Manuscripts relating to the history of the worst (from the 11th to the 18th century)

The recently unearthed parchments and manuscripts allow us to retrace the history of the priory through documentation. Written in squid ink on goatskin, the parchments dating from medieval times are kept in the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental archives (since the French Revolution, because previously, these parchments were kept within the abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille). The various charters brought to light offer valuable testimony about the priory in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Their remarkable state of preservation makes them unique pieces, almost a thousand years old. Manuscripts dating from the modern era are preserved in the Vaucluse departmental archives. Most of them come from registers of deliberations of the Bonnieux municipal council which was responsible at that time for the management of the priory. Reporting directly to the pope, the abbey of Saint-Victor and its network of churches and priories was responsible for spreading the values ​​of the Gregorian reform.

Summary

February 28, 1053: The donation of Pons and Ripert

The oldest manuscript mentioning the priory dates from 1053. It concerns the donation of the church of Saint-Symphorien by the brothers Pons and Ripert to the abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille. Pons and Ripert were part of the Provençal aristocracy Castellane-Lacoste family which dominated the region from the 10th century.

It was one of the most powerful and influential lineages of Provence, revolving around the count and episcopal power. The donation to a large abbey had a redemptive value from which an entire lineage could benefit, thus placed under the protection of the saints.

The charter of Saint-Symphorien (February 28, 1053)

Very salutary, a rule of justice in ancient law requires, after the fall of the paradise of our first parents, that for anyone who wishes to return there, it is necessary to apply themselves to working tirelessly to seek and research in what way they could please the almighty god whom he remembers having seriously offended after having deceived the precepts of the law and the gospel. Therefore, while the time has come to seek and find the most merciful god, and while the time is near when he must care for those who call upon him in truth, it is worth buying heavenly goods from a fortune of dust, and from that which is fleeting and deceitful, goods that are sure and lasting for a long time. We must therefore apply ourselves to share with the servants of Christ by taking from the goods of iniquity of mammon, to the extent that, supported by their prayers, we deserve to enjoy the eternal tents, as God has promised through the prophetic oracles:

“Give alms,” he said, “and all will be forgiven you” (lc 11:41).

Therefore, touched to the heart by such a promise, Pons and Ripert, twin brothers, decided to offer something of their own alleu (land free from all royalties, as opposed to fiefs or cencives implying a seigneurial royalty) to the lord god and to the monastery of the holy martyrs of Marseille, that is to say Victor and his companions, for the remedy of their souls and that of their parents. They therefore gave to the Lord God and to the aforementioned martyrs the church of the martyr Saint Symphorien with all the goods wherever they are that their father Pierre had given to the said church of Saint-Symphorien and Saint-Pierre, and all the men living in this place, with what they hold.

In addition, for the soul of their mother, they gave two very beautiful pieces of land which are located next to the place called Caseaux: on one side, the Chemin de Saint-Pierre; on the other sides, the land of the aforementioned donors. Furthermore, the two brothers gave tithes of all their possessions, just as their father had given tithes of his own. And so that this donation may be known to all of their people and remain firm and immutable at all times, they ordered that his memory be described in this way in ink and on a charter, that all these goods they gave to the aforementioned monastery of Saint-Victor saying: we, therefore, the brothers Pons and Ripert, give the church of Saints Peter and Symphorien, with all the aforementioned goods, to the Lord God Almighty and to his holy martyrs, that is to say Victor and his companions, and to the monks both present and future so that it is their property and that they possess it in perpetuity.

