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PRIZE ESSAYS
OF THE
AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
1907
To this Essay and to that by WiUiam S, Robertson on Francisco
de Miranda and the Revoluiio7iizing of Spanish America,
since published in the first volume of the Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for
1907, was awarded in equal division the
Herbert Baxter Adams Prize
IN European History
for 1907
THE INTERDICT
ITS HISTORY AND ITS OPERATION
WITH ESPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE TIME OF
POPE INNOCENT III
1198-1216
BY
EDWARD B. KREHBIEL. Ph.D.
INSTRUCTOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
PUBLISHED BY
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
WASHINGTON, I909
APR - 4 1956
^62 9
Copyright, 1909
By Thh American Historical Association
Washington, D. C.
(To
the memory of
My Father
CHRISTIAN KREHBIEL
(Died April 30, 1909)
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
The Scope of This Essay.
CHAPTER I.
Origin and Theory of the Local Interdict.
PAGE
I. Origin of the interdict : The interdict is a lineal de-
scendant of excommunication ... 4
1 . Use of individual excommunication in the early
church ...... 4
2. Change to general excommunication, which
a. Grew out of the necessity of the church. 4
b. Was made possible by the decline of
Roman law ..... 5
c. Was made common by the Teutons . 6
3. Faults of general excommunication . . 7
a. Excessive severity .... 7
b. Injustice ...... 7
4. Opposition to general excommunication on
account of these faults produces local
general interdict .... 7
5 . The interdict develops slowly ; it is long con-
fused with other discipHnes ... 8
II. The purpose of the interdict is that of an adminis-
trative order ...... 9
(v)
0 ^
vi CONTENTS
PAGE
III. The theoretical effect of the interdict is to deprive a
district of one or all of the following
1. Divina officia, which include
a. Offertory of the mass . . . .13
b. Canonical hours . . . . 14
c. Sacramentals . . . . .14
d. Services performed by a priest . . 15
2. Sacraments . . . . . .15
a. Baptism . . . . . . 15
b. Confirmation . . . . .15
c. Penance . . . . . 15
d. Communion . . . . .16
e. Extreme unction . . . . 16
f. Ordmation . . . . .16
g. Marriage . . . . . 16
3. Canonical burial . . . . .17
CHAPTER II.
The Laying of an Interdict.
I. Kinds of sentences . . . . . .19
1 . Interdictum latae sententiae . . . 19
2. Interdictum ferendae sententiae . . •19
II. Those officials can lay interdicts who have their
authority
1, Jure divino . . . . . .20
2. By virtue of position occupied . . 22
III. Causes for interdicts . . . . • 25
1. Conditions harmful to society . . 26
2. Conditions harmful to the church . -27
a. In its spiritual interests . . . 27
b. In its temporal interests . . .29
3. The necessities of ecclesiastics . . 34
a. From these causes developed abuses . 35
CONTENTS
vii
IV.
Processes of issuing an interdict
PAGE
37
I. Monition .....
. 37
2. Citation .....
38
3. Promulgation .....
. 39
4. Publication .....
40
V.
Appeal .......
. 42
VI.
Frequency of interdicts ....
43
VII.
Duration of interdicts ....
. 44
VIII.
Territorial extent of interdicts
46
IX.
Geographical distribution of interdicts
CHAPITER III.
. 48
The Interdict in Force.
I. Means of enforcing the interdict . . . .50
1. Appeal to religious sensibilities . . . 50
2. Administrative measures . . . .51
3. Punishment for non-observance * . . 52
4. Reward for obedience . . . . .54
II. The value of services performed during the interdict 56
III. The effects of the interdict . . . . 58
1. On services of the church . . . .58
a. Marriage . . . . . 58
b. Burial . . . . . .59
c. General ministrations . . . 62
2. On the offender ...... 63
3. On the public ..... 65
4. On the church ...... 68
a. In material affairs .... 69
b. In degeneracy of clergy . . .71
c. In independence of people . . 72
5. As reported by the chroniclers . . .73
viii CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER IV.
Moderation and Relaxation of the Interdict.
I. Moderation of interdicts by
1. Privileges ...... 75
a. Those which forbade the laying of inter-
dict . . . . . .76
b. Those which exempted from interdicts
laid . . . . . . 76
2. Ambulatory interdicts . . . . .78
II. Relaxation of interdicts . . . . . 81
1 . Authorities who could relax interdicts . .81
2. Conditions of relaxation . . . . 82
APPENDIX.
Interdicts from 1198 to 12 16.
I. Threats of interdict . . . . . .86
II. Possible cases of interdict .... 96
III. Actual cases of interdict . . . . '99
Bibliography 164
Index 175
THE INTERDICT,
INTRODUCTION.
The Scope of This Essay.
Important as was for centuries the part played by the inter-
dict in the history of both church and state, no book has hith-
erto been devoted to it. Late in the sixteenth century the
French jurist Pierre Pithou attempted a survey of its history
in his essay De Vorigine et du progres des Interdicts ecclesias-
tiques ; but this, though able, is only a sketch. In 1869 the
German canonist Franz Kober published in three successive
issues of the Archiv fiir katholisches Kirchenrecht a careful
study entitled "Das Interdict." While rich in information re-
garding the history and use of the interdict, this deals mainly
with its place in ecclesiastical law. In 1897 a young Amer-
ican scholar, Arthur C. Rowland, submitted for the doctor-
ate at the University of Pennsylvania a thesis on ''The In-
terdict, its Rise and Development to the Pontificate of
Alexander III ", i. ^., to 1159.^ This thesis has never been
printed; but in 1899 Dr. Rowland read before the American
^ This unpublished thesis has through the great courtesy of Dr. How-
land (now a professor in the University of Pennsylvania) been at my ser-
vice throughout my study of this subject. I have further to thank Professor
Howland for magnanimously surrendering to me the subject itself and for
putting into my hands such unused materials as he had at his disposal. I
take this opportunity to acknowledge also my indebtedness to Dr. J.
Franklin Jameson for aid both in the choice of my subject and in the
preparation of my dissertation; and I sincerely regret that M. Achille
Luchaire did not live to see this published fruit of his kindness in lending
me, at that time a total stranger to him, the invaluable notes made by him
at great cost of labor and means upon the letters of Innocent III found in
the provincial archives of France. And for assistance of various kinds I
wish to thank Professors George L. Burr, Charles H. Haskins, Charles
Gross, Charles V. Langlois, Paul Viollet, Ephraim Kmerton, and James
West fall Thompson.
2 THE INTERDICT
Historical Association a paper based upon it — *' The Origin
of the Local Interdict * ' — which was published in the Associ-
ation's report for that year. It narrates the story of the inter-
dict to 1 03 1. Excepting pamphlets purely polemic, like those
called forth by the Venetian interdict of 1606, and narratives
devoted to single episodes, these few studies form the entire
monographic literature of the subject.
The present essay, while aspiring to serve as a convenient
introduction to a knowledge of the interdict, attempts no ex-
haustive treatment. To the history of the interdict its fresh
contribution is only a sifting and use of the materials for the
time of Pope Innocent III. Nor is it meant to be a study of
the canonical law relating to the discipline — a theme adequately
treated by the canonists. Its aim is to show the actual use and
effects of the interdict ; and by "the interdict" it for the most
/ part means only what has been currently known in history by
that name — the comprehensive territorial measure known to
canonists as the "local general interdict", and not unhappily
defined by an American newspaper, in a recent case of its
employment, as ** a general ecclesiastical strike ".^
'The local particular interdict, differing from this form mainly by being
limited to some comparatively small organic whole, is in the present study
treated as a secondary theme, though often in close connection with the
local general interdict. The personal interdict, whether particular or gen-
eral, receives only incidental consideration in so far as it has illustrative
value. Besides the local and the personal there are yet other forms of the
interdict. There is an interdictum totale and an interdictum partiale, the
former being a perfect or complete sentence, the latter being one which
prohibits only a part of church services. Happily the distinction was
never embodied in canon law. — Kober, XXI, 303-304. The " ambula-
tory interdict " is a much more noteworthy and a by no means infrequent
form. It is treated at length in a later chapter. In form and content the
ambulator iu77i offers nothing new. It is the local interdict in itinere.
The interdictum propter honor em resulted if a bishop officiated at an altar;
for the remainder of that day all others were prohibited from celebrating at
that altar. Though so called, this was not in reality an interdict. — Glosses
upon the Pragmatic Sanction, cited from Pithou, Des Interdicts Eccl.y
23-24: "Interdictum propter honorem, ut si Episcopus celebravit in
aliquo altare, de tota ilia die non debet alius celebrare." The interdictum
propter horrorem loci is an unimportant form of cessation of services. —
Glosses upon Pragmatic Sanction, cited from Pithou, Des Interdicts EccL^
23-24: '* Alia [interdicta] propter horrorem loci, ut si excom. sit sepultus
in ecclesia vel coemiterio,vel ecclesia poUuta sit sanguine vel semine ..."
r
INTRODUCTION 3
In order to treat this theme to the best advantage it seemed
advisable to make an exhaustive study of some typical and
reasonably short period of time, the sources for which are
abundant and comparatively available. The pontificate of
Innocent III seemed to be such a period. The plan of work
has been shaped by the purpose and the material. To avoid
constant restatement of the history and the laws relating to the
interdict, these matters have been briefly treated in the first
chapter. The other chapters deal with the actual operation
of the interdict ; they are based principally on material from
the time of Innocent III, but the author has felt free to insert
information from other periods whenever it seemed peculiarly
apposite. The appendix contains a chronological list of inter-
dicts from 1 198 to 12 16, many of which have been partially
discussed in preceding chapters; partially, because the devel-
opment of the particular topic under consideration made a
longer statement of the interdict at that point inadvisable.
But, as this method left many interesting features of the inter-
dict unmentioned, such incompletely used cases as are im-
portant and the source material for which warranted the
procedure are set down in full in the appendix.
CHAPTER I.
Origin and Theory of the Local Interdict.
Exclusion from membership in a religious, as in a secular
organization, is a procedure well authorized by universal prac-
tice. Israel renounced the unfaithful, the Roman state inter-
dicted the traitor from fire and water, and the Druids' ex-
cluded the disobedient from any share in religious ceremony.
The early Christian church for the purpose of self-preservation
adopted similar measures; she expelled unv/orthy members,
4 and called the process excommunication. The use of this
protective measure necessarily increased with the number of
Christians, for in those wholesale conversions of the first three
centuries many a half-hearted person must have joined the
ranks of the faithful. Against converts of such a character
the church needed protection, especially when the persecu-
tions set afoot by the emperors produced denials of the faith
even from earnest Christians. Had none of the ranks proved
unfaithful, however, the church would still have needed pro-
tection against heresies,' which were even at that time widely
spread. Having no legal status, hence no support from the
civil authorities, only one resource was left ; she must cut
off from her privileges, that is excommunicate, the offending
individual.
/ With the imperial recognition of Christianity (A. D. 311
and 313), there came a change in the position of the church
which gave cause and opportunity for a further development
of her polity. The legalizing of the Christian religion gave
' Caesar, De Bella Gallico, VI, 13.
■''Schulte, Kirchenstrafen, I, 655.
For full titles and descriptions of the works cited in the notes, the reader
is referred to the Bibliography at the end of the essay.
ORIGIN AND THEORY 5
the church a reputation to sustain. Christians were now put
on a level with their fellow-men ; would they prove them-
selves worthy of this elevation, or would the removal of diffi-
culties cause the saints and martyrs of former years to be
replaced by communicants of less lofty ideals? Such an event
was undeniably possible ; did perhaps result to some degree.
That it went to no excess must have been due to great effort
of the church authorities, and it is instructive to note that the
same century which witnessed the legalizing of the church is
the one within which occurred the first recorded case of general
excommunication, a censure which by one sentence excluded
a group of persons from the church.'^ The introduction of
this new form of censure indicates that excommunication of
individuals no longer met the needs of ecclesiasts, and that
experimentation for a more effective discipline had begun.
Just as the recognition of Christianity was followed by an
extension of the disciplinary powers of the church, so the act
by which Christianity became the religion of the state (A. D.
392) resulted in an increase of those powers, and general ex-
communication became a recognized censure. It was a blood-
less and effective weapon, and, in so far, one which an organi-
zation based upon the teachings of Christ could use.
The necessity of the church invented general excommunica-
tion; the decline of Roman law made it possible. The spirit
of that law is against the punishment of the innocent, and
while it retained its vigor a censure of the character of general
excommunication could not have flourished. Indeed, so did
this sense of justice linger that, despite the decline of all
Roman institutions in the fourth century of the Christian era,
the first case of general excommunication on record does no
violence to Roman legal principles. In this case the censure
was put upon a village because one of its inhabitants had car-
ried away a girP from a neighboring place, and because this
'(a) Hinschius, IV, 804, n. 10. (b) Howland, A. H. A. Kep., 1899,
I, 433. This is cited as an interdict by Mr. Howland. (c) Kober, XXI,
4. Kober holds that this is not an interdict.
6 THE INTERDICT
village by receiving the captor and the captive had become a
participant in the offence. The offender was punished and
others were involved in his punishment ; not however for his
fault, but for a lesser fault of their own in permitting the cap-
tor to keep his prize in the village. The next instance shows
a greater departure from the principles of Roman law. Clas-
sic ianus, a Roman ofjficial, and his whole family (household)
were excommunicated by Bishop Auxilius for seizing an of-
fender who had sought protection at an altar.* Not many years
later there was a more extended general excommunication.
Andronicus, governor of Pentapolis, all his associates, and
their families were excommunicated.^ In neither of the last
two cases is there any evidence that the associates made them-
selves responsible by any act of their own. In the first case
quoted, the principles of Roman jurisprudence were not vio-
lated ; the second seems to depart somewhat, unless it is
explained on the basis that patronage makes every client a
partaker in every act of the patron ; the third case is not at
all reconcilable with Roman legal principles.
In the growth of general excommunication, the necessity of
the church and the decline of Roman law were no more potent
than the advent of the Teutons, for the invaders brought with
them traditions which favored the censure. Their democratic
institutions made the clan to some degree responsible for the
conduct of individuals, a principle which fostered the growth
of a censure involving many in the punishment of the guilty
one. As a result general excommunication spread rapidly
from Roman lands through Teutonic countries,^ and became
the most commonly used and the most powerful weapon of the
church.
* Letter of St. Basil in Nicene and Post- Nicene FatherSy 2nd Ser., VIII,
589-590. Cited by Howland.
^ Synesius, Letters^ 57, 58, 72, 89, in Migne, Pat. Gr.^ 66. Cited by
Howland, A. H. A. Pep., 1899, I, 433.
* (a) Hefele, Conciliengesch., II, 687-688. Cf. Hardouin, Cone, II, col.
1053. •^ portion of Burgundy was censured about 517 A. D. (b) Greg.
Turon., lib. V, c. 32. The church of St. Denis, Paris, was under censure
about 579 A. D.
ORIGIN AND THEORY 7
But this weapon had two great faults, excessive severity and
injustice. Excommunication of the individual was bad enough,
for it excluded entirely from the church, it cut one off from all
associations, however near or dear or necessary, and its conse-
quences pursued the unrepentant sinner even after death.
Such a censure made general, that is, extended to a group of
persons, a church, a family, or an organization, was entirely
too severe and unchristian. If this penalty had fallen only on
the guilty it might have been endured, but it had the addi-
tional fault of involving the innocent in the extreme punish-
ment of the guilty. On account of these faults justice-
loving prelates had vigorously opposed it' from very early
times, and this opposition was not decreased by the experience
that the lesser clergy seriously abused general excommunica-
tion by employing it to advance their personal interests.®
Since the clergy clung so tenaciously to their most effective
weapon, the opposition to it finally resulted in a moderation
of general excommunication into the local general interdict,^
which, if equally unjust, was at any rate less severe.
This moderation was a very gradual growth, produced as it
" (a) Migne, Pat. Lat.^ 54, col. 635. (b) Letters of St. Augustine, No.
250, in Migne, Pat. Lat., 33, col. 1066-7. (c) Viollet, Hist, des InUitu-
tions Politiques et Administratives de la France^ II, 294, n. 2.
" Cf. Howland, Interdict ^ 1 3-1 8.
^ Kober (XXI, 12) supposes that the local interdict may in part be
traced to other forms of censure besides excommunication, such as cessatio
a divinis for irregularity, pollution, honor, or any other cause whatsoever.
Originally cessatio contained no idea of punishment; church services Vi^ere
merely suspended for a shorter or longer interval. Such a suspension, be-
ing at first theoretically a voluntary act of all concerned, vv^as recognized on
all hands as perfectly legitimate. Practice nevertheless permitted the use
of this censure at the command of the proper authority, the consent of the
judges being merely constructive and not actual. This alteration intro-
duced the idea of punishment and thus cessatio became a mild form of
discipline, limited in extent to one church or one small locality. It is
Kober's view that by a logical process this penalty was extended to cover
larger areas, such as counties and duchies. If cessation of services in a
church or a town is right, why not also in a city, a diocese, or a kingdom?
Reasoning of this sort on the part of the authorities of the church doubt-
less tended to have the effect for which Kober argues. It is nevertheless
safe to say that the interdict was derived principally from general excom-
munication; and that the expanding of the idea of cessatio confirmed the
discipline thus derived.
8 THE INTERDICT
was by the struggle between the clergy to retain general ex-
communication in its original form and the prelates to lessen
the severity and injustice of the censure. Just when the first
interdict, as we now understand the discipline, was promul-
gated is a matter of unsatisfactory debate,'" for there is very
little that really distinguishes one discipline from the other.
The interdict is less severe in the following respects : some
services were, permitted, a man was not cut off from associa-
tion with his fellow-men, innocent men might be shrived and
( after death at least be free from the injustice of this world.
^ The interdict is always territorial ; that is, it affects all persons
within specified boundaries, not because they are persons — for
this would be general excommunication — but because they are
within stated limits. This characteristic is perhaps due to the
fact that the unity of the administrative districts, with their
civil officials and their bishop," superadded to the Teutonic
unity of the clan, tended to create a feeling of common re-
sponsibility, which feeling the church easily turned into an
acceptance of common punishment within those civil bound-
aries. As a matter of fact, the interdict, from its possible
beginning about 600 A. D. to its adoption by the papacy,'"' at
the time of Leo IX, was under the supervision of the bishops,
the spiritual heads of clearly-defined districts. After this
adoption its effectiveness increased with the increase of papal
power.
These two characteristics, lessened severity and territoriality,
are not decisive enough to make identification certain in every
case. So intimately, in fact, is the interdict associated with
other disciplines that it is difficult to determine just when the
word is first used in its present meaning. The word interdict
'"(a) See above, n. 7. (b) Hinschius, IV, 715, 804-805; V, 19, n.
13,-20, n. I.
'' Schulte, Kirchenslrafen, I, 655. " Jemehr die Theologie voran
schritt, desto bluhender wurden die Irrlehren, besonders von Seilen ein-
zelner Bischofe, niit ihnen die Exconmiunicationen, die sich sclion im 2.
und 3. Jahrhundert auf ganze Dio«sen erstreckten, weil die Gl&ubigen
regelniissig zum Bischofe hielten."
ORIGIN AND THEORY
9
is derived from Roman law, and was first used in the sense of
a prohibition.'^ The earliest cases cited as interdicts are
called excommunications in the sources;'* and not, indeed,
until the adoption of the word in a technical sense by the
papal chancellery under Alexander II ^'^ is there any regular and
consistent use of the word even by officials."^ In a canon of
Innocent III " the interdict is described as cessaiio a divino-
rum celebratione or a divinis, and other writers of the same
period fail to distinguish it from ban and excommunication.^*'
The usage still varied in 1585.'^
Having shown that the emergence of the local interdict as
a distinct discipline resulted from the opposition to general
excommunication on the ground of its excessive severity and
injustice, we will now examine the various theories that have
been advanced in regard to the purpose of the interdict. It /
has been argued that the interdict was intended as an expres- 1
sion of disapproval of someone's misconduct.'^ Instances in
** Hinschius, V, 24.
^' For example: " Quicunque interrlicta despexerit . . . " J-L. (Jaffa's
Regesta Fontijicwn, ed. Lowenfeld, Kaltenbrunner, and Ewald), 338a.
