1311-1312- Concilium Viennense - Documenta

TEMPLARS

[THE GENERAL and ECUMENICAL COUNCIL of the CATHOLIC CHURCH - THE COUNCIL of VIENNE, 1311-1312]

Concilia oecumenica et generalia Ecclesiae catholicae - Conc. Uiennense a. 1311-1312

00_Supresion of the Templars

[Bulls and ordinances of the Roman curia concerning the order of the Templars and the business of the holy Land]

 de Templariorum ordine et Terrae sanctae negozio]

[SUPRESSION of the TEMPLARS, {1.1-1.8}]

1.1Vox

A voice was heard from on high, of lamentation and bitter weeping, for the time is coming, indeed has come, when the Lord shall complain through his prophet: This house has aroused my anger and wrath, so that I will remove it from my sight because of the evil of its sons, for they have provoked me to anger turning their backs to me, not their faces, and setting up their idols in the house in which my name is invoked, to defile it. They have built the high places of Baal in order to consecrate their sons to idols and demons. They have sinned deeply as in the days of Gibeah. When I learnt of such deeds of horror, at the dread of such notorious scandal -- for who ever heard of such infamy? who ever saw the like? -- I fell down at hearing it, I was dismayed at seeing it, my heart grew embittered and darkness overwhelmed me. Hark, a voice of the people from the city! a voice from the temple! the voice of the Lord rendering recompense to his enemies. The prophet is compelled to exclaim: Give them, Lord, a barren womb and dry breasts. Their worthlessness has been revealed because of their malice. Throw them out of your house, and let their roots dry up; let them not bear fruit, and let not this house be any more a stumbling block of bitterness or a thorn to hurt.

Vox in excelso audita est lamentationis fletus et luctus quia venit tempus, tempus venit quo per prophetam conqueritur dominus: in furorem et indignationem mihi facta est domus haec. Auferetur de conspectu meo propter malitiam filiorum suorum quia me ad iracundiam provocabant vertentes ad me terga et non facies ponentes idola sua in domo in qua invocatum est nomen meum ut polluerent ipsam. Aedificaverunt excelsa Baal ut initiarent et consecrarent filios suos idolis atque daemoniis. Profunde peccaverunt sicut in diebus Gabaa. Ad tam horrendum auditum tantum que horrorem vulgatae infamiae quod quis umquam audivit tale quis vidit huic simile corrui cum audirem contristatus sum cum viderem amaruit cor meum tenebrae exstupefecerunt me. Vox enim populi de civitate vox de templo vox domini reddentis retributionem inimicis suis. Exclamare propheta compellitur: da eis domine da eis vulvam sine liberis et ubera arentia. Nequitiae eorum revelatae sunt propter malitiam ipsorum. De domo tua eice illos et siccetur radix eorum fructum nequaquam faciant non sit ultra domus haec offendiculum amaritudinis et spina dolorem inferens.

Not slight is the fornication of this house, immolating its sons, giving them up and consecrating them to demons and not to God, to gods whom they did not know. Therefore this house will be desolate and in disgrace, cursed and uninhabited, thrown into confusion and levelled to the dust, lowly, forsaken, inaccessible, spurned by the anger of the Lord, whom it has despised; let it not be lived in but reduced to a wilderness. Let everyone be astonished at it and hiss at all its wounds. For the Lord did not choose the people on account of the place, but the place on account of the people. Therefore the very place of the temple was made to share in the punishment of the people, as the Lord proclaimed openly to Solomon when he built the temple for him, to Solomon who was filled with wisdom like a river: But if your sons turn aside from me, not following and honouring me but going instead after strange gods and worshipping them, then I will cut them off from before me and expel them from the land which I have given to them; and the temple which I have consecrated to my name I will cast out of my sight, and it will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and shall hiss, and shall say, “Why has the Lord done thus to this temple and to this house?” And they will say : “Because they forsook the Lord their God who bought and redeemed them, and followed instead Baal and other gods, worshipping and serving them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this evil upon them’”.

Non enim parva est fornicatio eius immolantis filios suos dantis illos et consecrantis daemoniis et non deo diis quos ignorabant. Propterea in solitudinem et opprobrium in maledictionem et in desertum erit domus haec confusa nimis et adaequata pulveri novissima deserta et invia et arens ab ira domini quem contempsit non habitetur sed redigatur in solitudinem et omnes super eam stupeant et sibilent super universis plagis eius. Non enim propter locum gentem sed propter gentem locum elegit dominus. Ideo et ipse locus templi particeps factus est populi malorum ipso domino ad Salomonem aedificantem sibi templum qui impletus est quasi flumine sapientia apertissime praedicante: si aversione aversi fueritis filii vestri non sequentes et colentes me sed abeuntes et colentes deos alienos et adorantes ipsos proiciam eos a facie mea et expellam de terra quam dedi eis et templum quod sanctificavi nomine meo a facie mea proiciam et erit in proverbium et in fabulam et populis in exemplum. Omnes transeuntes videntes stupebunt et sibilabunt et dicent quare sic fecit dominus templo et domui huic. Et respondebunt quia recesserunt a domino deo suo qui emit et redemit eos et secuti sunt Baal et deos alienos et adoraverunt eos et coluerunt. Idcirco induxit dominus super ipsos hoc malum grande.

Indeed a little while ago, about the time of our election as supreme pontiff before we came to Lyons for our coronation, and afterwards, both there and elsewhere, we received secret intimations against the master, preceptors and other brothers of the order of Knights Templar of Jerusalem and also against the order itself. These men had been posted in lands overseas for the defence of the patrimony of our lord Jesus Christ, and as special warriors of the catholic faith and outstanding defenders of the holy Land seemed to carry the chief burden of the said holy Land. For this reason the holy Roman church honoured these brothers and the order with her special support, armed them with the sign of the cross against Christ’s enemies, paid them the highest tributes of her respect, and strengthened them with various exemptions and privileges; and they experienced in many and various ways her help and that of all faithful Christians with repeated gifts of property. Therefore it was against the lord Jesus Christ himself that they fell into the sin of impious apostasy, the abominable vice of idolatry, the deadly crime of the Sodomites, and various heresies. Yet it was not to be expected nor seemed credible that men so devout, who were outstanding often to the shedding of their blood for Christ and were seen repeatedly to expose their persons to the danger of death, who even more frequently gave great signs of their devotion both in divine worship and in fasting and other observances, should be so unmindful of their salvation as to commit such crimes. The order, moreover, had a good and holy beginning; it won the approval of the apostolic see. The rule, which is holy, reasonable and just, had the deserved sanction of this see. For all these reasons we were unwilling to lend our ears to insinuation and accusation against the Templars; we had been taught by our Lord’s example and the words of canonical scripture.

Sane dudum circa nostrae promotionis ad apicem summi pontificatus initium etiam antequam Lugdunum ubi recepimus nostrae coronationis insignia veniremus et post tam ibi quam alibi secreta quorundam nobis insinuatio intimavit quod magister praeceptores et alii fratres ordinis militiae templi hierosolymitani et etiam ipse ordo qui ad defensionem patrimonii domini nostri Iesu Christi fuerant in transmarinis partibus constituti et speciales fidei catholicae pugiles et terrae sanctae praecipui defensores ipsius terrae negotium gerere principaliter videbantur propter quod sacrosancta Romana ecclesia eosdem fratres et ordinem specialis favoris plenitudine prosequens eos adversus Christi hostes crucis armavit signaculo multis exaltavit honoribus et diversis libertatibus et privilegiis communivit et tam ipsius quam cunctorum Christi fidelium manus cum multiplici erogatione bonorum sentiebant multifarie multis que modis propter hoc adiutrices contra ipsum dominum Iesum Christum in scelus apostasiae nefandae detestabile idolatriae vitium exsecrabile facinus Sodomorum et haereses varias erant lapsi. Sed quia non erat verisimile nec credibile videbatur quod viri tam religiosi qui praecipue pro Christi nomine suum saepe sanguinem effuderunt ac personas suas mortis periculis frequenter exponere videbantur qui que magna tam in divinis officiis quam in ieiuniis et aliis observantiis devotionis signa frequentius praetendere videbantur suae sic essent salutis immemores quod talia perpetrarent praesertim cum idem ordo bonum et sanctum initium habuerit et a sede apostolica gratiam approbationis perceperit et per sedem eandem ipsius ordinis regula utpote sancta rationabilis atque iusta meruerit approbari eiusmodi insinuationi et delationi ipsorum eiusdem domini nostri exemplis et canonicae scripturae doctrinis edocti aurem noluimus inclinare.

Then came the intervention of our dear son in Christ, Philip, the illustrious king of France. The same crimes had been reported to him. He was not moved by greed. He had no intention of claiming or appropriating for himself anything from the Templars’ property; rather, in his own kingdom he abandoned such claim and thereafter released entirely his hold on their goods. He was on fire with zeal for the orthodox faith, following in the well marked footsteps of his ancestors. He obtained as much information as he lawfully could. Then, in order to give us greater light on the subject, he sent us much valuable information through his envoys and letters. The scandal against the Templars themselves and their order in reference to the crimes already mentioned increased. There was even one of the knights, a man of noble blood and of no small reputation in the order, who testified secretly under oath in our presence, that at his reception the knight who received him suggested that he deny Christ, which he did, in the presence of certain other knights of the Temple, he furthermore spat on the cross held out to him by this knight who received him. He also said that he had seen the grand master, who is still alive, receive a certain knight in a chapter of the order held overseas. The reception took place in the same way, namely with the denial of Christ and the spitting on the cross, with quite two hundred brothers of the order being present. The witness also affirmed that he heard it said that this was the customary manner of receiving new members: at the suggestion of the person receiving the profession or his delegate, the person making profession denied Jesus Christ, and in abuse of Christ crucified spat upon the cross held out to him, and the two committed other unlawful acts contrary to christian morality, as the witness himself then confessed in our presence.

Deinde vero carissimus in Christo filius noster Philippus rex Francorum illustris cui eadem fuerant facinora nuntiata non typo avaritiae cum de bonis templariorum nihil sibi vindicare aut appropriare intenderit immo ea in regno suo dimisit manum suam exinde totaliter amovendo sed fidei orthodoxae fervore suorum progenitorum vestigia clara sequens accensus de praemissis quantum licite potuit se informans ad instruendum et informandum nos super his multas et magnas nobis informationes per suos nuntios et litteras destinavit. Infamia vero contra templarios ipsos et ordinem eorumdem increbrescente validius super sceleribus antedictis et quia etiam quidam miles eiusdem ordinis magnae nobilitatis et qui non levis opinionis in dicto ordine habebatur coram nobis secrete iuratus deposuit quod ipse in receptione sua ad recipientis suggestionem praesentibus quibusdam aliis militibus militiae templi negavit Christum et exspuit super crucem sibi a dicto recipiente ostensam. Dixit etiam se vidisse quod magister militiae templi qui vivit adhuc recepit in conventu dicti ordinis ultramarino quemdam militem eodem modo scilicet cum abnegatione Christi et exspuitione super crucem praesentibus bene ducentis fratribus eiusdem ordinis et audivit dici quod sic in receptione fratrum dicti ordinis servabatur quod ad recipientis vel ad hoc deputati suggestionem qui recipiebatur Iesum Christum negabat et super crucem sibi ostensam exspuebat in vituperium Christi crucifixi et quaedam alia faciebant recipiens et receptus quae non sunt licita nec christianae conveniunt honestati prout ipse tunc confessus exstitit coram nobis.

We were duty-bound by our office to pay heed to the din of such grave and repeated accusations. When at last there came a general hue and cry with the clamorous denunciations of the said king and of the dukes, counts, barons, other nobles, clergy and people of the kingdom of France, reaching us both directly and through agents and officials, we heard a doleful tale: that the master, preceptors and other brothers of the order as well as the order itself had been involved in these and other crimes. This seemed to be proved by many confessions, attestations and depositions of the master, of the visitor of France, and of many preceptors and brothers of the order, in the presence of many prelates and the inquisitor of heresy. These depositions were made in the kingdom of France with our authorisation, edited as public documents and shown to us and our brothers. Besides, the rumour and clamour had grown to such insistence that the hostility against both the order itself and the individual members of it could not be ignored without grave scandal nor be tolerated without imminent danger to the faith. Since we though unworthy, represent Christ on earth, we considered that we ought, following in his footsteps, to hold an inquiry. We called to our presence many of the preceptors, priests, knights and other brothers of the order who were of no small reputation. They took an oath, they were adjured urgently by the Father, Son and holy Spirit; we demanded, in virtue of holy obedience, invoking the divine judgment with the menace of an eternal malediction, that they tell the pure and simple truth. We pointed out that they were now in a safe and suitable place where they had nothing to fear in spite of the confessions they had made before others. We wished those confessions to be without prejudice to them. In this way we made our interrogation and examined as many as seventy-two, many of our brothers being present and following the proceedings attentively. We had the confessions taken down by notary and recorded as authentic documents in our presence and that of our brothers. After some days we had these confessions read in consistory in the presence of the knights concerned. Each was read a version in his own language; they stood by their confessions, expressly and spontaneously approving them as they had been read out.

Urgente nos ad id officii nostri debito vitare nequivimus quin tot et tantis clamoribus accomodaremus auditum. Sed cum demum fama publica deferente ac clamosa insinuatione dicti regis necnon et ducum comitum et baronum et aliorum nobilium clericorum quoque et populi dicti regni Francorum ad nostram propter hoc tam per se quam per procuratores et syndicos praesentiam venientium ad nostram quod dolenter referimus audientiam pervenisset quod magister praeceptores et alii fratres dicti ordinis et ipse ordo praefatis et pluribus aliis erant criminibus irretiti et praemissa per multas confessiones attestationes et depositiones praefati magistri visitatoris Franciae ac plurium praeceptorum et fratrum ordinis praelibati coram multis praelatis et haereticae pravitatis inquisitore auctoritate apostolica praecedente in regno Franciae factas habitas et receptas et in publicam scripturam redactas nobis que et fratribus nostris ostensas probari quodammodo viderentur ac nihilominus fama et clamores praedicti in tantum invaluissent et etiam ostendissent tam contra ipsum ordinem quam contra personas singulares eiusdem quod sine gravi scandalo praeteriri non poterat nec absque imminenti fidei periculo tolerari nos illius cuius vices licet immeriti in terris gerimus vestigiis inhaerentes ad inquirendum de praedictis ratione praevia duximus procedendum multos que de praeceptoribus presbyteris militibus et aliis fratribus dicti ordinis reputationis non modicae in nostra praesentia constitutos praestito ab eis nihilominus iuramento et eis cum affectione non modica per patrem et filium et spiritum sanctum sub ostentatione divini iudicii ac interminatione maledictionis aeternae in virtute sanctae oboedientiae adiuratis quod tunc in loco tuto et idoneo constituti ubi nihil eos timere oportebat non obstantibus confessionibus per eos coram aliis factis per quas eisdem confitentibus nullum fieri praeiudicium volebamus super praemissis meram et plenam nobis dicerent veritatem super his interrogavimus et usque ad numerum septuaginta duorum examinavimus multis ex fratribus nostris nobis assistentibus diligenter eorum que confessiones per publicas manus in authenticam scripturam redactas illico in nostra et dictorum fratrum nostrorum praesentia ac deinde interposito aliquorum dierum spatio in consistorio legi fecimus coram ipsis et illas in suo vulgari cuilibet eorum exponi qui perseverantes in illis eas expresse et sponte prout recitatae fuerant approbarunt.

After this, intending to make a personal inquiry with the grand master, the visitor of France and the principal preceptors of the order, we commanded that the grand master, the visitor of France and the chief preceptors of Outremer, Normandy, Aquitaine and Poitou be presented to us while we were at Poitiers. Some of them, however, were ill at the time and could not ride a horse nor conveniently be brought to our presence. We wished to know the truth of the whole matter and whether their confessions and depositions, which were said to have been made in the presence of the inquisitor of heresy in the kingdom of France and witnessed by certain public notaries and many other good men, and which were produced in public and shown to us and our brothers by the inquisitor, were true. We empowered and commanded our beloved sons Berengar, cardinal, then with the title of Nereus and Achilleus, now bishop of Frascati, and Stephen, cardinal priest with the title of saint Cyriacus at the Baths, and Landulf, cardinal deacon with the title of saint Angelo, in whose prudence, experience and loyalty we have the fullest confidence, to make a careful investigation with the grand master, visitor and preceptors, concerning the truth of the accusations against them and individual persons of the order and against the order itself. If there was evidence, it was to be brought to us; the confessions and depositions were to be taken down in writing by a public notary and presented to us. The cardinals were to grant absolution from the sentence of excommunication, according to the form of the church, to the master, visitor and preceptors -- a sentence incurred if the accusations were true -- provided the accused humbly and devoutly requested absolution, as they ought to do.

