Cornell Notes — Fish, Fishponds & Garum
Capitulare de Villis — clauses 21, 34, 44, 45, 62, 65 — for a 12-year-old, printable
- Clause 21 — Where should fishponds be kept? Who cares for them?
- Clause 34 — What is garum and who makes it?
- Clause 44 — What happens to fish during Lent?
- Clause 45 — Who helps with fishing and nets?
- Clause 62 — How are fish and fishponds treated as income?
- Clause 65 — What may stewards do with fish when the king/queen are absent?
- Quick check — List only the places and the people/roles named in these clauses.
Use: Write short questions here, then test yourself with the Notes column.
Clause 21 — "Hear and heed: every steward shall keep fishponds on our estates; enlarge them where old ponds stood; set them up where practicable."
Places/settings: royal estates, practicable places; Role: steward (in each district / on each estate).
Clause 34 — "By our law, the things they make — yes, garum the fish-sauce among them — must be prepared with the utmost cleanliness."
Product: garum (made on estates); Role: stewards and estate producers (who prepare foods).
Clause 44 — "Two-thirds of Lent’s food — fish included — be sent yearly for our use; report what remains by letter."
Flow: fish from estates sent to the royal household (the king/queen); Role: stewards send and report.
Clause 45 — "Let each steward have good workmen — fishermen to catch, net-makers to weave nets — ready in his district."
People/roles: fishermen, net-makers; Place: district (each steward’s district).
Clause 62 — "Make an annual accounting, list items under headings: from gardens, from fishponds, from fishermen — send this to us at Christmas."
Places/settings: fishponds (source), gardens; Roles: steward (who records and sends the income), fishermen (as a source of revenue).
Clause 65 — "Fish from our fishponds shall be sold and replaced, so supply is constant; when we (the king/queen) do not visit the estates, sell them and gain profit for our benefit."
Actions & places: fishponds on the estates; Role: stewards sell fish for profit when the royal household is absent.
Quick list — ONLY the places/settings & people/roles named (from the six clauses), connected to fish or garum:
- Places / Settings: royal estates (manors), fishponds (on estates), districts (steward’s district), practicable places for new ponds, the royal household / palace ("our use" and Christmas reporting).
- People / Roles: stewards (in each district/on estates), fishermen (workmen in the district), net-makers (for fishing), the king and queen (owners/recipients of food and reports).
Short legal rhythm to remember: "Steward keeps the pond, steward sells the fish; fishermen catch, net-makers mend the nets; garum made clean — sent to the king’s table, counted at Christmas."
On the royal estates the steward runs and enlarges fishponds, oversees fish and the making of garum, and must record and send income details (including fish and fishponds) to the king and queen. Fishermen and net-makers are district workmen who support fishing; stewards may sell fish for profit when the royal household is absent.
Ready to print: this page is laid out as Cornell Notes. Use the Cues column to quiz yourself and the Notes column for answers. Keep to the listed places and roles only — they come straight from the six clauses named.