3053

March 15. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the rectors and brothers of the confraternity of Italians (Ytalicorum) of the Holy Spirit in Acre (Acconensis), relating that he was shown their petition claiming that for the support of the Holy Land at one time they ordained among other things that each of them, obeying the honest orders of their rectors, is obliged to say the Our Father seven times daily. Furthermore, if any of them should become ill, he shall have something every day from the common funds until he recovers. If someone is captured by enemies, he shall have a quantity of money from the confraternity for his ransom and something from each brother after his liberation. Afterwards this was approved by the late [James de Vitry, [cardinal-]bishop of Tusculum (Tusculanus), then bishop of Acre, with the consent of the chapter, as is more clear in the letter said to have been drawn up for this. The pope therefore grants their request confirms this, inserting the bishop’s original letter of 1220. In it he confirms the statutes of the confraternity of the Holy Spirit drawn up in Acre on 29 May 1216: among other things for the good of the crown of the Kingdom of Syria, the pilgrims of Italy (Ytalie) have formed a confraternity at Pentecost in honour of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, to the profit of Christianity, the Roman Church, and the patriarchate and crown of Syria, and especially in aid of the Holy Land, for the remission of their sins and those of their parents and of all faithful, promising piety and mercy to one another, agreeing to maintain the society in good faith and the chapters written below, and to obey the orders of their present and future rectors for the good of the society; everyone who joins the confraternity shall say the Pater Noster seven times for the honour of the Holy Spirit, and for the living and the dead, and for the society; one must help the other as best he can, in good times and bad. The aim of the confraternity is to gather and help the pilgrims of Italy who will be sick or die in poor condition. An ill member who cannot sustain himself will receive 6 denarii from the society (societas). If he dies without the means for burial, the confraternity will undertake to bury him. Each brother must offer a candle and 1 denarius at the funeral Mass or send 2 denarii to the rectores. All present are bound to go to the church for a burial and to say 12 pater nosters for the souls of the dead. All in the society should gather on the first Sunday of every month with the rectores to hear the Mass of the Holy Spirit and offer 1 denarius. In case of capture the confraternity will provide ten besants in order to release the member captive. After his freeing the former captive will get four deniers in order to prevent any risk of mendicancy. Any member of the society in need can apply for assistance. Disputes among members will be settled by the rectores; a third case of disobedience will be met with expulsion. Every member of the society is bound to bear arms, according to his state in life. Arms may be loaned by the society to members in order that they may follow the vexillum societatis against the enemies of Christ. The statute details the annual fee of two solidi and the membership fee of twelve deniers on the first accession. The annual fee will be paid by half part for the feasts of Christmas and Easter. Every member dying in the East (citra mare) should leave the society 4 Saracen besants or as much as can be afforded. Above all, he will leave the society his arms. If he should have crossed the sea to Europe, he is still liable for the annual subscription of 2 solidi, and for a payment of 5 solidi when he dies; if he cannot afford this, Masses should be said and alms given. All the deaths of members should be recorded in an obit book; anniversary Mass will be celebrated and 5 pater nosters will be said. Any member wishing to dispose of his goods should consult the rectores or consiliatori. The rectores will have wardship of the goods and familia of a dead member, with the advice of the consiliatori, unless the member had specifically forbidden this. If a member is ill and wants to be taken to the place where the society is gathered, the society is held to pay for his transportation and then 6 denarii a day. The rectors of the confraternity were in 1220 Aldebrando da Bolonia and the goldsmiths Pietro da Parma and Rolando Fiorentino. The oath to be taken by each member of the confraternity, lay and clerical, is also described. There follow supplementary statutes. Any member who suffers damage in person or goods in the service of the society will be recompensed. Any member who takes flight in battle when the vexillum societatis is deployed will be expelled. His arms will be burned in front of the people of Acre in order to give a public example. Spoil taken from the enemy (inimici) will be divided, with a third going to the despoiler, a third to the society and a third to be divided among the socii, except that a miles involved should have the equivalent of 2 socii, and a turkopulus or miles [who is not a member of the society] the equivalent of one and a half socii. James affixed his seal and was himself a member of the confraternity. The pope threatens excommunication for the infringers of his confirmation, by brandishing the omnipotent indignation of God and of the Apostles Peter and Paul.