year: 1255
text: March 11. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers [of the hospital of the Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine], relating that in their hospital there used to reside, as they assert, a convent of noble, vigorous knights and others both healthy ones and lepers for driving out the enemies of the Christian name, but since their hospital has been reduced to extreme poverty by warfare, with most of their possessions occupied by pagans and those hostile to the Church, their poverty can scarcely be relieved except through aid from the Apostolic See. Responding to their prayers, the pope grants that they can make use of the church of Galby in the diocese of Lincoln (Lincolniensis), in which they have ius patronatus, they claim, when the rector retires or dies, as long as a permanent vicar serves in it.
March 11. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers [of the hospital of the Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine], relating that in their hospital there used to reside, as they assert, a convent of noble, vigorous knights and others both healthy ones and... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:122, no. 404
year: 1255
text: March 14. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop Bartholomeus of Limassol (Nimotiensis), relating that in the pope's presence the bishop asked the pope to provide for him, since he was burdened by expenses stemming from his journey to and long stay at the Apostolic See in order to carry out the business of his church. The pope grants that he can take out a loan of up to 100 livres tournois and to make his church and its goods liable, such that the bishop's church shall repay the money borrowed and his creditors will not have the burden of proving that the loan was converted to the church's utility on the pretext of any canon or civil statute.
March 14. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop Bartholomeus of Limassol (Nimotiensis), relating that in the pope's presence the bishop asked the pope to provide for him, since he was burdened by expenses stemming from his journey to and long stay at the Apostolic See in order to carry out the... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:78, no. 290; Schabel et al. [eds.], Bullarium, pp. 462-63, no. f-9
year: 1255
text: March 14. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop Bartholomeus of Limassol (Nimotiensis), granting him the ability to exercise his office outside his diocese, so that he may move against and subject to ecclesiastical discipline those who are delinquent on account of his absence.
March 14. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop Bartholomeus of Limassol (Nimotiensis), granting him the ability to exercise his office outside his diocese, so that he may move against and subject to ecclesiastical discipline those who are delinquent on account of his absence.
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:80, no. 296; Schabel et al. [eds.], Bullarium, p. 463, no. f-10
year: 1255
text: March 15. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the rectors and brothers of the confraternity of Italians (Ytalicorum) of the Holy Spirit in Acre (Acconensis), relating that he was shown their petition claiming that for the support of the Holy Land at one time they ordained among other things that each of them, obeying the honest orders of their rectors, is obliged to say the Our Father seven times daily. Furthermore, if any of them should become ill, he shall have something every day from the common funds until he recovers. If someone is captured by enemies, he shall have a quantity of money from the confraternity for his ransom and something from each brother after his liberation. Afterwards this was approved by the late [James de Vitry, [cardinal-]bishop of Tusculum (Tusculanus), then bishop of Acre, with the consent of the chapter, as is more clear in the letter said to have been drawn up for this. The pope therefore grants their request confirms this, inserting the bishop’s original letter of 1220. In it he confirms the statutes of the confraternity of the Holy Spirit drawn up in Acre on 29 May 1216: among other things for the good of the crown of the Kingdom of Syria, the pilgrims of Italy (Ytalie) have formed a confraternity at Pentecost in honour of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, to the profit of Christianity, the Roman Church, and the patriarchate and crown of Syria, and especially in aid of the Holy Land, for the remission of their sins and those of their parents and of all faithful, promising piety and mercy to one another, agreeing to maintain the society in good faith and the chapters written below, and to obey the orders of their present and future rectors for the good of the society; everyone who joins the confraternity shall say the Pater Noster seven times for the honour of the Holy Spirit, and for the living and the dead, and for the society; one must help the other as best he can, in good times and bad. The aim of the confraternity is to gather and help the pilgrims of Italy who will be sick or die in poor condition. An ill member who cannot sustain himself will receive 6 denarii from the society (societas). If he dies without the means for burial, the confraternity will