2494

March 13. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes [to the king and people of the Mongols (Tartari)], relating that since not only humans but also irrational animals and the elements are joined in union after the example of the celestial spirits, all of which God the Maker has arranged in a perpetual, peaceful, and stable order, the pope has reason to wonder greatly that the addressees, as he has heard, have invaded many regions of the Christians and others, laid horrible waste to them, do not cease to extend their depopulating hands in continued fury, and, dissolving the chains of natural kinship, considering neither sex nor age, rage with their sword against all without distinction. The pope desires that all live in the unity of peace under the fear of God, so he warns and urges the addressees to stop these attacks, especially the persecution of Christians, and to make fitting satisfaction to placate the anger of divine majesty at so many and such great offenses, which anger they have without doubt seriously provoked. Nor must they rage more widely simply because omnipotent God has thus far permitted them to use their sword against other nations, who became so arrogant that when they refused to humble themselves. He did not hesitate to punish their iniquity in time and yet in the future He will do so more severely. And behold brother J [Johannes of Plano Carpini] and his associates, the bearers of this letter, etc., as in the letter of March 5, RRR 2491.