Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XXIII: On Payments
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: A successor in a benefice is bound to pay debts contracted by his predecessor for the necessity of the church.
Alexander III, to the Dean and Chapter of Thérouanne.
For this purpose we have been constituted, [although unworthy, by the Lord's ordering upon the watchtower of the Apostolic See: that we extend the acuity of our consideration to all churches and direct our full attention to their advantages and advancement. But it came to our hearing on behalf of your venerable brother the bishop that he is heavily burdened by a great load of debts for the necessities of your church. Hence, as a provident and honorable man, he earnestly requested us to make you solicitous for their repayment. But because it becomes you to be diligent and vigilant for the utility and increase of the church, we command your dignity that, if it should happen that the same bishop migrates from this light before payment of the debts that he contracted for the utility and necessity of the church committed to him, until another is substituted in his place you endeavor to pay those debts from the revenues pertaining to his table. When he has been substituted, you shall altogether induce the bishop to payment of those same debts; and] just as a son is bound to pay the debts of his father, so a prelate is bound to pay those of his predecessor contracted for the necessity of the church.
DE SOLUTIONIBUS.
Successor in beneficio tenetur solvere debita praedecessoris pro necessitate ecclesiae contracta.
Alexander III. Decano et Capitulo Morinensibus.
Ad hoc in apostolicae +[sedis specula sumus, licet immeriti, Domino disponente constituti, ut aciem nostrae considerationis ad universas ecclesias extendamus, et earum commodis et profectibus omnino intendamus. Pervenit autem ad audientiam nostram ex parte venerabilis fratris episcopi vestri, quod ipse pro ecclesiae vestrae necessitatibus magno sit onere debitorum praegravatus. Unde quasi vir providus et honestus nos obnixe rogavit, ut vos pro eis reddendis sollicitos redderemus. Quia vero decet vos pro utilitate ecclesiae et incremento diligentes et vigiles exsistere, dignitati vestrae mandamus, quod, si contigerit eundem episcopum ante solutionem debitorum, quae pro utilitate et necessitate ecclesiae sibi commissae contraxerit, ex hac luce migrare, de reditibus, qui spectant ad mensam eius, donec alius loco eius substituatur, eadem debita solvere studeatis. Quo substituto episcopum ad eorundem debitorum solutionem omnino adducetis, et] Sicut filius debita patris solvere tenetur, ita praelatus sui praedecessoris pro ecclesiae necessitate contracta.
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: If a prelate obligates the church for the debts of others, he is suspended by the act itself from administration of spiritual and temporal things, and the church is not liable.
Gregory IX, to All Prelates of Churches.
If we wished justly to weigh the [presumption of certain prelates, to be abhorred by God and men, scarcely any delay should be employed, but the severity of swift vengeance should be exercised against the transgressors. For, as it has reached us by a strong and astounding clamor, certain persons, not content that, adhering to their own advantages and seeking what is their own rather than what is Christ's, they enormously dissipate and consume the churches committed to them, presume, by inventing a new kind of alienation and dissipation, to burden them with the debts of others: granting their seals or sealed letters for contracting loans to certain clerical and lay friends of theirs, on occasion of which they have obligated the aforesaid churches in so great a quantity of money that they are afterward compelled to its payment and can scarcely or never be freed from the burden of debts. Wishing therefore to provide for the indemnity of churches with paternal solicitude, by authority of the present letters] we firmly forbid anyone to presume [henceforth] to burden the church committed to him with the debts of others, or to grant letters or seals to anyone by which churches could be obligated, decreeing that, if the contrary, [which we do not believe,] should be attempted, the churches are not bound to payment of such debts. But if anyone should presume henceforth to come against the foregoing, let him know himself to be suspended from administration of spiritual and temporal things. [Given at Rieti, on the second day before the Ides of February, in the fifth year. 1232.]
Si praelatus obligat ecclesiam pro alienis debitis, est suspensus ipso facto ab administratione spiritualium et temporalium, et ecclesia non tenetur.
