Development of the economic position of Thorn abbey in the 13th century

Thorn abbey as area lord

The second theme showed that in the ^10th century the abbey of Thorn obtained market rights, toll rights and "districtus" (=jurisdiction over the area). Moreover, the abbey acquired goods in various places in almost the entire area of what is now the Netherlands: even in Medemblik in the county of Friesland (originally a coastal area from the Scheldt to the Weser, later the province of Friesland), and in 'Lower Maasland'. Then the abbey also acquired rights with respect to churches in the Tielerwaard, such as at Ophemert and Kerk-Avezaath, as well as in present-day Belgian Beek (near Bree). Historically, from the beginning of the ^13th century, the abbey also had tithes (=ecclesiastical taxes on grain harvests and young stock), property tax (annual payments in kind or money) and other rights in various areas in West Brabant around Breda.

On the basis of charters from the ^13th century, a picture is painted here of the way in which the abbey, as lord of the area, acquires income through the sale or lease of tithes and goods. It appears that during much of the ^13th century, under abbess Hildegonde van Borne/van Wassenberg, the abbey struggled to keep its head above water. This was possibly partly due to the ambitious building campaign under this abbess, during which the Romanesque church was given a Gothic appearance. People were forced to use the proceeds from the exploitation or sale of property and courts to pay off debts. Goods and rights being bequeased to the abbey were obviously seen as welcome revenues.

By the end of that century the economic tide has turned and there appear to be sufficient financial resources under abbess Guda of Rennenberg to buy or repurchase property or rights.

Income: tithes and sale of goods

Major revenues were acquired by the abbey through the sale or lease of tithes and further exploitation of property belonging to the abbey. Collections were often made on terms. Because the abbey was burdened with heavy debts due to fires, storms and robberies (and church building?) in the early 13th century, it had to use the tithes of numerous goods and courts to pay off debts in 1234, to appease creditors and to stay out of the hands of usurers. This then applied to the tithes of the courts of Baarle, Gilze, Ophemert and Kerk-Avezaath. Incidental rights to revenues were acquired in present-day Limburg at Neer, Grathem, (Belgian) Eisden and Neeroeteren. Here a sharp distinction was made between the acquisition by the abbess on the one hand and by the convent on the other (charter no. 8). 

Nine years later it is stated that the abbess and the convent were so burdened with debts that an unbearable interest burden was looming, forcing them to sell the annual revenues of the courts of Baarle and Gilze for an indefinite period of time at a fixed price to Godfried IV, lord of Breda, who could recover this price from the annual property tax on the courts (charter no. 11). This was not without problems, as is shown in theme 6 (patronage rights), which deals with unlawful appropriation by force of certain tithes and associated property by the lords of Breda. 

Also in October 1262 there is mention of "the poor canons and monastic nuns of Thorn" making it necessary for part of the tithes of the church of Baarle to be used to supplement their prebends (charter no. 17).This is also still the case in July 1266 when the tithes of Kerk-Avezaath are spent (charter no. 24).

The abbey also acquired income by transferring property for a certain price as was the case in 1235 with the Court of Drinhausen, now Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia, to the Liege canon Jan of Körrenzig. It was stipulated that after his death the Court was to revert to the abbey. (charter no. 9). 

Leasehold problems at St. Paul's Abbey

However, tithes were also leased to third parties for certain fees. This is, for example, the case in 1237, when Abbess Hildegonde and the Chapter of Our Lady of Thorn leased to the abbot and convent of St. Paul's Abbey in Utrecht the tithes of Ophemert and the revenues of the church of Kerk-Avezaath (see above) "in perpetuity" in return for a fixed fee (charter no. 10, confirmed by charter no. 29). 