Post quae cum generali magistro visitatore Franciae et praecipuis praeceptoribus praefati ordinis intendentes super praemissis inquirere per nos ipsos ipsum generalem magistrum et visitatorem Franciae ac terrae ultramarinae Normanniae Aquitaniae ac Pictaviae praeceptores maiores nobis Pictavis exsistentibus mandavimus praesentari. Sed cum quidam ex eis sic infirmabantur tunc temporis quod aequitare non poterant nec ad nostram praesentiam commode adduci nos scire volentes de praemissis omnibus veritatem et an vera essent quae continebantur in eorum confessionibus et depositionibus quas coram inquisitore pravitatis haereticae in regno Franciae supradicto praesentibus quibusdam notariis publicis et multis aliis bonis viris dicebatur fecisse nobis et fratribus nostris per ipsum inquisitorem sub manibus publicis exhibitas et ostensas dilectis filiis nostris Berengario tunc tituli Nerei et Achillei nunc episcopo Tusculano et Stephano tituli sancti Cyriaci in thermis presbytero et Landulfo titulo sancti Angeli diacono cardinalibus de quorum prudentia experientia et fidelitate indubitatam fiduciam obtinemus commisimus et mandavimus ut ipsi cum praefatis magistro generali visitatore ac praeceptoribus inquirerent tam contra ipsos et singulares personas ipsius ordinis generaliter quam contra ipsum ordinem super praemissis cum diligentia veritatem et quidquid super his invenirent nobis referre ac eorum confessiones et depositiones per manum publicam in scriptis redactas nostro apostolatui deferre ac praesentare curarent eidem magistro ac visitatori et praeceptoribus beneficium absolutionis a sententia excommunicationis quam pro praemissis si vera essent incurrerant si absolutionem humiliter ac devote peterent ut debebant iuxta formam ecclesiae impensuri.

The cardinals went to see the grand master, the visitor and the preceptors personally and explained the reason for their visit. Since these men and other Templars resident in the kingdom of France had been handed over to us because they would freely and without fear of anyone reveal the truth sincerely to the cardinals, the cardinals by our apostolic authority enjoined on them this duty of telling the truth. The master, the visitor and the preceptors of Normandy, Outremer, Aquitaine and Poitou, in the presence of the three cardinals, four notaries and many other men of good repute, took an oath on the holy gospels that they would tell the truth, plainly and fully. They deposed one by one, in the cardinals’ presence, freely and spontaneously, without any compulsion or fear. They confessed among other things that they had denied Christ and spat upon the cross at their reception into the order of the Temple. Some of them added that they themselves had received many brothers using the same rite, namely with the denial of Christ and the spitting on the cross. There were even some who confessed certain other horrible crimes and immoral deeds, we say nothing more of these at present. The knights confessed also that the content of their confessions and depositions made a little while ago before the inquisitor was true. These confessions and depositions of the grand master, visitor and preceptors were edited as a public document by four notaries, the master and the others being present and also certain men of good repute. After some days, the confessions were read to the accused on the orders and in the presence of the cardinals; each knight received an account in his own language. They persisted in their confessions and approved them, expressly and spontaneously, as they had been read out to them. After these confessions and depositions, they asked from the cardinals absolution from the excommunication incurred by the above crimes; humbly and devoutly, on bended knee, with hands joined, they made their petition with many tears. Since the church never shuts her heart to the sinner who returns, the cardinals granted absolution by our authority in the customary form of the church to the master, visitor and preceptors on abjuration of their heresy. On their return to our presence, the cardinals presented to us the confessions and depositions of the master, visitor and preceptors in the form of a public document, as has been said. They also gave us a report on their dealings with these knights.

Qui cardinales ad ipsos generalem magistrum visitatorem et praeceptores personaliter accedentes eis sui adventus causam exposuerunt. Et quoniam personae ipsorum et aliorum templariorum in regno Franciae consistentium nobis traditae fuerant quod libere absque metu cuiusquam plene ac pure super praemissis omnibus ipsis cardinalibus dicerent veritatem eis auctoritate apostolica iniunxerunt. Qui magister visitator et praeceptores terrae Normanniae ultramarinae Aquitaniae et Pictaviae coram ipsis tribus cardinalibus praesentibus quatuor tabellionibus publicis et multis aliis bonis viris ad sancta dei evangelia ab eis corporaliter tacta praestito iuramento quod super praemissis omnibus meram et plenam dicerent veritatem coram ipsis singulariter libere ac sponte absque coactione qualibet et terrore deposuerunt et confessi fuerunt inter cetera Christi abnegationem ac exspuitionem super crucem cum in ordine templi recepti fuerunt et quidam ex eis se sub eadem forma scilicet cum abnegatione Christi et exspuitione super crucem fratres multos etiam recepisse. Sunt etiam quidam ex eis quaedam alia horribilia et inhonesta confessi quae subticemus ad praesens. Dixerunt praeterea et confessi fuerunt ea vera esse quae in eorum confessionibus et depositionibus continentur quas dudum fecerant coram inquisitore praefato. Quae confessiones et depositiones dictorum generalis magistri visitatoris et praeceptorum in scripturam publicam per quatuor tabelliones publicos redactae in ipsorum magistri visitatoris et praeceptorum et quorumdam aliorum bonorum virorum praesentia ac deinde interposito aliquorum dierum spatio coram ipsis eisdem lectae fuerunt de mandato et in praesentia cardinalium praedictorum et in suo vulgari expositae cuilibet eorumdem. Qui perseverantes in illis eas expresse et sponte prout recitatae fuerant approbarunt. Et post confessiones et depositiones huiusmodi ab ipsis cardinalibus ab excommunicatione quam pro praemissis incurrerant absolutionem flexis genibus manibus que complexis humiliter et devote ac cum lacrimarum effusione non modica petierunt. Ipsi vero cardinales quia ecclesia non claudit gremium redeunti ab iisdem magistro visitatore et praeceptoribus haeresi abiurata expresse ipsis secundum formam ecclesiae auctoritate nostra absolutionis beneficium impenderunt ac deinde ad nostram praesentiam redeuntes confessiones et depositiones praelibatorum magistri visitatoris et praeceptorum in scripturam publicam redactas per manus publicas ut est dictum nobis praesentarunt et quae cum dictis magistro visitatore et praeceptoribus fecerant retulerunt.

From these confessions, depositions and report we find that the master, the visitor and the preceptors of Outremer, Normandy, Aquitaine and Poitou have often committed grave offences, although some have erred less frequently than others. We considered that such dreadful crimes could not and should not go unpunished without insult to almighty God and to every Catholic. We decided on the advice of our brothers to hold an enquiry into the above crimes and transgressions. This would be carried out through the local ordinaries and other wise, trustworthy men delegated by us in the case of individual members of the order; and through certain prudent persons of our considered choice in the case of the order as a whole. After this, investigations were made both by the ordinaries and by our delegates into the allegations against individual members, and by the inquisitors appointed by us into those against the order itself, in every part of the world where the brothers of the order have usually lived. Once made and sent to us for examination, these investigations were very carefully read and examined, some by us and our brothers, cardinals of the holy Roman church others by many very learned, prudent, trustworthy and God-fearing men, zealous for and well-trained in the catholic faith, some being prelates and others not. This took place at Malaucene in the diocese of Vaison.

Ex quibus confessionibus et depositionibus et relatione invenimus saepe fatum magistrum visitatorem terrae ultramarinae Normanniae Aquitaniae et Pictaviae praeceptores in praemissis et circa praemissa licet quosdam ex eis in pluribus et alios in paucioribus graviter deliquisse. Attendentes autem quod scelera tam horrenda transire incorrecta absque omnipotentis dei et omnium catholicorum iniuria non poterant nec debebant decrevimus de fratrum nostrorum consilio per ordinarios locorum ac per alios fideles ac sapientes viros ad hoc deputandos a nobis contra singulares personas ipsius ordinis necnon et contra dictum ordinem per certas discretas personas quas ad hoc duximus deputandas super praemissis criminibus et excessibus inquirendum. Post haec tam per ordinarios quam per deputatos a nobis contra singulares personas dicti ordinis et per inquisitores quos ad hoc duximus deputandos contra ipsum ordinem per universas mundi partes in quibus consueverint fratres dicti ordinis habitare inquisitiones factae fuerunt et illae quae factae contra ordinem praelibatum fuerant ad nostrum examen remissae quaedam per nos et fratres nostros sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinales aliae vero per multos viros valde litteratos prudentes fideles deum timentes et fidei catholicae zelatores et exercitatos tam praelatos quam alios apud Malausanam Vacionensis dioeceseos fuerunt valde diligenter lectae et examinatae solerter.

Later we came to Vienne where there were assembled already very many patriarchs, archbishops, selected bishops, exempt and non-exempt abbots, other prelates of churches, and procurators of absent prelates and of chapters, all present for the council we had summoned. In the first session we explained to them our reasons for calling the council. After this, because it was difficult indeed almost impossible, for the cardinals and all the prelates and procurators gathered for the council to meet in our presence in order to discuss how to proceed in the matter of the Templars, we gave orders as follows. Certain patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, exempt and non-exempt abbots, other prelates of churches, and procurators from all parts of Christendom, of every language nation and region, were concordantly chosen out of all the prelates and procurators at the council. The choice was made from those believed to be among the more skilful, discreet and apt for consultation on such an important affair and for discussing it with us and the above-mentioned cardinals. After this we had the attestations received during the inquiry read publicly in the presence of the prelates and procurators. This reading went on during several days, for as long as they wished to listen, in the place assigned for the council, namely the cathedral church. Afterwards the said attestations and the summaries made from them were considered and examined, not in a perfunctory manner but with great care, by many of our venerable brethren, by the patriarch of Aquileia, by archbishops and bishops of the present sacred council who were specially chosen and delegated for the purpose, and by those whom the whole council had chosen very carefully and earnestly.

Post quae dum venissemus Viennam et essent iam quamplures patriarchae archiepiscopi episcopi electi abbates exempti et non exempti et alii ecclesiarum praelati necnon et procuratores absentium praelatorum et capitulorum ibidem pro convocato a nobis concilio congregati nos post primam sessionem quam inibi cum dictis cardinalibus et cum praefatis praelatis et procuratoribus tenuimus in quo causas convocationis concilii eisdem duximus exponendas quia erat difficile immo fere impossibile praefatos cardinales et universos praelatos et procuratores in praesenti concilio congregatos ad tractandum de modo procedendi super et in facto seu negotio fratrum ordinis praedictorum in nostra praesentia convenire de mandato nostro ab universis praelatis et procuratoribus in hoc concilio exsistentibus certi patriarchae archiepiscopi episcopi abbates exempti et non exempti et alii ecclesiarum praelati et procuratores de universis christianitatis partibus quarumcumque linguarum nationum et regionum qui de peritioribus discretioribus et idoneioribus ad consulendum in tali et tanto negotio et ad tractandum una nobis cum et cum cardinalibus antedictis tam solemne factum sive negotium credebantur electi concorditer et assumpti fuerunt. Post quae praefatas attestationes super inquisitionem ordinis praelibati receptas coram ipsis praelatis et procuratoribus per plures dies et quantum ipsi voluerunt audire publice legi fecimus in loco ad tenendum concilium deputato videlicet in ecclesia cathedrali et subsequenter per multos venerabiles fratres nostros patriarcham Aquileiensem archiepiscopos et episcopos in praesenti sacro concilio exsistentes electos et deputatos ad hoc per electos a toto concilio cum magna diligentia et sollicitudine non perfunctorie sed moratoria tractatione dictae attestationes ac rubricae super his factae visae perlectae et examinatae fuerunt.

We convoked therefore the said cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops and bishops, the exempt and non-exempt abbots, and the other prelates and procurators elected by the council to consider this affair, and we asked them, in the course of a secret consultation in our presence, how we should proceed, taking special account of the fact that certain Templars were presenting themselves in defence of their order. The greater part of the cardinals and nearly the whole council, that is those who were elected by the whole council and were representing the whole council on this question, in short the great majority, indeed four-fifths among every nation taking part, were firmly convinced, and the said prelates and procurators advised accordingly, that the order should be given an opportunity to defend itself and that it could not be condemned, on the basis of the proof provided thus far, for the heresies that had been the subject of the inquiry, without offence to God and injustice. Certain others on the contrary said that the brothers should not be allowed to make a defence of their order and that we should not give permission for such a defence, for if a defence were allowed or given there would be danger to a settlement of the affair and no small prejudice to the interests of the holy Land. There would be dispute, delay and putting off a decision, many different reasons were mentioned. Indeed although legal process against the order up to now does not permit its canonical condemnation as heretical by definitive sentence, the good name of the order has been largely taken away by the heresies attributed to it. Moreover, an almost indefinite number of individual members, among whom are the grand master the visitor of France and the chief preceptors, have been convicted of such heresies, errors and crimes through their spontaneous confessions. These confessions render the order very suspect, and the infamy and suspicion render it detestable to the holy church of God, to her prelates, to kings and other rulers, and to Catholics in general. It is also believed in all probability that from now on there will be found no good person who wishes to enter the order, and so it will be made useless to the church of God and the carrying on of the undertaking to the holy Land, for which service the knights had been destined. Furthermore, the putting off of a settlement or arrangement of this affair of the Templars, for which we had set ourselves a final decision or sentence to be promulgated in the present council, would lead in all probability to the total loss, destruction and dilapidation of the Templars’ property. This has for long been given, bequeathed and granted by the faithful for the aid of the holy Land and to oppose the enemies of the christian faith.

Praefatis itaque cardinalibus patriarchis archiepiscopis et episcopis abbatibus exemptis et non exemptis et aliis praelatis et procuratoribus ab aliis ut praemittitur electis propter praemissum negotium in nostra praesentia constitutis facta per nos propositione et consultatione secreta qualiter esset in eodem negotio procedendum praesertim cum quidam templarii ad defensionem eiusdem ordinis se offerrent maiori parti cardinalium et toti fere concilio illis videlicet qui a toto concilio ut praemittitur sunt electi et quoad hoc vices totius concilii repraesentant vel parti multo maiori quinimo quatuor vel quinque partibus eorundem cuiuscumque nationis in concilio exsistentium indubitatum videbatur et ita dicti praelati et procuratores sua consilia dederunt quod ipsi ordini defensio dari deberet et quod ipse ordo de haeresibus de quibus inquisitum est contra ipsum per ea quae hactenus sunt probata absque offensa dei et iuris iniuria condemnari nequeat aliis quibusdam e contra dicentibus dictos fratres non esse ad defensionem dicti ordinis admittendos nec nos dare debere defensionem eidem si enim ut dicebant praemissi eiusdem ordinis defensio admittatur vel detur ex hoc ipsius negotii periculum et non modicum terrae sanctae subsidii detrimentum sequeretur et altercatio et retardatio ac decisionis ipsius negotii dilatio ad haec multas rationes et varias allegantes. Verum licet ex processibus habitis contra ordinem memoratum ipse ut haereticalis per diffinitivam sententiam canonice condemnari non possit quia tamen idem ordo de illis haeresibus quae imponuntur eidem est plurimum diffamatus et quia quasi infinitae personae illius ordinis inter quas sunt generalis magister visitator Franciae et maiores praeceptores ipsius per eorum confessiones spontaneas de praedictis haeresibus erroribus et sceleribus sunt convictae quia etiam ipsae confessiones dictum ordinem reddunt valde suspectum et quia infamia et suspicio praelibatae dictum ordinem reddunt ecclesiae sanctae dei et praelatis eiusdem ac regibus aliis que principibus et caeteris catholicis nimis abominabilem et exosum quia etiam verisimile creditur quod amodo bona non reperiretur persona quae dictum ordinem vellet intrare propter quae ipse ordo ecclesiae dei ac prosecutioni negotii terrae sanctae ad cuius servitium fuerant deputati inutilis redderetur quoniam insuper ex dilatione decisionis seu ordinationis dicti negotii ad quam faciendam vel sententiam promulgandam terminus peremptorius fuerat in praesenti concilio praefatis ordini et fratribus assignatus a nobis bonorum templi quae dudum ad subsidium terrae sanctae et impugnationem inimicorum fidei christianae a Christi fidelibus data legata et concessa fuerunt totalis amissio destructio et dilapidatio ut probabiliter

There were therefore two opinions: some said that sentence should immediately be pronounced, condemning the order for the alleged crimes, and others objected that from the proceedings taken up to now the sentence of condemnation against the order could not justly be passed. After long and mature deliberation, having in mind God alone and the good of the holy Land without turning aside to right or to left, we elected to proceed by way of provision and ordinance, in this way scandal will be removed, perils avoided and property saved for the help of the holy Land.

creditur sequeretur inter eos qui dicunt ex nunc contra dictum ordinem pro dictis criminibus condemnationis sententiam promulgandam et alios qui dicunt ex processibus praehabitis contra dictum ordinem condemnationis sententiam iure ferri non posse longa et matura deliberatione praehabita solum deum habentes prae oculis et ad utilitatem negotii terrae sanctae respectum habentes non declinantes ad dexteram vel sinistram viam provisionis et ordinationis duximus eligendam per quam tollentur scandala vitabuntur pericula et bona conservabuntur subsidio terrae sanctae.

