A.D. 1200. LETTER OF POPE INNOCENT. 475 half of Almighty God, do, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, under pain of God's judgment, strictly command, that each of you shall appropriate the fortiethjjartjjf all ecclesiasticalj-ercnues and profits, (mterestTnowever, Dëmg~ïîrst*"déducled thCTefrom, of which payment cannot be avoided), for the aid of the Holy .Land. To all clerks, subordinates as will âs^relatesTlvÎoishall spontaneously and faithfully pay such fortieth part, trusting in the mercy of Almighty God, and in the authority of the blessed Apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, we do remit one fourth part of the penance that has been enjoined them, supposing always, that no fraud is made use of, and that pious devotion is supported thereby. Por know, that he is acting culpably and obdurately, and shows himself obdurately culpable, who refuses to give so small an aid, in such an emergent necessity, to his Creator and Redeemer, from whom he has received his body and his soul, and all the blessings that he enjoye ; and we, who, unworthy as Ave are, act as His vicar upon earth, can on no account conceal the obduracy of such an offence. And you must not by any means suppose that, by these means, it is our wish to establish a law at the expense of yourselves, in order that, in future, the fortieth part may be required of you, as due and customary ; for, on the contrary, we wish nothing whatever to result herefrom to your prejudice, as we grieve that a case of such great necessity has occurred to us and to you, and it is our wish that, in future, the like may not occur. Wo do further will, and by this our precept command you, that you, brother archbishops and bishops, shall make it your care, without delay, to meet in your metropolitan church, or, if it cannot be done there, by reason of disagreements or any other evident impediment, in two or three other places of your province, and there consider among yourselves, according to the tenor of the Apostolic mandate, the succour of that land ; and, after each of you shall have returned into his diocese, he is to convene a synod without delay, and there, relying upon our authority, enjoin the abbats and priors, both exempt4 5 as well as others, as also the archdeacons* deans, and all others whatsoever of the clergy throughout his diocese, appointed by a fair assessment to tax their revenues and profits, and within three months after the command so given to them, not to delay to send to some fitting place in his diocese the fortieth part of 4 5 Exempt from the episcopal government.