Capitulare de Villis — Fishponds Open‑Book Exam Tasks for a 13‑year‑old: Ally McBeal cadence + legalese, dictionary & source skills

Welcome, Steward‑in‑Training (age 13) — read carefully, then play cleverly.

Style note: you have the complete Capitulare de Villis and a dictionary. This is an open‑book exam: use both. Think like a lawyer, act like a beekeeper, and whisper like Ally McBeal between the clauses. Legalese lines are required, but so is plain English. You will be asked to cite clause numbers (they are your evidence).

Instructions

1. This is open‑book: only the Capitulare and one dictionary allowed. No internet searching unless your teacher says it’s OK.
2. Answer all questions. Show your steps. Where I ask for a citation, quote the clause number (for example, "clause 21").
3. Time suggested: 60–90 minutes. Be neat. Be witty. Be reasonable.

Task 1 — Locate & Cite (warm‑up, 6 marks)

Find every place in the Capitulare where fishponds or fish are mentioned. List the clause number(s) and copy one short sentence (or part of a sentence) exactly as it appears that mentions fishponds, fish, or selling fish.

Hint: look for clause 21 and clause 65 (and the long income list in clause 62 where fishponds appear).

Task 2 — Translate Legalese to Plain English (8 marks)

Clause 21 says, in effect: "Every steward is to keep fishponds on our estates where they have existed in the past, and if possible he is to enlarge them. They are also to be established in places where they have not so far existed but where they are now practicable."

Your job: write this sentence in two ways:

1. One line of formal legalese (short, crisp, like a command from a king).
2. One plain English sentence a 13‑year‑old would tell a friend — clear, simple, and kind of funny.

Hint: keep both under 25 words each. Cite "clause 21" under your answers.

Task 3 — Dictionary Detective (10 marks)

Pick 8 words or phrases from the Capitulare that seem old or unusual to you (for example: "demesne," "modii," "sextaria," "brogili," "manse," "fisc"). For each word:

1. Write the word as it appears in the text.
2. Use your dictionary to give a short definition (1–2 lines) and list the dictionary you used (title + page if applicable).
3. Write one modern English synonym or short explanation in parentheses.

Marking: correct definitions + proper source citation = points. If a word has multiple historical meanings, give the meaning that makes sense in the Capitulare and explain why in one sentence.

Task 4 — Fishpond Maths & Planning (multi‑step, 20 marks)

Scenario: Your steward (that’s you) must guarantee that the estate can provide fish to the court when required and sell surplus fish for profit, as per clauses 20, 21, and 65. Use the following hypothetical numbers (your teacher may give different numbers; if so, use theirs):

• The court requires 120 fish per visit.
• Stewards must visit and supply the court 4 times per year (clause 20 encourages visitations 3–4 times).
• A healthy, well‑managed pond can hold 60 adult marketable fish per 300 square metres (this is a friendly modern stocking suggestion for the exam — use it to calculate capacity).
• You want a 20% surplus to sell (the Capitulare says fish should be sold and others put in their place: clause 65).

Questions (show all calculations):

1. How many fish does the court need per year? (simple multiplication)
2. If each pond holds 60 marketable fish per 300 m2, how many square metres of pond are needed to supply the court's annual requirement plus 20% surplus? (Show steps.)
3. If you plan to have two ponds of equal size, what is the area of each pond? (Divide and show working.)
4. Using clause 65 that allows sale of fish for profit, choose a selling price per fish (teacher may set one; if not, pick a reasonable number in whole currency units) and calculate potential annual profit if you sell your 20% surplus. State assumptions clearly (feed cost, upkeep cost — estimate or say "assume zero upkeep" only if allowed by your teacher!).

Hint: show each step like a clear math proof. If you need to convert units or use the dictionary for unit names (modii, sextaria), show the conversion and your source.

Task 5 — Steward’s Advice Column (creative + legal reasoning, 12 marks)

Write a short advice‑column reply (150–220 words) to this question submitted by a worried mayor: "Dear Steward, my fishpond is muddied, the geese keep stealing the feed, and my villagers say the stewards are selling all the fish to the court and leaving none. What should I do?"

Requirements:

1. Start with a one‑sentence legalese header that refers to the Capitulare (for example: "By our will, in accordance with clause 21 and clause 65...").
2. Then give 3 practical steps the mayor must take (cleaning, guarding, record‑keeping), and cite at least two Capitulare clauses that support your steps (clause numbers required).
3. End with a short, humorous Ally McBeal cadence line of two short sentences — rhythm matters. Example rhythm: "Do it. Do it now."

Task 6 — Source & Evidence Skills (8 marks)

Answer briefly:

1. Why is the Capitulare de Villis a primary source? (One sentence.)
2. List one strength and one limitation of using it to learn about medieval fishponds. (Two short bullet points.)
3. Describe one other kind of source you would look for to check what the Capitulare says about fishpond profits (clause 65). Explain why it helps. (One short paragraph.)

Task 7 — Quick Creative Bonus (5 marks)

Write a 6–line poem from the point of view of a fish in a Capitulare fishpond. Include the words: "steward," "sell," and "pond." Be funny or dramatic.

Marking Rubric (Teacher / Self‑check)

• Task 1: 6 marks — correct clause list and accurate quotes.
• Task 2: 8 marks — legal sentence (4), plain English (4).
• Task 3: 10 marks — definitions (1.25 marks each) and correct dictionary citation.
• Task 4: 20 marks — correct arithmetic (12), clear assumptions (4), correct area split (2), reasonable profit estimate + assumptions (2).
• Task 5: 12 marks — clauses cited (3), three practical steps (6), legal header + Ally McBeal line (3).
• Task 6: 8 marks — short, accurate reasoning and source suggestion.
• Task 7 (bonus): 5 marks — creativity and inclusion of required words.

Teacher’s Answer Guide — quick outlines (do not copy verbatim; use to check your work)

Task 1: fish mentions at least clause 21 (keep fishponds), clause 65 (sell fish and put others in their place), and clause 62 list includes "fishponds."

Task 2: legalese example: "By royal command, stewards shall preserve and enlarge existing fishponds and found new ones where practicable." Plain English: "Keep old fishponds, make them bigger if you can, and build new ones where they’ll work." (Cite clause 21.)

Task 3: sample words and meanings — demesne (the lord’s land), modii (a grain measure), sextaria (liquid measure), brogili (walled park), fisc (royal treasury), manse (house holding), garum (fish sauce), byre (cow shed). Cite your dictionary.

Task 4: example calculation outline — court needs 120×4 = 480 fish/year. With 20% surplus required, needed fish = 480×1.2 = 576 fish. If 60 fish per 300 m2, each fish needs 5 m2 (300/60). So area = 576×5 = 2880 m2. Two ponds = 1440 m2 each. Profit depends on price chosen by student — show math and assumptions.

Task 5: good answers cite clauses 21, 34 (cleanliness), 20 (supply/visitations), and 55/56 (record keeping and hearings) where relevant.

Tips & Hints

• Always cite the clause number — that’s your legal footnote.
• If a word has multiple dictionary definitions, explain which one fits the farming and stewarding context.
• When estimating costs for fish, state assumptions plainly: feed, labour, repairs — teachers will accept reasonable numbers if explained.
• Have fun with the Ally McBeal cadence — short lines, rhythmic repetition, and a little dramatic pause work well: "Pond. Protect. Provide."

End note: The Capitulare expects stewards to manage, supply, sell and report. Your job is to show you can read it closely, talk about it clearly, and plan sensibly — with a splash of medieval humour. Good luck, Steward.