2704

July 21. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to all patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, deans, archdeacons and other prelates of the churches, both exempt and not, in Outremer, informing them of the legation of the [cardinal-]bishop of Tusculum (Frascati) (Eudes de Châteauroux) for the exaltation of the Church and the liberation of the Holy Land. As a wise, honest and circumspect man, the legate was granted the power to relax every sentence of excommunication and all other sentences that several (nonnulli) people in those parts have incurred or incur by adhering to the former emperor of the Romans, F[rederick II], and his supporters against the Church, to remit possible injuries and offenses done to the Church, and to admit them into the Church’s and pope’s grace. The pope orders the addressees to receive kindly and treat honourably the legate, for whatever he does concerning the above the pope will consider firm and accepted. Otherwise the pope will back up the spiritual or temporal sentence or punishment that the legate promulgates against rebels.