Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/374

 338 s in European History way, shall obtain absolution for all their sins which they confess with humble and contrite heart, and shall receive from him who grants to each his due reward the prize of eternal life. Granted at Vetralle on the Kalends of December [1146]. In order that nothing relating to Christ's business may be neglected, we wish and command patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, abbots, and others who have charge of souls, to set forth zealously to those committed to their care the word of the cross, exhorting in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the one only true and eternal God, kings, dukes, princes,' marquises, counts, barons, and other magnates, also the communities of cities, towns, and villages, who do not go in person to the aid of the Holy Land, to send a suitable number of warriors, with the necessary expenses for three years according to their individual means, for the remission of their own sins, all which is stated in our general letters, and is also stated below, for the greater surety. Of this remission we wish that not only those who furnish their own vessels should be partakers, but also those who may have striven to build ships for this purpose. More- over let it be sternly announced by apostolic authority to those who refuse if perchance any shall be so ungrateful to our Lord God that they are to understand that for this they will have to answer to us on the last day of strict judg- ment before an awful judge. Nevertheless let them first consider with what conscience or what security they will be able to appear before the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, into whose hands the Father gave all things, if they shall refuse in this matter, which is peculiarly fitting for them, to aid him who was crucified for sinners, by whose bounty they live, by whose kindness they are maintained, nay, more, by whose blood they have been redeemed. Since it is certainly right that those who give their alle- giance to the heavenly Emperor should enjoy a special privilege, when the time of the expedition shall exceed one year in length the crusaders shall be free from collections,