Notable Chronicle of the Hirsau Abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict

The first donation of the monastery made by the count.

to the Pontiff original: "pontifici"; refers to the Pope as the head of the church hierarchy the monastery itself which he had constructed, along with the small villages, forests, pastures, waters, watercourses, and the fields and meadows lying around it. He included all the resources and revenues which he had assigned to it according to the terms of the gift original: "eulogium", a formal deed of gift or blessing that he had placed upon the altar, according to the custom of the Catholic Church. In this document, besides the general donation of the entire forest, land, and villages in the surrounding area, these specific items were also expressly contained: the church in Stammheim with a large part of that same village and the small villages belonging to it, and also the church in Deckenpfronn with everything he held there. He also gave twelve hides original: "hubas", a unit of land sufficient to support a family in Gültstein. In Mötzingen, twelve hides and a church. In Münchingen, a good estate. In Doffingen, a church. And these are the names of the villages inserted into the gift which he handed over to Saint Aurelius at that same hour:

Names of the villages which he gave.

Lutzelhart, Altburg, Luzenhart, Eberstetten, Kallenbach, Kugelbach, Nagoldhardt, Ottenbronn, Hugstetten, Gumprechtst, Weiler, half of the village of Altburg, and many other estates and goods which were inscribed in the book of donations.

Confirmation of the donation.

The aforementioned Archbishop Otgar, on behalf of the Apostolic Lord Pope Gregory IV and the most pious Emperor Louis I, confirmed this solemnly performed donation with a ban of perpetual stability. He handed over the monastery itself, with all devotions made and those to be made rightfully in the future, into the hands of the aforementioned Abbot Lintbert and his successors. These successors were to be established canonically according to the rule of our most holy father Benedict, to possess the monastery forever.

Granting of free election.

This was done on the condition that the monastic life remains vigorous within it according to the standard of the aforementioned father for all days. Whenever it happens that the monks are deprived of their spiritual shepherd, they shall have the free power of choosing another suitable person to take the place of the deceased father, either from among themselves or from another monastery of the same order, without the contradiction of anyone.

Appointment of the advocate.

Furthermore, the aforementioned archbishop appointed Count Erlafrid himself as the advocate original: "advocatus", a secular protector who handled legal and military matters for the monastery of Hirsau Abbey, specifically under the condition that when the father dies, the son shall not succeed to the advocacy unless he has been accepted for it by the abbot and monks who are present at the time, by their free and spontaneous will.

The liberty of this monastery.

For the most devoted count feared that after his death the monastery might suffer some injury or violence through his son or grandsons if the advocacy were to devolve to his descendants by hereditary right. We see this happening today among many people. Therefore, he decreed that it should depend on the will of the abbot to have whichever suitable advocate he wished for his monastery. This liberty, confirmed over the course of time by many privileges, both Apostolic and Imperial, perseveres inviolate in the monastery of Hirsau even to the present day.

In the same year, this endowment and privileged handover made by Count Erlafrid was confirmed by the most pious Emperor Louis. After all things pertaining to the solemn office of dedication were finished and everyone had returned to their own homes, Count Erlafrid took Abbot Lintbert with him.

Confirmation by the emperor.

Together with the venerable Archbishop Otgar and certain others, he hurried to Emperor Louis in the city of the Nemetes the Roman name for Speyer where the Emperor was holding court with his sons at that time, as we have said. After the gift was read before him, Erlafrid obtained from the Emperor a perpetual confirmation of all things.

Bishop Notting.

Notting, the Bishop of Vercelli, who was the first author of the foundation of Hirsau Abbey, had sent many things for the beauty of the house of the Lord: gold and silver crosses, chalices, books, and various ornaments for the divine ministry. We are uncertain whether he was present at this dedication. But now, we shall direct our pen to the times in which Abbot Lintbert first presided over the monastery, a holy life...