'* See the lists of interdicts given by Dr. Houland and others.
'^ Hinschius, V, 22, n. 2.
^^ Ibid., V, 21-25, notes.
^' Ibid., V, 522, n. 17.
*® (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 403. Parma, 11 98. " Cum civitas Parmensiset
elves ejus excommunicationi subjecti fuissent . . " (b) Teulel, lay-
eiteSf I, 372, No. 973. Toulouse, 1211. " . . . quod Tolosanos cives
. . . excommunicationis vinculo innodarunt." (c) Chron. B. Iterii, ad
an. 1212, in Duples-Agier, Chroniq., 86. England, 1208. " . . qui
per sex annos cum tota Anglia fuerat excommunicatus . . ". (d)
Gall. Christ., X, ii, col. 61-62, Reims, 1235. "... dicebat . . .
quod . . omnes cives Remenses excommunicaverat." (e) See Hin-
schius, V, 21-25, notes, for further information, (f) Miraeus, 0pp. Dipl.,
1,97. Cited from Raumer, Gesch. Hohenst..,W, 163, n. 2. " Concedo,
etiam, si inbannitur terra . " (g) Annal. Islandorum Regii ad an.
1208, in Langeoek, Scr. Rer. Dan., HI, 76. " England i banni."
^'Mansi, 34B, 1166. See also Hinschius, V, 522, n. 17.
^®ia) Hinschius, IV, 805, n. i. Greg. Turon., Hi.st. Franc, V, 32, in
MGSS. [Alonumenta Gernianiae Historica, Scriptores), Rer. Merov. , I,
224-225. A brawl in a church caused it to be deprived of services.
^Vhat was the intention in suspending services is not stated; it may have
been what Hinschius suggests, an expression of disapproval at desecration
lO THE INTERDICT
which this is true, and in which disapproval of an act is the
sole purpose, are so rare as to be negligible. It has also been
stated that the interdict was designed as a mode of propitiat-
ing an offended saint. '^ A forcible objection to this, however,
is the fact that propitiation of saints is never mentioned in
the sentence as the purpose of an interdict. The theory that
the interdict was intended to warn the faithful from future
transgressions is untenable because of lack of proof in the
sources, an objection which applies with equal force to the
view that the interdict was designed to secure the spiritual im-
provement of the offender {poena medicinalis). That this
last-named purpose was sometimes present one may not deny,
but it cannot be considered otherwise than incidental, in view
of the evidence that another object was uppermost in the
of the church. But, in the absence of any positive statement supporting
the contention, another explanation, which hes nearer at hand and is
better sustained by the source, may at least be offered. The account of
the brawl is followed by the statement that the matter was not settled until
it came before the king. He submitted the case to the Bishop of Paris,
who decided that the desecrators should give satisfaction for their fault,
and should then be readmitted to the congregation. From this one may
infer that securing satisfaction was the purpose of the cessation of services,
though it cannot be positively established in this case because the time of
re-opening the church is not mentioned, (b) Hinschius, V, 19, n. 13;
Epp. Hinc, 3 and 4. Hincmar of Laon was summoned before Charles the
Bald to answer for certain actions in 869. He left orders that an interdict
should be laid on his diocese in case of his apprehension and detention.
He was detained. Hinschius, in opposition to Kober, Hefele, Dummler,
and others, contends that this interdict was not a punishment but a reac-
tion against a humiliation. The case under consideration is the strongest
one known supporting Hihschius's contention. His assertion that this
discipline was not a punishment is well taken, but it does not follow that
it was primarily an expression of disapproval. Bishop Hincmar certainly
intended to procure more than a public lamentation over his misfortune;
manifestly he hoped thai such an action on the part of his diocese would
induce the king to release him. In other words, the interdict had the
purpose of an administrative order.
^^ Hinschius, IV, 806. Hinschius's reference disproves rather than sup-
ports his statement, for it certainly shows that propitiation of the saint was
not the only purpose, as he himself admits in a foot-note ( i ). Indeed, the
source says nothing about propitiation of a saint, but states that the inter-
dict should go into effect '* nisi cito ornamenta tabernaculi huius furata
reduxeris . . . ", and implies that the return of the goods made the interdict
unnecessary. It cannot be questioned that the purpose of this sentence
was first of all to secure the return of stolen goods, and that other purposes,
in this case inferential, were secondary.
ORIGIN AND THEORY 1 1
minds of authorities laying interdicts. '^^ That punishment
was a purpose of the interdict is more plausible than any of
the motives given above. It is, according to a well-known
writer, a test of an interdict."^ His contention is, to say the
least, debatable. If the interdict was a punishment, why were
offenders obliged to do penance and sometimes undergo long-
lasting effects, after the sentence of interdict was removed P*"^*
And can a sentence which acts with equal severity on innocent
and guilty be called a punishment?
The best test of the purpose of an interdict is the motive of
the judge who laid it ; and fortunately many sentences of in-
terdict give some indication of these motives. Such sentences
provide that they shall continue in effect until the offender
makes proper reparation," which certainly indicates that the
^^ Canonists have been much inclined to regard not onlj' interdict but
also excommunication of laymen as a censure, that is rs. poena inedicinalis,
intended to secure the betterment of the offender. That excommunication
is used as a punishment is demonstrated by Hinschius (IV, 747, 748 and
notes), who however admits that it may also be used as a censure. That
the interdict was regarded as medicinal now and then appears from a letter
of Innocent (Epp., X, 121) rebuking the Templars for violating interdicts,
" quod ex praesumptione hujusmodi contemnitur medicinalis poenae
medela ".
*' This seems to be what Hinschius means (V, 19, n. 13), and, using
punishment as a test, he contends that the interdict was not known before
the middle of the tenth century. All other writers accept a considerably
earlier date for the origin of the interdict.
^* For example, see the shriving of the murderers of the Bishop of Wiirz-
burg, Appendix, case 69, in which case the penalties touched not only the
criminals but even their heirs. See also the case of Oxford, Appendix,
case 81.
'* An examination of sentences of interdict will show that they usually
contain the phrase "usque ad congruam satisf actionem " or words having
a similar purport. For illustration of this see the letters referred to in
Potth., 89, 91, 151, 277, 1160, 3814, 4736, 8572; J-L., 11891, 4536,
5368. Notice particularly the case of Blois in the Appendix, case T]. In
the very note in which Hinschius (V, 20, n. i) argues for the view that
the interdict is a punishment, there appears a citation which militates
against his argument. It is ordered that the interdict laid as a result of an
attack on the church shall last " usque ad legitimam satisfactionem vel
emendationem veniant et ipse episcopatus canonice sit redditns ecclesiae
generali cui a deo est attributus et m . . . dicti rei de me Saulane episcopo
absnlutionem accipiant ". Punishment may have been the purpose of this
sentence, but it is contrary to ordinary logic to believe it after reading the
extract just given. The natural conclusion, and the one which explains
12 THE INTERDICT
purpose of the interdict is to secure compliance with demands
made by the church on some offender against the welfare of
society, church, or priesthood, or against the laws of faith and
morals. It is compulsion by a form of passive resistance. It
is not an aggressive act and not a punishment ; it is a defen-
sive act by which the church withdraws from public service
until society " plays fair". Whether the sentence operates as
a punishment, a corrective, or has any of the effects discussed
above, is a matter of indifference ; the main purpose is the
enforcing of church mandates. It is clear, then, that the in-
terdict has the character of an administrative order, '^^ and its
purpose resembles very strongly the purpose of an embargo, or
an order of a board of health. These have in them no design
to punish, though the party affected may suffer greatly ; neither
are they designed to procure the betterment of the party af-
fected ; they have a purpose beyond either, in that they aim
to force some recalcitrant to yield to certain demands. The
demands enforced by interdict had one of three general ob-
jects : first, to promote the welfare of society, either as a whole
or in some part ; second — and this is most frequently the ob-
ject— to advance either the spiritual or the temporal interests
of the church ;" third, to promote the welfare of ecclesiastical
persons, either by protecting them from insult and injustice,
everything perfectly well, is that the purpose of this interdict was to secure
the restoration of properties and rights. I have found only one case
(J-L., 5129, 5130) in which punishment was the only ol)ject of an inter-
dict. See below, chap. II, n. 81.
2^ Hinschius, IV, 804-805, hints at this when he declares that Kober and
others have mistaken earlier disciplinary acts of the church for interdicts,
when in reality they were only administrative orders, lie holds that these
are not interdicts on the ground that they are not punishments; see above,
n. 24. It should be ol)served that, if the interdict is considered an admin-
istrative order, the earlier cases are to be considered interdicts, as Kober
regards them, though not punishments, as he held them to be.
^^ In this connection it is well to note that excommunication and personal
interdict were used more frequently than the local interdict to procure ob-
servance of the spiritual demands of the church. When severer measures
or greater pressure were necessary to procure results the local interdict was
put into requisition, which bears out the notion that the interdict is more
truly a legal or administrative measure than is excommunication.
ORIGIN AND THEORY 1 3
or by advancing their personal or corporate interests. The
protection of churchmen found justification in the canons, but
the advancement of personal interests was generally regarded
as an abuse of the interdict and was repeatedly prohibited by
ecclesiastical authorities."^
Since in a later chapter the actual effects of the interdict
will be taken up, it seems proper to complete our theoretical
study by considering the laws which regulate these effects.
Procedure varied somewhat in different centuries ; an interdict
of earlier times was in some respects more stringent than those
of later times : hence there can be drawn few general conclu-
sions. Broadly speaking, however, the local interdict de-
prives the district specified of some or all of the following 'P
officia divitia^ sacraments, and canonical burial. Officia di-
vina (church services) include the offertory of the mass, ca-
nonical hours, sacramentals, and any ecclesiastical function
which can rightly be performed only by a priest. The prac-
tice with regard to these services varies so considerably that it
is necessary to take them up separately. Mass,"" being a cen-
tral function in church life, was never allowed without some
limitations. Even after permission was granted by Innocent
III to celebrate enough of the mass (that is, the offertory)
to consecrate the elements needed for viaticum, and after fur-
ther modifications were granted by Gregory IX and Boniface
VIII, the_rmging^ of bells, open doors,^' admittance of excom-
municated or interdicted persons, and chanting were strictly
prohibited. '^^ The service was to be recited in a low voice,
and though that part of the mass which seemed necessary was
allowed, the congregation could in no way share in it.''^
**• With this bare statement of the objects for which the interdict was
used, further discussion of the subject is postponed until the causes for in-
terdicts arc considered.
*»Kober, XXI, 304f.
^ (a) Hinschius, V, 525. (b) Kober, XXI, 309.
'^ Kober, XXI, 309. Doors were closed, not locked.
•2 (a) Hinschius, V, 524, n. 8. (b) Kober, XXI, 309.
•^ (a) Ibid, (b) Hinschius, V, 524, n. 9.
14
THE INTERDICT
Canonical hours are fixed times of the day given to prayer
and devotion. In the middle ages these hours were vol-
untarily observed by groups of clergymen who met in the
churches for this purpose. According to earlier practice,
such common observance ceased in time of interdict, and
each clerk kept the hours privately.'* Time brought modera-
tion. In the interdict of France, 1200, clerks were allowed
to meet outside of churches for canonical hours, but no lay-
men were permitted to be present. In England, 1208, the
clergy were allowed to meet in churches to recite, without any
ceremony, proper parts of the breviary ; but none of the con-
gregation could be present. A canon of Innocent III fixed
the rule regarding the hours for conventual churches. Accord-
ing to the provisions of this, clerks in pairs or in threes were
allowed, not to chant in chorus, but to read the hours in a
voice so subdued as to be inaudible outside the church ; the
doors were closed, and excommunicated and interdicted per-
sons were excluded.'' Boniface VIII, among his numerous
modifications of the interdict, decreed that canonical hours be
kept, and that clerks be compelled to be present on pain of
losing their daily distributions ; the rule relative to voice, pres-
ence of laymen, and open doors was in no wise modified
except for certain feast days.^^
Sacramentals are rites analogous to the sacraments, but not
included among them. They apply now to persons and now
to things, such as exorcisms, consecrations, and benedictions."
The most important of them are the churching of women,"® the
benediction of marriage, of holy water, and of ecclesiastical
3*Kober, XXI, 318, 319.
^^C. II. X. de poenit. et remiss. 5. 38. References of this sort are of
course to the Canon Law.
'6 (a) C. Ult. de sent, excom. VI. 5. 11. (b) Hinschius, V, 527b.
" (a) Hinschius, V, 527. (b) Kober, XXI, 319.
''^Churching of women and benediction of holy water are usually spe-
cifically prohilnted, other sacramentals receiving no mention. This does
not argue that the former only were denied, but rather that they, being
most important and frequent among sacramentals, in a sense comprise the
whole class.
ORIGIN AND THEORY
15
paraments. These were forbidden in time of interdict except
on feast days.^' Other ecclesiastical services performed by
priests were prohibited unless otherwise stated in the formulae
promulgating the interdicts. Preaching, however, not being a
divimim officium,'^^ was considered a perfectly lawful means of
securing observance of the interdict, and of preventing the
moral degeneracy of the laity ; the ringing of bells was per-
mitted to announce sermons, and the angelus to invite Chris-
tians to private prayer.
Baptism, confirmation, penance, communion, extreme unc-
tion, ordination, and marriage are the seven sacraments now
generally recognized by the Catholic church. The sacraments
were always forbidden in time of local interdict unless special
permission to the contrary was given. The extreme severity
of early interdicts included baptism among its prohibitions.
The mitigation dates from the time of Hincmar, who granted
baptism to children. Since it was not provided where this
baptism of children was to occur, it is safe to assume that it
took place in church. During the interdict of England ( 1 208) ,
however, it was the rule that baptisms were to occur in private
houses. Boniface VIII granted baptism to adults, and as a
consequence of this privilege it is likely that instruction of
catechumens was allowed.*^ Confirmation, the complement
of baptism , has been treated by canon law exactly as has bap-
tism, and their history as affected by the local interdict is the
same.
Penance, though at first entirely prohibited, was very early
'*(a) Hinschius, "V, 527, n. 9; I, 165. Laymen preached in earlier
times, (b) Kober, XXI, 39-45. On the feasts of Christmas, Easter,
Pentecost, and the Assumption of the Virgin, services with open doors and
the ringing of bells were to be allowed, interdicted persons being admitted.
But those who were responsible for the interdict were not allowed to ap-
proach the altar, (c) Const. " Ineffabile ", 1429, par. 3. Cf.Bullar.
Rom.^ IV, 732. Martin V, in 1429, extended the privilege to include
Corpus Christi Day and its octave.
*^ (a) Cone. Frising., 1440, c. 25, in Hard., IX, 1291. (b) Hinschius,
V, 528f.
" (a) Ibid,, V, 528, a. (b) Kober, XXI, 20-25.
l6 THE INTERDICT
granted to the dying." A modification of Innocent III , rarely
heeded by judges laying the sentence, extended penance to
all with the provision that it must occur in the hall of the
church or before the building, and be made in a voice so loud
as to be heard by every one present." Boniface VIII char-
acteristically allowed penance to all in the accustomed fash-
ion, with the exception of excommunicates, those persons on
whose account interdicts had been pronounced, and the parti-
zans of interdicted persons.** The offertory of the mass has
been discussed under the head of holy offices ; the sacrament
of the mass, that is communion, was absolutely prohibited
to all in good health. Exception was made only for those
constructively in articulo mortis, such as persons about to
start upon a long and dangerous sea-voyage, soldiers about to
enter battle, mothers in heavy travail, and persons condemned
to death. ''^ Extreme unction was always forbidden under all
circumstances for all persons, clerical or lay, except those who
had a special exemption."^ Ordination is not separately men-
tioned in decrees of interdict, and, since no exemption is
made, it could neither be given nor received in interdicted
districts.*^
Marriage is usually not mentioned in formulae of interdicts,
and hence canonists generally have inclined to consider it for-
bidden. The truth is that marriage itself was not forbidden,*^
but the church refused to participate in it in any way. When
the interdict was first used, marriage was not a sacrament of
the church in the modern sense, and marriage without clerical
assistance was valid, since the consent of the contracting
« (a) Kober, XXI, 325-327. (b) Hinschius, V, 528, c.
*3 Marline, Thesaurus, IV, 147. ** Hinschius, V, 528-529.
« (a) Ibid., V, 529, n. 8. (b) Kober, XXI, 329-330.
*^(a) Hinschius, V, 530. (b) C. 11. X. de poenit. et remiss. 5. 38.
*■' Kober, XXI, 330-332. The only case in which an exception might
arise would be if the number of priests were to become so small as to be
insufificient to perform those rites which were allowed. But in such a case
priests could be ordained elsewhere and imported.
*8 (a) Kober, XXI, 531-533. (b) Hinschius, V, 530. (c) For bene-
diction of marriage see above, notes 37-39.
ORIGIN AND THEORY
T7
parties was the essential, and the benediction of the priest was
a desirable though an unnecessary ceremony. If then the
contracting parties observed the degrees of relationship fixed
by the church, and violated no other rules, a marriage could
legally take place in time of interdict without any ministration
on the part of the church.*^ Usually even betrothals received
no churchly sanction in time of interdict, and the dispensation
by which Mauritius of Rouen allowed benediction of marriages
during an interdict laid by him is entirely exceptional.^"
Rarely was marriage forbidden altogether, as it was by the
Council of Limoges (1031) and in England (1208).*^
Christian burial was usually forbidden in interdicted dis-
tricts. At the time of the quarrel between the two Hincmars
apparently all burial was prohibited, which is the first record
of such a privation. The modification by the Council of Li-
moges *' permitted canonical burial for clerks, beggars, stran-
gers, and children under two years of age. Ivo of Chartres ex-
empted only clerks and paupers from his prohibition of burial
in the interdict laid upon Vendome.^^ Thereafter it became
the common usage to deny burial in consecrated ground to all
laymen who were not fortified by some privilege ; if the laity
buried any dead, they were forbidden to imitate ecclesiastical
rites of sepulture. In England (1208) all burial in the ground \
was prohibited. ^^ Because this procedure seemed too inhu- )
mane, because it was unsanitary, or because it tested the faith
of the survivors too severely, moderation soon followed; the
method employed by the Archbishop of Rouen, Mauritius,
who denied laymen burial only in consecrated ground, and
prohibited the subterfuges by which all laymen had secured
burial under the privileges extended to paupers, was adopted.^"
*' Hard. Cone, X, 1726. "Matrimonii sacramentum per verba de
praesenti tempore interdicti administretur, benedictio tamen nuptialis con-
ferri non potest." This was the ordinary practice of the church in time of
interdict.
^d'Achery, SpiciL, III, 615.
" (a) Du Cange, Glossar., under " Interdictum ". (b) Goffridus Vin-
docin., Epp., Ub. II, 16, in Migne, Fat. Lat., 157, 83.
*'Inn. 0pp., IV, 190, No. 136.
)
1 8 THE INTERDICT
Laymen who had the privilege specifically granting the right
were permitted burial, but a privilege to celebrate officia on
certain feast-days did not include the right of canonical
burial. ^^
Clergymen retained the right of ecclesiastical sepulture with
some limitations from the time it was granted them at Limoges.
Innocent III in his incomparable severity against England de-
nied clerks burial in the ground ; deceased seculars might be
enclosed in coffins and placed in a tree, or on the wall of the
church- yard. ^* Later he sanctioned the procedure which al-
lowed clerks to be inhumed, without any solemnities, in the
cemetery or church, on condition that while alive they had ob-
served the interdict. ^^ No bells were to be sounded and the
service was to be a silent one, though the worldly pomp and
show of the funeral train were not prohibited.*^
We have in these few pages attempted a r^sum^ of the laws
relating to interdict. Whoever desires further information can
find ample and arid reading in any treatise on canonical law.
From this point, happily, our course leads away from such
treatises, and we take leave of them without regret, though we
thankfully sum up what they have contributed to our conception
of the theory of the interdict : nearly all the ministrations of the
church ceased except on feast-days and in case of privileges ;
preaching, baptism of infants, confirmation, penance of the
dying, burial of the clergy, and matrimony without benedic-
tion were usually permitted during the pontificate of Inno-
cent III.
^"^ (a) The right of burial was not, as a rule, denied in uninterdicted dis-
tricts to the dead brought from interdicted localities. Kober, XXI, 337.
