Innocent, bishop, servant of the servants of God, For a perpetual memory.

Innocentius episcopus, servus servorum dei, ad perpetuam rei memoriam.

Desiring with supreme ardor, as pastoral solicitude requires, that the catholic faith in our days everywhere grow and flourish as much as possible, and that all heretical depravity be put far from the territories of the faithful, we freely declare and anew decree this by which our pious desire may be fulfilled, and, all errors being rooted out by our toil as with the hoe of a wise laborer, zeal and devotion to this faith may take deeper hold on the hearts of the faithful themselves.

Summis desiderantes affectibus, prout pastoralis sollicitudinis cura requirit, ut fides catholica nostris potissime temporibus ubique augeatur et floreat ac omnis haeretica pravitas de finibus fidelium procul pellatur, es libenter declaramus ac etiam de novo concedimus per quae hujusmodi pium desiderium nostrum votivum sortiatur effectum; cunctisque propterea, per nostrae operationis ministerium, quasi per providi operationis saeculum erroribus exstirpatis, eiusdem fidei zelus et observantia in ipsorum corda fidelium fortium imprimatur.

It has recently come to our ears, not without great pain to us, that in some parts of upper Germany, as well as in the provinces, cities, territories, regions, and dioceses of Mainz, Cologne, Trier, Salzburg, and Bremen,

Sane nuper ad nostrum non sine ingenti molestia pervenit auditum, quod in nonnullis partibus Alemaniae superioris, necnon in Maguntinensi, Coloniensi, Treverensi, Saltzumburgensi, et Bremensi, provinciis, civitatibus, terris, locis et dioecesibus

[1] ruin and cause to perish the offspring of women, the foal of animals, the products of the earth, the grapes of vines, and the fruits of trees, as well as men and women, cattle and flocks and herds and animals of every kind, vineyards also and orchards, meadows, pastures, harvests, grains and other fruits of the earth;

[2] that they afflict and torture with dire pains and anguish, both internal and external, these men, women, cattle, flocks, herds, and animals,

[3] and hinder men from begetting and women from conceiving, and prevent all consummation of marriage;

[4] that, moreover, they deny with sacrilegious lips the faith they received in holy baptism;

[5] and that, at the instigation of the enemy of mankind, they do not fear to commit and perpetrate many other abominable offences and crimes, at the risk of their own souls, to the insult of the divine majesty and to the pernicious example and scandal of multitudes.

ore sacrilego abnegare, aliaque quam plurima nefanda, excussus et crimina, instigante humani generis inimico, committere et perpetrare non verentur in animarum suarum periculum, divines maiestatis offensam ac perniciosum exemplum ac scandalum plurimorum.

And, although our beloved sons Henricus Institoris and Jacobus Sprenger, of the order of Friars Preachers, professors of theology, have been and still are deputed by our apostolic letters as inquisitors of heretical pravity, the former in the aforesaid parts of upper Germany, including the provinces, cities, territories, dioceses, and other places as above, and the latter throughout certain parts of the course of the Rhine;

Quodque licet dilecti filii Henrici Institoris in praedictis partibus Alemaniae superioris, in quibus etiam provinciae, civitates, terrae, dioeceses et alia loca huiusmodi comprehensa fore censentur, necnon Jacobus Sprenger, per certas partes lineae Rheni, ordinis fratrum Praedicatorum et theologiae professores, haereticae pravitatis inquisitores per literas apostolicas deputati fuerint, prout adhuc existunt,

nevertheless certain of the clergy and of the laity of those parts, seeking to be wise above what is fitting, because in the said letter of deputation the aforesaid provinces, cities, dioceses, territories, and other places, and the persons and offences in question were not individually and specifically named, do not blush obstinately to assert that these are not at all included in the said parts and that therefore it is illicit for the aforesaid inquisitors to exercise their office of inquisition in the provinces, cities, dioceses, territories, and other places aforesaid, and that they ought not to be permitted to proceed to the punishment, imprisonment, and correction of the aforesaid persons for the offences and crimes above named.

tamen nonnulli clerici et laici illarum partium, quaerentes plura sapere quam oporteat, pro es quod in literis deputationis huiusmodi provinciae, civitates, dioeceses, terrae et alia loca praedicta illarumque personae ac excessus huiusmodi nominatim et specifice expressa non fuerunt, illa sub eisdem partibus minime contineri, et propterea praefatis inquisitoribus in provinciis, civitatibus, dioecesibus, terris et locis praedictis huiusmodi inquisitionis officium exequi non licere; et ad personarum earundem super excessibus et criminibus antedictis punitionem, incarcerationem et correctionem admitti non debere, pertinaciter asserere non erubescunt.