We have taken into account the disgrace, suspicion, vociferous reports and other attacks mentioned above against the order, also the secret reception into the order, and the divergence of many of the brothers from the general behaviour, way of life and morals of other Christians. We have noted here especially that when new members are received, they are made to swear not to reveal the manner of their reception to anyone and not to leave the order; this creates an unfavourable presumption. We observe in addition that the above have given rise to grave scandal against the order, scandal impossible to allay as long as the order continues to exist. We note also the danger to faith and to souls, the many horrible misdeeds of so many brothers of the order, and many other just reasons and causes, moving us to the following decision.

Considerantes itaque infamiam suspicionem clamosam insinuationem et alia supradicta quae contra ordinem faciunt supradictum necnon et occultam et clandestinam receptionem fratrum ipsius ordinis differentiam que multorum fratrum eiusdem a communi conversatione vita et moribus aliorum Christi fidelium in eo maxime quod recipientes aliquos in fratres sui ordinis receptos in ipsa receptione professionem emittere faciebant et iurare modum receptionis nemini revelare nec religionem illam exire ex quibus contra eos praesumitur evidenter attendentes insuper grave scandalum ex praedictis contra ordinem praelibatum subortum fuisse quod non videretur posse sedari eodem ordine remanente necnon et fidei et animarum pericula et quamplurimorum fratrum dicti ordinis horribilia multa facta et multas alias rationes iustas et causas quae nostrum ad infrascripta movere animum rationabiliter

The majority of the cardinals and of those elected by the council, a proportion of more than four-fifths, have thought it better, more expedient and advantageous for God’s honour and for the preservation of the christian faith, also for the aid of the holy Land and many other valid reasons, to suppress the order by way of ordinance and provision of the apostolic see, assigning the property to the use for which it was intended. Provision is also to be made for the members of the order who are still alive. This way has been found preferable to that of safeguarding the right of defence with the consequent postponement of judgment on the order. We observe also that in other cases the Roman church has suppressed other important orders for reasons of far less gravity than those mentioned above, with no fault on the part of the brethren. Therefore, with a sad heart, not by definitive sentence, but by apostolic provision or ordinance, we suppress, with the approval of the sacred council, the order of Templars, and its rule, habit and name, by an inviolable and perpetual decree, and we entirely forbid that anyone from now on enter the order, or receive or wear its habit, or presume to behave as a Templar. If anyone acts otherwise, he incurs automatic excommunication. Furthermore, we reserve the persons and property for our disposition and that of the apostolic see. We intend with divine grace, before the end of the present sacred council, to make this disposition to the honour of God the exaltation of the christian faith and the welfare of the holy Land. We strictly forbid anyone, of whatever state or condition, to interfere in any way in this matter of the persons and property of the Templars. We forbid any action concerning them which would prejudice our arrangements and dispositions, or any innovation or tampering. We decree that from now on any attempt of this kind is null and void, whether it be made knowingly or in ignorance. Through this decree, however, we do not wish to derogate from any processes made or to be made concerning individual Templars by diocesan bishops and provincial councils, in conformity with what we have ordained at other times. Let nobody therefore ... If anyone ...

et debite potuerunt quia et maiori parti dictorum cardinalium et praedictorum a toto concilio electorum plus quam quatuor vel quinque partibus eorumdem visum est decentius et expedientius et utilius pro dei honore et pro conservatione fidei christianae ac subsidio terrae sanctae multis que aliis rationibus validis sequendam fore potius viam ordinationis et provisionis sedis apostolicae ordinem saepe fatum tollendo et bona ad usum ad quem deputata fuerant applicando de personis etiam ipsius ordinis quae vivunt salubriter providendo quam defensionis iuris observationes et negotii prorogationes animadvertentes quoque quod alias etiam sine culpa fratrum ecclesia Romana fecit interdum alios ordines solemnes ex causis incomparabiliter minoribus quam sint praemissae cessare non sine cordis amaritudine et dolore non per modum diffinitivae sententiae sed per modum provisionis seu ordinationis apostolicae praefatum templi ordinem et eius statum habitum atque nomen irrefragabili et perpetuo valitura tollimus sanctione ac perpetuae prohibitioni subicimus sacro concilio approbante districtius inhibentes ne quis dictum ordinem de cetero intrare vel eius habitum suscipere vel portare aut pro templario gerere se praesumat. Quod si quis contra fecerit excommunicationis incurrat sententiam ipso facto. Porro nos personas et bona eadem nostrae ac apostolicae sedis ordinationi et dispositioni quam gratia divina favente ad dei honorem et exaltationem fidei christianae ac statum prosperum terrae sanctae facere intendimus antequam praesens sacrum terminetur concilium reservamus inhibentes districtius ne quis cuiuscumque conditionis vel status exsistat se de personis vel bonis huiusmodi aliquatenus intromittat vel circa ea in ordinationis sive dispositionis nostrae per nos ut praemittitur faciendae praeiudicium aliquod faciat innovet vel attentet decernentes exnunc irritum et inane si secus a quoquam scienter vel ignoranter contigerit attentari. Per hoc tamen processibus factis vel faciendis circa singulares personas ipsorum templariorum per dioecesanos episcopos et provincialia concilia prout per nos alias exstitit ordinatum nolumus derogari. Nulli ergo ... Si quis ....

Given at Vienne on 22 March in the seventh year of our pontificate.

Datum Viennae xi calendas aprilis pontificatus nostri anno septimo.

[1.2]. For an everlasting record. It belongs to Christ’s vicar, exercising his vigilant care from the apostolic watch-tower, to judge the changing conditions of the times, to examine the causes of the affairs which crop up and to observe the characters of the people concerned. In this way he can give due consideration to each affair and act opportunely; he can tear out the thistles of vice from the field of the Lord so that virtue may increase; and he can remove the thorns of false dealing so as to plant rather than to destroy. He transfers slips dedicated to God into the places left empty by the eradication of the harmful thistles. By thus transferring and uniting in a provident and profitable way, he brings a joy greater than the harm he has caused to the people uprooted; true justice has compassion for sorrow. By enduring the harm and replacing it profitably, he increases the growth of the virtues and rebuilds what has been destroyed with something better.

Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Ad providam Christi vicarii praesidentis in specula apostolicae dignitatis circumspectionem pertinet vices pensare temporum emergentium negotiorum causas discutere ac personarum attendere qualitates ut ad singula debitum dirigens necessariae considerationis intuitum et opportunae manum operationis apponens de agro domini sic vitiorum tribulos eruat ut virtutes amplificet sic praevaricantium spinas tollat ut evellendo plus plantet quam destruat et in loca vacua per eradicationem nocentium tribulorum devota deo plantaria transferendo potiorem praebeat de provisa et utili eorumdem locorum unione et translatione laetitiam quam vera iustitia quae compassionem habet doloris intulerit detrimentum personarum locorum huiusmodi per ruinam sic enim sufferendo quod officit et subrogando quod proficit virtutum profectus amplificat et sublata de medio meliori sub rogatione restaurat.

A little while ago we suppressed definitively and perpetually the order of the Knights Templar of Jerusalem because of the abominable, even unspeakable, deeds of its master, brothers and other persons of the order in all parts of the world. These men were spattered with indecent errors and crimes, with depravity- they were blemished and stained. We are silent here as to detail because the memory is so sad and unclean. With the approval of the sacred council we abolished the constitution of the order, its habit and name, not without bitterness of heart. We did this not by definitive sentence, since this would be unlawful according to the inquiries and processes carried out, but by apostolic provision or ordinance. We issued a strict prohibition that nobody might henceforth enter the order or wear its habit or presume to behave as a Templar. Anyone doing otherwise incurred automatic excommunication.

Dudum siquidem ordinem domus militiae templi ierosolimitani propter magistrum et fratres ceteras que personas dicti ordinis in quibuslibet mundi partibus consistentes variis et diversis non tam nefandis quam infandis proh dolor errorum et scelerum obscenitatibus pravitatibus maculis et labe respersos quae propter tristem et spurcidam eorum memoriam praesentibus subticemus eius que ordinis statum habitum atque nomen non sine cordis amaritudine et dolore sacro approbante concilio non per modum diffinitivae sententiae cum eam super hoc secundum inquisitiones et processus super hiis habitos non possemus ferre de iure sed per viam provisionis seu ordinationis apostolicae irrefragabili et perpetuo valitura substulimus sanctione ipsum prohibitioni perpetuae supponentes districtius inhibendo ne quis dictum ordinem de cetero intrare vel eius habitum suscipere vel portare aut pro templario gerere se praesumeret. Quod si quis contrafaceret excommunicationis incurreret sententiam ipso facto.

We commanded, by our apostolic authority, that all the property of the order be left to the judgment and disposition of the apostolic see. We strictly forbade anyone, of whatever state or condition, to interfere in any way regarding the persons or property of the order or to act in prejudice of the direction or disposition of the apostolic see in this matter, or to alter or even to tamper; we decreed all attempts of this kind to be henceforth null and void, whether made knowingly or in ignorance.

Universa etiam bona ordinis praelibati apostolicae sedis ordinationi et dispositioni auctoritate apostolica duximus reservanda inhibentes districtius ne quis cuiuscumque conditionis vel status existeret se de personis vel bonis huiusmodi aliquatenus intromitteret vel circa ea in praeiudicium ordinis seu dispositionis apostolicae per sedem eamdem ut praemittitur faciendae aliquid faceret innovaret vel etiam attentaret decernentes ex tunc irritum et inane si secus a quoquam scienter vel ignoranter contingeret attentari

Afterwards we took care lest the said property, which over a long period had been given, bequeathed, granted and acquired from the worshippers of Christ for the help of the holy Land and to assail the enemies of the christian faith, should be left without management and perish as belonging to nobody or be used in ways other than those intended by the pious devotion of the faithful. There was the further danger that tardiness in our arrangements and dispositions might lead to destruction or dilapidation. We therefore held difficult, lengthy and varied consultations and discussions with our brothers, the cardinals of the holy Roman church, with patriarchs, archbishops, bishops and prelates, with certain outstanding and distinguished persons, and with the procurators at the council of the chapters, convents, churches and monasteries, and of the remaining absent prelates, in order that, through this painstaking deliberation, a wholesome and beneficial disposal of the said property might be made to the honour of God, the increase of the faith, the exaltation of the church, the help of the holy Land, and the salvation and peace of the faithful. After especially long carefully thought out, deliberate and complete consultations, for many just reasons, we and the said fathers and patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, other prelates, and the outstanding and distinguished persons, then present at the council, finally came to a conclusion. The property should become forever that of the order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem, of the Hospital itself and of our beloved sons the master and brothers of the Hospital, in the name of the Hospital and order of these same men, who as athletes of the Lord expose themselves to the danger of death for the defence of the faith, bearing heavy and perilous losses in lands overseas.

ac postmodum ne dicta bona quae dudum ad subsidium terrae sanctae et impugnationem inimicorum fidei christianae a Christi cultoribus data legata concessa et acquisita fuerunt debita gubernatione carentia tamquam vacantia deperirent vel converterentur in usus alios quam in illos ad quos fuerant pia devotione fidelium deputata vel propter tarditatem ordinationis et dispositionis huiusmodi eorum destructio vel dilapidatio sequeretur cum fratribus nostris sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinalibus necnon patriarchis archiepiscopis episcopis et praelatis ac etiam cum nonnullis excellentibus et illustribus personis cum reliquorum quoque absentium praelatorum et etiam capitulorum et conventuum ecclesiarum et monasteriorum procuratoribus in dicto concilio constitutis habuimus ardua morosa et diversa consilia et tractatus ut per huiusmodi consiliorum et tractatuum deliberationem praehabitam diligentem dictorum bonorum ordinatio et dispositio ad honorem dei augmentum fidei exaltationem ecclesiae dictae terrae subsidium salutem quoque fidelium et quietem salubris et utilis proveniret post que utique longa praemeditata provisa et matura consilia suadentibus plurimis iustis causis nostra et dictorum patrum necnon patriarcharum archiepiscoporum episcoporum et aliorum praelatorum ac excellentium et illustrium personarum praedictorum in dicto concilio tunc praesentium deliberationes et consilia in hoc finaliter resederunt ut praedicta bona ordini hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani et ipsi hospitali ac dilectis filiis magistro et fratribus hospitalis eiusdem nomine hospitalis et ordinis eorumdem qui tamquam athletae domini pro defensione fidei se periculis mortis iugiter exponentes onerosa nimis et periculosa dispendia continue perferunt in partibus transmarinis in perpetuum unirentur.

We have observed with the fullness of sincere charity that this order of the Hospital and the Hospital itself is one of the bodies in which religious observance flourishes. Factual evidence tells us that divine worship is fervent, works of piety and mercy are practised with great earnestness, the brothers of the Hospital despise the attractions of the world and are devoted servants of the most High. As fearless warriors of Christ they are ardent in their efforts to recover the holy Land, despising all human perils. We bear in mind also that the more plentifully they are supplied with means, the more will the energy of the master and brothers of the order and Hospital grow, their ardour increase and their bravery be strengthened to repel the insults offered to our Redeemer and to crush the enemies of the faith. They will be able to carry more lightly and easily the burdens demanded in the execution of such an enterprise. They will therefore, not unworthily, be made more watchful and apply themselves with greater zeal.