(b) Because burial was not considered a part of the officia divina. C. 3.
X. de privileg. 5.33. "Quod si Templarii vel Hospitalarii ad ecclesiam
venerint interdictam, nonnisi semel in anno ad ecclesiasticum ofificium ad-
mittantur, nee tunc ibi sepeliantur corpora defunclorum."
^*Inn. 0pp., IV, 190, No. 136.
" (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 23 (Potth., 1862). (b) Cone. Colon., 1270,
c. 18, in Hard., VII, 834.
" (a) Kober, XXI, 333-341. (b) Hinschius, V, 532.
CHAPTER II.
The Laying of an Interdict.
The purpose of this chapter is to show exactly how inter-
dicts were laid. It will include an enumeration of the au-
thorities who laid interdicts, and of the causes which produced
them ; in addition, the processes of issuing, the right of appeal,
the frequency, the duration, the extent, and the distribution of
interdicts will be considered. A sentence pronounced by
some ecclesiastical judge was intei'dictum ferendae sententiae ;
one that resulted automatically from violation of specified
canons of the church was interdictum latae sententiae. This
form resulted from unusual offences, and followed if a prince
refused papal legates or nuncios entrance into his dominions,^
if cities in any way assisted in the murder, maltreatment, or
detention of a cardinal or failed to punish such an offender
within a month,^ if the magistrates of a city or locality de-
manded and sought to collect arbitrary taxes from churches or
ecclesiastics,"^ if the officials of a city in which the pope died
hindered the observance of the rules fixed by the Council of
Lyons for papal elections,* if clerks or prelates allowed strangers
to do usurious business upon their lands, and remained unre-
pentant for more than a month,^ and if cities or localities were
responsible or showed any sympathy for the detention or other
misuse of a bishop.*
Interdicts ferendae sententiae were promulgated by those
* C. unic. de consuet. Extrav. coram, i. i.
'C. 5. de poenis VI. 5. 9.
'C. 4. de cens. VI. 3. 20.
*C. 3. de elect. VI. i. 6.
*C. I. de usur. VI. 5. 5.
• C. I. de poenis in Clement. 5. 8.
(19)
20 THE INTERDICT
church authorities whose official capacity was derived jure
divinOy that is, from inherent authority, or from the powers
given by law to incumbents of specified offices, or from a tem-
porary delegation of power by some sufficient authority.'' The
pope and bishops laid interdicts by virtue of inherent author-
ity. It follows by corollary that councils and synods, being
conventions of bishops, had like authority. The pope's au-
thority to interdict extended over the whole church ; he exer-
cised this power personally,® or instructed legates,^ bishops,^"
chapters,^' abbots, or any lesser officials ,^^ to publish a sentence
in his stead. Episcopal interdicts were pronounced by the
archbishops or bishops themselves or by their vicars upon
^Kober, XXII, 3-4.
8 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 143 (Potth., 3501). Narni, 1208. ** . . . nos
[Innocent] . . . civitatem ipsorum . . . subjicimus interdicto ..."
(b) Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 143 (Potth., 3205). Lands of Gallus, 1207.
"... sententias excom. et interdict! latas auctoritate nostra . . . "
(c) J-L., 4793 (3557)- (d) J-L.» 5685 (4259)- (e) J-L., 6294. (f)
J-L., 6677. (g) J-L., 6981 (5095). (h) J-L., 7144. (i) J-L., 114S9
(7678). (j) J-L., 12755. (k) J-L., 13710(8813). (1) J-L., 13628.
(m) J-L., 16357. (n) J-L., 16765. (o) Leo Marsicanus, Chron. Mon.
Cas., lib. II, c. 78, in MGSS., VII, 683. (p) Mansi, Cone, XXI,
67-70. (q) Diceto, in Rec. {^Recueil des Historiens des Gaules), XIII,
183. Cf. Hinschius, V, 25, n. 7. (r) Pflugk-Httg., Acta, III, 317,
332-333- (s) J-L., 3012, 3046, 3089, 3090, 3304. Laid by John VIII.
(t) J-L., 4536, laid by Alexander II; J-L., 5368, laid by Urban II;
J-L., 8186 (5831), laid by Innocent II. (u) Jaff6, Bibl. Rer. Ger., II,
108, laid by Adrian IV. (v) Ryccardus de S. Germ., Chron. ad an. 121 1,
in MGSS., XIX, 334, laid by Innocent III; etc., etc.
^ (a) J-L., 7202 (5208). (b) J-L., 9369 (6510). Rowland, case No.
71. (c) J-L., 11677 (7801). A threat, (d) J-L., 11847. (e) J-L.,
15704- (0 J-L., 5517 (4129). Rowland, case No. 43. (g) J-L.,
6926 (5062). Rowland, case No. 58. (h) J-L., 8647 (6093). Local
particular.
i<> (a) J-L., 5746. Rowland, case No. 48. (b) J-L., 8540 (6040).
Rowland, case No. 66. (c) J-L., 10479 (7078). Rowland, case No.
73- (d) J-L., 17434. (e) Potth., 1269. France, 1200. (f) W.
Canterb., Vita S. Thomae, in Mat. Rist. Becket {Rolls Series), I, 71.
(g) J-L-, 9554 (6630), 11254 (7512). Personal, (h) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
I, 24 (Potth., 29). (i) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 163 (Potth., 2338). (j)
Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 87 (Potth., 3418). (k) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 98
(Potth., 4798). (1) Hist. gen. de Languedoc, IX, 190-192 and note.
11 (a) J-L., 14011. (b) J-L., 17128 (10479).
"Inn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 126 (Potth., 4332). The Abbot of St. Victor
and others were authorized to lay interdict.
THE LA YING OF AN INTERDICT 2 1
direct command from them ; '^ '* ^^ the confirmation of the
pope '" was often sought for these interdicts and was sometimes
granted. The interdicting power of the bishops had several
limitations : First, it was limited by the boundaries of the
bishoprics with the following exception : if a part of an inter-
dicted city or its suburbs lay in another jurisdiction, the
bishop's authority extended into the neighboring jurisdiction
to the extent of that city.^^ A special grant from Innocent III
extended the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Metz over other
dioceses;'^ in this case, however, the power was delegated
and not strictly episcopal. An archbishop's jurisdiction was
limited to his own diocese ; he could put one of his bishops
under personal interdict, but this power was taken away from
him by the Council of Trent ^^ and given to the synod. The
order of the Archbishop of Milan to the Bishop of Lodi to put
13(a) J-L., 6483. (b) J-L., 9319 (6472). Rowland, case No. 70.
(c) J-L., 10827 (7260). (d) J-L., 1 1 197. (e) Potth., 10020. (f)
Lambert v. Hersfeld, Annal., in MGSS.^ V, 21 iff. (g) J-L., 17016.
(h) J-L., 17569 (10657).
1* (a) Greg. Turon, Hist.^ VIII, 31. Rowland, case No. 8. Kober,
XXI, 6-8, considers this the first clear case of interdict, (b) J-L., 8221
(5816). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 213 (Potth., 2675). (d) J-L-> 8940
(6253)-
1^ (a) Prov. Cone. Trev., 1238, c. 3, in Mansi, XXIII, 479. ''Si
raptor excom. fuerit, vel terra ejus interdicta ab ordinario unius diocesis
..." (b) Cone. Mexican. Prov., 1585, lib. II, tit. VII, c. 5, in
Aguirre, Cone. Hisp., VI, iii. " Itidem interdicitur, ne Ofificiales et
Judices Metropolitanorum et excom., suspensionis et interdicti censuras
decernant contra Episcopos Suffraganeos."
16(a) J-L., 9975 (6834). (b) Mat. Rist. Becket {R. Ser.), VII,
477-478. (c) Chron. Vezeliacense ad an. 1250, in Labbe, Nova BibL^
I, 397-398. (d) J-L, 9343 (6487). (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 144
(Potth., 3844). (f) Gest. Hen. II {R. Ser.), I, 119. Confirmation is
sought, (g) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 98 (Potth., 4798). Confirmation is
sought.
i'(a) C. 17. de sent, excom. VI. 5. 11. (b) Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat.
15415, fol. 232, col. 4, Cause xxii°. "Si civitas, castrum aut villa subi-
ciantur ecclesiastico interdicto, illorum suburbia et continentia edificia
. . . intelliguntur interdicta."
18 Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 187 (Potth., 4610). This bull gives Conrad,
Bishop of Metz and imperial chancellor, the privilege of using ecclesiasti-
cal censures against malefactors of the church in any diocese, if the resi-
dent bishop on request does not do his duty.
19 Kober, XXII, 6-8.
22 THE INTERDICT
the city of Lodi under an interdict was unique and contrary to
accepted laws.^° Second, canon law required the bishops to
secure the assent of their chapters before issuing an interdict ; "
this law was not heeded by the bishops and the rule was abro-
gated. Third, upon papal order it sometimes happened that
a bishop lost his prerogative of laying interdicts unless he had
permission from the pope or his authorized agent.'^^ Inter-
dicts by council or synod were few. The decision of the
Council of Dijon in 1197 to put France under an interdict^*
was merely confirmatory of a papal order, and was doubtless
designed to give the threat an appearance of unanimity on the
part of the clergy. Interdicts laid by provincial synods were
more frequent than those laid by general councils.^*
With the growth of the church there appeared a number of
authorities who laid interdicts by virtue of the position they
occupied. ^^ Before the Council of Trent legates and nuncios
had unlimited power to lay interdicts within their jurisdictions ;
that council deprived them of the right ^^ and they could act
only in pursuance of a special mandate of the pope — that
is, they had only delegated authority. Originally archdeacons
and archpresbyters had no right to lay interdicts except on
delegated authority ; but in the course of time they developed
a jurisdiction which was recognized by the church until the
Council of Trent took it from them.^^ Cardinals interdicted
20J-L., 1 480 1.
" (a) C. I. X. de excess, praelat. 5.31. (b) C. 4. 5. X. de his. quae
fiunt a praelat. 3.10.
22 Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 137 (Potth., 151).
2' Lebeuf, Mem. Diocese d^Auxerre, I, 360-361.
" fa) Rec.^ X, 412. Rowland, case No. 17. (b) Richerus, Hist., in
^^1/6^ 6*6'., Ill, 634, 635, 664. Rowland, case ko. 16. (c) Mansi, Conc.f
XIX, 865, and Chron. S. Vincentii Vulturnens. , in Mur., Rer. It. Scr.,
I, ii, 514. This case is called excommunication in the source, but is very
clearly an interdict. C/. Refele, Conciliengesch., IV, 792. (d) Annal.
Benevent. ad an. iioo, in MGSS., Ill, 183. (e) Mansi, Cone, XXII,
9, c, 2.
25 Kober, XXII, 8ff.
'« (a) J-L., 15704. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 461 (Potth., 473).
" (a) C. 54. par. 4. X. de elect, i. 6. (b) C. 3. X. de poenia $• 37-
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 23
the churches the titles of which they bore.^^ Heads of mon-
asteries,'^' though they had the right to use local interdict over
places subject to their jurisdiction, rarely exercised this power,
and thereby avoided conflict with their bishops. Their powers
being mainly over regulars, they usually contented themselves
with the personal interdict. In some monasteries the brethren
seem to have shared the right of interdicting with their
heads j'*" or to have had an independent right. There is evi-
dence that even deans ^^ and pr^vots^^ issued interdicts. The
majority of canonists agree that a priest cannot lay an inter-
dict ; occasionally a priest laid a personal interdict, but even
this power rested on an unusual custom of the parish or upon
special authorization from a bishop.
Chapters laid interdicts under two conditions. ^"^ First, they
had independent jurisdiction over the property which they
held, and in matters touching these possessions they claimed
the right to lay interdicts. But, as a rule, they had little oc-
casion to use this right, for they found that a local particular
interdict laid on their cathedral was adequate to prevent the
(c) C. 3. X. de offic. jud. ordinar. i. 31. This gives the archpresbyter
the right to lay interdict, (d) Marlot, Hist, de JReims, III, 623. An
archdeacon laid an interdict during an archiepiscopal vacancy.
28Kober, XXII, 8ff.
"(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 144 (Potth., 4551). An interdict by the
abbot of La Charite. (b) Arch, depart, de I'Oise (Eeauvais), H. 2143.
(Inventaire de titres de S. Corneille de Compi^gne. ) This is a bull of In-
nocent III addressed to the ecclesiastics of Compiegne, commanding them
under pain of excommunication to observe the interdicts and censures
which the abbot of S. Corneille might issue, (c) J-L. , 11582 (7743).
'° J-L. , 12551. The Brethren of Malmesbury are allowed to use inter-
dict.
'^Cartulaire de Montieramey, No. 249, in Coll. des princip. Cartul. du
diocise de Troyes, 252.
'^ Marlot, Hist, de Reims^ I, 361. This is an interdict of Reims by the
pr6v6t Miles de Nanteuil.
^' (a) Rec.^ XV, 876. The canons of Soissons claimed the right to lay
interdict, (b) J-L., 16303. (c) C. 5. X. de consuet. 1.4. The chapter
of Le Mans claimed the power of interdicting the city, (d) C. 23. X. de
verb, signif. 5. 40. The canons of Chartres placed an interdict on the
possessions of the Countess of Blois. (e) J-L., 10372 (7027), 13244,
13597- Chapter is given the right to lay interdict, (f) Marlot, Hist, dc
Reims ^ III, 572. An interdict is laid by a chapter.
24 THE INTERDICT
retention of the chapter's revenues," to punish an offender
against the chapter,'* and to resist successfully a bishop. ••
Sometimes chapters even compelled bishops to admit that
cessation of services in the cathedral obliged all conventual
and parochial churches to a partial observance of such an
interdict. In Reims, for instance, the canons secured a sin-
gular arrangement from their archbishop : he agreed that, when
for any good cause the services of the cathedral were suspended,
services in all other churches should cease." The abuses of
this independent power caused various limitations to be placed
upon chapters.'® Second, in case of an episcopal vacancy the
chapter exercised the functions of a bishop and laid inter-
** (a) Gall. Christ.^ XI, 59!, and Chron. Rothomag. ad an. 121 1, in
Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 372. The chapter of Rouen interdicted the cathe-
dral because the archbishop retained revenues belonging to the canons,
(b) Cone. Mogunt., 1261, c. 19, in Harzheim, Cone. Germ., Ill, 6oof.
"^ (a) Cone, apud Vallem Guidonis, 1242, c. 6, in Hard., VII, 349.
(b) C. 2. X. de his, quae fiunt a major part, capit. 3. 11. (c) Cone.
Lugd. II, 1274, e. 17, in Hard., VII, 712. (d) C. 2. de offie. ordinal.
VI. I. 16.
«• (a) Cone. Later., 1215, e. 7, in Hard., VII, 523. (b) C. 13. X.
de offie. iud. ordinar. i. 31. (e) Cone. Compediens., 1277, in Hard.,
VII, 751. The bishops unite to resist aggression of the chapters, (d)
C. 8. de offie. ordinar. VI. i. 16. Boniface VIII found conditions result-
ing from use of interdicts by chapters against bishops so bad that he re-
served to the apostolic see the decision in such matters, (e) Marlot,
Hist, de Reims, III, 573, 821-823, ^o* 1^2.
" (a) Ibid., 806, 773. Cf. Archives Adm. Reims, I, 431. (b) Bibl.
de Cambrai, MS. No. 1151 (1028), fol. LXV. ** . . . s^rie d'actes sur
les rapports du chapitre cathedral avee I'^v^que et avee les autres ^glises
de Cambrai, notamment sur son droit de faire suspendre les services divins
dans toutes les 6glises de la ville." Cited from Catal. gtn. des MSS. des
Bibl. Publ. de France, Cambrai, p. 445.
"(a) C. 2. X. de his, quae fiunt a major part, eapit. 3. 11. An inter-
diet should be laid only by all the canons with the consent of the bishop,
(b) Cone. Lugd. II, 1274, e. 17, in Hard., VII, 712. This decrees
that in case a chapter lays an interdict it must issue a statement containing
the cause, (e) Arch, depart, de I'Aisne (Laon), G. i, cited in Inventairt
sommaire . . . , III, i. " Le Pape Innocent III s'addressant i
R[enaud], 6vfique de Noyon, le blS,me d'avoir autoris6 son chapitre i
lancer I'excommunication et I'interdit et decide que le droit d'excom. ct
interdit ne peut fttre exerc6 que par les 6v6ques." Aside from the fact
that Renaud was not bishop of Noyon during the pontificate of Innocent
III, this statement is difficult to reconcile with the practice of the time in
which it purports to have been issued.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT
25
diets.'' The Council of Trent made it a rule that, within
eight days after the death of a bishop, the chapter should
elect a vicar to perform episcopal functions ; hence the capit-
ular vicar could lay interdict in episcopal vacancy. The in-
quisition could lay an interdict,*" and the state also appears to
have had some share in the power of laying interdicts. Louis
IX agreed to use temporal power to enforce interdicts only
when the state had shared in issuing the sentence, or could
see some good reason for confirming it.*^ Philip VI of France,
who had been empowered by Pope Benedict XII to order an
interdict laid on Flanders, declared that neither he nor his
heirs should exercise the authority.*^ If a vidimus by Pierre
Bornihores of a bull of Gregory IX is correctly understood,
the consuls of Perpignan thought of imposing an interdict on
the church of St. John.*' However, instances of the use of
interdict by civil authorities are rare.** A review of the fore-
going paragraphs must impress one with the fact that, though
many persons possessed the power of laying interdicts,^^ it was
not by chance but by clear grant from proper authorities.
The causes for interdicts, notwithstanding their number and
'* Chapters also promulgated interdicts upon authority delegated by a
bishop. For example, the Bishop of Cesena granted his chapter this
power, Thomassin, III, lib. II, c. 23, n. 7.
*° Lea, Inquisition of SpaiUy I, 355, 420, 456, 482, 485, 487, 495,
514, 519, 523.
*^ Matt, Par., 133 f. , cited by Raumer, Gesch. Hokenst., VI, 162, n. 9.
" Diericx, Mem. de Gana, App., 109, n. I. *' Philippe . . . Savoir
faisons a tous presens et avenir . . . ne puissons jamais faire constraindre
ledict conte de Flandres, le pays de Flandres, ou les personnes diceluy
pays par sentenches de suspencions, d'excommunication, dinterdycte [j/V]
ou de dessaroicion."
*3Bibl. de Perpignan, MS. No. 78, 1°. Cited from Cat. gin. des Bibl.
Publ, de France^ Perpignan, p. 109. "Vidimus par Pierre Bornihores
. . . d'une bulle de Gregoire XI au sujet de I'interdit de I'^glise de S.
Jean, que les consuls de Perpignan avaient voulu imposer. " August, 1376.
** Viollet, Instit. Politiq. de France^ II, 298, n. 2.
** Occasionally it is not clear exactly what authority laid the interdict.
For example, J-L. , 4854 (3616), in which Romana ecclesia is the author-
ity; and J-L., 12552 (8384), in which the ** church of Rouen" appears
as the authority laying the interdict.
26 THE INTERDICT
complexity, fall naturally into three categories : conditions
harmful to society, conditions harmful to the church, and the
necessities of ecclesiastics. A few interdicts were issued on
account of conditions which were harmful to society as a whole
or to some part of society. In 103 1 the Council of Limoges
endeavored to secure observance of the Peace of God by
threatening the robber-barons with interdict if they continued
their depredations.''^ Bishop Alduin of Limoges pronounced
* ' excommunication ' ' over his diocese because of the devasta-
tions by certain bandits,*^ presumably living within the limits
of his bishopric. Tournaments, because they hindered the
taking of the cross, were prohibited for a period in the time
of Innocent III under threat of excommunication and inter-
dict ; nor was a relaxation to ensue until the offender had fore-
sworn tournaments for the time specified.'*® It may well be
questioned whether the unfortunate condition of society was
the only motive that led to the threat of interdict in the above
cases. It is possible that the desire to serve the church was a
stronger motive than the desire to serve society. That, how-
ever, is a question of little significance, since instances of
such occasions for interdicts are so rare as to substantiate
neither view.*' The dearth of instances in which the interdict
was relied upon to improve the lot of humanity is no reproach
to the church, for there were other means and agencies which
were more effective for that purpose, and a function so dis-
tinctly temporal was properly left to the temporal power.