Gregorius IX. universis ecclesiarum Praelatis.
Si quorundam +[praelatorum praesumptionem deo et nominibus exhorrendam iuste pensare vellemus, pene non esset adhibenda dilatio, sed in transgressores celeris vindictae severitas exercenda. Sicut enim ad nos valido et stupendo clamore pervenit, quidam non contenti, quod, propriis commodis inhaerentes et quaerentes potius quae sua sunt, quam quae Christi, commissas sibi ecclesias enormiter dilapidant et consumant, dum novo alienationis et dilapidationis genere adinvento eas praesumant alienis debitis onerare: sigilla sua, seu literas sigillatas de contrahendo mutuo quibusdam amicis suis clericis et laicis concedendo, quarum occasione praedictae ecclesiae in tanta obligarunt pecuniae quantitate, ad cuius solutionem postea compelluntur, quod vix aut numquam liberari possunt ab onere debitorum. Volentes igitur Ecclesiarum indemnitatibus paterna sollicitudine providere praesentium auctoritate] Firmiter inhibemus, ne quis praesumat [de cetero] ecclesiam sibi commissam pro alienis gravare debitis, aut literas alicui seu sigilla concedere, quibus possent ecclesiae obligari, decernentes, si secus [quod non credimus,] fuerit attentatum, ad solutionem talium debitorum ecclesias non teneri. Si quis autem contra praemissa de cetero venire praesumpserit, ab administratione spiritualium et temporalium noverit se suspensum. [Dat. Reate II. Id. Febr. A. V. 1232.]
Chapter III
Latin source headnote: If a cleric does not have means to satisfy his creditors, he ought not to be excommunicated or otherwise troubled; nevertheless, he shall furnish security, at least by oath, to pay when he comes to a richer fortune.
The same, to the Dean and I., Canon of Toul.
The cleric Odoard proposed that, when the cleric P., the layman D., and certain others sued him before the official of the Archdeacon of Reims concerning certain debts, that official promulgated a sentence of excommunication against him when he acknowledged such debts but was unable to pay because of poverty of resources. (And below:) We command that, if it is established that the aforesaid Odoard cannot pay the aforesaid debts in whole or in part, you relax that sentence without any difficulty, after first receiving from him suitable security that, if he comes to a richer fortune, he will pay the aforesaid debts.
Si clericus non habeat unde satisfaciat suis creditoribus, non debet excommunicari nec aliter molestari; praestabit tamen cautionem saltem iuratoriam de solvendo, quum venerit ad pinguiorem fortunam.
Idem Decano et I. Canonico Tullentibus.
Odoardus clericus proposuit, quod, quum P. clericus, D. laicus et quidam alii ipsum coram officiali archidiaconi Remensis super quibusdam debitis convenissent, idem in eum recognoscentem huiusmodi debita, sed propter rerum inopiam solvere non valentem, excommunicationis sententiam promulgavit. (Et infra:) Mandamus, quatenus, si constitent, quod praedictus Odoardus in totum vel pro parte non possit solvere debita supra dicta, sententiam ipsam sine difficultate qualibet relaxetis, recepta prius ab eo idonea cautione, ut, si ad pinguiorem fortunam devenerit, debita praedicta persolvat.
Chapter IV
Latin source headnote: One complaining that he paid what was not owed ought to prove this, except in the case placed here.
The same.
One who complains that he paid money not owed is bound to prove that it was paid without being owed, unless his adversary, denying the payment, is convicted thereof. For then the burden lies upon the denier of proving that he received a debt.
Conquerens se indebite solvisse, hoc probare debet, nisi in casu hic posito.
Idem.
Is, qui conqueritur, indebitam pecuniam se solvisse, probare tenetur, quod indebite sit soluta, nisi eius adversarius solutionem inficians exinde convincatur. Tunc enim diffitenti onus incumbit probandi, quod debitum recepisset.