Thirty years later there is proof that the goods and income of the church of Kerk-Avezaath must have been ample, when the income from the tithes of that church - except for the goods of St. Paul's Abbey - is also leased for a fixed price "in perpetuity" to knight Dirk van Heeswijk "to increase the prebends of the canons and convent sisters of Thorn, because their prebends are small and insufficient." In the process, agreements on the application of the right of collation are also made (charter no. 26, 1267). Two years later there are problems with the payment of rents by St. Paul's Abbey. Abbot Hendrik must then promise to the abbess and convent of Thorn to assign to the abbey of Thorn the proceeds of the tithes and other goods in Zandwijk, formerly owed to Dirk van Heeswijk, for five years, as compensation for the overdue lease payments of Kerk-Avezaath and Ophemert (charter no. 28). In June 1269 the abbot and convent of St. Paul's Abbey declare that they have received the tithes and other goods at Ophemert in perpetual lease from the abbess and convent of Thorn. In default of payment, they would have to submit to the jurisdiction of the officiate (=ecclesiastical judge) of the bishop of Liege (charter no. 30). A month later, the provost, deacon, archdeacon and chapter of Liege approve this lease (charter no. 31). So does the dean, Amelis, and the chapter of the Utrecht Cathedral in August of that year (charter nos. 32/33).

Income: property taxes

On 26 October 1297 abbess Guda van Rennenberg gives the property of the abbey of Gilze in use to Arnoud van der Biestraten against a certain annual property tax, whereby this tax is also established on his house and court with land (charter no. 67).

The abbey also acquired income through a form of taxation (head tax) from its members. For example, a charter made in December 1263 shows that some laymen belonging to "the familia of Thorn" owed the church two pennies Liege annually, which also applied upon death. In case of marriage, both men and women had to give two pennies for permission to marry (charter no. 20). 

Acquisition by bequest

The abbey also acquired property through bequests by its members. Thus, in April 1252 sister Elisabeth donated to the abbey all her extensive property at Wessem, Thorn as well as rights she had to the mills at Ittervoort and Grathem and in the territory of Heeze, under the stipulation that certain revenues were intended for the priest of the altar of St. Catherine in the church of Thorn, the abbess, the convent and the canons and for the poor (charter nos. 13 and 14). 

In May 1270 Arnoud, priest and vicar of Oeteren, bequeaths by will all his goods in Oeteren for one half to the abbey of Thorn and for the other to the monastery in Oeteren. His son Jan receives the right of usufruct with the express wish that he is to become a clergyman. If Jan does not comply with this wish and chooses a less good and honourable life path and behaves badly, this right expires to both monasteries, which then only have to pay him a small sum of money (charter no. 34). 

In June 1282 Mabilia, widow of Hendrik, guardian of Eisden (B), and her nine children sold extensive property at Eisden, Vucht and Mulhem to the abbey of Thorn for the sum of 145 marks Liege. It concerns goods and rights which they hold in fief, property tax or otherwise from the abbey (charter no. 45).

Acquisition of rights and property by abbey

At the end of the ^13th century there are apparently sufficient financial resources available to buy or repurchase property and rights, which had previously been sold or leased for the purpose of acquiring income and paying off debts.

In April 1277 abbess Guda of Rennenberg bought back from the lord of Breda and his wife the portion of the annual property tax that the abbey of Thorn had sold earlier (see charter no. 11) (charter no. 40). Abbess Guda and the convent of Thorn also bought from them the (old and new tithes in) the parish of Etten, daughter church of the church of Gilze belonging to the abbey of Thorn (charter no. 41). 

In January 1287 abbess Guda of Rennenberg bought from Osto of Thorn his farmstead Cuevorde (Covorde) near Thorn with all its appurtenances which he held from her in bond (charter no. 52). Incidentally, five years earlier (in November 1282) Osto had redeemed all the rents, including an annuity, that the abbey owed him (charter no. 46). Apparently, trouble had arisen over this, because in January 1289 he submitted to the verdict of some wise men promising not to bother the abbey again. (charter no. 59). The role of such wise men as arbitrators, has been discussed under theme 7.

Completion

From the latter it may be tentatively concluded that the abbess and convent of Thorn had overcome financial difficulties in the course of the ^13th century. Better economic times for the abbey were coming, according to later documents.

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