This charter of donation was made on the 2nd of the calends of March, the year of the lord thousand LIII, the year... of the reign of King Henry. Signature of Pons and Ripert who made this donation and approved it and had it approved by saying: we, by signing this donation, order that if someone, either ourselves, or certain of our heirs or whoever the person who comes to attack the donation made in this way, is invalid what he would have tried to claim, he, the true object of all curses; but in addition, may he give a composition of 20 pounds of the best gold: above all, may this donation remain firm and immutable throughout the centuries, amen. Bertrannus signed; Agarnus signed; Ademarus signed: Pons Carbonel signed

Furthermore, this same alley which is close to the castle of Clermont and which our grandmother Ingilrada gave to the aforementioned church of Saint-Symphorien, we give it at the same time as the same church to Saint-Victor and its monks as an alley suitable to possess in perpetuity; and this alley consists of a manse (farm, dwelling) and a small farm. Pons wrote.

Translation M.Fixot

October 25, 1075: The exchange of Bargemon

This is a meeting of Pons, abbot of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Bernard, abbot of Saint-Victor de Marseille, accompanied by some of their monks, who met at the Priory to exchange views.

The main exchange was that of the Sainte-Marie church in Bargemon given by the abbot of Saint-André for the Sainte-Marie de Vérunes church in Cadenet, given by Saint-Victor.

This charter was copied on site and clearly shows the reconquest that Saint-Victor made of his territories in eastern Provence by giving in compensation, possessions located in western Provence. Why in Saint-Symphorien? because the Priory was located where the abbey of Saint-Andrè-de-Villeneuve was best established.

The Priory is thus witness to the rivalries between abbeys at the end of the 11th century.

Charter of the Bargemon Exchange (October 25, 1075)

In the name of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity. This is the charter of reminder and description of the definition which was made between the abbot of the monastery of Saint-Victor in Marseille and the abbot of the monastery of Saint-André which is located near Avignon, on the other bank of the river, and the congregation of both places, in the manner written below.

Indeed, the abbot and the monks of Saint-André had a complaint about the church of Sainte-Marie which is in the Val de Bargemon and which they had in fact owned for a long time, due to the fact that the monks of Saint-Victor had taken it from them by violence. Conversely, the Marseille abbot and the other brothers showed in very old charters a detailed description of the Val de Bargemon and almost all of its territory and at the same time made no secret of the fact that the monks of Saint-André, without any grievance to the Marseille brothers, had kept silent for the entire year so that the said Marseilles had received the church in their right following the withdrawal of the Avignon residents.

Brief. Then, by an advice kind to God, shared by the congregation, despite the unfavorable opinion on this point of some brothers - but they sufficiently trusted in their name to those who were favorable - in consideration of peace and charity, so that the malice of the century does not insinuate itself among men belonging to the religious order as a consequence of a condemnation by secular judgments, of a generous soul and good will, the abbot of Marseille granted to the abbot of Saint-André, to the extent that he insisted on it by name, and to his successors, a certain dependence, which is in the diocese of Aix, in the territory of the castle named Cadenet, called Sainte-Marie-de-Vérunes, belonging to Saint-Victor, with all the real estate and movables which were there and which is estimated at around 200 sous by the Marseille evaluators, as well as a field which was contested by Dodon of Lourmarin, with the exception of other things which do not concern this donation, namely Reillanette and everything attached to it and the goods which are in the territory of Trésémines; These goods are kept by the abbot and the monks of Saint-Victor. Therefore, may this dependency and all that belongs to it which are in the territory of the aforementioned castel de Cadenet, may the abbots and monks of Saint-André have it and possess it forever quietly and always show themselves friends and faithful to the abbot and the congregation of Saint-Victor.

