Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XXXV: On Vulgar Purgation
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: Duels and other vulgar purgations are prohibited, because through them one who ought to be absolved is often condemned, and God appears to be tempted. This is what the whole title says.
Celestine III.
The care of the government undertaken induces us that we ought to respond to the consultations of our brothers and, so far as human frailty permits, to cut away from them the scruple of doubt. Hence it is that, since your fraternity has thought that the Apostolic See should be consulted as to whether duels ought to be sustained concerning possession of churches, we have thought it right to respond to your solicitude that in that case, or in any others, you ought in no way to tolerate this. [Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's.]
DE PURGATIONE VULGARI.
Duella et aliae purgationes vulgares prohibitae sunt, quia per eos multoties condemnatur absolvendus, et Deus tentari videtur. H. d. totus titulus.
Coelestinus III. Cura suscepti regiminis nos inducit, ut fratrum nostrorum debeamus consultationibus respondere, et ab eis, quantum humana permittit fragilitas, dubitationis scrupulum amputare. Inde est, quod, Quum tua fraternitas duxerit sedem apostolicam consulendam, utrum super ecclesiarum possessionibus duella debeant sustineri, tuae duximus sollicitudini respondendum, quod in eo casu, vel in aliis etiam hoc non debes aliquatenus tolerare. [Dat. Rom. ap. S. Petr.]
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: It is summarized above, in the preceding chapter.
Innocent III, to the Prior of Saint Sergius of Spoleto.
You should know that it has come to our hearing through the representations of the layman V. and his brothers that, when a certain man accused them concerning the crime of theft, they were compelled, contrary to the custom of the land, to enter a duel with him; in it they fell, their other sins impeding them, on account of which, after an appeal had been interposed to us, they were despoiled of their own goods by the consuls of Spoleto. But now the theft has been found among others, and, by the Lord's agency, it has been revealed that they were innocent. Hence we gave orders to the consuls themselves that they restore all things taken away [from them]. Therefore we command your discretion by apostolic writings that, if they neglect to fulfill our mandate, you, having summoned the parties and heard what is proposed on both sides, are to decree, with appeal removed, what shall be just, causing what you decree to be firmly observed through ecclesiastical censure, etc. [Given at the Lateran, on the eleventh day before the Kalends of April, 1203.]
Summatum est supr. cap. proximo.
Innocentius III. Priori S. Sergii Spoletani. Significantibus V. laico et fratribus eius ad nostram noveris audientiam pervenisse, quod, quum quidam eos super furti crimine accusaret, cum eo praeter terrae consuetudinem coacti sunt inire duellum, in quo, aliis peccatis suis praepedientibus, ceciderunt, propter quod post appellationem ad nos interpositam per consules Spoletanos bonis fuerunt propriis spoliati. Nunc vero furtum apud alios est inventum, et, quod ipsi fuerint innocentes, est faciente Domino revelatum. Unde consulibus ipsis dedimus in mandatis, ut ablata [eis] restituant universa. Ideoque discretioni tuae per apostolica scripta mandamus, quatenus si ipsi mandatum nostrum neglexerint adimplere, tu partibus convocatis et auditis hinc inde propositis quod iustum fuerit appellatione remota decerneres, faciens quod decreveris per censuram ecclesiasticam firmiter observari etc. [Dat. Lat. XI. Kal. Apr. 1203.]
Chapter III
Latin source headnote: It is summarized above, Chapter I.
Honorius III.
Beloved sons newly baptized in Livonia sent a grave complaint to us that the brothers of the Templars professing the order in Livonia, and certain other advocates and judges who exercise temporal power over them, whenever they are defamed concerning some crime, compel them to undergo the judgment of glowing iron; and if any burning follows from it, they inflict a civil penalty upon them, by which matter they strike scandal and terror into converts and those to be converted. Therefore, since a judgment of this kind is altogether forbidden according to lawful and canonical sanctions, as one in which God appears to be tempted, we command that, after admonition has been given, you compel by ecclesiastical censure, with appeal removed, the said brothers and others to desist altogether from a grievance of this kind against the converts.
Summatum est supra cap. I. Honorius III. Dilecti filii noviter in Livonia baptizati gravem ad nos querimoniam destinarunt, quod fratres Templariorum ordinem in Livonia profitentes, et alii quidam advocati et iudices, qui temporalem in eis potestatem exercent, si quando de aliquo alio crimine infamantur, eos ferri candentis iudicium subire compellunt, quibus, si qua exinde sequatur adustio, civilem poenam infligunt, qua re conversis et convertendis scandalum incutiunt et terrorem. Quum igitur huiusmodi iudicium secundum legitimas et canonicas sanctiones sit penitus interdictum, utpote, in quo Deus tentari videtur: mandamus, quatenus dictos fratres et alios, ut ab huiusmodi conversorum gravamine omnino desistant, monitione praemissa per censuram ecclesiasticam appellatione remota compellas.