The Constitutions of King Roger II of Sicily ca. 1140

 Vat. lat. 8782, fol. 92v

 

Constitutio 6

De confugio ad ecclesiam

Sane si seruus, aut colonus, aut seruus glebe se ipsum subtraxerit domino, uel furatus res ad loca sancta confugerit, cum rebus quas detulit, domino presentetur, ut pro qualitate commissi subeat ultionem, aut intercessione procedente restituatur et gratie.  Nemini quippe ius suum est detrahendum. (However a serf or colonus or serf of the glebe shall have fled from his lord or shall have fled with stolen property to holy places, he shall be returned to the lord with the property which he has taken, so that he may be punished according to the nature of the crime which he has committed, or, if intercession has occurred, restitution shall occur piously and freely.  No one shall have his right taken away from him).