3192

March 11. Lateran. Pope Alexander IV writes to Archbishop [Florentius] of Caesaria (Cesariensis), Bishop [Ioscelinus] of Acre (Acconensis), and the prior of the Friars Preacher (Dominicans) Acre (Acconenses), relating that the rector, council, and commune of the city Marseille (Massiliensis) had him informed that the late kings of Jerusalem (Ierosolimitani) Fulk (Fulco) and his wife Melisende (Melixenda), Baldwin (Balduinus), Amaury (Amalricus), Aimery (Aymericus), and Iohannes granted the commune freedom, liberty, and immunity throughout the Kingdom of Jerusalem (Ierosolimitanum) and certain possessions in the kingdom belonging to the kings, this was afterwards confirmed by the Apostolic See, and the commune enjoyed this freedom, liberty, and immunity for a long time and possessed those possessions in peace and quiet. Then the bailiffs of the kingdom, the noble man [Iohannes] the count of Jaffa (Ioppensis), lords John of Ibelin (Iohannes de Ibellino), [lord] of Beirut (Beriti), and Philippus de Monteforti de Thoron and Sidon (Sidoniensis), and several other barons and knights of the kingdom in Acre (Accon) and other places of the kingdom unduly extorted taxes and other exactions from the citizens of Marseille (Massilienses) against those grants and still extort them at their will, nor are they content with this, but they occupy their possessions. Thus the rector, counsel, and commune asked the Apostolic See to provide for them. The pope orders the addressees, if the aforesaid is true, to warn and induce the bailiffs, nobles, barons, and knights to cease this exaction and restore the possessions to the rector, counsel, and commune. Otherwise they shall summon the parties, hear the case, and decide it suitably, appeal removed, informing the pope of what they do, various obstacles notwithstanding. If not all three are able, then two can carry it out, etc.