Wherefore in the provinces, cities, dioceses territories, and places aforesaid such offences and crimes, not without evident damage to their souls and risk of eternal salvation, go unpunished.

Propter quod in provinciis, civitatibus, dioecesibus, terris et locis praedictis excessus et crimina huiusmodi non sine animarum earundem evidenti iactura et aeternae salutis dispendio remament impunita.

We therefore, desiring, as is our duty, to remove all impediments by which in any way the said inquisitors are hindered in the exercise of their office, and to prevent the taint of heretical pravity and of other like evils from spreading their infection to the ruin of others who are innocent, the zeal of religion especially impelling us, in order that the provinces, cities, dioceses, territories, and places aforesaid in the said parts of upper Germany may not be deprived of the office of inquisition which is their due, do hereby decree, by virtue of our apostolic authority, that it shall be permitted to the said inquisitors in these regions to exercise their office of inquisition and to proceed to the correction, imprisonment, and punishment of the aforesaid persons for their said offences and crimes, in all respects and altogether precisely as if the provinces, cities, territories, places, persons, and offences aforesaid were expressly named in the said letter.

Nos igitur impedimenta quaelibet, per quae ipsorum inquisitorum officii executio quomodolibet retardari posset, de medio submovere, et ne labes haereticae pravitatis aliorumque excessuum huiusmodi in perniciem aliorum innocentium sua venena diffundat, opportunis remediis, prout nostro incumbit officio, providere volentes, fidei zelo ad hoc maxime nos impellente, ne propterea contingat provincias, civitates, dioeceses, terras et loca praedicta sub eisdem partibus Alemaniae superioris debito inquisitionis officio carere, eisdem inquisitoribus in illi officium inquisitionis huiusmodi exequi licere et ad personarum earundem super excessibus et criminibus praedictis correctionem, incarcerationem et punitionem admitti debere, perinde in omnibus et per omnia acsi in literis praedictis provinciae, civitates, dioeceses, terrae et loca ac personae et excessus huiusmodi nominatim et specifice expressa forent, auctoritate apostolica tenore praesentium statuimus.

And, for the greater sureness, extending the said letter and deputation to the provinces, cities, dioceses, territories, places, persons, and crimes aforesaid, we grant to the said inquisitors that they or either of them joining with them our beloved son Johannes Gremper, cleric of the diocese of Constance, master of arts, their present notary, or any other notary public who by them or by either of them shall have been temporarily delegated in the provinces, cities, dioceses, territories, and places aforesaid, may exercise against all persons, of whatsoever condition and rank, the said office of inquisition,

Proque potiori cautela literas et deputationem praedictas ad provincias, civitates, dioeceses, terras et loca necnon personas et crimina huiusmodi extendentes, praefatis inquisitoribus, quod ipsi et alter eorum, accersito secum dilecto filio Joanne Gremper, clerico Constantiensis dioecesis, magistro in artibus, eorum moderno seu quovis alio notario publico, per ipsos et quemlibet eorum pro tempore deputando in provinciis, civitatibus, dioecesibus, terris et locis praedictis contra quascumque personas, cuiuscumque conditionis, et praeeminentiae fuerint, huiusmodi inquisitionis officium

exequi ipsasque personas, quas in praemissis culpabiles reperierint, iuxta earum demerita corrigere, incarcerare, punire et mulctare, necnon in singulis provinciarum huiusmodi parochialibus ecclesiis verbum dei fideli populo quotiens expedierit ac eis visum fuerit, proponere et praedicare, omniaque alia et singula in praemissis et circa ea necessaria et opportuna facere et similiter exequi libere et licite valeant, plenam ac liberam eadem auctoritate de novo concedimus facultatem.