Instances in which districts were deprived of all ecclesiasti-
cal ministrations for the benefit of states, cities, or other politi-
cal unities are somewhat more frequent. London and the
lands of the barons who opposed King John after he repudi-
*^ Du Cange, Glossar., under *' Interdictum ". Careful distinction be-
tween interdict and excommunication must be urged at this point. Ex-
communication was used long before 103 1 to aid society.
*^ Ademar, Chron. ad an. 994, in Rec.^ X, 147.
*8Gesta, c. 84. Cf. Inn. Ill, Epp., IX, 197; X, 74.
*^ It should be observed that both of the cases mentioned above are
merely threats of interdict and not actual sentences.
THE LA YING OF AN INTER DICl 27
ated Magna Charta were put under interdict.^" The Lombard
cities were disciplined for reforming their league with the de-
sign of resisting Frederick II j ^^ Louis VIII was warned to de-
sist from the seizure of any English possessions ; " the English
magnates opposing Henry III were threatened ; *^ the citizens
of Brindisi and others opposing Walter of Brienne were given
a month to return to fidelity ;" Albricus, a knight, agreed that
if he vexed the inhabitants of a stated locality he was to be
excommunicated and his lands interdicted ; *^ and the marau-
ders of Vallemagne were pursued wherever they went by an
ambulatory interdict. ^^ In one instance, an attempt was made
to secure justice for an individual. King John had refused for
more than eight years to pay the jointure of Berengaria, Rich-
ard's queen, and Innocent III, tiring of his unavailing efforts
to secure a settlement, finally threatened certain manors and
honors with special interdict, in spite of the fact that they
already lay under general interdict. This attempt to aid
Berengaria proved ineffectual.^^
Second, the interdict was most frequently used to advance
the interests of the church. These were both temporal and
spiritual. It has been indicated above why this form of disci-
pline was not common in those matters in which the state had
undeniably a primary interest. Besides, there were temporal
affairs in which the church had quite as great an interest as its
interest in spiritual affairs. Under its spiritual interests this
study groups those matters which relate to morality or faith.
Violations of those rules which the church has laid down for
^ (a) Florence of Worcester (Eng. Hist. Soc, ), 317. (b) Reinerus,
Annal. ad an. 1 216, in MGSS., XVI, 674.
" Huillard-BrehoUes, Historia Diplom., II, ii, p. 643.
" Potlh., 7913.
» (a) Rymer, Foed., I, i, 103. (b) Potth., 8136.
"Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 191 (Potth., 2064).
**Cartulaire de Montieramey, No. 249, in Col. des princip. Cartul. de
TroyeSy p. 252, No. 249.
6«J-L., 15247.
*^ (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 223, 224 (Potth., 3618, 3619; cf. 997, 998).
(b) Did. Natl. Biog., under ** Berengaria."
28 THE INTERDICT
the purity and orthodoxy of its members were finally'* provo-
cative of the local interdict. Most famous among the inter-
dicts resulting from a violation of the law of marriage is that
of France, pronounced because Philip Augustus repudiated
Ingeborg/^ Another case is that of Portugal and Leon, laid
because of the incestuous marriage of the King of Leon with
the daughter of the King of Portugal /° On that occasion the
effect of the discipline did not prove lasting, for presently the
same ruler of Leon married a princess of Castile to whom he
was related within the prohibited degrees ; his kingdom was
interdicted, and the realm of Castile ^^ was threatened with a
like calamity, unless its rulers rendered efficacious service in
dissolving the offensive marriage.
Besides improper marriages various other indecencies pro-
duced interdicts. Gregory of Tours tells that the nuns of
Poitiers by their immoral living gave provocation for an inter-
dict (called excommunication).^^ Assisi was interdicted for a
profanation of the rites connected with the translation of St.
Francis. ^^ The murder of Conrad, Bishop of Wurzburg,
brought an interdict on the possessions of ail the guilty and of
those who showed them favor ; ^^ the murder of Becket deter-
mined the pope to interdict all the lands of Henry IL'^ Sim-
ony seems to have caused an interdict to fall on a monastery
^^ It was more common to use excommunication or personal interdict.
The local interdict was reserved for those cases in which milder correctives
of the church had failed and for cases of flagrant sin.
*® See Appendix, case 57. Interdict on France, 1200.
«o Gesta, c. 58.
*^ See Appendix, case 3. Interdict on Leon and Castile.
^^Greg.Turon., Hist, Franc. ^ IX, 39ff.; X, I5ff. Rowland, case No. 9.
esPotth., 8572.
^ Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 15s (PoUh., 1813).
65(a) Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.\ IV, i65f. (b) W. Newburgh,
Hist. Rer. Angl., lib. II, c. XI {R. Ser.), I, 128-129. Murder of Raymiond
Trencavel. (c) J-L., 17128 (10479). Murder of Berengar, Archbishop
of Tarragona, (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 39 (Potth., 1 160). Bishop of
Belluno killed in battle, (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 26 (Potth., 3324).
Murder of Pierre Castelnau. (f) Mun. Acad. Oxon. {R. 6"<r;-.), i9of.
Cf. Boase, Oxford^ 90-91. Murder of Oxford scholars.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 29
of the diocese of Reims/* and simoniacal practices on the
part of Philip I of France caused him to be threatened with
interdict.^' Pollution ^"^ or the burial of an excommunicate in
a church was regarded as a sufficient reason for interdicting
the locality concerned. The failure to observe church holi-
days was sometimes deemed a sufficient occasion for inter-
dicts, as appears from a papal order prohibiting the excom-
munication or interdict of those vassals and servants of the
Cistercians who worked on days which others considered holi-
days/^ The presence of heretics in at least one instance caused
an interdict to be threatened. '°
Much more frequent than the interdicts just discussed were
those which resulted from an infringement upon the temporal
interests of the church. It appeared in the consideration of
the purposes of the interdict that it was an administrative
order, designed principally to furnish the church the necessary
means of forcing aggressors to come to terms. Resistance to
the church from within could be so adequately met by the
weapons of suspension, excommunication, degradation, and
the like that the offences of ecclesiastics were rarely the occa-
sion for a local interdict ; resistance to the church from with-
out, however, demanded a stronger and a more formidable
weapon, and this was found in the local general interdict,
which had as its special function the protection of ecclesiasti-
cal property. So strictly did the church guard her property-
rights that the mere presence of stolen goods,^^ or of rob-
^ J-L., 4548. Local particular. Cited by Hinschius, V, 21-22, n. 2.
•'J-L-»48o7 (3570-
®® (a) Andreae, Tract. Utiliss. (MS.) Tricesimus quartus. *'Cum
ecclesia cum sanguine vel semine polluitur tunc est a jure ecclesia inter-
dicta usque ad reconciliationem et in ea non est celebrandum." (b)
Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat., 15415 (Berengar Fredoli), fol. 232, col. 4. Beren-
gar, among his causes for which churches, locahties, etc., may be polluted
and hence interdicted, says (Cause IX°.), " Si emissione humani seminis
poUuantur . . ." (c) Interdicts for pollution were usually local particular.
»» J-L-. 1 385 1 (8918). Personal interdict (?).
'«>J-L., 15461.
'* (a) Prov. Cone. Trev., 1238, c. 2, in Mansi, Conc.^ XXIII, 479. If
30
THE INTERDICT
bers," resulted in an interdict for a locality. Very early " and
very often ^* did the church protect its own by means of inter-
dicts ; they were issued on account of the seizure of a church,"
a castle/^ a villa," relics,'^ episcopal regalia ,^^ and ecclesiasti-
cal paraments.^ The monks of Monte Casino were robbed of
property left in their charge for safe-keeping, and the result of
their negligence was an interdict on the church of St. Benedict
anyone brings stolen goods into a parish, "per totam illam parochiam
cessetur a divinis, dum ibi praeda et praedo et praedae enitor fuerit ".
(b) Cartul. de I'abbaye de Basse-Fontaine, in Col. des princip. Cartul. de
Troyes, p. 142, No. 106. "Villas, autem, in quibus bona praedictorum
fratrum per violenliam detenta fuerint, quamdiu ibi sint, interdicti sententie
supponatis."
'^Cartul. de la Chapelle-aux-Planches, No. 41, in Col. des princip.
Cartul. de Troyes^ p. 41, No. 41. " Le Pape [Innocent III] ordonne de
mettre en interdit tous les lieux oix demeureront les violateurs et les enva-
hisseurs des biens de I'Ordre [de Premontr6] jusqu'i restitution ..."
'^ (a) Greg. Turon., In Glor. Mart., c. 78. Rowland, case No. 6. Cf.
Hinschius, IV, 805, n. 2. The date of this censure was about 541 A. D.
(b) Greg. Turon., In Glor. Confess., c. 70. Rowland, case No. 7. Cf.
Rinschius, IV, 805, n. 2. Date, about 565 A. D. (c) Vita S. Eligii, I,
30, in d'Achery, Spicil.y II, 87. Cf. Rinschius, IV, 805, n. 2. Date,
before 659 A. D.
^* (a) J-L., 5517 (4129). Rowland, case No. 43. (b) J-L., 6781
(4959), 6564 (4847). Rowland, case No. 56. (c) J-L., 6987 (5098).
Rowland, case No. 59. (d) J-L., 6948 (5078). Threat of a local par-
ticular interdict, (e) J-L., 7125 (5162), 6925 (5061). Rowland, case
No. 60. (f) J-L., 8940 (6253). (g) J-L., 9287. Rowland, case No.
68. (h) J-L., 1 1254 (7512). This may be a personal interdict, (i)
J-L., 15704. (j) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 59 (Potth., 683). (k) Inn. Ill,
Epp., VI, 73 (Potth., 1919). (1) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 87 (Polth., 3814).
(m) Lebeuf, Mem. Dioctse d' Auxerre., I, 370-372. (n) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
XII, 120 (Potth., 3843). (o) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 80 (PoUh., 3777).
(p) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 98 (4798).
'^(a) Cone. Poitiers, 1078, in Mansi, Cone, XX, 498. (b) J-L., 7114.
(c) J-L., 9884. This is a threat; it may be a personal interdict.
'^(a) J-L., 6926 (5062), 6927, 6928, 6929. Rowland, case No. 58.
(b) Mittarelli, Annal. Camald., IV, App., 255. " . . .in terra eorum
interdicti sentent. promulgarit, eo quod ipsi quoddam castrum cum tota
curte . . . occuparant."
" J-L., 5157 (3884). Rowland, case No. 37.
'«J-L., 11561.
'''Chron. Rolhomag. ad an. 1233, in Labbe, A^ova Bibl.y I, 376. " In
mense Julii saisivit dominus Rex Ludovicus junior Regalia domini Rotho-
magensis Archiepiscopi."
80
See above, n. 73 c.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT
31
at Monte Casino.*' A mere attack on property,®^ damage or
even disturbance of ecclesiastical possessions,*^ was ample
cause for interdict; for example, because the Count of Nevers
placed many restraints on the monks of Vezelai, and finally
blockaded their monastery,** his lands were interdicted.
Quarrels about title to property *^ occasionally brought inter-
dicts upon the litigants opposing the church, as was the case
in the dramatic interdict of Auxerre, which grew out of the
dispute between Peter of Courtenay and Bishop Hugh Noyers.*"
Unjust taxation of church property " and refusal to pay tithes**
or money due the church*^ were prevented by the judicious
use of the interdict. Florence was deprived of services for
not compelling her ruined bankers to compound for a deposit
made by the papal legate , the Cardinal of Santa Sabina ; "" and
Innocent III threatened Cyprus with an interdict to compel
the payment of tithes. ^^ Still other interdicts were caused by
"J-L., 5129 (3859), 5130 (3860). This local particular interdict is a
punishment. See above, chap. I, n. 25.
82(a) J-L., 6441. (b) J-L., 8986 (6280), 9545 (6624), 9784 (6748),
10066 (6878). (c) J-L., 10372 (7027). (d) J-L., 12551. (e) J-L.,
13186. (f; J-L., 13244. (g) J-L., 16226. (h) J-L., 16820 (10356).
(i) J-L., 17569 (10657). (i) Marlot, Hist, de Reii7is^ III, 773. (k) Inn.
Ill, Epp., I, 137 (Pouh., 8137).
"(a) J-L., 8647 (6093). This is a local particular interdict, (b)
J-L., 8772 (6163). Threat, (c) J-L., 8986 (6280). Threat, (d) J-L.,
9554 (6630;. (e) J-L., 10095. Threat, (f) J-L., 13597. (g) Meiller,
Keg. der Sahb. Erzbisch., p. 170, No. 7 (Polth., 1250). (h) Qtiell. Gesch.
Stadt K'oln^ II (1863), 345-346. "Johannes, Dechant zu Mainz, fordert
im Auftrage des Cardinals Petrus den Kolnischen Domscholaster ^nf, alia
Unruhestifter der Provinz zum Frieden zu ermahnen und fiir den Ubertre-
tungsfall ihnen mit Excommunication und Interdict zu drohen."
** See Appendix, case 33. Case of Nevers.
«*(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 163 (Potth., 2338). (b) Rec, XIX, 546
(Polth ,4333).
**See Appendix, case 88. Interdict on Auxerre.
"(a) J-L., 14801. (b) Hocsemius, Hist. Pont. Leod., 1255, in Cha-
peaville, II, 290. This interdict was laid because the citizens tried to tax
the property of the clergy: "... maltotum super venaUbus posuissent
))
^ (a) J-L., 17016. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 242 (Potth., 89S). (c)
Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 158 (Potth., 3234).
"(a) J-L., 12192. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 147 (Potth., 774).
•®Lea, InquisUion, II, 278. ^^ Potth., 956.
32
THE INTERDICT
infringement upon the liberties of the church,*^ by resistance
of either ecclesiastics or laymen to the church ,^''^* by adher-
ence to lay or clerical enemies of the church,^* ^^ by treaties
*^ (a) Chron. Rothomag. ad an. 1196, in Labbe, Nova BibL, I, 369-
370. *' Interdicta est civitas Rotomagensis et tota Normannia pro castro,
quod Richardus Rex illustris firmavit in rupe Andeleii contra dignitatem
Rothomagensis Ecclesiae ..." (b) England, 1208. (c) Hist. gin.
de Languedoc, IX, 480. Several cities are interdicted because royal offi-
cials interfered with episcopal jurisdiction.
«»(a) J-L., 4869 (3628). (b) J-L., 9343 (6487). (c) Mat. Hist.
Becket {R. Ser.), VI, 31-32. This interdict was laid because the bishop
had disregarded his suspension, (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 60 (Potth., 66).
(e) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 160 (Potth., 119). (f) Ryccardus de S. Germano,
Chron. ad an. 1210, in MGSS., XIX, 334. ** . . . ecclesiam Capuanam
sub interdicto ponit pro eo quod celebrare ausi sunt ipso [Otto]
presente." (g) Ga//. Christ.^ XII, Instrumenta, col. 173-174. This
interdict was laid because the prior of La Charit6 refused to surrender to the
bishop a woman suspected of heresy, (h) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 55 (Potth., 49).
(i) J-L., 4536. Rowland, case No. 30. Cf. Hinschius, V, 21-22, n. 2.
^* (a) Haddan and Stubbs, Conc.^ Ill, 586, note, and 597-602. How-
land, case No. 12. Cf. Hinschius, V, 19, n. 13. (b) J-L., 6942. (c)
Gesta Pontiff. Cameracen., in MGSS.., XIV, 237, lines 436-437. The
citizens of Cambrai refused to give homage, (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 73
(Potth., 1919). (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 144 (PoUh., 3844). (f) Prov.
Cone. Trev. , 1238, c. 5, in Mansi, Cone.., XXIII, 480. If lords are re-
quested to compel their subjects to obey the church, and fail to do so, they
shall be excommunicated. " Et si sententia excom. non sufificit circa eos,
ipsorum terra supponatur interdicto. " (g) Collect. Topog. et Geneal.,^!
(1840), 47ff. This interdict was laid because the injunction of a bishop
against building a church was disregarded. It was a local particular inter-
dict, (h) Hist. Episc. Autiss., LXIV, in Labbe, A'ova Bibl., I, 506.
Auxerre, 1275. This interdict was laid because of non-observance of ex-
communication, (i) Anon., S. Marlialis Chron. ad an. 1276, in Duplds-
Agier, Ckron.^ 173. '* Eodem anno, Girbertus, Episcopus Lemovicensis,
. . . vicecomitatum Lemovicensem subponit, propter obsidionem Userchie,
eccl. interdicto." This is a case of armed resistance to the church, (j)
Lea, Inquisition, II, 280. Pistoia, 1375. The city was interdicted for
protecting its citizens against arrest by the Inquisition.
95(a) Jaffe, Bibl. Rer. Ger., II, 108. Howland, case No. 72. (b)
Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 461 (Potth., 473). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 78 (Potth.,
718). (d) Ryccardus de S. German., Chron. ad an. I2ii,in A/GSS.,
XIX, 334. (e) Teulet, Layettes, I, 372, No. 973 (Potth., 4317). Called
excommunication, (f) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 56 (Potth., 4736). For ad-
herence to Emperor Otto, (g) Winkelmann, PA. v. Sckwaben, II, 393-
396. (h) Robert. Altiss., Chronolog. ad an. 1216, in Rec, XVIII, 284.
•'Omnium enim qui adhaeserant Ludovico subjecit et interdicto terras et
excom. personas." (i) Annal. Waverl., in Annal. Monast. {R. Ser.), II,
286. " WalUam totam interdixit quia cum baronibus tenuit." (j) Gio-
vanni Sercambi, I, 64-85, in Fonti, XX. Lucca, about 1335* Laid be-
cause of adherence to Louis of Bavaria.
••(a) J-L., 4573, 4574. Howland, case No. 31. Cf. Hinschius, V,
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 33
with infidels,"' by violation of treaties, vows, or oaths ,®^ by
refusal to take an oath or make peace ,"'*^*^ by harboring male-
factors,^"' by failure to elect a bishop ,^*^ by instalment into
21-22, n. 2. King and princes of France were urged, under pain of inter-
dict, to eject the usurping Bishop of Chartres. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., II,
288 (Potth., 944). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 84 (Fotlh., 2530). (d)
Annal. Staden. ad an. 121 1, in MGSS.y XVI, 355. (e) M.S. S. Marci
Venet., Cod. Lat. 25, A. 141. i. 102 (LIX, XLI), O, fol. 17-20.
Cited from Bibl. MS. ad S. Marci Venet., V, 325. This threat is by
Alexander VI, because of the adherence of Florence to Savonarola.
•• . . . alioquin . . . totam civitatem Florentiae eccl. interdicto subiice-
mus tandiu duraturo, quamdiu vestro isto monslruoso idolo favorem
praestabitis. "
'^ (a) J-L., 3012, 3046, 3089, 3090. Rowland, case No. 15. Naples,
about 879. (b) J-L., 3304. Howland, case No. 15. Amalfi, about
879. Both of these cities were interdicted for making a pact with the
Saracens, (c) See Appendix, case i. Navarre, 1197. (d) Raynald.,
Anna/. £cc/., I22g,^l. Holy places in Jerusalem, 1229. Laid because of
Fredeiick ll'streaty with the Sultan. C/. Raumer, Gesch. IIohensL,lli, 199.
»« (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 92 (Potth., 81). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 249
(Potth., 263). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 355 (Potth., 351). (d) Inn. HI,
Epp., I, 347 (Pouh., 361). (e) I^ec, XIX, 352, 353 (Potth., 673),
Art. 5: ** . . . quod, quotiescumque me a praedictis conventionibus
resilere contigerit, toties . . . terram meam totam interdicto supponant."
An interdict was later laid in accordance with this agreement, (f) Inn.
0pp., Ill, I124, No. 120 (Potth., 2489). Henry, Count Palatine, was
threatened with interdict for failing to keep his oath to be faithful to Otto,
(g) Kec, XIX, 17. Raymond of Toulouse in his oath of submission
agreed that, if he failed to keep it, he should be punished. "... volo
eiiam et concedo ut persona mea excommunicetur et terra supponatur
interdicto." (h) Gest. Hen. II [R. Ser.), I, 180-190, and J-L., 12705,
12248. Henry II of England is threatened with interdict if he fails to
fulfil marriage agreements entered into with the King of France. (i)
^^c, XIX, 375 (Potth., 674). (j) Gesta, c. 84. Interdict was threat-
ened to enforce a crusader's vows, (k) Potth., 8162. An ambulatory
interdict pursued Frederick II because he failed to keep his vow to go on
a crusade.
