3059

April 1. Naples. Pope Alexander IV writes to the master and brothers of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, relating that he was shown their request that claimed that because of warfare the monastery that was once built on Mt Tabor has been destroyed by the enemies of Christ's name and it is not expected that the abbot and monks can repair it. Since the Saracens may indeed fortify the place of Mt Tabor, which they occupy, to the detriment of the Christian faith, the addressees asked for a solution. Considering the addressees' incessant struggle against the enemies of the Cross in defense of the Christian name, the pope grants them and their hospital the place in which the monastery is situated with all its lands, possessions, houses, men, rights, liberties, immunities, and appurentances, and exemption from tithes, for aid to the Holy Land and maintenance of the poor, on the condition that within a decade, if there is continual peace or a truce between Christians and Saracens after they come into possession of the aforesaid, they are obliged to fortify the place and maintain forty horsemen at arms for the defense of the Christian name, and they are obliged to support the surviving abbot and monks of the abbey, according to the judgment of the archbishop of Tyre and the abbot of St Mary of the Valley of Josaphat of the Order of St Benedict living in Acre, or one of them, as long as they live, unless they are settled in other religious places.