2809

. February 25. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to the abbot of Belmont of the Cistercian Order in the diocese of Tripoli, to the abbot of St Samuel [in Acre] of the Premonstratensian Order, and to the cantor of Beirut, relating that, in the dispute between Bishop [William] and the chapter of Tortosa (Tartus), on the one side, and Vice-Master J[ean de Rosnay] of the Hospital of Jerusalem, on the other, over certain tithes and other things, the pope assigned the case to Cardinal-Deacon G[iovanni Gaetano Orsini] of San Nicola in Carcere as auditor. When the case had been contested in his presence, the statements had been made on the part of the bishop, the articles exhibited, and even the interrogation over them completed regarding what was stated before the auditor, he was unable to have full faith in the merits of the case, especially because the agent of the vice-master died and no one else appeared in the auditor’s presence who could take over the burden of the agency of the vice-master. The pope orders the addressees to gather in Batroun in the diocese of Tripoli or in the city of Jubayl (Byblos) or some other place as they see fit, to summon the vice-master or the master of the Hospital, and to compel him to respond to the statements mentioned to which no response has yet been given, and even to those to which a response has been made, if perhaps he is not content with those responses or he refuses to ratify them, using ecclesiastical censure if necessary, without appeal. But if the vice-master or master should wish to prove anything, he shall make statements and articles after your summons within the time you specify for this, and an interrogation of the bishop’s side over them shall be done.