•»(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 297 (Potth., 286). (b) Steph. Tornac,
Epp., 246, in Migne, Pat. Lat., 211, col. 513.
I*' (a) Mat. Hist. Becket (^. Ser.),Vll, 235. " Regi . . . signif^-
catnm est, quod, nisi citius cum ecclesia fecerit pacem ... ex tunc nulla
ratione differri poterit quin in personam ejus et terram cismarinam et trans-
marinam ecclesiastica severitas exercealur." (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 355
(Potth., 351). England and France are commanded to make peace or a
truce on pain of interdict.
*°^ J-L., 12135 (8160). The King of Aragon is threatened with inter-
dict and excommunication, unless he banish the murderers of the Arch-
bishop of Tarragona from his kingdom.
^°'J-L. , 5967. Threat of local particular interdict. The church of
Mileto was to be interdicted, unless the canons elected a bishop before a
certain date.
34
THE INTERDICT
ecclesiastical benefices in spite of prohibition,^®* by attempt to
commit any act deemed harmful to the church,"* and, finally,
by offence against the right of asylum."*
A third cause for interdicts is found in the necessities of
ecclesiastical persons. Interdicts issued for such a cause were
of two kinds : those resulting from the efforts of the clergy to
obtain that protection to which they were entitled by the
recognized law of the times ; and those resulting from the
desire of the clergy to advance their private interests. Im-
prisonment, detention,'^ banishment, and expulsion of clerks,
107
»«'Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 113 (Potth., 1958). io*See above, n. 97.
*«5Conc. Lond., 1286, c. 13, in Hard., VII, 625!.
"* (a) J~L., 4485. Rowland, case No. 29. Cf. Hinschius, V, 21,
n. I. An interdict because of seizure and detention of the Bishop of
Rosello. (b) J-L., 5368. Rowland, case No. 39. Cf, Hinschius, V,
21-22, n. 2. In this case the interdict was laid because the people and
clergy of St. James had seized their bishop, placed him in chains, and put
another in his place, (c) J-L., 5469. Rowland, case No. 41. Cf.
Hinschius, V, 22, n. i. Interdict because of imprisonment of Bishop Ivo
of Chartres. (d) J-L., 6926 (5062). Rowland, case No. 58. Threat of
interdict to secure the release of the Archbishop of Compostella. (e)
J-L., 6987 (5098). Rowland, case No. 39. Portugal is threatened wiih
interdict to secure the release of the Archbishop of Braga, with his follow-
ers and property, (f) J-L., 16938, 16938a, 16938b. Denmark is threat-
ened to secure the release of Waldemar, Bishop of Schleswig. (g) Hove-
den, Chron., Pars post, ad an. 1199 {R. Ser.)^ IV, 94. (h) Inn. Ill,
Epp., I, 24 (Potth., 29). (i) Auctor Anon., in Ludewig, IX, 81. Den-
mark, 1259. ** . . . captus est Jacobus Archiepiscopus . in dome
sua . . . et incarceratus in castro Ragenskow; ob quod fuit interdictum
• • • " (i) J-L., 16970, 1 6971. Henry, Emperor of Constantinople,
was threatened with interdict to secure the release of Richard, an English
clerk, (k) Antiquus Cartul. Eccl. Baiocensis, No. 300, in MSm. Soc.
Antiq. Norm., 8 (1834), 452-453. "Post interdictum pro detentione
hominis nostri canoni[ci] ..." (1) Hist. gin. de Languedoc, IX,
786. Cause for this interdict was the imprisonment of the grand vicar of
an archbishop by the consuls of the city, (m) Mat. Hist. Becket {J\. Ser),
VI, 31-32. An interdict was threatened because of imprisonment of a
chaplain, William, (n) J-L., 9737, 9738. 9739. Henry, Duke of
Normandy, was threatened in order to secure the release of the abbot-elect,
Richard.
"^(a) J-L., 8186 (5831). Rowland, case No. 65. Because the peo-
ple had expelled William, (b) T-L., 9619 (6667). (c) J-L., 9620
(6668). (d) J-L., 9684 (6698); D, c, and d have to do with the ex-
pulsion of an abbot, (e) Potth., 1260, 1261 (f) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII,
171 (Potth., 2344). (g) Clemens XI, Const. "Ad Plurimas", 1713, in
Bullar. Rom., XXI, 588g. Because the Bishop of Girgenti was expelled
from his diocese.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT
35
frequently produced interdicts, for the church endeavored to
shield her servants from all indignities.'"^ Personal opposition
to churchmen ^°* and infringement upon individual or corporate
privileges were occasional causes for interdict."'' Private gain
was the motive for those interdicts by the aid of which the
payment of debts and tithes"' was exacted, personal injuries
were avenged, rivals were defeated,"^ and the payment of
taxes was evaded."'' It is by no means to the discredit of the
church that interdicts for such causes were generally recog-
nized as abuses. A discipline applicable in so wide a range "*
»»« (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 403 (Potth., 413). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI,
56 (Potth., 4736). (c) Quellen Gesch. Stadt Koln, II, 540. Cologne,
1266. " Papst Clemens IV ertheilt Vollmacht das Interdict der Stadt
Koln, welches iiber die Burger derselben wegen ihres Angriffs auf den
Erzbischof verhangt worden, aufzuheben." (d) La Cl^de, Hist, de
Port.^ II, 418. Lisbon, about 1640. Because of excesses against the
papal nuncio.
'°* (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 55 (Potth., 49). For the refusal of a chapter
to receive a canon, (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 73 (Potth., 1919). John
refuses to receive the Bishop of S6ez. See Appendix, case 17. (c) Inn.
Ill, Epp., XII, 144 (Potth., 3844). Because of refusal to receive a
bishop.
*^° (a) See Appendix, case 81. Oxford, 1209. Because certain clerks
were hanged in contravention of ecclesiastical privileges, (b) Quell.
Gesch. Stadt K'dln^ IV, 133-134. "Erzbischof Heinrich verkundet, dass
er . . . die Provincial-Statuten beziiglich des wegen Immunitats-Verletzung
ni verhSngenden Interdictes . . . mildere." (^c)yizx\o\.^ Hist, de Reims ^
III, 821-823, No. 182. The archbishop tried to collect a tax from the
*' franc-bourgeois " of the chapter.
"' (a) J-L. , 17016. Interdict allowed to secure the payment of tithes,
(b) Potth., 898. Interdict allowed to enforce the payment of tithes, (c)
Riedel, Cod., I, Urk., 219. Cited from Raumer, Gesch. Hohenst., VI,
162, n. 3. Regensburg interdicted because citizens did not pay their debt,
(d) Planck, IV, ii, 294, n. 19. Clermont, 1250. Because the diocese
refused to pay the bishop a sum usually paid '* pour son joyeux av^nement ".
"'Cone. Tolosan., 1056, Querimonia Berengarii Vicecomitis, in Hard.,
VI, i046f. The Archbishop of Narbonne used interdict against his rival,
Berengar.
"'(a) See Appendix, case 15. York, about 1199. Archbishop Geof-
frey resisted the levying of carucage by interdict, (b) Hocsemius, Hist.
Font. Leod. ad an. 1255, in Chapeaville, II, 290. Interdict because the
citizens tried to tax property of canons, (c) Marlot, Hist, de Reims ^ III,
821-823, No* 182. Chapter of Reims resisted a tax on their ** franc-
bourgeois " by threat of interdict.
"*(a) Not infrequently the interdict resulted from the presence of some-
thing {e. g.^ Bibl. de Dijon, MS. No. 73, fol. 172, v^., *• . . . villas au-
36 THE INTERDICT
was not always used judiciously ; for example, districts were
sometimes interdicted for the fault of obscure persons or for
unimportant offences/'^ Neither did ecclesiastics properly
distinguish their own personal and financial interests from
those of the church. '^^ Robert of Rouen used the interdict
because he was obliged to flee from the city ; ^'' other priests
closed churches to avenge insults ; "® the Archbishop of Nar-
bonne used the interdict against his rival, Berengar;"' the
clergy of Reims demanded a sum of money for raising the
interdict ; the priests of Soissons were interdicted to enforce
tern in quibus bona praedictorum fratrum, vel hominum suorum, per
violentiam detenta fuerint, aut praedones eorum permanserint, seu etiam
fratres fugitivii monachi vel conversi contra voluntatem eorum extiterint
. . . interdicti sententie . . . supponatis."), (b) or of someone {e- g.'^
(i) J-L., 12135 (8160), the King of Aragon is threatened with interdict
because of the presence of the murderers of the Archbishop of Tarragona;
(2) Quell. Gesch. Stadt Koln^ II {1863), 273, interdict is allowed for those
places in which obdurate plunderers of the church remain for three days;
(3) ibid.^ VI (1879), 187, interdict is laid because of presence of excom-
municates), (c) The church could lay an interdict on a locality for the
presence of some one guilty of any offense whatever. Such an interdict was
not necessarily ambulatory.
i'5(a) Kober, XXII, 29f. (b) Hist. gen. de Languedoc, VI (1879),
763. Innocent IV forbade interdict in Languedoc for the fault of one or
several offenders, because it weakened the cause of the church in the eyes
of the heretics. Cf. Lea, Inquisition, II, 3. (c) Cone. Basil., 1435,
Sessio 20 (Mansi, xxix, 103). " Quoniam ex indiscreta interdictorum
promulgatione multa consueverunt scandala evenire, statuit haec S. Synodus
quod nulla civitas, oppidum, castrum, villa, aut locus eccl. supponi possit
interdicto, nisi ex causa, seu culpa ipso rum locorum, aut domini seu rec-
toris vel officialium; propter culpam autem seu causam alterius cujus-
cumque privatae personae hujusmodi loca interdici nequaquam possint
"»(a) Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat. 5993, A, VI, r°.-VII, v°. Blanche,
Countess of Champagne, complained that several bishops laid interdicts
" . . . motum animi potius quam zelum rectitudinis exequentes ". Cf.
Potth., 135a. (b) Hard., V, 1361, 1372, 1377. Hincmar of Laon
ordered churches to be closed in case he should be punished by Hincmar
of Reims, (c) Inn, III, Epp., XIII, 37 (Potth., 3723). The priests of
Soissons complain that the interdict is used to enforce the payment of exor-
bitant taxes, (d) C. 3. X. de poenis 5. 37. (e) Arch, de Reims, II, i,
659. Innocent IV rebukes the clergy of Reims for demanding a sum of
money for raising the interdict.
"^ Will. Gemetic, Hist. Norm., lib. VI, c. 3, in Rec.^ X, 191.
"8 Cone. Toletan., 683, c. 7.
"• See above, n. 112.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 37
the payment of taxes ; ^^^ and even papal legates were not
guiltless of such extortion. ^"^^ The seriousness of these abuses
is shown by the frequency of conciliar decrees against them,
and the strength of the tendency to lay unjust interdicts ap-
pears from the fact that papal privileges securing one against
interdicts laid without clear and good cause were greatly
desired.^"
Before a sentence of interdict could be duly laid, the regular
processes of monition and citation must be observed. ^^^ One
warning was necessary to make a sentence valid ,^^* and such
admonition was as a rule advisable , not only because the inter-
dict was the last resort, but also because the interdict was
dangerous to the church and was to be avoided if a threat
would have the desired effect. It was very common in giving
warning to indicate how soon the sentence would take effect.
This was done either by setting some date of the calendar,"^ on
which the offender's grace would expire, or by fixing a certain
^^ See above, note 1 1 6 c.
*" (a) C. 2. de sentent, excom. Extravag. comm. 5. 10. (b) This
abuse still continued: Cone. Marcic. , 1326, c. 55; Cone. Prap^ens. , 1349,
c. 12, in Ilarzheim, IV, 384. (c) The order of Boniface VIII was later
several times repeated by other popes: in 1356 by Inn. VI {Quell. Gesck.
Stadt K'dln., IV, 417-418), in 1435 by Eugene IV (Chevalier, Ord. rela-
tives au Dauphint^ p. 8, No. 61).
"»(a) J-L., 9934, 14349 (9251). (b) Potth., 1451, 1540, 1722, 1883,
2158, 3247, 4236, 4485, 4946. (c) Arch, depart, de I'Yonne (Auxerre),
H. 14: " Personne ne pourra publier contre I'abbe et religieux de S. Jean
sentence d'interdit ou d'exeom. si ee n'est pour cause raisonnable."
'2» Kober, XXII, 29ff.
"* (a) Rec, XI, 526. Rowland, case No. 26. (b) J-L., 5192 (3913),
(c) T-L., 9737. (c1) J-L-, 10156. (e) J-L., 10479 {7078). (f) J-L.,
12248 (82861, 11846 (7923)? 11847 (7924), 12705. (g) J-L., 15461.
(h) J-L., 16226. (i) J-L., 16970. (j) Potth., 552. (k) Potth., 1713.
Writing of the interdict of France, 1200, Innocent said, "... terram
tantum post frequentes commonitiones subjecimus interdicto . . . ". (1)
Gesta, c. 131. "... nisi rex diligenter commonitus acquiesceret,
totum regnum Angliae [1208] subicerent interdicto . . . ". (m) Inn.
Ill, Epp., XVI, 98 (Potth., 4798.) Interdict laid after warning.
"^(a) J-L., 5967. (b) J-L., 6781 (4959). Both are local particular.
(c) J-L., 6793 (4967). Threat of personal interdict, (d) J-L., 6942.
(e) J-L., 6987 (5098). (f) J-L., 71 14. Local particular, (g) J-L.,
9287.
38 THE INTERDICT
number of days of grace ; three ,^^' fifteen,"' twenty,"* thirty,*"
forty days,"" two months,"^ three months,"^ and even six
months "' constituted the limit of grace on this or that occa-
sion. The sources lead one to believe that more than one
warning was unusual, but in the cases of Nevers (1145-
55),^^* England (1170, 1173-1177, 1208), "*'^'* and France
(1200) several warnings were given. The interval which in
these cases elapsed between the different warnings argues that
the admonitions were repeated, not because of a desire to
observe canonical law, but because the church hesitated to
take the step of laying the interdict. Citation, which was
"sprov. Cone. Trev., 1238, c. 5, in Mansi, Cone, XXIII, 480. "Si
autem a die denuntiationis captivatum . . . infra triduum non restituerit,
terra . . . supponatur interdicto."
»"Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 80 (Potth., 3777).
128(a) J-L., 6948 (5078). Local particular, (b) J-L., 9884. Prob-
ably personal, (c) Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.), VII, 377. "... in-
fra viginti dies . . . ". In the same letter, however, it is stated later on
"... infra triginta dies . . . ".
"*(a) J-L., 5517 (4129). (b) T-L., 5665 (4242). Probably personal.
(c) J-L., 10066 (6878). (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 347 (Potth., 361).
"... infra mensem . . , ". (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 73 (Potth., 1919).
" . . infra mensem . . . *'. (f) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 191, 192 (Potth.,
2064, 2065). (g) Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 84 (Potth., 2530). (h) Marlot,
Hist, de Reims, III, 819, No. 181. " . . .infra mensem . . . ".
130(a) J-L., 6926 (5062). (b) J-L., 11842 (7919). (c) J-L., 12821.
** . . . infra quadraginta dies . . . *'.
i"(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 355 (Potth., 351). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII,
171 (Potth., 2344). "... infra duos menses . . . ". (c) Inn. Ill,
Epp., XIV, 126 (Potth., 4332). (d) Cone. Campanic, 1238, c. 17, in
Mansi, Cone, XXIII, 491. " Per duos menses . . . expectentur; quibus
elapsis castra ipsorum supponatur interdict©; et nisi infra alios duos menses
resipuerint, in tota terra sua interdicti sententia promulgetur." A total of
four months was to elapse before the local general interdict should be
issued.
i»2 Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 87 (Potth., 3418).
i"Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 223 (Potth., 3618).
"*J-L., 9545, 6624, 8986, 9544, 9619, 9784 (6748), 9786, 10066,
10067, etc.
i"J-L., 1 1405 (7625), May 25, 1168; Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.),
VII, I04f., February 2, 1169; J-L., 11 710 (7825), January 19, 1170;
Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.), Ill, 462, after June, 14, 11 70; J-L., 11846,
1 1847, September 13, 1170; J-L., 11842 (7919), October 9, 1170.
i"J-L., 12248 (8286), 1 1 73; J-L., 12705, May 21, 11 76. J-L..
1 282 1, April 30, 1 1 77.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 39
supposed to follow an unheeded warning, summoned the offend-
ing party to appear and show cause why the interdict should
not be laid. For intractable princes there usually was no
citation, since there was no means of compelling appear-
ance,"'and their offences were generally so notorious as to
leave no question regarding their truth.
Warning and citation were followed by the promulgation of
the interdict. For this there was no particular formula, the
only rule being that the form used must be clear and explicit.
It early became customary to put the sentence in writing, and,
wherever possible, read it to the guilty party. The Council of
Lyons determined that the reasons for the interdict must be
clearly stated , and that the judge must give the condemned an
authentic copy of the sentence, if this was demanded, within a
month. Though there was no regular formula"® to be used in
laying the interdict, a fairly common practice was developed.
Thus, later formulae usually stated what was the cause for the
interdict, what services were forbidden, and sometimes how
long the sentence was to last ;"'' ^*® not infrequently they en-
joined obedience to the sentence upon this or that indi-
vidual,^" and specified the penalty for non-observance.^*^ The
'" Kober, XXII, yii. However, Philip Augustus was summoned to
Dijon.
"^ (a) Du Cange, Glossar.^ under " Interdictum ". Besides the list in
Du Cange see the following: Cb) Pflugk-Httg. , Acia^ III, 233. Form of
interdict used by Alexander III. (c) Ibid., 288. Form used by Lucius
III. (d) Ibid., 332-333. Form used by Urban III. (e) Ibid., 344.
Form used by Gregory VIII. (f) See also the following note.
"^ Below are cited a number of typical formulae. (a) J-L. , 3304.
Amalfi, 879. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 155 (Potth., 1813). (c) I^ec. XIX,
491 (Potth., 3115). (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 143 (Potth., 3501). (e)
Arch. Adm, de Reims, II, 555. (f) Lebeuf, Mem. Diocise d^Auxerre,
II, 69-71. (g) Mart^ne, Thesaurus, IV, 147.
^^''A sentence was supposed to last until it accomplished its purpose,
"... usque ad condignam satisfactionem ", J-L., 11891.
"^ (a) J-L., 1 1847. '* • • • sententiam firmiter et inconcusse ob-
servetis . . . ". (b) J-L, 11891. ♦* . . . sent. . . , firmiter et invio-
labiliter observetis et ab aliis facialis inviolabiliter observari. " (c) Potth. ,
1248. (d) Potth., 1250. "... teneatis firmiter et servetis . . . inter-
dicti . . - sentent." (e) Potth., 1904. (f) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 73
(Potth., 1919). (g) Etc., etc.
^** See formulae cited in notes 138 and 139.
40 THE INTERDICT
solemnity and ceremony with which an interdict was promul-
gated naturally varied with circumstances, and it is possible
that the highly imaginative and dramatic accounts by modern
writers have some truth. It is exceedingly unfortunate that
the chroniclers of the past, ignorant of the demands of scien-
tific history, failed to leave to present-day writers so much as
a single account which could be cited in foot-notes.^**
Promulgation was necessarily followed by publication of the
sentence of interdict, whether the sentence was ferendae or
latae}^^ This constituted legal notice, without which the peo-
ple could not be expected to know that they were inter-
dicted.^*^ Such publication could be given by reading the
sentence in a church or by posting it in a public place. There
was sometimes difficulty in giving the necessary notice : ^** in
1606, all messengers were excluded from Venice;"^ in 11 70,
Henry II gave orders to his port-reeves to allow no bearer of
notice of interdict to enter England, and to treat such an one
as a public enemy ; ^** in 1255, no one could be found to carry
the tidings of interdict into Liege , and the task was finally put
upon a woman and a boy, the latter of whom succeeded in
delivering the message."^ It seems justifiable to say that the
1*' Hurter, Innocenz III, and Capefie:ue, Hist, de Philippe Auguste,
pive a very dramatic account of the laying of the interdict on France.