undertake to bury him. Each brother must offer a candle and 1 denarius at the funeral Mass or send 2 denarii to the rectores. All present are bound to go to the church for a burial and to say 12 pater nosters for the souls of the dead. All in the society should gather on the first Sunday of every month with the rectores to hear the Mass of the Holy Spirit and offer 1 denarius. In case of capture the confraternity will provide ten besants in order to release the member captive. After his freeing the former captive will get four deniers in order to prevent any risk of mendicancy. Any member of the society in need can apply for assistance. Disputes among members will be settled by the rectores; a third case of disobedience will be met with expulsion. Every member of the society is bound to bear arms, according to his state in life. Arms may be loaned by the society to members in order that they may follow the vexillum societatis against the enemies of Christ. The statute details the annual fee of two solidi and the membership fee of twelve deniers on the first accession. The annual fee will be paid by half part for the feasts of Christmas and Easter. Every member dying in the East (citra mare) should leave the society 4 Saracen besants or as much as can be afforded. Above all, he will leave the society his arms. If he should have crossed the sea to Europe, he is still liable for the annual subscription of 2 solidi, and for a payment of 5 solidi when he dies; if he cannot afford this, Masses should be said and alms given. All the deaths of members should be recorded in an obit book; anniversary Mass will be celebrated and 5 pater nosters will be said. Any member wishing to dispose of his goods should consult the rectores or consiliatori. The rectores will have wardship of the goods and familia of a dead member, with the advice of the consiliatori, unless the member had specifically forbidden this. If a member is ill and wants to be taken to the place where the society is gathered, the society is held to pay for his transportation and then 6 denarii a day. The rectors of the confraternity were in 1220 Aldebrando da Bolonia and the goldsmiths Pietro da Parma and Rolando Fiorentino. The oath to be taken by each member of the confraternity, lay and clerical, is also described. There follow supplementary statutes. Any member who suffers damage in person or goods in the service of the society will be recompensed. Any member who takes flight in battle when the vexillum societatis is deployed will be expelled. His arms will be burned in front of the people of Acre in order to give a public example. Spoil taken from the enemy (inimici) will be divided, with a third going to the despoiler, a third to the society and a third to be divided among the socii, except that a miles involved should have the equivalent of 2 socii, and a turkopulus or miles [who is not a member of the society] the equivalent of one and a half socii. James affixed his seal and was himself a member of the confraternity. The pope threatens excommunication for the infringers of his confirmation, by brandishing the omnipotent indignation of God and of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
March 15. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the rectors and brothers of the confraternity of Italians (Ytalicorum) of the Holy Spirit in Acre (Acconensis), relating that he was shown their petition claiming that for the support of the Holy Land at one time they ordained among other things that... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:103-5, no. 346
year: 1255
text: *March 19. Ind. XIII. (1254 o.s.) Acre. In the church of the Holy Cross. Johannes Costa, knight of Acre, and Joya his wife grant the Hospitallers and to Johannes de Ceriserio, receptor of the Hospital, his land situated near the walls of Acre. To the east is the land of the Order that belonged Johannes Marran; to the south land belonging to the Templars; to the west land of the comitis Janue (lege: comunis Janue?), to the north the main road that goes to Saphettum and Saint George. Witnesses: Guillelmus Tyrellus, Bartholomaeus Lupus, Hugo the priest, Peregrinus subdiaconus, Martinus and Pasqualinus, clerks of the treasury, Jacobus the deacon.
*March 19. Ind. XIII. (1254 o.s.) Acre. In the church of the Holy Cross. Johannes Costa, knight of Acre, and Joya his wife grant the Hospitallers and to Johannes de Ceriserio, receptor of the Hospital, his land situated near the walls of Acre. To the east is the land of the Order that belonged... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Les archives, pp. 184-85; RRH 1227
year: 1255
text: *March 19, Ind. XIII. Acre. (1254 o.s.) In the church of the Holy Cross. Guido and Nicolaus de Ronay, knights of Acre, sons of the late Guido de Ronay, grant the Hospitallers represented by Johannes de Cerisis certain houses and a piece of land outside the walls of Acre near the flumen mortuum. The property is bordered on one side by the house that Guido and Nicolaus hold from the house of the Holy Spirit and on the other three sides by gardens belonging to this house and the flumen mortuum. Witnesses Alanus, prior of St Thomas; Ubaldus jurisperitus, presbyter; Johannes de Sancta Anna presbyter; Johannes Rossellus de Catena; Lamfrancus de Plazalonga notarius.