Nos igitur inter cetera mundi loca in quibus vigere dinoscitur observantia regularis dictum ordinem hospitalis et ipsum hospitale sincerae caritatis plenitudine prosequentes ac attendentes quod sicut evidentia facti docet in eo divinis obsequiis ferventer insistitur pietatis et misericordiae opera vigilantibus studiis exercentur fratres hospitalis ipsius mundanis spretis illecebris devotum impendentes altissimo famulatum ac pro recuperatione terrae praedictae tamquam intrepidi Christi pugiles ferventibus studiis et desideriis intendentes quaelibet ducunt humana pericula in contemptum considerantes quoque quod ex hoc tanto eorumdem magistri et fratrum dictorum ordinis et hospitalis crescet strenuitas animorum fervor augebitur et ipsorum roborabitur fortitudo ad propulsandas nostri redemptoris iniurias et hostes eiusdem fidei conterendos quanto ipsorum potentia in opulentioribus facultatibus augmentata onera quae prosecutionis tanti negotii necessitas exigit levius et facilius poterunt supportare et propterea non indigne vigiles redditi studiis que sollicitis excitati

In order that we may grant them increased support, we bestow on them, with the approval of the sacred council, the house itself of the Knights Templar and the other houses, churches, chapels, oratories, cities, castles, towns, lands, granges, places, possessions, jurisdictions, revenues, rights, all the other property, whether immovable, movable or self-moving, and all the members together with their rights and belongings, both beyond and on this side of the sea, in each and every part of the world, at the time when the master himself and some brothers of the order were arrested as a body in the kingdom of France, namely in October 1308. The gift is to include everything which the Templars had, held or possessed of themselves or through others, or which belonged to the said house and order of Knights Templar, or to the master and brothers of the order as also the titles, actions and rights which at the time of their arrest belonged in any way to the house, order or persons of the order of Knights Templar, or could belong to them, against whomsoever of whatever dignity, state or condition, with all the privileges, indults, immunities and liberties with which the said master and brothers of the house and order of Knights Templar, and the house and order itself, had been legitimately endowed by the apostolic see or by catholic emperors, kings and princes, or by other members of the faithful, or in any other way. All this we present, grant, unite, incorporate, apply and annex in perpetuity, by the fullness of our apostolic power, to the said order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem and to the Hospital itself.

ut ad sui status opem et operam impendamus eodem sacro approbante concilio ipsam domum militiae templi ceteras que domos ecclesias capellas oratoria civitates castra villas terras grangias et loca possessiones iurisdictiones redditus atque iura omnia que alia bona immobilia et mobilia vel se moventia cum omnibus membris iuribus et pertinentiis suis ultra et citra mare ac in universis et quibuslibet mundi partibus consistentia quae ipse ordo et dicti magister et fratres ipsius ordinis militiae templi tempore quo ipse magister et nonnulli ex eisdem fratribus militiae templi in regno Franciae communiter capti fuerunt videlicet anno domini millesimo trecentesimo octavo mense octobris per se vel quoscunque alios habebant tenebant et possidebant vel ad eosdem domum et ordinem militiae templi et dictos magistrum et fratres ipsius ordinis militiae templi quomodolibet pertinebant necnon nomina actiones et iura quae praedicto tempore captionis ipsorum eisdem domui ordini vel personis ipsius ordinis militiae templi quocumque modo competebant vel competere poterant contra quoscumque cuiuscunque dignitatis status vel conditionis exsisterent cum omnibus privilegiis indulgentiis immunitatibus et libertatibus quibus praefati magister et fratres dictorum domus et ordinis militiae templi et ipsa domus et ordo per sedem apostolicam vel per catholicos imperatores reges et principes et fideles alios vel quocumque alio modo erant legitime communiti eidem ordini hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani et ipsi hospitali donamus concedimus unimus incorporamus applicamus et annectimus in perpetuum de apostolicae plenitudine potestatis

We except the property of the said former order of Knights Templar in the kingdoms and lands of our beloved sons in Christ, the illustrious kings of Castile, Aragon, Portugal and Majorca, outside the kingdom of France. We reserve this property, from the said gift, grant, union, application, incorporation and annexation, to the disposal and regulation of the apostolic see. We wish the prohibition made a little while ago by other proceedings of ours to remain in full force. Nobody of any state or condition may intervene in any way as regards these persons and property in prejudice to the regulation or disposition of the apostolic see. We wish that our decree concerning these persons and property in the kingdoms and lands of the above kings should remain in full force until the apostolic see makes another arrangement.

exceptis bonis quondam dicti ordinis ipsius militiae templi consistentibus in regnis et terris carissimorum in Christo filiorum nostrorum Castellae Aragoniae Portugaliae et Maioricarum regum illustrium extra regnum Franciae quae a donatione concessione unione applicatione incorporatione et annexione praedictis specialiter excipienda duximus et etiam excludenda ex nihilominus dispositioni et ordinationi sedis apostolicae reservantes inhibitionem dudum per alios processus nostros factam ne quis videlicet cuiuscumque conditionis vel status existeret se de personis et bonis huiusmodi aliquatenus intromitteret vel circa ea in praeiudicium ordinationis seu dispositionis sedis

Occupiers and unlawful detainers of the property, irrespective of state, condition, eminence or dignity, even if this is pontifical, imperial or royal, unless they abandon the property within a month after it is called for by the master and brothers of the Hospital, or by any of them, or by their procurators [. . .]. The property must be fully and freely restored to the order of Hospitallers and to the said Hospital, or to the master, priors, preceptors or brothers of the said Hospital, in any regions or provinces, or to any of them individually, or to their procurator or procurators, in the name of the said order of Hospitallers, even if the priors, preceptors and brothers and their procurators or any one of them have no special mandate from the master of the Hospital, provided that the procurators hold or show a special commission from the priors and preceptors or from any one of them, in the provinces or regions in which these priors and preceptors have been delegated.

eiusdem faciendae de illis necnon decreti nostri interpositionem quoad personas et bona in dictis regnis et terris eorumdem regum proxime expressorum consistentia omnino manere volentes in pleno robore firmitatis quousque de bonis et rebus praedictis in eisdem regnis et terris consistentibus per dispositionem sedis eiusdem fuerit aliter ordinatum occupatores quoque dictorum bonorum aut illicitos detentores cuiuscumque status conditionis excellentiae vel dignitatis exstiterint etiam si pontificali imperiali vel regali praefulgeant dignitate nisi infra unius mensis spatium postquam super hoc per dictos magistrum et fratres ipsius hospitalis vel ipsorum quemlibet aut procuratorem seu procuratores eorum fuerint requisiti dicta bona dimiserint illa que plene et libere restituerint ordini ipsius hospitalis et eidem hospitali aut magistro seu prioribus vel praeceptoribus aut fratribus hospitalis eiusdem in quibuscunque partibus et provinciis constitutis eorum que singulis vel procuratori seu procurationibus eorumdem eiusdem ordinis ipsius hospitalis nomine etiamsi dicti priores praeceptores et fratres ipsius hospitalis et procuratores ipsorum et eorum quilibet a dicto magistro ipsius hospitalis mandatum super hoc specialiter non haberent dummodo procuratores praedicti a dictis prioribus et praeceptoribus vel eorum singulis in provinciis et partibus in quibus huiusmodi priores et praeceptores exstiterint deputati mandatum super hoc habuerint vel ostenderint speciale.

The priors, preceptors and brothers are obliged to give a full reckoning to the master concerning everything: conduct, actions, receipts and negotiations. The procurators are to render a similar account to the priors and preceptors, and to each one of them, by whom they were delegated. All who have knowingly given counsel, aid or favour to the occupiers and detainers mentioned above concerning such occupation or detention, publicly or secretly, lie under excommunication. Chapters, colleges or governing bodies of churches and monasteries, and the corporations of cities, castles, towns and other places, as well as the cities, castles, towns and other places themselves which were at fault in this, and the cities, castles and places in which the detainers and occupiers hold temporal lordship, if such temporal lords place obstacles to the giving up of the property and its restoration to the master and brothers of the Hospital, in the name of the Hospital, not desisting from such conduct within a month after the property is called for, are automatically laid under interdict. They cannot be absolved from this until they offer full satisfaction. Moreover the occupiers and detainers and those who have given them counsel, aid or favour, whether individuals or the chapters, colleges or governing bodies of churches or monasteries, as also the corporations of cities, castles, lands or other places, incur, in addition to the above-mentioned penalties, automatic deprivation of everything they hold as fiefs from the Roman or other churches. These fiefs are to revert freely without opposition to the churches concerned, and the prelates or rulers of those churches may dispose of the fiefs at will, as they judge will be to the advantage of the churches. Let nobody therefore . . . If anyone . . .

Qui omnes et singuli videlicet priores et praeceptores et fratres dicto magistro procuratores vero praedicti eisdem prioribus et praeceptoribus eorum que singulis a quibus super hiis fuerint deputati plenum super omnibus gestis actis receptis et procuratis per eos quomodolibet in hac parte computum et rationem ponere et reddere teneantur necnon omnes qui scienter occupatoribus et detentoribus praelibatis in occupatione vel detentione huiusmodi dederint consilium auxilium vel favorem publice vel occulte excommunicationis capitula vero collegia seu conventus ecclesiarum et monasteriorum necnon universitates civitatum castrorum villarum et aliorum locorum et ipsas civitates castra villas et loca quae in hiis culpabilia exstiterint ac etiam civitates castra et loca in quibus detentores et occupatores huiusmodi dominium obtinuerint temporale si huiusmodi domini temporales in dimittendo bona praedicta et restituendo illa magistro et fratribus ordinis et hospitalis eiusdem nomine hospitalis ipsius obstaculum adhibebunt et infra dictum mensem ab huiusmodi praemissis non destiterint postquam super hoc ut praemittitur fuerint requisiti ipso facto interdicti sententiis decernimus subiacere a quibus absolvi non possint donec super hiis plenam et debitam satisfactionem curaverint exhibere et nihilominus occupatores et detentores huiusmodi vel praestantes eisdem ut praemittitur auxilium consilium vel favorem sive singulares personae sive capitula collegia seu conventus ecclesiarum et monasteriorum ac universitates civitatum castrorum terrarum vel aliorum locorum exstiterint praeter poenas praescriptas omnibus quae a Romana vel aliis ecclesiis quibuscumque tenent in feudum ipso facto decernimus fore privatos sive privata ita quod ad ecclesias ad quas spectant illa libere sine contradictione aliqua revertantur earum que ecclesiarum praelati sive rectores de ipsis pro sua voluntate disponant sicut utilitati ecclesiarum ipsarum viderint expedire. Nulli ergo ... Si quis ....

Given at Vienne on 2 May in the seventh year of our pontificate.

Dat(um) Viennae vi nonas maii pontificatus nostri anno septimo.

Continued in E:

We therefore commission you by our apostolic letters, that acting together or in pairs or singly, directly or through one or more others, you induct the master or priors or preceptors or brothers of the Hospital, or any individual member, or their procurator or procurators, in the name of the Hospital, into possession of the house of the Knights Templar and of their other houses, churches, chapels, oratories, cities, castles, towns, lands, granges, places, possessions, jurisdictions, revenues and rights to all their other movable, immovable and self-moving property, with all their members, rights and belongings, both on the near and far side of the sea and in every part of the world, which the order, master and brothers of the Knights Templar had, held or possessed, directly or through others, at the time of their arrest. The Hospitallers are to be inducted by our authority and defended afterwards; occupiers, detainers, administrators and conservators are to be removed. You are to ask a full account from those who have been delegated by apostolic authority and any other, including those sub-delegated, to care for the aforesaid property. The account is to comprise all the fruits, revenues, incomes, rights and accretions. The occupiers or detainers, administrators, conservators and others, unless within the prescribed time they abandon the property and revenues, and restore them freely and fully to the order of the Hospital and to the same Hospital, or to the master, prior, preceptors or brothers of the Hospital, in the regions and provinces in which the property has been, including to each of them individually, or to their procurator or procurators, in the name of the Hospital, as said above, as well as those who give help, counsel or favour to the occupiers, detainers, administrators or conservators, are to be excommunicated by you, if they are individuals; but if they are chapters, colleges, convents or corporations, as well as the cities, castles, towns and places themselves at fault in this, and those in which the detainers and occupiers have temporal dominion and are obstructive when asked to abandon the property and restore it to the master and brothers of the Hospital, in the name of the Hospital, and refuse to desist from such conduct within a month, you are to lay them under interdict. The offenders are also to be deprived of all property which they hold in fief from the Roman or any other church. You will give notice everywhere where you think it useful and have it announced by others that the excommunicated persons are to be strictly avoided until they have made suitable satisfaction and merited absolution. No exception is to be made on account of any indult from the apostolic see to the effect that they cannot be laid under interdict, suspended or excommunicated by apostolic letters which do not make an express, full and word for word declaration. You are also to suppress any other objectors, if there be such, by ecclesiastical censure, disregarding appeals. It is our will also and we decree by our apostolic authority, that with the present instruction you all and singly are given power and jurisdiction in every detail of this matter. You may from now proceed freely as if this same jurisdiction were perpetuated by citation or by any other lawful way. The jurisdiction shall be considered perpetuated as though the case were no longer undecided. Each of you may continue the part which has been left unfinished by one of your colleagues, in spite of his opposition and unhampered, notwithstanding the constitution of pope Boniface VIII, our predecessor of happy memory, as often and whenever this is suitable. Given as above.

Quocirca discretioni vestrae per apostolica scripta mandamus quatenus vos vel duo aut unus vestrum per vos vel per alium seu alios praefatos magistrum seu priores vel praeceptores aut fratres hospitalis eiusdem vel ipsorum quemlibet aut procuratorem seu procuratores eorum nomine hospitalis ipsius in corporalem possessionem dictorum domus militiae templi ceterarum que domorum ecclesiarum capellarum oratorium civitatum castrorum villarum terrarum grangiarum et locorum possessionum iurisdictionum reddituum atque iurium omnium aliorum bonorum mobilium et immobilium vel se moventium cum omnibus membris iuribus et pertinentiis suis ultra et citra mare ac in universis et quibuslibet mundi partibus consistentium quae ipse ordo et dicti magister et fratres ipsius ordinis militiae templi praedicto tempore huiusmodi captionis eorum per se vel quoscumque alios habebant et possidebant vel ad eosdem domum et ordinem militiae templi et dictos magistrum et fratres ipsius ordinis militiae templi quomodolibet pertinebant inducatis auctoritate nostra et defendatis inductos amotis praedictis occupatoribus et detentoribus ac administratoribus et conservatoribus in bonis ipsis auctoritate apostolica et quavis alia deputatis et quibuslibet aliis ab eisdem eis que faciatis de illorum fructibus redditibus proventibus iuribus et obventionibus universis integre responderi occupatores seu detentores administratores conservatores et alios praedictos nisi infra dictum terminum ut praemittitur bona et redditus praedicta dimiserint illa que libere et plene restituerint ordini ipsius hospitalis et eidem hospitali aut magistro seu prioribus vel praeceptoribus aut fratribus hospitalis eiusdem in partibus et provinciis ubi bona huiusmodi fuerint constitutis eorum que singulis vel procuratori seu procuratoribus eorumdem ipsius hospitalis nomine ut superius est praemissum ac praestantes occupatoribus seu detentoribus ac administratoribus et conservatoribus huiusmodi auxilium consilium vel favorem si singulares personae excommunicationis si vero capitula collegia seu conventus seu universitates exstiterint et ipsas civitates castra villas et loca quae in hiis culpabilia fuerunt ac etiam civitates castra et loca in quibus detentores et occupatores huiusmodi dominium obtinuerint temporale si huiusmodi domini temporales in dimittendo bona praedicta et restituendo illa magistro et fratribus hospitalis eiusdem ipsius hospitalis nomine obstaculum adhibebunt et infra dictum mensem ab huiusmodi praemissis non duxerint ut praedicitur desistendum tamdiu interdicti per vos latis sententiis subiacere et nihilominus omnibus bonis quae a Romana vel aliis ecclesiis quibuscumque tenent in feudum fore privatos seu privata per omnia loca in quibus expedire videritis denuntietis et faciatis ab aliis nuntiari dictos que excommunicatos arctius evitari donec super hiis congrue satisfecerint et absolutionis meruerint beneficium obtinere non obstante si aliquibus a praedicta sit sede indultum quod interdici suspendi vel excommunicari non possint per litteras apostolicas non facientes plenam et expressam ac de verbo et cetera contradictores etiam alios si qui fuerint per censuram ecclesiasticam appellatione postposita compescendo. Volumus autem et apostolica auctoritate decernimus quod a data praesentium sit vobis et cuilibet vestrum in praedictis omnibus et singulis potestas et iurisdictio attributa ut ex nunc in eis et eorum quolibet ita libere procedere valeatis ac si eadem iurisdictio per citationem vel modum alium perpetuata legitimum exstitisset et quasi re non integra perpetuata praefata iurisdictio censeatur quod que unusquisque vestrum articulum per collegarum suorum aliquem inchoatum felicis recordationis Bonifatii papae viii praedecessoris nostri contraria constitutione cessante prosequi libere valeat etiam eodem collega vivente nec impedimento aliquo praepedito quotiens et quando fuerit opportunum. Datum Viennae vi nonas maii pontificatus nostri anno septimo.

[1.3]. Clement, bishop, servant of the servants of God, for assurance in the present and for future record. The inquiries and various processes commissioned not long ago by the apostolic see through all parts of Christendom against the former order of Knights Templar and its individual members, concerning accusation of heresies, brought them into grave disrepute. In particular there was the accusation that the brothers of the former order at, and sometimes after, their reception denied Christ and spat in his dishonour on a cross held out to them, and sometimes trampled it underfoot. The master of the order, the visitor of France, the chief preceptors and many brothers of the order confessed at their trial to these heresies. The confessions cast grave suspicion on the order. In addition, the widespread disgrace, the strong suspicion, and the clamorous charges of the prelates, dukes, communes, barons and counts of the kingdom of France also gave grave scandal which could hardly be allayed without suppression of the order. There were many other just reasons mentioned in the legal process which influenced us. We therefore, with the approval of the sacred council, our heart filled with great bitterness and sorrow, suppressed and abolished the said former order of the Temple and its constitution, habit and name and we forbade its restoration. We did this, not by definitive sentence since we could not legally do this according to the inquiries and processes mentioned above, but by apostolic provision and ordinance. We reserved the persons and property of the order to the decision and disposal of the apostolic see. In doing so, however, we had no intention of derogating from the processes made or to be made concerning individual persons or brothers of the said former order by diocesan bishops and provincial councils, as we have ordained elsewhere.