The latter cites as his source *'De Le<?ato miss, in Franc, Duchesne, V,
754", which source is the same as Gesta, c. 51. The accounts of Hurter
and Capefigue both go beyond the sources.
"* Const. Martin V "Ad Vitanda ".
^*^ Several instances of publication follow: (a) Gesta, c. ^\. Cb) Matt.
Par., in i'?^*:., XVII, 688. (c) Cone. Salzb., 1274, c. 18, in Hard., Conc.t
VII, 726. (d) Cone. Arelat., 1275, c. 5, in Hard., Cone, VII, 728.
"^ See Appendix, case 71. Interdict on Bremen.
**■' Tract, de Interdicto, Proposit. II. The Seven Theologians claim
that the interdict was not valid because it was not published, as is evident
from the fact that it was not read in the churches, or posted anywhere;
for which reason the people could not be expected to know of it. That
the publication was prohibited and prevented bears no weight, for it has
always been an accepted rule of the church that the publication of an inter-
dict must precede, if the sentence is to be valid.
"8 (a^ Gerv. Canter., Gesta Reg. {R. Ser.), IT, 79. (b) Gerv. Canter.,
Opp. Hist. [R. Ser.), I, 234.
?*» Hocsemius, Hist. Pont. Leod. ad an. 1255, in Chapeaville, II, 287!.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT ^j
canons, which required a sentence of interdict to be published
to make it valid, were unimportant compared with the prac-
tical necessity which demanded a notice in order to secure
observance. Such a sentence depended for its effectiveness
on public opinion, and the public has no opinion on matters
of which it has no knowledge. Still one observes no reason-
able distinction in the non- legal sources ^^° between the pro-
mulgation and the publication of an interdict, except perhaps
in later centuries. One form of publication is that which is
found in letters to various prelates or ecclesiastics notifying
them of the sentence and ordering them to enforce its observ-
ance. ^^^ Another form is publication by notaries and wit-
nesses, a practice found in the second half of the sixteenth
century. ^^•' Republications of the sentence to secure observance
were very common. The usual custom was to republish the
interdict every Sunday and feast day.^^^ In France, however,
there was a second publication two months after the first
notice. ^^
From the fact that warnings and citations were invariably
given, it would appear that no offender could be unjustly sen-
'^ (a^ See non-legal sources for the interdicts under Innocent III. (b)
Gall. Christ., X, ii, col. 6q-6i.
"Ka) J-L., 9310 (6472). (b) J-L., 11721-11727. Cf. Mat. Hist.
Becket {R. Ser.), VII, 323ff., etc., etc.
'^' Cone. Mexican., 1585, lib. I, tit. x, c. 37, in Aguirre, Cone. Hisp.^
VI, 100, *' Notarii omnes ... ad mandata aliqua intimanda, seu ad
publicandum censuras excom. , interdicti, ... id exsequantur in calce
mandati intimatione et publicatione cum testibus, nee non eorum subscrip-
tione appositis. "
i"(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 192 (Potth., 2065). '' . . .interdicti
. . . sententias, singulis diebus Dominicis et festivis, pulsatis campanis
et candelis accensis, tarn in cathedralibus quam aliis parochialibus . . .
publican solemniter facientes, et vos etiam personaliter publicantes. " (b)
Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 84 (Potth., 2530). ** Id [sentence of interdict]
autem, singulis diebus Dominicis et festivis, per ecclesias vestras, et vicinas
dioeceses, ac terram ipsius [Philip of Suabia] publicari solemniter facialis. "
(c^ Inn. 0pp., HI, 1124, No. 120 (Potth., 2489). (d) Inn. HI, Epp.,
XI, 26 (Potth., 3324). (e"^ Aegidius Aureavall., Gest. Pont. I.eod. ad
an. 1 21 2, in MOSS., XXV, 118. Cf. Vit. Odiliae, lib. Ill, 6, in
MGSS., XXV, 178.
»**Diceto {R. 5«r.),II, 68.
42
THE INTERDICT
tenced ; moreover he had the added protection afforded by
the right of an appeal to Rome.'" An appeal made before
the interdict was promulgated had the effect of preventing any
sentence from being laid, until a decision had been rendered
by Rome ;^^" unless perchance, as was sometimes the case, the
right of appeal had been denied by a special order/" An ap-
peal made after the issuing of a sentence had no suspensive
effect ; the interdict continued in force while the appeal was
being heard. Appeals , however , were frequently disregarded,''*'
which probably accounts for the fact that the right of appeal
was sometimes granted as a privilege. '*' Not only the person
threatened with interdict, but also the agent of the church,
could appeal to the pope ; at the Council of Soissons the
Archbishop of Rouen, who had previously been authorized to
lay an interdict on England, hesitated because Becket's mur-
der had altered circumstances, and in his doubt he appealed
"'(a) Ordonnances, I, 39. Cf. Raumer, Gesch. Hohenst.^ VI, 162, n.
7. In France under Philip IV it became a law that one could enter in
Parlement ** appels comme d'abus" against interdict and excommunica-
tion. See Viollet, Hist. Inst Politiq.y II, 303-305.
"'(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 350 (Potth., 364). Any sentence of interdict
laid after appeal shall be void, (b) Inn. Ill, Epp,, XV, 124 (Potth.,
4536).
*"(a) Gesta Hen. II (7?. Ser^.., I, 8. '* . . , omni appellatione ces-
sante ..." (b) J-L. , 11 808. "... omni excusatione et appella-
tione remota ..." (c) J-L., J1847. (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 249
(Potth., 263). (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 120 (Potth., 3843). (f) C5esta,
c. 84. ** . . . appellatione postposita ..."
"»(a) Mat. Hist. Becket {R, Ser.), VII, 444. *' . . .nee appella-
tionem eorum attendens . . . toti terrae . . . indixit. " (b) Steph. Tor-
nac. , Ep. 233, in Migne, Pat. Lat.^ 211, col. 501-503. '* . cum nos
significaremus eis appellationem non teneri ..." (c) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
I, 58 (Potth., 65). "... sententiam quam in te post appellationem
interpositam eumdem cardinalem tulisse dicebas ..." (d) Chron.
de S. Denis, ad an. 1199, in Rec, XVII, 387. *' . . . li legaz, qui pas
ne deporta I'apel, jeta la sentence ..." (e) Gesta, c. 116. "...
post appellationem nostram iteratam, . . . sententiam excom. in terram
nostram promulgavit ..." (f) Hocsemius, Hist. Pont. Leod. , in Cha-
peaville, II, 286f. (g) Kober, XXII, 32f.
'59(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 171 (Potth., 2344). "... sublato appel-
lationis obstaculo ..." (b) Gesta, c. 84. (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 42
(Potth., 1883). (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 93 (Potth., 3140). (e) Inn. Ill,
Epp., X, 121 (Potth., 3174). (f) Inn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 45 (Potth.,
4236). Local particular.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 43
to the pope/"" probably with the design of shifting the burden
of a decision to his Holiness.
A tabulation of the results obtained from the sources of the
period from 1198 to 12 16 shows that within these eighteen
years at least fifty-seven"^ local general interdicts were in
force. This figure is not unexpectedly large, still it is of sur-
prising magnitude compared with the seventy-five interdicts
given as the number from the fourth century to 1159.^^'^ This
half-hundred of interdicts does not nearly account for all evi-
dences of this form of discipline during these eighteen years.
The actual number of discovered interdicts is increased by
about half as many threats — threats which unless heeded were
followed by execution, and can therefore be included in the
number of instances in which interdict was used."^ To these
must be added six instances of probable interdict. These
probable interdicts, increased by the twenty-seven threats and
added to the number of known interdicts, bring the uses of the
local general interdict during the pontificate of Innocent III
to the appreciable total of ninety. But, even if we grant, as
we have just done , that there was an interdict in each possible
case, we have not completed the numbers of the discipline ;
for, besides these instances in which the interdict certainly or
possibly existed, we find other traces of it — traces often indis-
tinct, but occasionally of a character to put it beyond question
that the available sources of our period record only a fraction
of the actual total. ^** The Bishop of Ferrara asked the pope
'WGesta Hen. II {R. Ser.), I, 17.
^'^ The cases represented by these figures are arranged in the appendix
under the heads of actual cases of interdict, possible cases, and threats.
Not only papal, but episcopal, and all other interdicts are included.
*" Dr. Rowland's dissertation gives this number. In his list of inter-
dicts are some which such writers as Kober and Hinschius do not consider
interdicts, and others are omitted which they mention as interdicts.
*•* There are actually 27 threats known.
*** The author must at this point admit that he attempted to make a
complete list of the interdicts between the years 11 98 and 1216. That this
attempt would be futile he surmised, and had it rather discouragingly
demonstrated when, after he had searched for interdicts as widely as pos-
sible for nearly two years, he was given a most useful reference by a friend
^ THE INTERDICT
for information about proper conduct '* when the citizens of
Ferrara should be bound with sentences of excommunication
and interdict " ; '^^ Walter of Coventry states that Innocent real-
ized that ** in his day many lands had been interdicted" \^^
an accusation of Blanche, Countess of Champagne, made
against the injustice of the prelates of her principality, inci-
dentally testifies that sentences of interdict were not few in
number ; ^^' bishops, from various parts of Christendom as far
as can be told, complained that the Templars violated their
interdicts, another testimony to the frequency of these sen-
tences ; ^^^ the neighborhood of Coimbra labored under inter-
dict so often, according to Innocent III himself, that it be-
came important to distinguish between the general and the
particular sentences ; ^^^ and the officials and citizens of Laon
complained to the Roman pontiff that churchmen often af-
flicted them and their lands with sentences of excommunica-
tion and interdict/'" Finally, if interdicts were uncommon,
why should privileges of exemption from interdict be so numer-
ous and so greatly desired? All this evidence leads to one
conclusion, that interdicts were very, very frequent.
The duration of the interdict varies ; '" the very nature of
to whose knowledge it had come in the course of a casual conversation
with a fellow-traveler in the Alps. This is not the only time that valuable
information was obtained by a lucky chance, and the inference is natural
that many undiscovered chances still exist.
165 Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 267 (Potth., 3666).
i^^Coventr. ad an. 1213 {R. Ser., 58), II, 214.
1*'^ See Appendix, case 78. Interdict on the lands of the Countess of
Champagne.
i«8Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 121 (Potth., 3175).
169 Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 554 (Potth., 592).
170 Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 124 (Potth., 4536; cf. 4256).
I'^i (a) About six years: England, 1208-14. (b) Five years: Oxford, see
Appendix, case 81. Interdict on Oxford, (c) Five years: Leon, sec
Appendix, case 52. Interdict on Leon, (d) Four years: Nist. gin. de
LanguedoCy IX, 190-192. (e) Three years: Bellarmin, Kisposta, Proposit.
VII. "In Polonia duro al tempo di Papa Greg. VII I'interdetto tre anni
..." (f) Two years: Auctor Anon, ad an. 1 259-1 261, in Ludewig,
IX, 81. (g) About two years: Florence, Lea, Inquisition, II, 278, 280.
(h) About two years: Treviso, Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 39 (Potth., 1160).
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICl 45
the discipline and the importance of the offence or the of-
fender makes differences in duration inevitable. To strike an
average length, even granting that one had at his disposal
a sufficient number of cases, is impossible unless one could
measure and equalize every attendant circumstance. The
canon law of the matter is very simple and very practical, but
very indeterminate : an interdict remains in force until its
object is accomplished. One interdict lasted less than a day,"^
another so long that the people lost their reverence for church
services."^ The cathedral of Rouen submitted to authority in
twelve days,^^* Portugal and Auxerre were rebellious for twelve
years. ^'^ Limoges was under interdict for eight months ,^'^
Denmark for nine years. ^" Mantua lay under interdict for
thirty-three years,"® and a chapel in Maidenhead for fifty
(i) About two years; Oxford, Mun. Acad. Oxon. {R. Ser.), 190. {])
About seventeen months: Cologne, Winkelmann, Ph. v. Schwaben, II,
393-396. (k) About eighteen months: Cremona, Inn. Ill, Epp., VII,
163 (Potth. , 2338). (1) About one year: Rouen, Chron. Rothomag. ad
an, 1233, in Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 376. (m) About one year: Toulouse,
Hist. gen. de Languedoc, TX, 786. (n) About eight months: France,
(o) About six months: Metz, Alber. Trium Font., 450, cited from
Eaumer, Gesch. Hohenst., VI, 168, n. 7. (p) About eight months:
Limoges, Varia Chron. Fragm. ad an. 1202, in Duples-Agier, Ckronig.,
192-193. (q) About twelve days: Cathedral of Rouen, Chron. Rothomag.
ad an. 121 1, in Labbe, Nova BibL, 1, 372. ** . . . Cathedralem
Ecclesiam interdixit in crastino Octavarum Nativitatis B. Virginis et fuit
interdicta usque in diem S. Michaelis. " (r) Etc., etc.
^'^ Chron. Mayors and Sheriffs of London^ 1266, p. 97.
^"(a) Gloss on Const. "Alma Mater" de Sent. Excom., VI. An
interdict of thirty or forty years. Cited from Pithou, Des Interdicts Eccl.^
p. 18. (b) Tractat. de Interdicto, Proposit. IV. ** . . . timendum
[est] ne idem evenerit malum, quod alias in Urbino contigit: quae urbs
tamdiu ab interdictum sacris exercitiis fuit destituta ut post restitutionem
celebrationis missae et aliorum officiorum sacrorum, difficillimum fuerit
populum ad earn audiendam, eique debitam praestanstandam [«V] reve-
rentia assuefacere."
*^* See above, n. 171, q.
"** (a) Mariana, De Rebus Hisp., lib. 13, c. 12. Portugal, by Alex-
ander IV, '* Interdictum tenuisse duodecim annos scribunt." (b) See
Appendix, case 88. Interdict on Auxerre.
^^* See above, n. 171, p.
^■'■^ Auctor Anon, ad an. 1266-1275, in Ludewig, IX, 81.
"^ Maffei, Annal. di Mantova, 592, cited from Raumer, Gesch. Hohemt.^
VI, 299.
46 THE INTERDICT
years."' Such contrasts and such lengths are, however, un-
usual. From the cases examined a common length seems to
be from one to two years.^^
The territorial extent of the interdict was limited only by
the jurisdiction of the authority promulgating the sentence.
Kingdoms ,^®^ duchies and counties,^®* dioceses or provinces/^
cities,^" including suburbs and all outlying buildings ,^^ lands
"' (a) Collect. Topog. et Geneal, VI (1840), 47ff. Roger de Mortival,
in 1324, requested permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury to re-
move an interdict laid on a chapel in Maidenhead about fifty years before.
The archbishop had no knowledge of the interdict, but granted the re-
quested permission, (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 20 (Potth., 4678). It
was reported to Innocent III that lands formerly fertile had ceased to
yield abundantly; and its inhabitants thought that this resulted •* . . .
quia terra eadem olim, sicut fama est, . . . supposita fuit sententiae inter-
dicti, quae non creditur fuisse postmodum relaxata." The poj)e was re-
quested to relax the interdict and he did so.
180 See above, n. 171.
**^ (a) Armenia, see Appendix, case 68. (b) C3rprus, Potth., 956.
(c) Poland, Bellarmin, Risposta^ Proposit. VII (see p. 44, n. 171, e.) (d)
Hungary, Felten, Greg. IXy 192. (e) Bohemia, Raynald., Annal.^ I,
1222, L, and 1217, XLIII. (f) Empire, threat, J-L., 16970, 16971.
(g) France, 1200. See Appendix, case 57. (h) Aragon, threat, J-L.,
12135 (8160). (i) Leon, see Appendix, case 52. (j) Castile, threat,
Rec, XI, 526. (k) Portugal, threat, J-L., 6987 (5098). See also Ap-
pendix, case 52. (1) England, 1170, J-L,, 11710(7825) and (1208).
(m) Scotland, J-L., 13710 (8813), 14613 (9465). (n) Denmark, threat,
J-L., 16938; and Auctor Anon., in Ludewig, IX, 81.
*8^ (a) Thuringia, threat, lands of the Landgrave. See Appendix, case
21. (b) Palatinate, threat, lands of the Count. See Appendix, case 25.
(c) Brabant, see Appendix, case 75. (d) Bavaria, Potth., 10730. Sec
also Appendix, case 22. (e) Austria, threat, see Appendix, case 27.
(f) Normandy. Gesta Hen. 11 (^. Ser.), I, 16. (g) Poitou, ibid, (h)
Anjou, ibid, (i) Brittany, ibid, (j) Toulouse, see Appendix, case 85.
(k) Nevers, threat, see Appendix, case :2. (1) Champagne, lands of the
Countess, see Appendix, case 78. (m) Namur, threat, lands of the
Count, see Appendix, case 23. (n) Blois, see Appendix, case 77.
i8«(a) Olmutz, J-L., 8221 (5816). (b) Prague, Potth., 5582, 5714,
5729, 5739. etc. (c) Gap, J-L., 4536. (d) Laon, J-L., 16303. (e)
Rouen: (i) J-L., 12552; (2) Chron. Rothomag. ad an. 1233, in Labbe,
Nova Bibl.y I, 376. (f) Canterbury, J-L., 12705. (g) York, Potth., 682.
"*In the East: (a) Acre, RShricht, Gesch. Kgr. Jerusalem^ II, 832-
834, note, (b) Joppa, threat, J-L., 11383 (7612).
In the Teutonic part of the Empire: (c) Metr, see Appendix, case 41.
(d) Cologne, see Appendix, case 76. (e) Li^ge, Mansi, Cone., XXII,
9, c. 2.
In Italy: (f) Naples, J-L., 3012, 3046, 3089, 3090. (g) Amalfi, J-L.,
3344. (h) Benevento: (i) Annal. Benev. ad an. iioo, in MGSS.^ Ill,
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT
47
belonging to a chapter,^" private lands as distinguished from
sovereignties/" parishes,^®® churches,^^® chateaux,"" and even
altars"^ were interdicted. The districts affected were not
necessarily contiguous."'^ Selling, transferring, or in any way
183; cf. Hinschius, V, 22, n. i; (2) J-L., 4144; Rowland, case No.
24. (i) Ferrara, J-L., 7144. (j) Verona, J-L., 8940. C/. J-L., 9169
(6373). (k) Rome, Jaffe, Bid/. Rer. Ger., II, 108. (1) Lucca, J-L.,
13628. (m) Lodi, J-L., 14801. (n) Rimini, threat, J-L., 15461. (o)
Treviso, PoUh., 1160. (p) Orvieto, threat, Potth., 3777. (q) Bergamo,
Potth., 3962. (r) Capua, see Appendix, case 72. (s) Milan, Potth.,
5329. (t) Piacenza, Potth., 5329. (u) Mantua, Maffei, Anna/, di
Mantova^ 592. (v) Florence, Lea, Inquisition^ II, 278-281. (w)
Girgenti, Clemens XI, Const. *• Ad Augendam", in Bullar. Rom., VIII,
185. (x) Catania, ibid, (y) Lipari, ibid.
In France: (z) Beauvais: (i) J-L., 4854 (3616), called anathema; (2)
J-L., 10827. (aa) Montpellier, J-L., 8186. (bb) B6ziers, Newburgh,
Hist. Rer. {R. Sfr.), I, 128-129. (cc) Toulouse, J-L., 1 1489 (7678).
(dd) Arras, J-L., 13750. (ee) Aries, J-L., 15704, called excommunica-
tion. (f{) Reims, Marlot, Hist, de Reims^ III, 798, et passim, (gg)
Auxerre, Hist. Episc. Autiss., LXIV, in Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 506.
In Spain: (hh) Toledo, see below, n. 209. (ii) Tortosa, Potth., 664a,
25466, 664b, 3234.
In Northern Africa: (jj) Carthage, threat, J-L., 4793 (3557), called ex-
communication.
In England: (kk) Oxford, see Appendix, case 81. (11) London, Potth.,
5013-.
This is by no means a complete list of interdicted cities.
*^(a) See above, n. 17. (b) Chron. Mayors and Sheriffs of London^
1268, p. 113.
