Inventory of the goods of Johannes Conte
Résumé
This inventory was generated in the course of a criminal trial conducted against a nuncius, that is, a crier or sergeant of the court of Marseille in 1453. The sergeant, Johannes Conte, went by the nickname "Big John" (lo grant Johan). Early in the month of June, Johannes had gone to the house of Guillelmus Revelli, a laborer from Marseille, in order to seize one or more pledges as repayment for a debt of 4 florins. Upon his arrival at the house, Johannes was met at the door by Guillelmus's pregnant wife, Ludoviceta, who followed him into the house, begging him not to take away the vessel she used for serving wine in her inn, a vessel known as pitalphus or potus. Johannes responded violently to the woman's pleading by threatening her and then pushing her down the stairs. Badly injured, Ludoviceta went into labor, and a Jewish midwife was sent to assist with the difficult birth. A criminal inquiry was subsequently made against Johannes, and many witnesses were examined by the court. In anticipation that he might be assessed a fine, his goods were inventoried in order to determine the value of his estate. The inventory reveals that Johannes was of middling status. In addition to bedding, furniture, and weapons, he owned two vessels for serving wine similar to what he had taken from Ludoviceta. His wife was enjoined not to remove any goods from the house before the resolution of the case. This record includes a complete transcription of the criminal case; the inventory may be found on fols. 6v-7v.