Clemens episcopus servus servorum dei ad certitudinem praesentium et memoriam futurorum. Considerantes dudum inquisitiones et processus varios de mandato sedis apostolicae per universas partes christianitatis contra ordinem quondam militiae templi et ipsius singulas personas habitos sive factos super haeresibus de quibus ipsi erant graviter infamati et specialiter super eo quod fratres eiusdem quondam ordinis dum in ipso recipiebantur ordine ac interdum post receptionem eorum Christum negare et in eius opprobrium super crucem sibi ostensam spuere et eam interdum conculcare pedibus dicebantur quod que generalis magister ipsius ordinis visitator Franciae ac maiores ipsius ordinis praeceptores necnon et quamplures fratres eiusdem in iudicio confessi fuerunt de haeresibus supradictis quod que ipsae confessiones dictum ordinem valde suspectum reddebant attendentes insuper infamiam divulgatam suspicionem vehementem necnon praelatorum ducum communitatum baronum ac comitum regni Franciae insinuationem clamosam grave quoque scandalum ex praedictis contra ordinem praelibatum subortum quod non videbatur posse sedari eodem ordine remanente animadvertentes que multas alias iustas rationes et causas quae ad id nostrum moverunt animum de quibus in processu super hoc habito continetur cum gravi cordis amaritudine ac dolore non per modum diffinitivae sententiae cum eam super hoc secundum inquisitiones et processus praedictos non possemus ferre de iure sed per viam provisionis et ordinationis apostolicae praefatum quondam templi ordinem ac eius statum habitum atque nomen substulimus removimus et cassavimus ac perpetuae prohibitioni subiecimus sacro concilio approbante personas et bona eiusdem ordinis ordinationi et dispositioni sedis apostolicae reservantes per hoc tamen processibus factis vel faciendis circa singulares personas aut fratres eiusdem quondam ordinis per dioecesanos episcopos et provincialia concilia prout per nos alias ordinatum exstitit noluimus derogari.

Now therefore we wish to provide more suitably for individual persons or brothers. We reserved lately for our own disposition the master of the former order, the visitor of France and the chief preceptors of the holy Land, Normandy, Aquitaine, Poitou and the province of Provence, as well as brother Oliver de Penne, a knight of the said former order, whom henceforth we reserve to the disposition of the apostolic see. We have decided that all the other brothers should be left to the judgment and disposition of provincial councils, as we have indeed done until now. We wish judgment to be given by these councils in accordance with the different cases of individuals. Thus those who have been legally acquitted, or will be acquitted in the future, shall be supplied with the goods of the former order whereby they can live as becomes their state. With those who have confessed concerning the above errors, we wish the provincial councils prudently to temper justice with mercy: the situation of these men and the extent of their confessions are to be duly weighed. With regard to those who are impenitent and have relapsed, if any -- which God forbid -- be found among them, justice and canonical censure are to be observed. As for those who even when questioned have denied their involvement in the above errors, the councils are to observe justice and equity according to the canons. With the approval of the sacred council, we hereby cite those who have not yet been questioned and who are not held by the power or authority of the church but are perhaps fugitives, to appear in person before their diocesans within a year from today. This we assign them as a precise and final limit. They are to undergo an examination by their diocesans, receiving a just judgment from the said councils according to their deserts. Great mercy however is to be shown and observed both to these last and to those previously mentioned, except the relapsed and impenitent. They should also be provided from the property of the order with the necessities of life; all the brothers of the former order, whenever they return to the obedience of the church and as long as they persist in that obedience, shall be maintained as becomes the circumstances of their state. All of them shall be placed in houses of the former order or in monasteries of other religious, at the expense however of the former order itself according to the judgment of the said provincial councils; but many of them shall not be placed together at the same time in one house or monastery.

Nunc igitur volentes circa singulares easdem personas aut fratres plenius sicut expedit providere fratres ipsos omnes praeter magistrum quondam dicti ordinis visitatorem Franciae et terrae sanctae Normanniae et Aquitaniae ac Pictaviae et provinciae Provinciae magnos praeceptores quos dudum dispositioni nostrae specialiter reservavimus et fratrem Oliverium de Penna dicti quondam ordinis militem quem ex nunc dispositioni sedis apostolicae reservemus iudicio et dispositioni conciliorum provincialium sicut et hactenus fecimus duximus relinquendos volentes iuxta diversitatem conditionum ipsorum per eadem concilia cum eis procedi videlicet quod illis qui sunt iam supradictis erroribus sententialiter absoluti vel in posterum exigente iustitia absolventur de bonis praefati quondam ordinis unde iuxta status sui decentiam substentari valeant ministretur circa eos autem qui de praefatis erroribus sunt confessi consideratis eorum conditionibus modo que confessionis eorum pensato volumus a praefatis conciliis prout eorum circumspectioni videbitur rigorem iustitiae cum affluenti misericordia mitigari circa impenitentes et relapsos si qui quod deus avertat inventi fuerint inter eos iustitia aut censura canonica observanda quoad illos vero qui etiam suppositi quaestionibus se praedictis esse involutos erroribus negaverint per eadem concilia servari et fieri volumus quod iustum fuerit et aequitas canonum suadebit. Eos autem cum quibus adhuc non est super dictis erroribus inquisitum et qui sub manu vel potestate ecclesiae non habentur sed sunt forsitan fugitivi sacri approbatione concilii praesentium tenore citamus ut a die praesenti infra annum quem ad hoc eis pro termino praeciso et peremptorio assignamus coram dioecesanis suis curent personaliter comparere subituri eorum examen prout iustitia suadebit ac secundum praedictorum conciliorum iudicium pro meritis recepturi magna tamen tam circa eos quam circa alios supra expressos praeterquam contra relapsos et impenitentes misericordia adhibita et servata et eo semper proviso quod de bonis dicti quondam ordinis provideatur in necessariis tam istis quam illis et etiam omnibus eiusdem quondam ordinis fratribus quandocumque ad ecclesiae oboedientiam venerint et quamdiu in oboedientia eadem persisterint iuxta status sui conditiones et decentiam eorumdem ipsis omnibus in domibus praefati quondam ordinis aut in religiosorum aliorum monasteriis ad expensas tamen ipsius quondam ordinis iuxta dictorum conciliorum arbitrium collocandis ita tamen quod in una domo uno ve monasterio nullatenus multi simul ponantur.

We order also and strictly command all those with whom and by whom the brothers of the former order are detained, to surrender them freely whenever required to do so by the metropolitans and the ordinaries of the brothers. If within the year those cited do not appear before the diocesans, as stated above, they incur automatically sentence of excommunication; and because in a case especially concerning the faith, contumacy adds strong presumption to suspicion, the contumacious who stubbornly remain excommunicate for a year are henceforth to be condemned as heretics. This citation of ours is made of set purpose and we wish the brothers to be obliged by it as if they had received a special citation personally, for as vagabonds they can in no way be found or at least not easily. In order, then, to prevent all subterfuge, we publish our edict in the present sacred council. And in order to bring this citation more assuredly to the knowledge of the brothers themselves and to the general knowledge of all, we shall have papers or parchments containing the citation and sealed with our bull hung or fastened to the doors of the principal church of Vienne. This will secure a loud and widespread publication of this citation, so that the brothers whom the citation concerns can claim no excuse that the citation has not reached them or that they were ignorant of it, since it is improbable that what is so openly made public to all can remain unknown or hidden to them. Furthermore, in order to observe greater precaution, we order the local diocesans to make public this edict of our citation, as soon as conveniently possible, in their cathedrals and in the churches at the most conspicuous places in their dioceses.

Mandamus etiam et districte praecipimus omnibus apud quos et per quos fratres dicti quondam ordinis detinentur ut eos libere restituant et dimittant quandocumque per metropolitanos et ordinarios fratrum ipsorum fuerint super hoc requisiti. Quod si infra praefatum annum coram dioecesanis praedictis praemisso modo citati non curaverint ut praemittitur comparere eo ipso sententiam excommunicationis incurrant et quia in causa praesertim fidei contumacia suspicioni praesumptionem adicit vehementem si sic contumaces excommunicationem praedictam per annum animo sustinuerint pertinaci ex tunc velut haeretici condemnentur. Verum huiusmodi nostrae citationis edictum quod fit ideo ex certa scientia facimus et eo fratres praedictos arctari volumus ac si essent per speciales citationes personaliter apprehensi quia ut vagabundi nullatenus possent aut saltem non faciliter inveniri ut contra citationis eiusdem processum omnis calumniae tollatur occasio in praesenti sacro concilio publicamus. Et ut ipsa talis citatio certius ad fratrum ipsorum et communem omnium notitiam deducatur cartas sive membranas processum citationis huiusmodi continentes bulla que nostra bullatas in maioris ecclesiae Viennensis appendi vel affigi ostiis faciemus quae citationem huiusmodi suo quasi sonoro praeconio et patulo iudicio publicabunt ita quod fratres praedicti quos citatio ipsa contingit nullam possint excusationem praetendere quod ad eos ipsa citatio non pervenerit vel quod ignorarint eamdem cum non sit verisimile remanere apud eos incognitum vel occultum quod tam patenter omnibus publicatur. Ceterum ut circa hoc cautela plenior observetur dioecesanis locorum praecipimus ut in suis cathedralibus ac locorum insignium dioecesium suarum ecclesiis huiusmodi nostrae citationis edictum cum primum commode poterunt faciant publicari.

Given at Vienne on 6 May 1312 in the seventh year.

[1.4]. To all the administrators and guardians of the property of the former house and order of the Knights Templar, delegated by apostolic and any other authority. Recently we held, as the Lord so disposed, a general council at Vienne. There we gave long and careful consideration to the disposal of the former house and order of the Knights Templar. We thought it more acceptable to the most High, more honourable to those who worship in the true faith, and more useful for the aid of the holy Land, to grant this property to the order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem, rather than to give it or even attach it to a new order to be created. There were some, however, who asserted that it would be better to confer the property on an order to be newly created than to attach it to the order of the Hospital, and so we were unable to obtain the result we hoped for. At last, however, by God’s favour, on 2 May of this present month, with the approval of the sacred council, we judged that the property should be granted and attached and even united to the said Hospital or order. We made an exception, for certain reasons, of the Templars’ property in the kingdoms and lands of our beloved sons in Christ, the illustrious kings . . . of Castile, . . . of Aragon, . . . of Portugal, and . . . of Majorca’, outside the kingdom of France. We reserved this property for our disposition and that of the apostolic see, until some other arrangement be made by us and the apostolic see for its use to aid the holy Land.

Universis administratoribus et curatoribus ad administrandum et conservandum bona quondam domus et ordinis militiae templi apostolica et quacumque auctoritate alia deputatis ubicumque consistentia. Nuper in generali concilio per nos Viennae disponente domino celebrato post longam deliberationem praehabitam et maturam acceptabilius fore credentes altissimo magis honorabile fidei orthodoxae cultoribus ac subventioni terrae sanctae utilius exstimantes bona quondam domus et ordinis militiae templi ordini hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani concedere quam ordini de novo creando unire aut etiam applicare consilium deliberationis nostrae providit sed quia tunc aliquibus asserentibus utilius fore bona ipsa ordini noviter creando conferre quam dicti hospitalis ordini applicare tunc noster affectus speratum effectum super hoc obtinere nequivit. Tandem vero sic per dei gratiam actum fore dinoscitur quod vi nonas praesentis mensis maii eodem sacro approbante concilio hospitali seu ipsius hospitalis ordini supradictis praefata bona concedenda et applicanda duximus et etiam unienda bonis eiusdem ordinis militiae templi in regnis et terris carissimorum in Christo filiorum nostrorum ... Castellae ... Aragonum ... Portugaliae et Maioricarum regum illustrium extra regnum Franciae consistentibus dumtaxat exceptis quae ab unione concessione et applicatione huiusmodi ex certis causis excipienda duximus et etiam excludenda ipsa dispositioni nostrae et sedis apostolicae specialiter reservantes quousque de illis aliter pro dictae terrae subsidio per nostram et dictae sedis providentiam exstiterit ordinatum.

We therefore strictly command all of you, by apostolic ordinance, to restore in full, in the name of the said Hospital and order, this property with the revenue gathered from it, after all expenses have been paid, to the master and brothers of the Hospital, or to restore individual items to the said Hospital’s individual priors or preceptors of the provinces or cities or dioceses or places in which the property lies, or to the procurator or procurators of one or more of them, according to the terms of your commission, within a month of being so required. For this the master, brothers, priors and preceptors, or their procurator or procurators, shall fittingly commend you, and we shall rightly acknowledge your prompt and devoted obedience.

Quocirca universitati vestrae per apostolica scripta districte mandamus quatenus bona praedicta cum redditibus inde perceptis deductis deducendis expensis eisdem magistro et fratribus aut singula eorum singulis dicti hospitalis prioribus seu praeceptoribus provinciarum aut civitatum vel dioecesium seu locorum in quibus bona ipsa consistunt seu procuratori vel procuratoribus eorumdem sive ipsorum alicuius prout cuiuslibet vestrum curae et administrationi commissa fuerunt cum ab eis vel eorum aliquo super hoc fueritis requisiti infra unum mensem a tempore requisitionis huiusmodi nomine dictorum hospitalis et ordinis integraliter restituere et assignare curetis ita quod magister et fratres ac priores et praeceptores seu procurator vel procuratores praedicti de vobis in hac parte digne se valeant commendare nos que in vobis devotae oboedientiae promptitudinem merito cognoscamus.

Given at Livron in the diocese of Valence on 16 May in the seventh year.{1}

Dat(um) Liverone Valentin(ensis) dioecesis xvii kal(endas) iunii anno septimo.

[1.5].{2} Our redeemer, the only-begotten Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, loved so much the daughter of Zion, the holy Land, that he chose her as his inheritance and his own patrimony. He therefore, clothed with our flesh, honoured her with his presence and consecrated her by the shedding of his precious blood. But we mourn and bitterly lament that so noble an inheritance of our redeemer has been turned over to strangers and laid low by the frenzy of the Babylonian persecutor, trampled underfoot by the feet of the defiled. She is dishonoured by the vile grasp of the unclean Saracens, faithless enemies of the christian name. She has been occupied and wretchedly retained, the christian people have been savagely slaughtered. To the insult of the creator, to the outrage and sorrow of all Christendom, the name of Christ is horribly blasphemed by the filthy and detestable conduct of the enemy. This sad region therefore weeps under the lash and repeatedly laments to the vicar of Christ about this intolerable persecution. Wounded by her disgrace, she pleads with christian princes and the catholic people. She uncovers her wounds to those from whom she awaits the work of the healer. She demands liberation from those for whose salvation the author of salvation bore within her borders the suffering of the cross. All this and more besides, which the mind cannot fully conceive nor the tongue tell, rose to our heart and roused our mind as soon as we were called by divine favour, though unworthy, to the summit of apostolic dignity. We gazed tenderly at the doleful state of the holy Land and we applied ourselves to think out remedies by which, with the aid of heaven, that Land, freed from the enemy’s criminal hands, might see, after the darkness of so many tribulations, the bright times of longed-for peace

Redemptor noster unigenitus dei filius dominus Iesus Christus in tantum Syon filiam videlicet terram sanctam dilexit quod eam sibi in hereditatem et proprium patrimonium praeelegit hanc itaque ipse nostrae Carnis indumento vestitus sua decoravit praesentia sui que pretiosissimi aspersione sanguinis consecravit. Sed lugendum est proh dolor et amare dolendum quod tam praeclara nostri redemptoris hereditas versa est ad alienos et Babilonici persecutoris furore confusa iacet coinquinatorum pedibus conculcata et per immundissimos Sarracenos hostes perfidos nominis christiani vilissima ipsorum contrectatione polluta occupata miserabiliter detinetur et trucidato in ea immaniter populo christiano ad maiorem contumeliam creatoris totius que christianitatis iniuriam et dolorem ab hostium ipsorum abhominanda spurcitia blasfematur ibidem horribiliter nomen Christi. Lamentatur itaque diris afflicta flagellis regio ipsa tristis et de intolerabili persecutione quam patitur lamenta multiplicans clamat ad Christi vicarium christianos principes et plebem catholicam interpellat opprobriis sauciata eis quoque sua vulnera detegit a quibus exspectat operam medicantis illorum dexteram vindicem expetit pro quorum salute salutis auctor in ea crucis pertulit passionem. Hiis igitur et aliis circa haec quae animus nequit plene concipere nec lingua referre ad cor ascendentibus et excitantibus mentem nostram quam primo ad apostolicae dignitatis apicem fuimus licet indigni divina dignatione vocati statum lugubrem dictae terrae piae considerationis oculo intuentes studuimus cogitare remedia quibus ope comite caelestis auxilii terra ipsa de scelestis hostis manibus liberata sibi post tantarum tribulationum tenebras possent serena quietis optatae tempora provenire.

