Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XXXIV: On Truce and Peace
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: It establishes the times of truces and the penalties of those violating them.
Alexander III, in the Lateran Council.
We command that truces be inviolably observed by all from the fourth day of the week after sunset until the second day of the week at sunrise, [and] from the Advent of the Lord until the octave of Epiphany, and from Septuagesima until the octave of Easter.
§ 1. But if anyone should presume to break the truces and, after a third admonition, should not make satisfaction, let his bishop declare a sentence of excommunication against him and announce it in writing to the neighboring bishops. Let none of them receive the excommunicated person into communion; rather, let each confirm the written sentence. But if anyone should presume to violate these things, let him lie under peril of his order.
§ 2. And because a threefold cord is broken with difficulty, we command that bishops, having regard only for God and the salvation of the people, with all trepidation set aside, furnish one another mutual counsel and aid for firmly maintaining peace, and not omit this for anyone's love or hatred. But if anyone should be found timid in this work of God, let him incur loss of his own dignity.
DE TREUGA ET PACE.
Statuit tempora treugarum et poenas violantium.
Alexander III. in concilio Lateranensi.
Treugas a quarta feria post occasum solis usque ad secundam feriam in ortu solis, [et] ab Adventu Domini usque ad octavas Epiphaniae, et a Septuagesima usque ad octavas Paschae ab omnibus inviolabiliter observari praecipimus. § 1. Si quis autem treugas frangere praesumpserit, post tertiam admonitionem si non satisfecerit, suus episcopus sententiam excommunicationis dictet in eum, et scriptam vicinis episcopis annunciet, quorum nullus excommunicatum in communione recipiat, immo scriptam sententiam quisque confirmet. Si quis autem haec violare praesumpserit, ordinis sui periculo subiaceat. § 2. Et quoniam funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur, praecipimus, ut episcopi ad solum Deum et ad salutem populi habentes respectum, omni trepidatione seposita ad pacem firmiter tenendam mutuum sibi consilium et auxilium praebeant, neque hoc alicuius amore vel odio praetermittant. Quod si quis in hoc Dei opere trepidus inventus fuerit, damnum propriae dignitatis incurrat.
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: The persons enumerated here enjoy full security in time of war.
The same.
Moreover, we renew that priests, [clerics], monks, lay brothers, pilgrims, merchants, peasants going and returning and engaged in agriculture, and the animals with which they plow and that carry seed to the field, enjoy suitable security. Nor anyone, etc. (cf. c. 10, On Census, III. 39.)
Personae hic enumeratae plena securitate gaudent tempore guerrae.
Idem.
Innovamus autem, ut presbyteri, [clerici], monachi, conversi, peregrini, mercatores, rustici, euntes et redeuntes, et in agricultura exsistentes, et animalia, quibus arant et quae semina portant ad agrum, congrua securitate laetentur. Nec quisquam etc. (cf. c. 10. de cens. III. 39.)