3221

October 23. Viterbo. Pope Alexander IV writes to the bishops of Acre (Acconensis) and Fiesole (Fesulanus) , relating that Jacob (sic) Giberti, citizen and merchant of Florence, informed him that he, in his name and in the name of Raynerius, Ballindoto, Calcanius, Bonacursus, and Bene de Cetera, and of his other associates, citizens and merchants of Florence, lent 6,000 gold Saracen besants of Acre (Accon) at the weight Acconense to Bishop [Opizo da San Vitale] of Tripoli while he was at the Apostolic See, for his and his church’s business, to be repaid at a certain time and place, as contained in a public instrument. If the bishop or his successors do not repay as required, the addressees, or one of them, themselves or via another or others, are to excommunicate the bishop or his successors and announce the excommunication each Sunday and feast day, with bells ringing and candles lit, having the announcement made in all other fitting places and having all others avoid them, as long as the debt and just and moderate expenses incurred remain unpaid. If the bishop or his successors remain under this sentence for two months, the addressees are to suspend them from the administration of the spiritual and temporal affairs of their church, giving the bishop or his successors a deadline to appear in person before the pope to accept their just punishment.