3043

February 9. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to Bishop [Stephanus] of Famagusta (Famagustanus) and Abbot [Georgius] of Episcopia in the diocese of Nicosia, relating that Archbishop [Hugo] of Nicosia (Nicosiensis) informed him that certain possessions belonging to his manse are useless and requested that he be allowed to transfer them to other uses of his church either by renting them out perpetually or by selling them and buying others for the same price. The pope orders the addressees to look into the matter and to grant the archbishop permission on papal authority, if they deem it expedient. But the archbishop shall not sell these possessions before he finds others to buy, and all the money shall be used for the others, passing through the addressees' hands, notwithstanding the oath the archbishop is said to have sworn not to alienate the church's possessions. The addressees are to ensure that the pope's concession is for the good of that church, not to its detriment.