Notarial act, Grasse, 1364

Image of Notarial act

This document, dated September 29, 1364 at a Franciscan convent in France, records the tension between Amadeus, the bishop of Grasse, and the seneschal of Provence; seneschals were officials similar to modern bailiffs. Look carefully at the manuscript, and you will see nine horizontal creases: the manuscript was originally folded many times to make it compact enough for long-term storage. The flower-shaped sign at the bottom was largely decorative but also signalled the end of the document, ensuring that it could not be expanded later. This manuscript was found only recently within our archives; who knows what else we may find in the future?

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