Then the said abbot of the monastery of Saint-André with the brothers, in the name of his entire congregation, abandoned and defined to Abbot Bernard and Saint-Victor and to all their successors and to the entire congregation of the monastery of Marseille, the church of Sainte-Marie which is in the Val de Bargemon, in the diocese of Fréjus, and the church of Sainte-Marie de Favars, and the church of Saint-Pierre de Reanne* which is in the diocese of Gap. And if any right or if some voice appeared to be contested or if the monks of Saint-André had acquired something which was not the right of Saint-Victor, he placed everything in the hands of the aforementioned abbot of Marseille, to Saint-Victor and to his congregation, so that they would have it, hold it and possess it quietly forever and show themselves as friends and faithful to the abbots of Saint-André. On the other hand, may the general and reciprocal grievances that, until the present time, the said congregations have had between them, whether just or unjust, be finished for Eternity and buried in perpetual oblivion, a solid harmony and peace reigning between the two communities, granted by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let it be truly recognized that for the church of the Holy Sepulcher which is at the castle of Forcalquier and which the monks of Saint-André have apparently lost, if in a certain way the above-mentioned monks of Saint-Victor could claim it for themselves, that the above-mentioned monks of Saint-André do not therefore bring them any slander or unjust opposition.

The definition of this abandonment, donation or exchange was made in the priory of Saint-Symphorien, in Val d'Espeil, in the presence of religious and nobles, monks and lay people, all confirming and welcoming this with the same vow, the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1075, the eleventh indiction, under the reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

If therefore anyone would want to disturb or go against this pact of peace and concord, let everything go against the accomplishment of what he maliciously seeks, but, until his repentance, let him be condemned and anathematized, perpetually subject to all the curses which are mentioned in the Old or New Testament. And if anyone incurs damage, let him be forced by judgment to pay double its value.

Translation M.Fixot

Papal bulls

A papal bull is an official document written on parchment from the Pope. The term originally designates the lead seal which seals the document, representing on one side, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, on the other, the name of the reigning Pope. Hemp cords were inserted into the seal to keep the document closed.

The bulls list the churches and priories dependent on the abbey of Saint-Victor-de-Marseille which extended over a vast territory stretching from Catalonia to Sardinia. The Priory is mentioned there among all the other possessions of the abbey. Reporting directly to the Pope, the abbeys and their networks of priories were responsible for spreading the values ​​of the Gregorian reform.

1079: The bull of Gregory VII

The first bull dating from 1079 is signed by the Rota of the Pope Gregoire VII, who left his name to the reform of the clergy begun at the beginning of the 11th century: the Gregorian reform.

1113: The bull of Paschal II

Bull from Pope Paschal II addressed to Otton, abbot of Saint-Victor containing the general confirmation of all the churches dependent on his abbey.

Bene Valete: Monogram corresponding to a Latin greeting “Be well” found on the bulls and privileges of the pontifical chancellery in the Middle Ages. First drawn in full, it was transformed into a monogram under the pontificate of Leo IX (1049-1054).

The Rota: Signature of the pope containing the names of the apostles Peter (Petrus) and Paul (Paulus), that of the pope as well as his rank (here Paschalis II).

1135: The bubble of Innocent II

Bull from Pope Innocent II confirming to Saint-Victor and Abbot Pierre Salomon all the churches that the abbey owned in various dioceses.

September 26, 1691: The installation of a hermit in the chapel of Saint-Symphorien

Extract from an act of deliberation of the municipal council of Bonnieux which consents to the installation of a hermit in the chapel of Saint-Symphorien

January 8, 1713: The installation of the Bishop of Apt in Saint-Symphorien

Extract from an act of deliberation of the municipal council of Bonnieux which consents to the installation of Monseigneur the Bishop of Apt in the hermitage of Saint-Symphorien to live there alone.

September 3, 1778: Repair of the bell tower of Saint-Symphorien

Extract from an act of deliberation of the municipal council of Bonnieux concerning the repair of the bell tower and the bell of the country chapel of Saint-Symphorien.

May 12, 1782: The engraving of the arms of the town of Bonnieux

Extract from an act of deliberation of the municipal council of Bonnieux which agrees to have the city's arms engraved above and below the door of the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Saint-Victor and Saint-Symphorien chapels.

August 3, 1783: The repair of the Saint-Symphorien bell

Extract from an act of deliberation of the municipal council of Bonnieux concerning the repair of the bell of the hermitage of Saint-Symphorien.