For this and other holy works acceptable to God, to be advanced by his almighty power, we convoked a general council in the city of Vienne{3}. Then, together with our brothers the cardinals of the holy Roman church, the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops and other prelates and our beloved sons in Christ the illustrious kings Philip of the Franks and Louis of Navarre, who were present at the council, as also some other eminent men and the procurators of the remaining absent prelates and of chapters, convents, churches and monasteries, assembled at the council, we held a long, complete and careful discussion on bringing aid to the holy Land. At last we resolved, with the council’s approval, to succour the holy Land by a general crusade. Intending to use our apostolic power zealously to this end, and having duly weighed all we have said, we judged, with the approval of the sacred council, that a tithe should be imposed by our apostolic authority on all ecclesiastical revenues and incomes throughout the world. Only the persons and places belonging to the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem and the other military orders were to be exempted. The tithe was to be collected and paid for six years to be reckoned from 1 January last, in fixed installments, as we should find best, and to be directed to helping the holy Land and opposing the infidels and the enemies of the catholic faith.{4}

Ad quod et alia pia et deo accepta opera ope suae omnipotentiae promovenda fecimus apud civitatem Viennensem generale concilium convocari. Postmodum vero cum fratribus nostris sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinalibus patriarchis quoque archiepiscopis et episcopis praelatis necnon carissimis in Christo filiis nostris Philippo Francorum et Ludovico Navarrae illustribus qui suam exhibuerunt in concilio memorato praesentiam et nonnullis aliis excellentibus viris ac reliquorum absentium praelatorum et etiam capitulorum conventuum ecclesiarum et monasteriorum procuratoribus in ipso concilio congregatis longum maturum et diligentem tractatum habuimus super iuvando negotio dictae terrae et tandem de ipsius approbatione concilii deliberavimus ut eidem terrae per subsidium generalis passagii succurratur. Ad quod nos manum apostolicae potestatis apponere sollicitis studiis intendentes praemissis omnibus digna consideratione pensatis decimam omnium ecclesiasticorum reddituum et proventuum per universas mundi partes personis et locis hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani et aliorum militarium ordinum dumtaxat exceptis usque ad sex annos a kalendis ianuarii proximo praeteritis computandos auctoritate apostolica eodem sacro approbante concilio duximus propterea imponendam per certos sicut nobis videretur expediens colligendam terminos et solvendam ac in dictae terrae subsidium et alias contra inimicos et infideles catholicae fidei convertendam.

But actually we reflected of late that our letters concerning the imposition, collection and payment of the tithe had not reached you by I January, nor could easily do so in a short time, on account of the great distance of those parts from the Roman curia. Wishing, then, to consult your ease and convenience, we have decreed that the six years are to begin in your region on I October next. We therefore ask, admonish and earnestly exhort you, also commanding you strictly by apostolic ordinance in virtue of obedience, to pay without difficulty the tithe for six years beginning from I October. The tithe is to be paid in the customary way, namely for the first half of the first year on 1 October next, and for the second half on I April immediately following, and in the same way for each of the remaining five years. Each of you is to pay it in full from your ecclesiastical revenues and incomes. If you fail to pay the tithe within the above periods, each of you automatically incurs sentences similar to those pronounced for nonpayment by you or by the suitable and trustworthy persons delegated by you to collect the tithe in your cities and dioceses.

Verum nos nuper considerantes attentius quod litterae nostrae super huiusmodi impositione collectione et solutione decimae ad vos infra kalendas non pervenerant supradictas nec etiam in brevi propter longam a Romana curia partium illarum distantiam commode pervenire valebant et propterea revelationibus et commoditatibus vestris in hac parte benigne prospicere cupientes praedictos sex annos in eisdem partibus vestris in kalendis octobris futuri decrevimus inchoandos. Quare universitatem vestram rogamus monemus et hortamur attentius vobis nihilominus per apostolica scripta in virtute oboedientiae districtius iniungentes quatenus praefatam decimam per eosdem sex annos a dictis kalendis octobris ut praedicitur inchoandos iuxta morem solitum per infrascriptos terminos videlicet pro medietate primi anni dictorum sex annorum in eisdem kalendis octobris et pro reliqua medietate ipsius anni in kalendis aprilis ex tunc proxime secuturi et sic per singulos reliquos quinque annos per similes terminos absque difficultatis obstaculo vos et quilibet vestrum de redditibus et proventibus vestris ecclesiasticis sine diminutione qualibet persolvatis. Quod si forsan in eisdem terminis defeceritis in solutione decimae supradictae vos et quemlibet vestrum similes sententias quas per vos vel alium seu alias personas idoneas et fideles deputandam seu deputandas a vobis ad eandem decimam in vestris civitatibus et dioecesibus colligendam in non solventes illam in terminis supradictis proferri contigerit incurrere volumus ipso facto.

Furthermore, you are to collect the tithe from our beloved sons, the abbots, priors, deans, archdeacons, provosts, archpriests and other prelates of churches, the chapters, colleges and convents of the Cistercians, Cluniacs, Premonstratensians, of saint Benedict and saint Augustine, of the Carthusians, Grandmontines and other orders, and other non-exempt secular and regular ecclesiastical persons, in your cities and dioceses, that is, each of you in each city and diocese. The priors, preceptors, masters and other persons and the places of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem and of the other military orders are to be the only exceptions made. The tithe is to be collected by you or by other suitable and trustworthy persons delegated by you for this service in each of your cities and dioceses. It is altogether our wish and command that you should delegate such persons. We entrust to them and command them by this document to claim and collect it in full by our authority, in each of the cities and dioceses where they are delegated, from our beloved sons the abbots, priors, deans, provosts, archdeacons, archpriests and other prelates of churches, and the exempt chapters, colleges and convents of the above-mentioned orders, in your cities and dioceses. Only the priors, preceptors, masters, persons and places of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem and of the said other military orders are to be excepted.

Et vos nihilominus a dilectis filiis abbatibus prioribus decanis archidiaconis praepositis archipresbyteris et aliis ecclesiarum praelatis capitulis collegiis et conventibus Cisterciensibus Cluniacensibus praemonstratensibus sanctorum Benedicti et Augustini Cartusiensibus Grandimontensibus et aliorum ordinum ceteris que personis ecclesiasticis saecularibus et regularibus non exemptis per vestras civitates et dioeceses constitutis videlicet singuli vestrum in singulis eisdem civitatibus et dioecesibus prioribus et praeceptoribus magistris et aliis personis ac locis hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani et aliorum militarium ordinum eorundem dumtaxat exceptis per vos vel huiusmodi aliam seu alias personas idoneas et fideles quam vel quas ad huiusmodi collectionis ministerium in singulis eisdem vestris civitatibus et dioecesibus assumendam duxeritis vel etiam assumendas ipse que et earum singulae quas omnino per vos ad hoc volumus et praecipimus deputari quibus ve id tenore praesentium committimus et mandamus in singulis praedictis civitatibus et dioecesibus ubi taliter assumptae fuerint a dilectis filiis abbatibus prioribus decanis praepositis archidiaconis archipresbyteris et aliis ecclesiarum praelatis capitulis collegiis et conventibus eorundem ordinum exemptis dictarum vestrarum civitatum et dioecesium praeterquam ab eisdem prioribus praeceptoribus magistris personis et locis hospitalis sancti Ioannis et aliorum militarium ordinum praedictorum huiusmodi decimam iuxta praedictum morem per annos et terminos memoratos de redditibus et proventibus suis ecclesiasticis auctoritate nostra integraliter exigere

The tithe is to be claimed and collected in full from the ecclesiastical revenues and incomes, by our authority, in the customary way according to the years and periods mentioned above. The delegates are to collect it from both the exempt and the non-exempt: each is to hand over and assign it for each period to the person among you by whom he was delegated, without delay or as soon as he conveniently can. You are to compel them by ecclesiastical censure, without any appeal, to give you an account of the money claimed and collected from the aforesaid non-exempt persons, as well as to hand over and assign the tithe claimed and collected from both the exempt and the non-exempt. Public instruments are to be drawn up and other due precautions taken concerning the handing over and assigning of the tithe. In this way, when needed, it can be established how much, from whom, when and for what period the delegates received the money and how much, when and for what period they handed over and assigned it to each of you.

et colligere dictae que etiam assumptae personae decimam quam ut praedicitur ab ipsis tam exemptis quam non exemptis exigi et colligi contigerit per easdem singulis videlicet vestrum a quibus taliter assumptae fuerint per eosdem terminos seu pro eis quam cito commode poterunt omni mora et dilatione postpositis fideliter et integre tradere et assignare quas ad reddendum vobis computum de exactis et collectis a praedictis non exemptis ac traditionem et assignationem huiusmodi decimae per eas ab eisdem exemptis et non exemptis exactae et collectae ut praemittitur faciendam per censuram ecclesiasticam appellatione cessante cogatis de ipsarum traditione et assignatione huiusmodi confectis publicis instrumentis aliis que debitis cautelis adhibitis per quae cum opus fuerit constare valeat quantum et a quibus quando et pro quo tempore prefatae assumptae personae de decima ipsa receperint quantum que de illa quando ac pro quo tempore singulis vestrum tradiderint et assignaverint studeatis.

The money which has been duly claimed and collected by you and your delegates from the exempt and non-exempt persons and has been handed over to you, including that which has been claimed and collected by your delegates from the said exempt persons, as mentioned above, and also the money which you will pay from your own revenues and incomes, is to be put away by each of you, together with your cathedral chapter, beneath the church or even elsewhere, as you think best, in some more becoming and safe place. Here, at your expense and that of the chapter, you will have it guarded carefully and faithfully, to be consigned by each of you to our delegates as and when shall seem good to us, for the business of the holy Land and the service of the faith.

Quam quidem decimam tam per vos et easdem personas ab aliis exemptis et non exemptis ut praemittitur exigendam et colligendam cum exacta et collecta exstiterit vobis que illa etiam quam per dictas personas a praefatis exemptis exigi et colligi contigerit tradita et assignata fuerit ut superius est expressum quam illa quam de dictis vestris redditibus et proventibus persolvetis singuli vestrum una cum capitulo suae cathedralis ecclesiae infra ecclesiam ipsam aut etiam alibi prout magis expedire cognoverint in aliquo decentiori et tuitiori loco repositam suis et ipsius capituli expensis faciant diligenter et fideliter custodiri per eosdem singulos vestrum illi vel illis quem vel quos ad id deputandum seu deputandos duxerimus prout et quando nobis videbitur pro huiusmodi terrae ac fidei praedictarum negotiis assignandam.

In order that you may more easily and effectively collect this tithe, we grant by this document full and unrestricted power to each of you to constrain by ecclesiastical censure directly or through your delegates, disregarding any appeal, the abbots, priors, deans, provosts and other aforesaid non-exempt persons, in your cities and dioceses. We grant the same power to your delegates, in each city or diocese for which they have been delegated, with regard to the abbots, priors, deans, provosts and other aforesaid exempt persons. This power may also be used to constrain any opponents and rebels. In addition, we grant full and unrestricted power to you to absolve in your cities and dioceses, after satisfaction has been made, the aforesaid non-exempt persons, and to your delegates regarding the aforesaid exempt persons who, because of non-payment of the tithe in due time, are bound by sentences of excommunication, suspension or interdict; also to dispense from irregularity contracted by celebrating divine worship or taking part in it while bound by one or more of the above sentences. In order that you and your delegates may have a reward for the labours undertaken, we enjoin on you the above things in remission of your sins.

Ut igitur facilius et efficacius super exactione et collectione huiusmodi decimae debitus subsequatur effectus vobis et singulis vestrum abbates priores decanos praepositos et alios supradictos non exemptos in eisdem vestris civitatibus et dioecesibus per vos vel praedictas personas per vos ut praemittitur assumendas eisdem vero personis abbates priores decanos praepositos et alios praelibatos exemptos in singulis eisdem civitatibus et dioecesibus in quibus deputatae fuerint necnon quoscunque alios contradictores et rebelles per censuram ecclesiasticam appellatione postposita compescendi et insuper vobis et singulis vestrum in eisdem vestris civitatibus et dioecesibus illis ex non exemptis praedictis ac praefatis assumendis personis et earum cuilibet illis ex praedictis exemptis qui occasione praedictae decimae tempore debito non solutae excommunicationum suspensionum vel interdicti fuerint ligati sententiis post satisfactionem de illa exhibitam iuxta formam ecclesiae absolutionis beneficium impendendi et dispensandi cum eis qui dictis ligati sententiis vel earum aliqua celebrando divina vel immiscendo se illis sicut prius maculam irregularitatis contraxerint plenam et liberam concedimus tenore praesentium potestatem.

The tithe is to be paid even if the apostolic see has granted an indult to you or some of you, or to the abbots, priors and other aforesaid exempt or non-exempt persons, or to anyone else, that you are not obliged and compelled to pay, or that you cannot be laid under interdict, suspension or excommunication by apostolic letters which have not made full and express mention of this indult and its tenor word for word, or of the names of your orders, localities and persons. The same applies to any privileges, indulgences, exemptions and apostolic letters which have been granted generally or specially in any form of words by the said apostolic see to any dignities, orders, places or persons, and of which and their whole tenor there should be made in our letters word for word, special, full and express mention. Consider, besides, that in these duties you are engaged in God’s business, and that you are acting in the sight of him who sees all. You will therefore be obliged to render an account to him and to us; we intend to use all diligence in this matter. You will receive due reward from both him and us. You should therefore act prudently and carefully, not only to avoid the danger of punishment and confusion, but also to gain the glory of praise and well-deserved reward.

Et ut tam vos quam dictae personae ad dictam colligendam decimam per vos ut praemittitur deputandae fructum de vestris laboribus reportetis praemissa vobis et eis in remissionem iniungimus peccatorum. Non obstantibus si vobis vel vestrum aliquibus aut abbatibus prioribus et aliis supradictis exemptis et non exemptis vel quibuscunque aliis ab eadem sit sede indultum quod ad solutionem alicuius decimae minimae teneamini et ad id compelli aut quod interdici suspendi vel excommunicari non possitis per litteras apostolicas quae de indulto huiusmodi et toto eius tenore de verbo ad verbum ac de propriis ordinum locorum et personarum vestrarum nominibus plenam et expressam non fecerint mentionem seu quibuslibet privilegiis indulgentiis exemptionibus et litteris apostolicis quibuscunque dignitatibus ordinibus locis vel personis generaliter vel specialiter sub quacunque forma vel conceptione verborum a sede memorata concessis de quibus quorum que totis tenoribus de verbo ad verbum in nostris litteris specialis plena et expressa mentio sit habenda. Praeterea considerantes quod in praemissis negotium dei persequimini et in conspectu agitis eius qui cuncta discernit sibi que necnon et nobis qui circa hoc omnem diligentiam intendimus adhibere tenebimini reddere rationem ab utroque pro meritis recepturi sic prudenter in illis et sollicite gerere sic que diligenter et consulte vos habere curetis quod non solum vitetis penae confusionis que discrimina sed laudis gloriam ac retributionis condignae mercedem consequi valeatis.

It is our wish also that each of you oblige the persons delegated by you for collecting the tithe, to swear that they will be diligent and careful in their work and to use this formula: “I swear . . . by you, lord . . ., who am delegated by the authority of the apostolic see and by the same see itself to claim, collect and receive a tithe of all ecclesiastical revenues and incomes from all exempt and non-exempt ecclesiastical persons in your city and diocese, that I will faithfully claim, collect, receive and guard this tithe which has been imposed by the apostolic see for the business of the holy Land and of the catholic faith. Only the priors, preceptors masters and other persons and places of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem and of the other military orders are excepted. I shall not give way in this to any person, of whatever dignity, status or condition, whether from entreaty, fear, gratitude, favour or any other cause. I shall restore and consign the full tithe to you at your order. I shall render a final and integral account concerning everything in detail, namely to you regarding what I have claimed, collected and received from non-exempt persons, and to the delegate or delegates of the holy see regarding exempt persons. If you lay down your office in this matter, I shall do the same according to the orders of your successor. So may God help me and these holy gospels of God.”