Et nihilominus venerabili fratri nostro episcopo Argentinensi per apostolica scripta mandamus, quatenus ipse per se vel alium seu alios praemissa, ubi, quando et quotiens expedire cognoverit

and on behalf of the inquisitors of this kind or another of them has been legitimately required, solemnly publishing, not to allow them through anyone above this against the tenor of the aforesaid and present letters, to be molested by any authority, or otherwise hindered in any way; harassers and hinderers and contradictors of any kind and rebels, of whatever dignity, status, rank, preeminence, nobility, and excellence or condition they may have been, and by whatever privilege of exemption they may be protected, with excommunication, suspension, interdict and still other more terrible sentences, censures, and penalties.

fueritque pro parte inquisitorum huiusmodi seu alterius eorum legitime requisitus, solemniter publicans, non permittat eos per quoscumque super hoc contra praedictarum et praesentium literarum tenorem quavis auctoritate molestari seu alias quomodolibet impediri; molestatores et impedientes et contradictores quoslibet et rebelles, cuiuscumque dignitatis, status, gradus, praeeminentiae, nobilitatis et excellentiae aut conditionis fuerint et quocumque exemptionis privilegio sint muniti, per excommunicationis, suspensionis et interdicti ac alias etiam formidabiliores,

concerning which there shall pertain to him the judgments, censures, and punishments, postponing of all appeals, checking  even the legitimate ones twice over by observing the processes, he shall, whenever necessary, try to burden and increase the sentences themselves by our authority, invoking for this, if necessary, assistance secular arm

de quibus sibi videbitur, sententias, censuras et poenas, omni appelatione postposita, compescendo, et etiam legitimis super bis per cum servandis processibus, sententias ipsas, quotiens opus fuerit, aggravare et reaggravare auctoritate nostra procuret, invocato ad hoc, si opus fuerit, auxilio brachii saecularis.

Notwithstanding the provisions and constitutions and apostolic ordinances contrary to any.

Non obstantibus praemissis et constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis contrariis quibuscunque.

Or if some are jointly or severally pardoned by the apostolic see, because they cannot be prohibited, suspended, or excommunicated, not making a full and express, and word for word, mention of this kind of pardon by the apostolic letters, and any other general or special indulgence of the said see , of whatever tenor exists, by which the effect of such grace, not expressed or not entirely inserted, may be hindered by those present, however we please or be deferred, and of whatever, to be held in full tenor, there is a special mention in our letters.

Aut si aliquibus communiter vel divisim ab apostolica sit sede indultum, quod interdici, suspendi vel excommunicari non possint, per literas apostolicas non facientes plenam et expressam, ac de verbo ad verbum, de indultu huiusmodi mentionem, et qualibet alia dictae sedis indulgentia generali vel speciali, cuiuscumque tenoris existat, per quam praesentibus non expressam vel totaliter non insertam effectus huiusmodi gratiae impediri valeat, quomodo libet vel differri, et de quacumque, toto tenore habenda, sit in nostris literis mentio specialis.

Therefore no man whatsoever shall be permitted to infringe upon this page of our declaration, extension, grant, and mandate, or to contravene it by reckless venture. But if anyone presumes to attempt this, he knows that he incurs the indignation of Almighty God and of his blessed apostles Peter and Paul.

Nulli ergo omnjno hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrae declarationis, extensionis, concessionis et mandati infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraiare. Si quis autem hoc attentare praesumpserit, indignationem omnipotentis dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum

Given at Rome at St. Peter's, in the year of the incarnation Sunday one thousand four hundred and eighty-fourth, the ninth of December, in the first year of our pontificate.

Datum Romae apud S. Petrum, anno incarnationis dominicae millesimo quadringentesimo octuagesimo quarto, nonis Decembris, pontificatus nostri anno primo.

(December 9, 1484)

Bullarium Romanum (Taurinensis editio) sub anno 1484.