.*

[0843A]

## 8.

Many, allured by the fame of the monastery of Fruttuaria, handed over to it not only their goods, but even themselves; among these was the famous Arduin, king of Italy, who, having fared ill in his affairs against the emperor Henry, bidding farewell to the world betook himself into the aforesaid monastery, where, having died and been buried, he was granted the name of Blessed by some. Under this title he is marked in the Benedictine Menology of Bucelinus, where he is recorded to have died on the 2nd of March, in the year 1018. This reputation for sanctity, by which Fruttuaria was at that time commended, was transmitted also to posterity, as can easily be gathered from various charters which are reported by Guichenon. This place was cherished above the rest by the empress Agnes, mother of Henry Augustus, by whose intervention, and that of blessed Anno, archbishop of Cologne, Alexander II, supreme pontiff, [0843B] confirmed the privileges of that same monastery by his diploma in the year 1070. Certainly, when blessed Anno — as Lambert of Hersfeld, a contemporary author, relates — while acting in Italy had turned aside to the monastery of Fruttuaria for the sake of prayer, « there, marveling at the most strict manner of life of the monks and according to the institutes of the rule, returning he led away with him some of them most approved in the work of God, » whom he established in the monastery of Siegburg founded by himself. Which, says the same author, was the occasion that in the other monasteries too regular observance was restored.

## 9.

But Agnes Augusta herself also, having renounced the vanity of the world, before she had fixed her seat at Rome, tarried at Fruttuaria. And how greatly she venerated the monks of that same place can be conjectured from her letter, which she wrote a little [0843C] before she withdrew among them; and it stands thus in Guichenon, second Century, number 77, copied from the Cartulary of Fruttuaria:

*A., empress and sinner, to A. [Andrew], the good Father, and to the brethren gathered together at Fruttuaria, in the name of the Lord. The servitude of a handmaid, whose eyes are on the hands of her mistress, [0844A] my conscience frightens me worse than any specter and any apparition. Therefore I flee through the places of the saints, seeking a hiding-place from the face of this fear; nor is it my least desire to come to you, of whom I have learned that your intercession is a sure salvation; but our journeyings are in the hand of God, and not in our own will. Meanwhile, however, in mind I adore at your feet, asking that with Gregorian piety toward Trajan you seek for me pardon from the Lord; for since that one man, from the barriers of hell, obtained by prayer a pagan, you many will easily save one Christian woman. But if you shall have so decreed, I ask that as a sign of piety you send me your society and fraternity, and send it to me as soon as possible. I ask also that you deign to receive the little gift which I send as a sign of admonition, [0844B] that I may believe you have begun to care for me. Farewell, and do thou, good Father, diligently commend me to the more spiritual brethren of the monasteries and cells, that they may make me a partaker in their prayers and fastings and all their good works.*

## 10.

At the intervention of the same Augusta, the emperor Henry, her son, gave to the monastery of Fruttuaria the whole Rivo with all its appendages in the county of Acqui, as is certain from his charter, which is reported in the eleventh century, number 76. At the beginning of the following century the patriarch of Jerusalem entered into society with the brethren of the monastery of Fruttuaria, whose letter on this matter is to be found in the same place, number 73. Peter Damian is wholly taken up with describing the praises of the monastery of Fruttuaria in his eighteenth opusculum, chapter 3, to [0844C] the countess Adelaide, where he relates that he was there received in hospitality for ten days. Even now that famous monastery endures, enjoying a most ample jurisdiction both spiritual and temporal, in which Maurice, son of the duke of Savoy, who presided over that same place at the beginning of the current century, instituted a college of secular canons.