Volumus insuper quod quilibet vestrum de praemissis diligenter et sollicite prosequendis personas easdem per eum ad dictam colligendam decimam deputatas iurare faciat in hac forma: iuro ego ... a vobis domino ... auctoritate sedis apostolicae ac etiam ab eadem sede deputatus collector ad exigendum colligendum et recipiendum decimam omnium reddituum et proventuum ecclesiasticorum ab omnibus personis ecclesiasticis exemptis et non exemptis in civitate et dioecesi vestris prioribus praeceptoribus magistris et aliis personis ac locis hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani et aliorum militarium ordinum dumtaxat exceptis constitutis pro terrae sanctae ac fidei catholicae negotiis ab eadem sede impositam quod fideliter exigam colligam et recipiam atque custodiam ipsam decimam non deferendo in hiis alicui personae cuiusvis dignitatis status conditionis aut dignitatis exsistat prece timore gratia vel favore seu quacunque de causa et integre vobis restituam et assignabo cum id a vobis recepero in mandatis et super omnibus et singulis videlicet a praedictis non exemptis vobis ab eisdem vero exemptis per me exactis collectis et receptis illi vel illis quem vel quos praefata sedes ad id deputandum duxerit seu etiam deputandos reddam finalem et integram rationem et si contingat vos officium quod in praemissis geritis dimittere haec eadem faciam iuxta mandatum illius qui substituetur in eodem officio sic me deus adiuvet et haec sancta dei evangelia.

Given at Avignon on 1 December in the eighth year.

Dat(um) Avinione kal(endis) decembris anno octavo.

[1.6]. For future record. Not long ago, in the general council at Vienne, we transferred, with the approval of the sacred council, the property, rights, privileges, indults, immunities and liberties of the former order of the Temple to the order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem. For the sake of greater peace and concord between prelates of churches and other clergy on the one hand, and the brothers of the order of the Hospital on the other, as also for other justifiable reasons, we suspended, in the last session of the council, all the privileges granted to the Hospital by the apostolic see, and with them as a necessary consequence the privileges of the former Temple, which should be thought of as belonging to the said Hospital and transferred to it. We excepted the privilege of exemption, if they had any. We wished these privileges to be suspended at our good pleasure. There are some, however, who assert on insufficient grounds that the suspension of these privileges of the Hospital does not extend to the privileges of the former order of the Temple. Although there is not the faintest reason for such an assertion, we wish to remove from their minds the slightest doubt that it was our intention, by the said suspension of the privileges of the order of the Hospital, to suspend the privileges of the former Temple, which have become by the transference those of the Hospital itself. We declare therefore by our apostolic authority and decree that these, like the other privileges of the Hospital, are and remain suspended.

Ad memoriam futurorum. Licet dudum Viennae in generali concilio constituti bonis ordinis quondam templi cum suis iuribus privilegiis indulgentiis immunitatibus et libertatibus prius in ordinem hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani per nos sacro concilio approbante translatis pro pace et concordia inter ecclesiarum praelatos ceteros que viros ecclesiasticos et fratres ordinis dicti hospitalis stabiliendis promptius et firmandis certis ad hoc aliis nihilominus probabilibus concurrentibus causis omnia privilegia praefato ordini hospitalis per sedem apostolicam dudum concessa et per consequens procul dubio privilegia quondam templi quae censeri debebant hospitalis et debent velut iam in ipsum ordinem hospitalis translata excepto tamen exemptionis privilegio si quod habebant in ultima eiusdem concilii sessione omnino duxerimus suspendenda ea que voluerimus usque ad voluntatis nostrae beneplacitum manere suspensa quidam tamen minus plene praemissa in rationis examine deducentes asserere non verentur suspensionem huiusmodi ipsorum privilegiorum hospitalis praedicti ad ipsius ordinis templi quondam privilegia non extendi. Quamquam autem assertioni talium non suffragetur etiam color alicuius probabilis rationis nos tamen a cordibus eorundem volentes cuiusvis dubii materiam submovere nostrae fuisse intentionis per suspensionem praedictam privilegiorum ordinis hospitalis privilegia quondam templi suspendere quae iam erant per translationem praedictam ipsius ordinis hospitalis affecta auctoritate apostolica declaramus ac illa esse decernimus sicut et alia privilegia hospitalis et remanere suspensa.

Indeed, before the suspension, it was said in general by some of our brothers cardinals of the holy Roman church, to many of the prelates assembled at the general council, that there would be a suspension of the Hospital’s privileges until everything that was still uncertain among the said prelates and other clergy, with regard to concord, lawsuits and disputes, had been completely settled. We observed, however, that if it was necessary to await the end of all these lawsuits and disputes, one little case might generate grave prejudice against the Hospitallers, and great loss might result from the continuing suspension of their privileges. We reflected that this might provide material for many misrepresentations. In the last session of the council, therefore, wishing to obviate such greater dangers, we judged it fitting to make known orally, clearly and openly, even for a third time, so that each and all might clearly understand, that we wished the said suspension of the privileges of the order of the Hospital to continue until we willed otherwise. We intend with the Lord’s help to consider what is good for both sides and to make provision for both prelates and other clergy on the one hand, and the Hospitallers on the other, so that neither will have reason for complaint but both will receive due satisfaction. Let nobody therefore ...

Sane licet per aliquos fratres nostros sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinales pluribus ex praelatis qui ad concilium generale convenerant ante suspensionem praefatam dictum fuerit in communi quod ipsa privilegiorum hospitalis suspensio fieret quousque omnia circa concordiam causas et lites quae inter dictos praelatos et alios viros ecclesiasticos erant dubia essent completa et perfecta integraliter duratura nos tamen attendentes quod si finis causarum et litium huiusmodi deberet omnium expectari posset per unam modicam causam ipsi ordini hospitalariorum grave praeiudicium generari et sua privilegia diutius non absque eorum grandi dispendio remanere suspensa considerantes nihilominus quod istud posset materiam multis ministrare calumniis in dicta sessione ultima volentes tantis periculis obviare viva voce clare et aperte promendum duximus hoc etiam tertio ut ab omnibus et singulis plene posset intelligi repetendo nos velle dictam suspensionem privilegiorum ordinis hospitalis praedicti usque ad nostrum beneplacitum perdurare intendentes cooperante domino sic utrorumque pensatis utilitatibus nostrae disponere beneplacitum voluntatis quod et praelatis et personis aliis ecclesiasticis ac ipsis hospitalariis sic providebitur in praemissis quod neutri supererit conquerendi materia quin immo potius poterunt utrique merito contentari. Nulli ergo ....

Given at Avignon on 18 December in the eighth year.

Dat(um) Avinione xv kal(endas) ianuarii anno octavo.

[1.7]. For an everlasting record. Not long ago, under the Lord’s providence, we held a general council at Vienne, at which we suppressed the former order of the Knights Templar of Jerusalem. We granted, attached and joined the Templar possessions, with the approval of the sacred council, to the order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem, for the help of the holy Land; with the exception, for certain reasons, of their property lying in the kingdoms and lands of our beloved sons in Christ, the illustrious kings . . . of Castile, . . . of Aragon, . . . of Portugal and . . . of Majorca, outside the kingdom of France, which we reserved for our disposal and that of the apostolic see until we made other arrangements. Then, in the same council, we made some sound provisions for furthering the cause of the holy Land and others by which quarrels, scandals and discord might be prevented, and continuous peace and concord be established, between prelates of churches and other clergy on the one hand and the brothers of the Hospital on the other. We also made provision on other points relating to the reform of the order of the Hospital.

Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Dudum in generali concilio Viennensi per nos disponente domino celebrato sublato quondam militiae templi ierosolimitani ordine ac cassato bona praefati ordinis illis quae in regnis et terris carissimorum in Christo filiorum nostrorum ... Castellae ... Aragoniae ... Portugaliae et ... Maioricarum regum illustrium extra tamen regnum Franciae consistunt ex certis causis dumtaxat exceptis ac ipsis nostrae et sedis apostolicae dispositioni quousque de illis per nostram et dictae sedis providentiam ordinaremus aliter specialiter reservatis ordinis hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani in terrae sanctae subsidium concessisse applicasse et univisse meminimus sacro concilio approbante ac deinde in eodem concilio nonnulla quae promotionem negotii eiusdem terrae sanctae respiciunt quaedam etiam per quae inter ecclesiarum praelatos ceteros que viros ecclesiasticos ac fratres praedicti ordinis hospitalis via praecluderetur litigiis scandalis et discordiis perpetua que pax posset inter ipsos et concordia stabiliri necnon et certa alia quae ad reformationem praefati ordinis hospitalis pertinent providimus salubriter ordinanda.

Actually, business has pressed upon us. It is like an ocean pouring into the apostolic see. The waters of care constantly harass our heart. We have not been permitted until now, and are still not permitted, to put into execution the arrangements we desire. In order that the fruit of such sound proposals may not perish through oblivion or pressure of business, but rather may be gathered up, by the Lord’s will, at the opportune time, we have had the headings of these projected decrees inserted into the present document. Their drift is as follows. We wish that the transfer of property of the former order of the Temple to the order of the Hospital may, by our provision, be of advantage to the holy Land. We also wish that quarrels, scandals and discord be prevented between prelates and other clergy on the one hand and the brothers of the order on the other; that lasting concord be established between them; and that the order and its members be reformed, if and as this seems good. We have therefore made three special provisions regarding the order of the Hospital.

Verum quia occupationes imminere quae velut mare ad sedem praedictam confluunt et indesinenter cor nostrum exagitant ordinationes huiusmodi iuxta nostrum desiderium non sinerunt hactenus nec adhuc permittunt executioni votivae mandari ne oblivione vel occupatione qualibet fructus ordinationum tam salubrium pereat sed potius oportuno tempore dante domino colligatur capitula huiusmodi faciendarum ordinationum praesentibus inseri fecimus quorum tenores tales sunt. Ut ex applicatione bonorum ordinis quondam templi ad ordinem hospitalis cum provisionis nostrae ministerio promoveatur et prosperetur sicut optamus negotium terrae sanctae ac inter praelatos et ceteros viros ecclesiasticos dicti que fratres ordinis via praecludatur litigiis scandalis et discordiis perpetua que stabiliatur concordia inter eos et ordo ipse ac professores ipsius si et prout expedire videbitur reformentur circa eundem ordinem tria providimus specialiter ordinanda

The first has to do with the holy Land. We shall have an exact and careful enquiry made into the past and present possessions of the order of the Hospital and their exact annual value. We shall wish to know fully the annual value of each old and new house of the order, and how much this represents each year in terms of assistance to the holy Land. On completion of this valuation, and taking into account the necessary local expenditure, we shall oblige the order to maintain continuously in the holy Land a certain number of brothers and knights.

et ut primo agatur de hiis quae faciunt ad promotionem negotii terrae sanctae bona praefati ordinis tam antiqua quam nova et ipsorum valorem annuum exacta exquiri diligentia faciemus sollicite inquirentes et omnino scire volentes quantum quaelibet ipsius ordinis domus sive antiqua sive nova valeat annuatim et de quanto possit quolibet anno terrae sanctae subsidio respondere quo facto iuxta existimationem et valorem bonorum ipsorum et habita ratione de expensis in locis et propter loca ipsius ordinis necessario faciendis ad tenendum perpetuo in terra sancta certum fratrum et militum numerum eundem ordinem astringemus.

These brothers and knights are to labour effectively and strive to win the holy Land and keep it, as far as God grants. We shall arrange and provide that very few brothers of the order remain on this side of the sea. These shall be only those required to govern the houses of the order and those who are old, sick or unfit for war. The young and the strong, who are able to fight, shall be required to go and stay overseas so that the holy Land may have its needs met. The order will thus pursue the purpose for which it was instituted, as is only right and fitting. In this way it will not reserve for itself great wealth or many persons of quality. Rather, the order will lose all occasion for pride or the prosecution of idle enterprises, since the brothers and knights who drag their feet on this side of the sea will be far fewer than before. The property remaining behind will also be heavily and more than usually burdened as a result of our above-mentioned provisions.

Qui quidem fratres et milites ad acquirendum terram eandem et acquisitam etiam conservandum quantum deus dederit laborent efficaciter et intendant ordinato per nos et proviso quod citra mare fratres eiusdem ordinis paucissimi morabuntur videlicet soli ad regenda loca ipsius ordinis necessarii et alii senes et valetudinarii et inhabiles ad bellandum iuvenes autem et fortes ad bellandum habiles mittentur et tenebuntur necessario ultra mare ut sic terra sancta recipiat quod sibi debetur ipse que ordo id ad quod institutus est sicut decet et expedit prosequatur non relicta sibi secundum haec ex divitiis aut personarum qualitate vel multitudine sed adempta potius superbiendi licentia vel otiosa opera prosequendi cum longe pauciores ipsius ordinis fratres et milites sint citra mare moram tracturi quam hactenus morabantur bona que praedicta multum et longe plus solito onerata sint eis iuxta provisionem de qua praemittitur remansura.

We cannot impose on our successors the continuation of the above policy. Yet, in order to make this course of action possible and easier for them, we shall have the annual value of each house registered exactly in the Roman curia, and also the service which it will be able to provide each year for the holy Land, and the fixed number of brothers and knights required to stay overseas. We shall arrange that the registered material be kept permanently with the papal registers under our bull. Further, that there be no lack of carefulness or caution in this matter, we shall send the registered material under our bull to all christian kings to be permanently kept by them in order that if it should happen -- though may it not -- that this ordinance is not observed by the Hospitallers, the kings themselves, being informed in the above manner, may more quickly and fully know where the observance of this ordinance has ceased. As a result, they will also be moved to take care that it is observed.

Verum etsi successoribus nostris quod praemissa servari faciant necessitatem imponere non possimus ut eis tamen ad hoc occasionem demus et facilitatem etiam praeparemus valorem annuum singularum domorum praedictarum et servitium etiam de quo singulis annis poterunt terrae sanctae subsidio respondere necnon et certum fratrum et militum numerum qui ultra mare ut praemittitur morari debebunt faciemus in Romana curia cum exacta diligentia regestrari et regestrata cum regestris papalibus sub bulla etiam nostra ordinabimus perpetuo conservari ac ut etiam nulla super hoc desit diligentia vel cautela praemissa ut praedicitur regestrata ad reges omnes christianos per eos perpetuo conservanda sub bulla nostra mittemus ut si forte quod absit contigerit ordinationem huiusmodi per praefatum ordinem non servari reges ipsi de praedictis modo informati praemisso citius et plenius possint cognoscere in quo cessabitur ab observantia ordinationis praedictae et ex hoc etiam per consequens inducantur ut ordinationem ipsam facere observari procurent.

Secondly, in order to establish tranquility and peace, as was said above, between the churches with their prelates and the order of the Hospital, we shall see that all the privileges of the order are fully shown to us. And although we have no intention whatsoever of taking away its exemption, if the order has such, or of granting exemption, if the order has none, we shall altogether take away any privileges, if such there be, which are odious or provide matter for quarrels, discord or scandals. If we happen to find areas of uncertainty which it is not advisable to remove, we shall clarify. In addition, we shall delegate in each province two of its prelates and one of our clerics or another cleric to provide more fully for concord, giving them full and unrestricted powers, so that simply and easily, and without the din of a court of law, they may hear and settle or make peace between the parties in all disputes and cases that have arisen or might arise for any reason between the aforesaid order and the churches and any ecclesiastics with regard to churches, tithes, first-fruits, procurations and any property or rights whatsoever. This is to include questions concerning the property and rights of the former order of the Temple. The parties may be summoned or not as they wish; charges may be laid or not, as they please. Before or after the delegates’ decision there can be no appeal. Whatever they do or decide shall altogether be regarded as done or decided by us.

Secundo autem ad tranquillitatem et pacem stabiliendam ut supra dictum est inter ecclesias et praelatos cum ordine saepefato taliter providebimus videlicet quod omnia ipsius ordinis privilegia volumus et faciemus nobis integraliter exhiberi. Et licet exemptionem si eam ipse ordo habeat tollere vel si non habeat concedere minime intendamus privilegia tamen si qua habeat odiosa vel materiam litibus aut discordiis sive scandalis ministrantia omnino tollemus dubia si qua forte quae tolli non expediat invenerimus declarando et nihilominus ad provisionem concordiae pleniorem in qualibet provincia duos de ipsa praelatos et unum de clericis nostris vel aliis deputabimus dantes eisdem plenam et liberam potestatem ut simpliciter et de plano et sine strepitu et figura iudicii lites omnes et causas inter praefatum ordinem et ecclesias ac quascunque personas ecclesiasticas motas et quae moveri possent super ecclesiis decimis et primitiis procurationibus et rebus quibuscunque et iuribus quacunque ratione vel causa etiam propter bona vel iura dicti ordinis quondam templi vocatis vel etiam si voluerint non vocatis partibus facta informatione vel non facta sicut eis placuerit audiant et decidant vel inter partes ipsas componant ita quod ab ipsis ante vel post sententiam vel decisionem eorum appellari non possit sed quod ab eis factum fuerit et decisum omnino perinde habeatur ac si factum et decisum esset a nobis.

