In the course of many years of work on serfdom in Catalonia I have amassed innumerable debts to colleagues, archivists, and friends. I am grateful to all who have helped me so generously with their time, advice, learning, and support, and it is a pleasure to be able to acknowledge them here, if only in this cursory fashion that does not adequately express my deep sentiment of obligation.

I received a warm welcome and patient assistance from archivists and librarians throughout Spain and France. I wish to acknowledge in particular the kindness shown to me by the late Mons. Eduard Junyent of the Cathedral Archive of Vic and by his successors and colleagues Dr. Miquel Gros Pujol, Dr. Antoni Pladevall i Font, Dr. Ramon Ordeig i Mata, and Ignàsia Font. Dr. Josep Maria Pons Guri of the Arxiu Fidel Fita has aided me immeasurably from his knowledge of legal history and in making easier the use of his extraordinary collection.