On the Sons of Nobles and of the Poor Who Are Offered
Apr. 13—Aug. 13—Dec. 13
If anyone of the nobility offers his son to God in the monastery and the
boy is very young, let his parents draw up the petition which we
mentioned above; and at the oblation let them wrap the petition and the
boy’s hand in the altar cloth and so offer him.
As regards their property, they shall promise in the same petition under
oath that they will never of themselves, or through an intermediary, or
in any way whatever, give him anything or provide him with the
opportunity of owning anything. Or else, if they are unwilling to do
this, and if they want to offer something as an alms to the monastery
for their advantage, let them make a donation of the property they wish
to give to the monastery, reserving the income to themselves if they
wish. And in this way let everything be barred, so that the boy may have
no expectations whereby (which God forbid) he might be deceived and
ruined, as we have learned by experience.
Let those who are less well-to-do make a similar offering. But those who
have nothing at all shall simply draw up the petition and offer their
son before witnesses at the oblation.