The Cembran “rules”

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The Cembra Valley stood out in Italy of 17th century for the development of a precocious legislative system: numerous are the statutes issued in that period. These charters, called “regole” (that is “rules”), were usually written in an elegant ancient Italian, still perfectly understandable by an Italian speaker, and disciplined several life aspects of the related community.

In order to illustrate the laws written in them, I present here some chapters of the Regola di Segonzano (i.e. the Rule of Segonzano), issued in 1609, and their translation (done by me).

Some sections, here is an example, concerned the measurement frauds in the trade [translation's below]:
Capitolo XXXIII
Delli Bettoglieri, ed altre persone, che vendono Vino
alla minuta, e che tengono scarse misure.

5.   Item noi statuimo, ed ordiniamo che se alcuno Bettogliere o Bettogliera, over venditore di Vino alla minuta sarà ritrovato tenir nella sua Bettola falsa misura in dar Vino sia castigato, e condannato in cinque lire di monetta Trentina, ed applicarli alla Communità per ogni volta, che sarà ritrovato, e ciascheduno possi accusar, e abbi la metà della pena predetta, e si credi al official giurato, e se l'accusatore non sarà official giurato si credi a quello con giuramento, se sarà di buona fama, overo si credi a un testimonio di buona fede.
Chapter XXXIII
About the Innkeepers, and other people, who retail Wine,
and who keep scanty measures.

5.   Thus we state, and order that if any Innkeeper, i.e. retail seller of Wine is found having in his/her Inn false measure to give Wine will be punished, and sentenced to pay five liras of Trentine money, and to give it to the Community for every time, he's found, and everyone can accuse, and have half of the aforesaid penalty, and the officer will be believed, and if the accuser isn't an officer he will be believed under oath, if he has a good reputation, or else a trusty witness will be believed.


Original drawing present in the
Rule of Segonzano

Another norm shows that already at those times the fire prevention was felt as a need [translation's below]:
Capitolo LII
Che non si tenghi appresso il pericolo del foco,
né sarmente, né strami, né paglie.

11.   Item statuimo, ed ordiniamo, che niuno non debbi in alcuna casa nella qual fa foco, tenir appresso, e circa, over sopra il foco tenir sarmenti, paglie, feno, e strami, e cose simili dalle quali facilmente possa nascer rovina de foco, e quello che contrafarà paghi lire cinque alla Communità, per cadauna volta. E che li Sindici, e Proveditori della Città debbino spesse volte aver l'occhio alle predette cose, e procurino, che se vadi a veder per le case, e luoghi pericolosi al foco.
Chapter LII
Don't keep nearby the danger of fire,
neither vine-shoots, nor fodder, nor straw.

11.   Thus we state, and order, that nobody in any house in that he makes a fire, can keep near, and around, or above the fire vine-shoots, straw, hay, and fodder, and similar things from which easily it can happen a fire disaster, and the one who contravenes will pay five liras to the Community, for each time. And the Mayors, and Superintendent of the Town must pay attention often to the above-mentioned things, and see to it, that there are checked the houses, and the places dangerous because of the fire.


Original drawing present in the
Rule of Segonzano


Note: the images and the texts of the Rule of Segonzano are taken from chapter 10 of:
Elio Antonelli
95° Cassa Rurale di Segonzano 1902 - 1997
Cassa Rurale di Segonzano: 95 anni al servizio della gente e Regola di Segonzano del 1609
1997 - Printed with the contribution of Cassa Rurale di Albiano e Alta Val di Cembra by Grafiche Avisio in Lavis (Trent)

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© 2005, Fabio Vassallo