A.l). I-lJ. APPOINTMENT OH THE CIUSAOE. ,310 the other prelates of the churches, and also the clergy in general, as partakers both in the merit and the reward, it is our decree, that all of them, both people and pastors, shall contribute for the assistance of the. Holy Land the twentieth portion of their ecclesiastical profits for three years, except those who have assumed ti»; cross or are, about to assume it and set out for the Holy Land in person; and we and our brethren the cardinals of the holy church of Rome will pay a lull tenth part of ours. It is also onr order that all clerks or laymen, after assuming the cross, shall remain secure, under our protection and that of St. Peter; and also under the protection of the archbishops, bishops, and all the prelates of God's church, and that all their property shall be so arranged, as to remain untouched and undisturbed until certain information is obtained of their death or their return. And if any of those who go on this crusade are bound by oath to the payment of usury, their creditors shall by ecclesiastic authority be compelled to forgive them their oath and to desist from exacting their usury; and we make the same decree with regard to the, .lews by the, secular authority, that they may be induced to do this. Moreover be it known, that the predates of churches, who are careless in granting justice to crusaders, or their proxies, or their families, will meet with severe punishment. Moreover, by the advice of wise men, we determine that those who thus assume the cross, shall prepare themselves so as to assemble on the first of .June next ensuing, and those who determine to cross by sea will assemble in the kingdom of Sicily, some at lirundusium, anil others at Messina, at which place we also have determined, under ('oil's favour, to be present, that by our assistance and counsel the Christian army may be duly regulated, and may set out with the blessing of God and the apostolic see. Anil we, trusting to the mercy of the omnipotent God, and to the authority of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, by virtue of that power which the Lord has granted to us, unworthy though wo are, of binding and loosing, grant to all who shall undertake this business in person anil at their own expense, full pardon for their sins, for which they shall he truly contrite in heart, and of which they shall have made confession, and in the rewarding of the ust we promise an increase of eternal salvation ; and to