*" Marlot, Hist, de ReimSy III, 623, No. 169. The lands of the chapter
of Reims were interdicted by the Archdeacon Ottobonus.
18^ Private lands: (a) Ours, J-L., 6441. (b) "Rubeus", J-L.,
6942. (c) Certain knights, J-L., 9554 (6630). (d) William, J-L.,
17128. (e) Murderers of the Bishop of "WUrzburg, Potth., 1813. (f)
See also J-L., 8540 (6040), 5469, 5517 (4129), 6926 (5062), 7125 (5162),
7202 (5208), 10479 (7078).
Sovereignty: (g) J-L., 12821. Alexander III gave his legate instruc-
tions that if Henry failed to meet certain demands ** . . .in regnum et
in terram ejus . . . interdicti sententiam proferas".
^^ Quell. Gesch. Stadt. Kdln.y IV, 103-104. An interdict for a parish
is ordered by John XXII.
^'^The following are local particular interdicts: (a) J-L, 6483, 8647
(6093), 5967, 10158 (6926). Churches, (b) J-L., 8896 (6231), cathe-
dral of Bourges. (c) J-L., 9319 (6472), 17434, monasteries.
^^(a) "Castrum Branense ", J-L., 15920. (b) *' Castrum Albini-
acense", J-L., 14853.
"^ An altar in the church of St. George, Genoa, J-L., 15758a.
^•^ (a) J-L., 12705. The county of Poitou and the province of Canter-
bury were threatened simultaneously for a single offence of the same per-
son, (b) Potth., 351. England and France were threatened with the
same interdict.
48 THE INTERDICT
alienating a part of the district did not remove the sentence,
nor was a church built during the interdict exempt ; added
territory, however, suffered no deprivation of services. ^®^ All
persons of a locality, even the one who laid the sentence,
were affected, but parishioners from an interdicted district
could worship in a neighboring parish until the Council of
Cologne (1279) required priests before beginning services to
ask whether any present were from an interdicted place, and if
so to expel them.^'"*^ This rule remained in force until Boni-
face VIII restored the early practice except for those who
were responsible for the interdict/^^
The geographical dispersion of the interdict depended on
the geographical extent of church power and the political
status of the church within those limits. Nearly all of the
important countries of Western Europe were threatened ,^®^"^"
if not actually interdicted, in the last half of the twelfth cen-
tury or the first half of the thirteenth. Germany ^^* and the
principalities which composed it were interdicted much less
than other countries. The scarcity of episcopal interdicts in
Germany has been accounted for by Dr. Rowland, who sur-
mises that the German prelates used their extraordinary tem-
poral power instead of their spiritual weapons to enforce obe-
dience.^^® The paucity of papal threats and interdicts to 1198,
at least, must be explained on the ground that the GhibeUine
sympathies of the clergy doomed any papal action to failure.
In that year Innocent III secured the sympathy of a portion
of the German clergy, and from that time interdicts were
more frequent. This circumstance reveals an interesting feat-
ure of the interdict ; since it depended so largely for its
effectiveness on the state of the public mind, it was more
likely to be effective in a friendly than in a hostile community.
193 Kober, XXI, 292ff.
19* (a) Gerbert, Epp., 93, in Ree.^ X, 420. "Quod si is locus interdicto
vestro . . . iure tenetur astrictus liceret innocentibus paroechianis ad alia
transmigrare loca suisque legaliter uti sacris." (b) Cone. Colon., 1279,
c. 18, in Hard., VII, 835.
19^ Cf. J-L., 16970, 16971. i»« Rowland, Interdict, chap. III.
THE LAYING OF AN INTERDICT 4Q
No one understood this more perfectly than Innocent III, but
he was too astute not to realize that undue use of the interdict
in Guelf communities might lead to the estrangement and
desertion of the papal cause, and therefore he used his power
with discretion.
East of the Empire, interdicts were laid on Armenia,^" Cy-
prus,'"« Joppa,'«« Acre,^*^ Poland,'^'^ and Hungary.''"' In the
West they were used most frequently in Italy, France, and
Spain. ^°' Even Northern Africa did not remain untouched,
for Gregory VII threatened the clergy and the people of the
diocese of Carthage with the interdict.'"* England j'"*^ Scot-
land ^ and Wales ,'"^ though insular, were not immune , and
Denmark learned to know the interdict by repeated experi-
ence.'"® Whether this discipline, which flourished so long and
so widely in Europe, ever crossed the Atlantic to America is a
question which has as yet had no positive answer. The late
date to which the interdict endured in Spain '"^ makes it seem
very reasonable and possible that it was carried to Spanish
America, though no traces have been found of it except the
mention given it in the decree of the Council of Mexico,'"
which indeed lends color to the view that America, too, saw the
local interdict.
*•■' See Appendix, interdict on Armenia, case 68.
"spotih., 956. '^M-L-. 1 1 383 (7612).
'^Rohricht, Gesch Kgr. Jerusalem^ II, 832-834, n.
'®i Bellarmin, Risposia, Proposit. VII.
'"Va) Felten, Greg. IX, p. 192. (b) Cf. above, nn. 181-184, 187.
20» Cf. above, n. 184.
'o*J-L., 4793 (3557), 4794 (3558), called excommunication.
'^'^(a) Potth., 2344. (b) See above, nn. 181, 183, 184.
'°* See above, nn. 181, 182.
'"■'' Annal. Waverl. ad an. 1216, in Annal. Monast. (R. Ser.), II, 286.
'<» (a) J-L., 16938, threat, (b) PoUh., 9521, threat, (c) Revised
Formulary' of Benedict XII, F. 44. (d) Auctor Anon., in Ludev/ig, IX,
81 83. One interdict lasted from 1259 to 1261; a second, from 1266 to
1275. (e) With the use of interdict in the Greek Catholic Church the
present research is not concerned.
^^ Lea, Inquisition^ I, 514, shows that there was an interdict on Toledo
in 1720.
""Hard., X, 1726.
CHAPTER III.
The Interdict in Force.
Issuing a sentence did not always insure its observance. If
it was not observed, the church appealed first of all to the
religious sensibilities of the people. In one case the clergy
were given the power to remove the cross from the church and
pronounce imprecations ; ^ in another they were commanded
to depart from the accursed place. '^ Gregory of Tours reports
that brambles were placed before the church," and the " Songe
du Vergier " complains that the altars were uncovered.* Nami
was threatened with the loss of her bishop,^ and Parma was
transferred to another jurisdiction.* Men were released from
oaths taken with a design of violating the interdict.^ At
Liege, the crucifix and the images of the holy saints and
martyrs were wreathed with thorns and cast upon the ground."
* Quell, Gesch. Stadt Koln^ II, 273. Anyplace in which an ecclesiastic
is detained captive for three days is to be interdicted: " Si vero per octo
dies liberati non fuerint, cum bona voluntate nostra omnes ecclesiae cruces
deponant et si per quindenam adhuc perduraverit, extunc fient impreca-
tiones de consilio Priorum qui commode haberi poterunt, ad ulteriora pro-
cessuri cum aliis solempnitatibus cum consilio eorundem Priorum et Capi-
tuli Coloniensis."
2 Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 143 (Potth., 3501).
^ Greg, Turon, In Glor. Confess., c. 70.
^ Le Songe du Vergier ^ lib. I, c, 179.
* See above, n. 2.
«Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 393 (Potth., 399).
' Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.), VII, 220f.
« (a) Vitae Odiliae, ad an. 1212, in MGSS., XXV, 178. "Decretum-
que est in ipso concilio, ut imago crucis et sanctorum reliquie spinis circum-
date in omni prosternantur ecclesia tocius diocesis, organa suspendantur,
et singulis dominicis festivisque diebus fiat proclamatio pro predicto scelere;
insuper in dncem et omnes suos complices prefata sententia soUempniter
renovetur. Est igitur primitus in maiori ecclesia imago Crucifixi deposita,
et sanctorum Theodardi et Maldaberte virginis reliquie, que pariter conti-
nentur, ad eius dextram sunt posite; ad sinistram vero Petri et Andoleti et
50
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 51
Canonical burial was refused, and in several cases the punish-
ment for disregarding this prohibition was the disinterment of
the bodies.' In the settlement of the interdict of La Charity,
for instance, it was stipulated that twenty bodies should be
exhumed in each cemetery, and should be exposed while one
mass for the dead, begun immediately after the disinterment,
was celebrated; and, should more than twenty bodies be un-
lawfully buried, they too were to be exhumed unless the re-
spective heirs or successors made satisfaction.^" These terms
were fulfilled, and the bodies lay exposed while a general ser-
mon was preached to the people in the church of St. Peter of
La Charity and a mass for the dead was recited. Then the
bodies were given canonical burial. ^^
But the power of the church was by no means exhausted in
such expedients to arouse public sentiment. Various admin-
istrative measures, punishment of the clergy, and reward for
obedience were also means of securing observance of inter-
dicts. Prelates were commanded to observe the sentence,"
suburbs and outlying buildings were included in interdicted
cities," the people were urged to listen to preaching^* and
sancti Floriberti episcopi et confessoris, que etiam pariter collocantur,
relique sunt statute." (b"* Hocsemius, Hist. Pont. Leod. ad an. 1255, in
Chapeaville, II, 287!. " Hie attende quod istis temporibus Canonici con-
tra Episcopum et quoscunque injuratores suos organa sua suspendere con-
sueverunt; spinis et urticis Sanctorum imagines involvendo." C. 2. de
Offic. ordinar., VI, i, 16. "Caeterum detestabilem abusum horrendae
indevotionis illorum qui crucis, Beatae Mariae Virginis, alicrumque Sancto-
rum imagines seu statuas irreverenti ausu tractantes, eas in aggravationem
cessationis hujusmodi prosternunt in terram et urticis spinisque supponunt
. . . prohibemus. "
' Prov. Cone. Scoticanum, c. 24, in Wilkins, Conc.y I, 610. ** . . . et
quod a loco sacro extrahantur corpora sic sepulta. "
^°(a) Gall. Christ., XII, Instrumenta, col. 173-174. (b) Hist. Episc.
Autiss., c. 64, in Labbe, JVova Bibl., I, 506.
" Prynne's Records, II, App. 4-6. Prj'nne's Records are responsible
for the unsupported statement that before the interdicted churches of
Faversham were reconciled all altars were broken to pieces, palls of altars
and corporals were burned, and all chalices were melted that had been
used during the interdict.
" See above, chap. II, n. 151. " See above, chap. H, n. 17.
** See above, chap. II, nn. 153, 154.
A
52 THE INTERDICT
were forbidden to leave the district and worship in other
places ,^^ the sentence was republished on Sundays and feast-
days, and those laymen who showed particular impudence in
refusing to observe the interdict were threatened with excom-
munication." Entire failure to observe the sentence resulted
in an aggravation — sometimes in the form of threats of ex-
communication," sometimes in the extension of the territorial
bounds of the interdict.^®
Punishment for non-observance fell most heavily on the
clergy, for without their connivance the interdict could be but
slightly violated. Laymen were punished for refusal to heed
the sentence only when they were lords or authorities and
compelled the clergy to perform rites, in which case they fell
under a form of excommunication reserved to the pope. A
council of 1238, for instance, declared that those barons who
refused for a year to observe the interdict should be consid-
ered heretics, and that their property should be confiscated."
For the regular clergy there were only two forms of punish-
ment for non-observance : excommunication ipso facto ;'° and
removal to a monastery with a more rigid discipline," unless a
regular was also a priest, in which case he was subject to sus-
pension." For the secular clergy the three penalties were
suspension, deprivation of benefices, and deposition." Sus-
" See above, chap. I, n. 40.
"Kober, XXII, 37!.
" (a) John of England, excommunicated in 1211. (b) J-L., 11728.
18 Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 136 (PoUh., 4828). After John's submission
Innocent wrote: "... mandamus quatenus nobis inconsultis in cis-
marinam terram ipsius non proferas aliquo modo sententiam interdicti."
Evidently Innocent had designed to interdict John's continental posses-
sions, if he did not submit.
^* Cone. Campinac, 1238, c. 17, in Mansi, XXIII, 491.
••^ (a) C. I de sent, excom. in Clement. 5. 10. (b) Annal. S. Edmundi,
ad an. 1208 (Liebermann, p. 147). The Cistercians were excommunicated
for violating the interdict.
" (a) C. 7. X. de cleric, excom. minist. 5. 27. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp,, X,
62 (Potth., 3101).
" Matt. Par., Hist. Angl. ad an. 1208, in Rec, XVII, 689.
« Kober, XXII, 37f.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 53
pension was most frequently used ," and more serious offences
brought deprivation of benefices ; '* a particularly grave disobe-
dience resulted in deposition.^* The following penalties were
imposed at various times upon disobedient clerks : certain
seculars lost the power of acquiring benefices," others lost
their right of burial ,'^^ some underwent severe penance,'^" and
still others lost their distributions or ornaments. ^"^ In one
case where suspension proved ineffectual, the clerk was obliged
to make a pilgrimage to Rome,''^ in another he was excommu-
nicated." In some instances the pope annulled the promo-
tions of those who had disobey ed.^^ Excommunicates who
persisted in celebrating forbidden services were detained in
monasteries,^* and those clerks who had admitted forbidden
persons to church services were compelled to have services
with closed doors and without the sound of bells under pain of
^* (a) Gesta, c. 51 in fin. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 20, 43; VI, 13.
(c) C. Ult. X. He excess, praelat. 5. 31.
There follow a few instances of suspension: (d) J-L., 14316(9314).
(e) Gesta, c. 57. (f) Inn. HI, Epp., XV, 12 (Potth., 4406). (g)
Malt. Par., Hist. Angl. ad an. 1208, in Rec.^ XVII, 689.
« (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 62 (Potth., 3101). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI,
97 (Potth., 1934). (c) J-L., 1 1840. (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 13
(Potth., 1846).
'^ (a) Greg. IX, Encyclica ad univ. praelat., 1239, in Huillard-Br^holles,
Hist, V, 293. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 97 (Potth., 1934). (c) J-L.,
14111 (9170-
'" (a) C. I. X. de postulat. i. 5. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp,, III, 20.
'*Conc. Ravennat., 131 1, c. 28, in Hard., VII, I376f. ♦• . . . qui-
cumque de cetero excom. . . . vel interdicti sentenliam animo sustinuerit
per annum indurate ... in poenam contumaciae eccl. careat sepultura."
"J-L,, 14111 (9171). " . . . et omnibus poenitentiam injungat . . ."
'° Lebeuf, Mtm, Diocise d'Auxerre, II, 69-71.
"(a) Gesta, c. 57. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 13 (Potth., 1846). (c)
Rot. Chart. ^ I, 209.
"J-L., 1 1728.
''(a) Gesta, c. 54, 56, 57. (b) Inn. 0pp., IV, col. 58 (Potth., 969).
(c) C. 5. X. de postulat. i. 5. (d) Potth., 1043.
'* Ca) J-L., 1 1840. (b) Prov, Cone. Trevir., 1238, c. 7, in Mansi,
XXIII, 480. *• Statuimus, quod si clericus celebraverit in loco interdicto,
vel ipse interdictus, vel excomniunicatus divina celebrare praesumpserit, et
ammonitus a praelato suo non destiterit, per episcopum loci capiatur arctae
custodiae et poenitentiae deputandus."
54 THE INTERDICT
severer penalty, and for every day the clerks offended they
and their churches suffered a week."''
Just as refusal to observe interdict brought punishment, so
rewards were offered to those who heeded it. Peter of Arras
received special thanks from the pope for his ardent support
of the cause of the church,'^ and other French bishops were
honored with laudatory letters." The ** religious" of Venice
had promises of '* graces, honours, and dignities,"''^ and indul-
gences were published for all who would observe the inter-
dict.^* When it seemed that the interdict of Sicily (17 17)
would fail, the pope felt constrained to issue a plenary indul-
gence to all who would obey the sentence.^"
From Sarpi's well-informed, if bitter, account of the struggle
of Paul V with Venice (1606) can be gathered an idea of the
numerous devices to secure the effectiveness of the interdict.
Seeing that his sentence would not be observed, the pope
withdrew his nuncio from Venice, charging him to leave none
of his company behind." The Jesuits in departing from the
city proceeded with great solemnity, hoping to stir up a tumult,
in which they were disappointed. The Capuchins had in-
tended to do the same thing; but, being prevented, ** they
celebrated that morning only one Masse and consumed all of
" Prov. Cone. Trevir. , 1238, c. 4, in Mansi, XXIII, 479-480.
8«Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 25.
" Sigeb., Contin. Aquic, in MGSS., VI, 436. ** Hos [that is, those
obeying the interdict] papa Innocentius miris per epistolas illismissas effert
laudibus, contemptores autem verbis terret minacibus. "
^ Szx\i\y Historia pariicolare. The quotation is from the quaint c6n-
temporary English version, Quarrels of Paul Vy 103-104.
^^Jbid., 135-137.
*^ Clemens XI, Const. "Ad augendam", 1717, in Bullar. Rom.^ VIII,
185. ** . . . qui . . . interdictum cui civitates et dioceses praefatae in
praesens jussu nostro suppositae reperiuntur, ea, qua par est obedientia
nunc observant, et etiam m posterum, quousque illud perduraverit similiter
observareperrexerint, in cujuslibet eorum mortis articulo, si vere poenitentes
et confessi, ac sacra communione refecti, vel quatenus id facere nequiverint,
saltern contriti Nomen Jesu ore, si potuerint, sin minus corde devote invo-
caverint, plenariam omnium peccatorum suorum Indulgentiam et remis-
sionem misericorditer in Domino concedimus."
" Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul V, 83-84.
THE INTERDICl IN FORCE 55
the holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, which was preserved in
their Church, and conchided the Masse without giving Bene-
diction unto the people. They left also to their Devotes divers
instructions for to observe the Interdict, as did likewise the The-
atines."" The papal court tried to induce all " religious "
either to abstain from services or to withdraw from Venice.
The cardinals and superiors of the orders ** did what they could
with them, with menaces of censures, paines, and other evils
corporall and spirituall, as also with promises of graces, hon-
ours, and dignities, not only to the Chief e, but further to each
particular, if they would observe the interdict or retire them-
selves." *^ By promising large rewards they induced agents to
cause a disturbance in Venice. The pope even proposed to
use the Inquisition and accuse the Doge of heresy. He also
published a jubilee, in which he invited all Christians to join
him in praying for the necessities of the church, and granted
indulgences, absolution, and remission to all excepting those
found in places interdicted, " not comprehending them so
much as in their number whose prayers he implored". At
that time a jubilee was much wished for by the people of Italy,
and the pope hoped that the Venetians would insist on taking
part in it. The banished Jesuits announced to their Venetian
adherents that they had , by papal dispensation , power to grant,
and would grant, the jubilee ** to such persons who would
observe the conditions by them propounded, among which
these were some: not to goe to Masse, not to approve the
publique reasons and actions." ** The Jesuits also tried to
get their adherents to come to the confines of the state, that
there they might influence them ; and very often they entered
the state in disguise for the same purpose. They published
indulgences in favor of those who would observe the interdict
or would persuade others to observe it. They forged letters
" Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul F, 97-98.
^ Ibid.f 103-104.
^Ibid.^ 140-142.
56 THE INTERDICT
in the name of Genoa and spread them in Venice, they scat-
tered polemical writings, they labored in other countries that
Venetian ambassadors should receive affronts, they tried to
induce states to promise that they would not let Venice levy
men among them, and menaced any that would help Venice.
Ecclesiastics in Milan tried to stir up the people by declaring
marriages contracted in the time of the interdict to be void.
Pro-Venetian writings were put on the index, and, finally,
attempts were made to embroil Venice in war.*^ These vari-
ous expedients to bring the city to submission, though in this
instance futile, are suggestive of what could be expected to
follow a refusal to observe an interdict.