*March 19, Ind. XIII. Acre. (1254 o.s.) In the church of the Holy Cross. Guido and Nicolaus de Ronay, knights of Acre, sons of the late Guido de Ronay, grant the Hospitallers represented by Johannes de Cerisis certain houses and a piece of land outside the walls of Acre near the flumen mortuum. The... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Les Archives, pp. 186-87; RRH 1228
year: 1255
text: March 22. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine, informing them that canon law stipulates that however monks and canons beat each other in the cloister they are not to be sent to the Apostolic See, but subjected to the discipline of the abbot, but if the abbot's discretion and prudence do not suffice, then to the diocesan bishop, unless the infraction is difficult or immense, in which case there is recourse to the Roman Church. Thus the addressees are told that their priors, who the pope has learned are priests, can give absolution for infractions that are not major.
March 22. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine, informing them that canon law stipulates that however monks and canons beat each other in the cloister they are not to be sent to the Apostolic... more
sources: Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:107, no. 353
year: 1255
text: March 22. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the same [the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine], confirming and strengthening their following the rule of Blessed Augustine as they assert they have professed and observed hitherto, establishing that the same rule shall be observed by them and their successors in all future times.
March 22. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the same [the master and brothers of the hospital of Lepers of St Lazarus of Jerusalem of the Order of St Augustine], confirming and strengthening their following the rule of Blessed Augustine as they assert they have professed and observed hitherto,... more
sources: Calendar entry in Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:107-8, no. 354; Tomassetti, Bullarium Romanum, 3:602, no. X
year: 1255
text: March 23. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Patriarch O[pizo Fieschi] of Antioch, relating that, since, as the patriarch claims, the late Pope I[nnocentius IV] granted him the office of full legation in his patriarchate, granting his request, the pope ratifies, confirms, and strengthens what was done by his predecessor.
March 23. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Patriarch O[pizo Fieschi] of Antioch, relating that, since, as the patriarch claims, the late Pope I[nnocentius IV] granted him the office of full legation in his patriarchate, granting his request, the pope ratifies, confirms, and strengthens what was... more
sources: Haluscynskyj and Wojnar, Acta Alexandri IV, pp. 10-11, no. 9
year: 1255
text: April 1. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, relating that he was shown their request that claimed that because of warfare the monastery that was once built on Mt Tabor has been destroyed by the enemies of Christ's name and it is not expected that the abbot and monks can repair it. Since the Saracens may indeed fortify the place of Mt Tabor, which they occupy, to the detriment of the Christian faith, the addressees asked for a solution. Considering the addressees' incessant struggle against the enemies of the Cross in defense of the Christian name, the pope grants them and their hospital the place in which the monastery is situated with all its lands, possessions, houses, men, rights, liberties, immunities, and appurentances, and exemption from tithes, for aid to the Holy Land and maintenance of the poor, on the condition that within a decade, if there is continual peace or a truce between Christians and Saracens after they come into possession of the aforesaid, they are obliged to fortify the place and maintain forty horsemen at arms for the defense of the Christian name, and they are obliged to support the surviving abbot and monks of the abbey, according to the judgment of the archbishop of Tyre and the abbot of St Mary of the Valley of Josaphat of the Order of St Benedict living in Acre, or one of them, as long as they live, unless they are settled in other religious places.
April 1. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, relating that he was shown their request that claimed that because of warfare the monastery that was once built on Mt Tabor has been destroyed by the enemies of Christ's name and it is not... more
sources: Delaville Le Roulx, Cart Hosp, 2:777, no. 2726; Bourel de La Roncière, Les registres, 1:83-84, no. 311; RRH 1230