We shall also grant to them the power of regulating the procurations owed by the order to the bishops in different places so that, when and as seems good to them, they are converted into an annual payment as money to be paid by the order to the bishops. The bishops, on receiving such payments, are bound to visit at their own expense, at a time suitable for them, the places making them. If this regulation does not seem useful, the bishops will receive on visitation the procurations owed to them by the churches of the order, if these are able to pay them. If a church cannot pay the full procuration, the above delegates will make an estimate of the amount payable to the bishop as the procuration for that church. We shall also ordain that all churches which have annexed to them the cure of souls and belonged to the order of the Hospital on account of any right of the Temple, or even on account of any other rights which belong or shall belong to the Hospital, shall be subject in all spiritual matters to their diocesans, notwithstanding any privilege of exemption. Indeed, in order that everything decreed above may be fulfilled more quickly and without evasion on the part of the order, and that our good will may appear to everyone, we suspend entirely from now all the privileges for long granted by the apostolic see to the order, except for the privilege of exemption, if possessed, and we wish them to remain suspended at our pleasure.

Quibus etiam potestatem concedemus ordinandi ut procurationes in locis diversis ab ipso ordine episcopis debitae ubi et sicut eis expedire videbitur in annuum censum pecuniam eisdem episcopis solvendam ab ordine convertantur ita quod ipsi episcopi censum talem recipientes loca a quibus vel propter quae censum ipsum recipient in suis debeant visitare expensis cum eis hoc videbitur oportunum. Quod si ordinationem huiusmodi fieri visum non fuerit expedire recipient episcopi cum visitabunt procurationes sibi debitas in ecclesiis ipsius ordinis quae sufficientes fuerint ad eas solvendas. In aliis autem quae ad plenas procurationes solvendas sufficientes non fuerint taxabitur per superius deputatos ad quid solvendum episcopis pro procurationibus tales ecclesiae teneantur. Item ordinabimus quod omnes ecclesiae curam animarum habentes annexam quae ad ordinem hospitalis templi quoquo iure spectabant et etiam aliae quae ad ordinem hospitalis nunc spectant seu spectabunt in posterum subsint de cetero in omnibus quoad spiritualia dioecesanis eorum exemptionis cuiuslibet privilegio non obstante. Verum ut omnia superius ordinata citius et sine omni ordinis praefati diffugio compleantur et ut bona voluntas nostra circa praedicta clarius omnibus elucescat omnia privilegia praefato ordini per sedem apostolicam dudum concessa excepto tamen exemptionis privilegio si quod habent omnino ex nunc suspendemus et suspensa manere volemus usque ad nostrae beneplacitum voluntatis.

Thirdly, concerning the order of the Hospital itself, we shall be making decrees regarding its regulation and reform. We shall be seeing and examining carefully the rules, statutes, form of government and progress of the order itself and of its members. We shall approve and confirm what is good. We shall clarify doubtful points that we find in need of revision in the order itself and in its personnel, both head and members. We shall restore the norm of truth, justice and regular observance with the equilibrium of reason and equity, to the advantage and welfare of the order and for the help of the holy Land. In this way the order itself will be preserved from decay and kept in a healthy and prosperous condition.

Tertium circa praefatum ordinem per nos ut praedicitur ordinandum cedet ad regulationem et reformationem ipsius videlicet quod ordinationes statuta et statum et processum ipsius ordinis et personarum eiusdem videbimus et examinabimus diligenter et approbando ac confirmando bona declarando que dubia illa correctionis lima egentia tam in ordine quam personis ipsius in capite et membris inveniemus ipsa ad veritatis et iustitiae morum et regularis observantiae normam cum rationis et aequitatis libratione et prout utilitati et bono statui eiusdem ordinis expedierit et terrae sanctae subsidio reducemus ut sic ordo ipse et praeservetur a casu et in statu salubri et prospero conservetur.

The prelates of France, after the above intentions had been explained to them, petitioned that we should take away the privilege of exemption, if the order of the Hospital possessed it, or at least suspend such exemption, just as we have decreed the suspension of the order’s other privileges. These prelates also declared that, as long as the unlettered and simple brothers of the order remain under the care of their simple priests, and the prelates themselves are unacquainted with the brothers’ deeds and consciences, they can be in grave danger of losing their souls through having the privilege of exemption, if they do in fact possess it. Our reply is that because of shortness of time we are unable here to formulate a full and determinate decree. As soon as we can conveniently do so we shall with the Lord’s help decree and provide in this matter. Also, as these prelates earnestly petitioned us, it is our will and decree that just as individual catholic kings shall receive in writing the valuation of the order’s revenues and the other relevant information, so each province ought to have and shall have the same document.

Sane super eo quod praelati regni Franciae nobis postquam fuerunt eis suprascripta exposita supplicarunt ut exemptionis privilegium si quod habeat dictus ordo tollamus vel saltem in dubio suspendamus sicut et alia eiusdem ordinis privilegia superius ordinavimus suspendenda et super eo etiam quod proposuerunt iidem praelati quamdiu fratres praefati ordinis illitterati et simplices sub cura suorum sacerdotum simplicium remanebunt et praelati ipsi eorum facta et conscientias ignorabunt poterit ipsis fratribus esse in grave animarum dispendium seu periculum quod remaneat eis exemptionis privilegium si quod habent respondemus et dicimus quod propter temporis brevitatem super praemissis non possumus plene ac deliberate aliquod ordinare sed quam citius commode poterimus utiliter dante domino ordinabimus et providebimus super eis. Item sicut iidem praelati nobis supplicare curarunt ordinamus et volumus quod sicut iuxta praemissa singuli reges catholici habebunt scripturam valorem reddituum ipsius ordinis et alia de quibus supra circa hoc agitur continentem ita unaquaeque provincia habere debeat et habeat eandem scripturam.

Also, in accordance with the petition of these prelates, we decree and determine that the compositions pending or made within the last ten years, which were extorted from churches and ecclesiastics through fear of the order of the Hospital and the order of the former Temple, do not disadvantage or harm the said churches and ecclesiastics in any way, and that if two prelates and a non-prelate delegated by us cannot reach agreement, then whatever is decided by one of the prelates and the non-prelate, or decreed by them by way of composition or agreement, shall have effect and full validity. Also, we wish to be as gracious as possible to the said prelates. Therefore we shall allow the two prelates delegated by us to raise in ready money the procurations of their dioceses while absent, and we shall have the non-prelate provided for in money from the property of the former order of the Temple. We shall also decree in accordance with the petition of the prelates of France, that Hospitallers who publicly receive excommunicated persons or those under interdict or notorious usurers for ecclesiastical burial, or for solemnizing their marriages or having them solemnized or permitting them to be solemnized in their churches against the law, or for administering the sacraments to outside parishioners or permitting this in their churches, incur automatic excommunication. And we strictly forbid the Hospitallers to trouble anyone unduly by use of apostolic letters. We shall also decree, in accordance with the petition of the same prelates, against the building of new churches or chapels, the erecting of bell-towers and the making of cemeteries; we shall provide adequate laws on these subjects to be observed by the Hospitallers.

Item iuxta supplicationem praelatorum ipsorum ordinamus et volumus quod compositiones pendentes et factae a decem annis citra ac per metum dictorum ordinum hospitalis et templi quondam ab ecclesiis et ecclesiasticis personis extortae ipsis ecclesiis et personis non obstent vel in aliquo noceant quod que si duo praelati et alius non praelatus a nobis ut praemittitur deputandi super agendis coram eis in idem non poterunt concordare valeat et plenam habeat firmitatem quod ab uno de praelatis ipsis et tertio non praelato iudicatum fuerit aut in via compositionis vel concordiae ordinatum. Item supplicationi dictorum praelatorum quantum commode possumus condescendentes concedemus duobus praelatis ut praemittitur deputandis a nobis circa praemissa procurationes suarum dioecesium in absentia levandas in pecunia numerata et tertio non praelato faciemus de bonis ordinis quondam templi in pecunia provideri. Item iuxta supplicationem eorundem praelatorum ordinabimus quod hospitalarii excommunicatos aut interdictos publice aut eosdem vel usurarios manifestos ad ecclesiasticam sepulturam recipientes aut matrimonia sollemnizantes vel sollemnizari facientes aut permittentes in suis ecclesiis contra iura aut sacramenta ecclesiastica alienis parochianis ministrantes vel ministrari in suis ecclesiis permittentes excommunicationis sententiam ipso facto incurrant. Et prohibemus eis districte ne per litteras apostolicas aliquos indebite vexare praesumant. Item iuxta supplicationem eorundem praelatorum super non constituendis novis ecclesiis vel capellis aut non erigendis campanis et cimiteriis faciendis ordinabimus et providebimus iura sufficienter super hoc edita per ipsos hospitalarios observari.

Given at Avignon on 31 December in the eighth year of our pontificate {5}

Dat(um) Avinione II kal(endas) ianuarii pontificatus nostri anno octavo.

[1.8]. For an everlasting record. Some time ago, in the general council held at Vienne under the Lord’s inspiration, we suppressed the former order of the Temple for certain good reasons as explained in the letter of suppression. After long and careful deliberations with our brothers and the whole council, we bestowed on the order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem, on the Hospital itself and on our beloved sons, the master and brothers of the Hospital, in the name of the Hospital and of the order of these men, who as the Lord’s athletes expose themselves unfailingly to the danger of death in defence of the faith and have borne and still bear heavy loss overseas, the house of the Knights Templar and their other houses, churches, chapels, oratories, cities, castles, towns, lands, granges and all their other movable, immovable and self-moving property, together with all the members and rights and all that belongs to them, beyond and on this side of the sea and in all parts of the world, which the former order and its master and brothers had and comprised at the time when the master himself and some of the brothers were arrested as a body in the kingdom of France, namely in October 1308.

Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Licet pridem in generali concilio Viennae auctore domino celebrato post dissolutionem quondam ordinis templi ex certis rationabilibus causis factam prout in dissolutionis eiusdem litteris seriosius continetur post longa praemeditata et matura consilia fratrum nostrorum necnon et totius concilii generalis ordini hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani et ipsi hospitali ac dilectis filiis magistro et fratribus hospitalis eiusdem nomine hospitalis et ordinis eorundem qui tanquam athletae domini strenue pro defensione fidei se periculis mortis iugiter exponentes onerosa nimis et periculosa dispendia pertulerunt et continue perferunt in partibus transmarinis ipsam domum militiae templi ceteras que domos ecclesias capellas oratoria civitates castra villas terras grangias omnia que alia bona immobilia mobilia vel se moventia cum omnibus membris iuribus et pertinentiis suis ultra et citra mare ac in universis et quibuslibet mundi partibus consistentia quae quondam ordo ipse magister et fratres ipsius ordinis militiae templi tempore quo magister ipse et nonnulli ex eisdem fratribus dicti ordinis militiae templi in regno Franciae capti fuerunt communiter videlicet anno domini millesimo trecentesimo octavo mense octobris

The property includes that which the Templars had of themselves or through others, and anything belonging to them in any way, with all their rights, privileges, indults, immunities, liberties, honours and charges. We donated and united all this forever to the Hospital and incorporated it into the Hospital, with the approval of the sacred council and from the fullness of our apostolic power, for the help of the holy Land. However, whatever rights belonged to kings, princes, prelates, barons, nobles and any other Catholics, before the arrest of the master of the former order of the Temple and of some other brothers, were to remain. We excepted from the said donation, union and incorporation the property of the former order of the Temple in the kingdoms and lands of our beloved sons in Christ, the illustrious kings ... of Castile, ... of Aragon, ... of Portugal, and ... of Majorca, lying outside the kingdom of France, which we reserved with good reason for the disposal of the apostolic see.

per se vel quoscunque alios habebant tenebant et possidebant vel ad eosdem pertinebant vel quomodolibet competere poterant vel debebant cum suis iuribus privilegiis indulgentiis immunitatibus et libertatibus honoribus et oneribus universis donaverimus concesserimus univerimus incorporaverimus et applicaverimus in perpetuum eodem sacro approbante concilio de apostolicae plenitudine potestatis adiecto in donatione concessione unione incorporatione et applicatione praedictis quod bonis ipsis iuribus honoribus et oneribus suis salvis remanentibus ordini praefato hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani pro subsidio terrae sanctae principibus praelatis baronibus nobilibus et quibuslibet catholicis aliis iura quaecunque quae sibi ante captionem praedictam magistri quondam ordinis templi et nonnullorum aliorum fratrum eiusdem ordinis competebant exceptis dumtaxat a donatione unione ac incorporatione praedictis bonis quondam dicti ordinis templi in regnis et terris carissimorum in Christo filiorum nostrorum ... Castellae ... Aragoniae ... Portugaliae ac ... Maioricarum regum illustrium extra dictum regnum Franciae consistentibus quae ex causa a praedictis unione et incorporatione quo ad tunc duximus excludenda

In the letter of donation, union and incorporation, however, through the carelessness, neglect or engagements of the scribe or secretary, mention was omitted of the non-violation of the rights of kings, princes, prelates and other persons concerned. Lest therefore any doubt arises in the future from such an omission concerning these charges and rights, and any prejudice be generated against the said kings, princes, prelates, barons, nobles and other persons, we, who desire that everyone retains his rights unimpaired, wishing to provide a suitable remedy in the matter for the said kings, princes, prelates, barons, nobles and any other Catholics, declare that we have made the above donation, union and incorporation to the order of the Hospital of saint John of Jerusalem, and to the Hospital itself and its master and brothers, in the name of the said Hospital and order, in the way expressed above. We determine and decree of our certain knowledge that, without violation of the property of the former order of the Temple donated to the order of the Hospital, together with all its privileges, indults, immunities, liberties, rights, honours and charges, for the help of the holy Land, nevertheless whatever rights belonged to kings, princes, prelates, barons, nobles and any other Catholics, at the time of the said arrest of the master and some brothers of the Temple, remain intact, unimpaired and exactly as they would be in everything as if they had been distinctly and expressly mentioned in the said letter of donation, union and incorporation. Let nobody therefore . . .

ipsis dispositioni et ordinationi sedis apostolicae reservatis in litteris tamen concessionis donationis et incorporationis huiusmodi incuria seu negligentia aut occupatione scribae sive scriptoris earum de oneribus et iuribus regibus principibus praelatis et aliis supradictis competentibus quod salva eis remanere debeant fuit mentio praetermissa. Ne igitur ex omissione tali possit in posterum super dictis oneribus et iuribus dubitatio aliqua suboriri dictis que regibus principibus praelatis baronibus nobilibus et personis aliis praeiudicium aliquod generari nos qui iura cuique sua cupimus illesa servari volentes super hoc dictis regibus principibus praelatis baronibus nobilibus et quibusvis catholicis aliis de oportuno remedio providere declaramus nos donationem unionem ac incorporationem praefatas fecisse dicto ordini hospitalis sancti Ioannis ierosolimitani ac ipsi hospitali et magistro ac fratribus hospitalis eiusdem nomine hospitalis et ordinis eorundem sub modis et forma qui sunt superius expressati volentes et ex certa scientia decernentes quod praefatis bonis dicti quondam ordinis templi saepefato ordini hospitalis cum omnibus privilegiis indulgentiis immunitatibus libertatibus iuribus honoribus et oneribus remanentibus pro terrae sanctae subsidio semper salvis regibus principibus praelatis baronibus nobilibus et quibuslibet catholicis aliis iura quaecunque quae dictae captionis tempore competebant eisdem salva sibi remaneant et per omnia illibata consistant ac perinde quo ad omnia censeantur ac si praemissa distincte et particulariter expressata in dictae donationis concessionis unionis et incorporationis litteris extitissent. Nulli ergo ....

Given at Avignon on 13 January in the eighth year.{6}

Dat(um) Avinione idus ianuarii anno octavo

DECREES