It seems proper to inquire at this point what recognition or
value was accorded to ministrations performed during an inter-
dict. That the question arose in the minds of those inter-
dicted, and that it was raised by the clergy, not, however,
without the motives extending beyond the mere question of
the validity of forbidden ministrations, appears from the ac-
count of the Venetian interdict. In departing the Jesuits left
instructions concerning the interdict, and the Theatines did
likewise, "but in such a confusion and in so great haste, being
not able to consult together, they did not well accord with the
Jesuites, as also the Jesuites disagreed amongst themselves;
whence it came to passe that their adherents proceeded di-
versly, some being of opinion that all the Sacraments admin-
tered by the Priests that stayed were nullities, and therefore
that it was not lawfull to adore the holy Eucharist, as before :
Others esteemed that to heare Masse was only a veniall sinne,
and others held it a sin most grievous, although the Sacra-
ment were truly celebrated."** Disagreements of this charac-
ter were either surprisingly few, or they did not find their way
into available accounts. To question the validity of services
which, once performed, were over and left no tangible effects,
"Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul F, 135-137, 189, 197-198, 200.
^Ibid., 98.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE
57
was futile, for they could not be revoked. This is probably
the reason why any question that arose had to do with the
validity of acts which had tangible effects and could be re-
voked, such as marriage or burial. It has already been stated
that ordinarily marriage was not prohibited. Brae ton, how-
ever, relates that the legality of a marriage was questioned
because it occurred in time of interdict ; *^ and during the in-
terdict on Venice there were ecclesiastics who considered mar-
riages contracted in the city void.*® Questions of this sort
may be expected to arise over any matter open to some doubt ;
but they do not, in the face of authority to the contrary, dis-
prove the legality of marriages contracted during interdict.**
That the validity of burial was not questioned, though in a few
instances the dead were exhumed, is proved by the fact that
some bodies buried during the interdict of La Charity were al-
lowed to remain on condition that satisfaction was made by
the heirs. ^" Canonists are quite agreed that bodies buried
during interdict may remain after relaxation." To be sure,
bodies of persons excommunicated or interdicted nominatim
had to be exhumed, but such burials would have been illegal
had there been no interdict and are no exception to the rule
just given. ^'^ Those, however, who had performed inhibited
burial were excommunicated.^^ These facts bring one to the
conclusion that ministrations performed in contravention of
interdict possessed their usual efficacy, though whoever was
*" Bracton, De Legibus, lib. V, Tract. V, c. 19, sec. 11 {R. S^r.), VI,
313. In the interdict of England ( 1208) marriage was prohibited, which
may be the reason why the marriage was questioned in this case.
**Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul V, 197-198.
*• (a) Andreae, Trad. Vtiliss.., Decimus Quartus: ** . . .quod si
laici contrahunt matrimonium, tenet matrimonium." (b) See above, p.
i6ff.
'^This means, no doubt, that the heirs paid the burial fees, which would
in the natural course of events have come to the priests. See above, n. 10.
" (a) Kober, XXI, 337f. (b) Andreae, Trad. Utiliss., sec. 27. (c)
Cone. Prov. Scoticanum, 1255, c. 24, in VVilkins, Conc.^ I, 610.
'* Andreae, Tract. Utiliss.., sec. 28.
« Kober, XXI, 337!.
58 THE INTERDICT
guilty of the violation fell under such penalties as the church
affixed.
It now remains to consider the actual effects of interdicts.
This point might be briefly dismissed with the sweeping gen-
eralization that often interdicts produced the contemplated
effects. The sources bring sufficient evidence that sacraments,
ministrations, and burial ceased now and then in consequence
of interdict. Marriages, as says a modern historian, were
solemnized at graves instead of altars." This statement is in
general sustained by the report from the Annals of Dunstable
that marriages and the churching of women took place at the
church door.^*^ More positive evidence that marriages occurred
in time of interdict comes from an agreement of the Bishops
of Orleans and Auxerre with Philip Augustus, in which they
promise that they will not draw into question any marriage
contracted according to the form and the approved custom of
the church, unless there would have been cause to question
the marriage had there been no interdict on their dioceses.^
This agreement, though it shows positively that men married
during interdict, gives reason to say that the validity of that
matrimony was questioned. There was manifestly a sentiment
that all was not right with marriage in interdicted districts, for
Hoveden relates that the marriage of Louis, son of Philip
Augustus, to Blanche of Castile, took place in Normandy be-
cause of the interdict in France ; " and from another source it
appears that the Count of Ponthieu withdrew to Rouen with
the young sister of Philip Augustus to receive the nuptial bene-
diction.^ Such is the clear and unambiguous evidence re-
garding marriages. Other sources furnish only inferential evi-
dence : in April, 1208, one month after the laying of the
^*Hurter, I, 376, n. 152.
'^'^Chron. Dunstapl, ad an. 1208 {R. Ser.), Ill, 30.
*' (a) That is, any marriage contracted after the relaxation by the Arch-
bishop of Sens, (b) Lebeuf, Mem. Dioc. d' Auxerre y IV, Preuves, No.
113-
" Hoveden, Chron. ad an. 1200 (^R. Ser.)^ IV, 137-138.
'^jBid/. de P£cole des Chartes, XXXIII, 599.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE
59
interdict on England, John gave his assent to the marriage of
Richard Furmi to a certain Matilda, and ordered the marriage
to be performed if she desired ; *^ whether she was so disposed,
and whether the marriage occurred, does not appear. But,
whether it did or not, the point of importance is that it was
ordered performed in spite of the fact that the interdict then
existing forbade marriage/" From that time on to January
24, 1 2 14, neither Close, Patent, nor Charter Rolls give good
cause even to infer a marriage. This, in view of the papal
sentence forbidding marriage, is significant; and it assumes
real importance when it is discovered that within a year after
the submission of John to the Pope the Rolls mention at least
six marriages which are permitted or for which arrangements
are made."
More definite evidence has been preserved relating to burial.
In one account of the results of the interdict it is stated that
Leopold of Austria remained unburied, and that Raymond VI
^'* Rot. Claus., I, no.
*^Inn., 0pp., IV, col. 190, No. 136.
*^ (a) Rot. Glaus. y I, 162. This permission was given after submission,
but before the relaxation of the interdict. About January 24, 1214. (b)
Rot. Claus., I, 162, about January 28, 1214, and Rot. Pat., I, 109,
January 26-28, 1214. King John serves notice that he has given Isabella,
Countess of Gloucester, as wife to Geoffrey de Mandeville. In February
of the same year Geoffrey had failed to fulfil the conditions [Rot. Claus. ,
I, 163, about February 8, 1214). Hence the marriage probably did not
occur. However, by August some agreement seems to have been reached
and John again serves notice of giving Isabella to Geoffrey (^Rot. Claus. ,
I, 209, August 9, 1214). This delay was evidently not due to the inter-
dict, (c) Rot. Claus. y I, 163. The king permits the heir of Theobald
Walter to marry about February 8, 1 2 14. This permission also was given
before relaxation, (d) Rot. Claus., I, 168. The king assents to the
marriage of Robert to a certain widow, July 10, 1214. This is after the
relaxation of the interdict, (e) Rot. Claus., I, 190. Marriage of Mar-
garet, daughter of William of Warwick, is allowed, if she is so inclined,
March 15, 1215. ff) Rot. Chart., I, 197-198, March, 1214. Marriage
is arranged for. The point of importance is, that permission to marry was
given after John's submission, though none was given in the preceding
years of the interdict. This is certainly not due to any regard of John for
the interdict, but is to be attributed to the fact that as long as John and
the pope disagreed no one sought permission to marry; as soon, however,
as John became the vassal of the pope, permission was sought in anticipa-
tion of the relaxation of the interdict.
6o THE INTERDICT
of Toulouse lay unburied until he was eaten by rats." Those
cases were, however, not the result of interdict but of excom-
munication. Though these instances do not bear upon the
matter of burial in time of interdict, they are excellent exam-
ples of that type of production the author of which has been
impressed with the dramatic or " fulminating " qualities of the
interdict and has endeavored at the cost of any violence to
sources and any distortion of facts to produce a highly read-
able story. Probably historians less remote from the time
of which they wrote had similar propensities; but they, at
least, lived when they could know from personal experience
the truth of what they wrote , and in so far they are more cred-
ible than their modern competitors. Granting that the very
gruesomeness of unburied bodies may have caused the chroni-
clers to exaggerate, their accounts are here set down for what
they are worth. It is related that during the interdict on
France (1200) bodies were not bestowed in cemeteries, and
that some even lay unburied. ^^ In Normandy corpses lay on
the streets and caused great stench among the living. '^^ In
Bremen the corruption of bodies which lay unburied in the
cemeteries offended men so much that the sentence was tem-
pered." In England (1208) the dead were carried out of
cities and interred, like dogs, in by-ways and ditches, without
prayers and the ministrations of priests ; clerks and even
bishops lay unburied outside of cemeteries.** Why bodies lay
" Hurter, I, 376, n. 158.
*'(a) Gesla, c. 52. (b) Hoveden, Chron. ad an. 1200 {R. Sgr.), IV,
137-138.
«*Rog. Wend., Flor. Hist, ad an. 1197 (R. Ser.), I, 266.
" Arnoldus, Chron. Slav., lib. V, c. 22, in MGSS., XXI, 199. "Cum
igitur civitas Bremensis hac pestilentia diutius laboraret et corruptio
cadaverum que inhumata in cimiteriis jacebant homines plurimum lederet,
temperata est sententia."
*«(a) Matt. Par., Chron. maj.adan. 1208 {R. 5«rr.),II, 521. (b) Gesta,
c. 131. '* . . regularjum sed etiam episcoporum cadavera servarerentur
extra cimiterium inhumata." (c) Chron. B. Iterii, ad an. 1210, in Dupl^s-
Agier, Chron. de S. Martial de Limoges, 76. •• . . . audivimus rumores
. . . quod . . . episcopi defuncli inhumati jacerent." (d) Lc Neve,
Fasti f III, 284. Philip of Poitiers unburied.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 6i
iinburied is to be inferred from a bull of the Bishop of London,
recently found in St. Bartholomew's Hospital/^ Because of
the interdict the dead could not be buried in the regular ceme-
teries ; and the city, as was to be expected, had no burial
sites for such an occasion, and was in dire need of a place in
which it could temporarily bestow its dead. London authori-
ties, finding that the dead lay unburied, finally helped them-
selves out of their difficulty by asking the officials of St. Bar-
tholomew for the temporary use of an area lying east of the hos-
pital. The prior and the canons, the procurator and the breth-
ren, seeing the obvious need of the city, agreed to this request,
and the transfer of the area was made by the authority of
•" " Willelmus Dei gracia Londinensis episcopus omnibus sancte matris
ecclesie filiis per episcopatum Londinensem constitulis salutem in auctore
salutis eternae. Cum nuper apostolica jussione per totam Angliam fuisset
generalis interdicti sentencia promulgata adeo quidem ut nusquam liceret
defunctorum corpora, sicut mos erat, Christiane tradere sepulture, viri
nobiles et dilecti in Chrislo filii H[enricus] maior et cives Londoniarum a
dilectis filiis priore et canonicis Sancti Bartholomei necnon a procuratore ac
fratribus hospitalis eorundem postularent ut eis aream quandam hospitali
Sancti Bartholomei ex orientali parte adjacentem ad publicam mortuorum
suorum sepulturam indulgerent. Quorum piam peticionem attendentes,
memorati tarn canonici quam fratres, simulque urgentem tocius urbis neces-
sitatem considerantes, postulacionibus eorumdem consensum adhibuere feli-
cem et benignum. Verum ne sub pretextu pietatis istius oriri possit im-
pietatis occasio sano quidem et salubri consilio provisum est in conimuni ut
area memorata, mortuis deferendis secundum que cives disposuerunt depu-
tanda, circumquaque claudatur arcto aditu ad usum sepulture civibus reser-
vando. Cautum est eciam diligenter ut nulli liceat corpora defunctorum
quos in hospitali predicto mori contigerit in eadem area sepelire. Omnes
enim ejusdem hospitalis tam fratres quam pauperes aliunde venientes du-
rante interdicto, sicut et ante fieri consuevil secundum arbitrium canoni-
corum in loco competenti ab eis canonicis providendo sepelientur. Sane
quam cito, gracia divina largiente, sacrosanctam ecclesiam pristina tran-
quillitate ac libera sacramentorum suonmi observancia gaudere contigerit,
locus sepedictus ad jus et possessionem fratrum hospitalis libere revertetur.
Dum tamen nulli omnino homini liceat ulterius in eadem area defunctum
aliquem sepelire. Hec autem que scripta sunt ut futuris temporibus
inter memoratos canonicos et fratres hospitalis pax inconcussa servetur
sigilli nostri testimonio curavimus communire. Hiis testilms . . ." The
bull is not dated, but the witnesses' names put it V)eyond douVjt that the
document relates to the great interdict of England under John. A tran-
script of this bull was found iii the cartulary of St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital, London, and it was printed for the first time in St. Bartholomew' s
Hospital Journal (August, 1905), Vol. XII, No. II.
62 THE INTERDICT
Bishop William of London. ®® This bull gave the city permission
to enclose the area, and ordered that all deceased citizens,
except members or residents of the hospital, must be buried
within this lot. These arrangements were possibly sanitary
regulations to insure the public against epidemics by giving the
city officials control of burials ; perhaps, too, the city collected
a burial fee and to prevent evasion of this fee ordered all dead
to be buried in the authorized place. The dead of the hospi-
tal, however, were not to be buried in the lot; for them the
hospital must provide a place. ^^ The ground was ceded to the
city for the term of the interdict only, and was to revert to the
hospital immediately after the reconciliation of church and
state. The eagerness to secure canonical burial is shown by
a subterfuge resorted to in the county of Vendome. Bishop
Ivo of Chartres in laying the interdict had exempted paupers
from the order prohibiting burial ; Abbot Geoffrey criticized
the exemption, and added that in consequence of the favor
shown the poor no one lacked canonical burial , since all called
themselves paupers.""*
Lesser ecclesiastical functions were also affected by the in-
terdict. During an interdict on the cathedral of Auxerre, the
anniversary celebration of the dedication of the church was
postponed because of the silence of the church. The chap-
ter, which was responsible for the interdict, forbade all canons
or " tortiers " to dine with the bishop, except at times custom-
ary and necessary to preserve rights, on pain of being consid-
ered perjured and of losing a month's distributions. It was
**The bull was probably issued soon after the beginning of the interdict,
or between July 14 and September 29, 1208, for which period Bishop
William, who had been banished by John almost immediately after the
interdict was proclaimed, had a safe-conduct and came to England. He
was also in England in 1209. Perhaps the bull was issued abroad, but
the list of witnesses makes this seem improbable.
'^The brethren of the hospital possessed a privilege from Lucius III,
December 18, 1 183, granting them and their household burial during in-
terdict, but this was useless in view of Innocent's order that no privilege
should stand.
'"Goffridus Vindocin., Epp., II, 16, in Migne, Pat. Lat.^ 157, col. 83.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 63
also ordered that a chair in the chapter-house should no longer
be prepared for the bishop ; and that whoever assisted when
the bishop officiated should, if an intern, lose his distributions,
and, if an extern, be refused the ornaments of the church."
Visitation of churches, however, was continued by the Arch-
bishop of Reims, though all the churches of Reims were under
interdict." He was at one time during the interdict requested
to lay the comer-stone of a church ; " and, though there is no
evidence that he complied, the very request argues that such a
ceremony was allowed, an opinion which is supported by the
fact that church-building and repairing were not prohibited by
the interdict.'* Instruction of scholars was permitted during
the English interdict ;^^ but the election of scholars to clerics,
during an Italian interdict, was canceled by the Roman pon-
tiff.''* Evidences of gifts to churches are found everywhere in
the Rolls."
That the cessation of so many ecclesiastical services and
ministrations caused a burden for some one is obvious. Upon
whom this burden fell is a matter of no little importance.
Did the person or group of persons responsible for the sen-
tence actually bear the brunt, or did the weight of it all fall
upon the people in general or upon the church and the clergy?
Since the interdict was generally used to bring some offender
to terms, one would naturally suppose that the offender bore
the brunt of the sentence. Even if the offender directly suf-
fered no more than those around him, indirectly he was the
principal sufferer, for it was the expressed design of the inter-
'* Lebeuf, Mtm. Dioc. d' Auxerrcy II, 69-71.
"''The interdict probably affected only the city; whereas the visitation of
the archbishop may have been to churches outside of the city.
" Marlot, Hist, de Reims, III, 573f.
"^^ Rot. Fat., I, 90, March 25 and 30, 1209. The repairing and build-
ing of churches are implied in these letters,
"Inn., Opp,, IV, col. 190, No. 136.
'•Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 241 (Potth., 897).
" (a) Davidsohn, Philip II und Ingeborg, 108. (b) Rot. Fat. and Rot.
Clans., passim.
64 THE INTERDICT
diet to manufacture a public sentiment which should operate
against the delinquent in such a way as to bring him into sub-
mission.'^ Public sentiment depended to a considerable de-
gree upon the justice of the sentence, on the popularity of the
judge with his inferiors, but especially on the attachment of
the people to the church. To a mediaeval populace, fully im-
bued with the teachings of the church, the sacraments and
ofifices of the church were necessities of life in time present
and eternal ; '* and a deprivation of those necessities was to all
the faithful a grievous calamity. The more sincerely the peo-
ple were attached to the church and her teachings, the more
did they miss the forbidden offices, and the more probable was
it that they would heed the sentence and by their unrest force
the offender to terms.®*' If public sentiment, no matter from
what source it arose, was powerful enough to bring the offen-
der to submission, the interdict was effective. But usually
interdicted offenders were at the same time under pressure of
a political or military character, and an interdict thus interwo-
ven with politics was itself practically a political measure. In
the case of King John, political conditions were such as to make
an estimate of the power of the interdict almost impossible.
In hardly any case of submission can one determine the power
of the interdict ; one can, at best, say that the sentence played
an important and possibly decisive part by putting in a sacri-
legious light all the acts of the person under interdict, and in
'^Goffridus Vindocin., Epp., II, i6, in Migne, Pat. Lat.^ 157, col. 84.
*' . . . ut universa plebs, quae nostrani iniuriam et ejus malitiam non
ignorat et cui illius iniquitas niultum displicet nee maior iustitiadispliceret,
hinc occasione accepta proclamaret in eum, et sic quoniam Dei amore
iniusta actione spontaneus non vult desistere, clamore simul et timore
hominum desisteret vel invitus."
'* How necessary the ministrations of the church seemed to a mediaeval
populace may he seen from the fact, alleged by Pope Clement V as known
to him through frequent complaints by prelates and from his own experi-
ence in earlier years, that in time of interdict many clerics were induced,
openly or privily, to make holes, and even windows, in their church doors
to enalile excluded persons to participate in the services "behind closed
doors". C. I. de sent, excom. in Clement. 5. 10.
80 La C16de, Hist, de Portugal, II, 156!.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 65
this way alienating any support that might have accrued from
an otherwise favorable public opinion. Yet, difficult as it is to
estimate the exact effects, there are instances in which it is
clear that the interdict had considerable power ; notable ex-
amples are the interdicts of Florence,^^ Auxerre, and France.^'
Indeed, the interdict was not lightly invited by any one.
Princes wavered^ even at the threat, prayed to have the sen-
tence of the interdict removed, and, if they opposed it at all,
did so by most vigorous measures.^* Many an unruly person
yielded under the cessation of religious ministrations.®^
Whatever power the interdict exerted on the offender, he
was not the only one to suffer from it. The very hope of
church authorities that the interdict would cause the public to
rise against the offender makes it evident that the district in-
terdicted also experienced the pressure of discipline. Did this
pressure fall upon the commercial, political, and legal institu-
tions of a community or upon the inhabitants themselves?
Excepting in Florence, Venice, and several lesser cities, trade
went on during the interdict much as before, so far as can be
'^ Lea, Inquisition^ II, 278-281.
" See Appendix, cases 57 and 88.
w (a) Mat. Hist. Becket (A\ Ser.), VII, 474f. Cf. Diceto, Imag.
Hist. {R. Ser.), I, 346. When it appeared that the interdict of England
(1171) could not be prevented otherwise, the king's agents promised on
oath that their sovereign would obey, and thus averted the interdict, (b)
Mat. Hist. Becket [R. Ser.), VI, 172. "Timebat enim rex . . excom-
municari, universamque terram suaminterdici . . ." (c) Gerv. Canterb.,
Opp. Hist. {R. Ser.), I, 234. Henry, in his fear, ordered the ports guarded
so that letters could not enter the realm, (dj d'Achery, Spicil., Ill, 610.
King Andrew of Hungary showed the greatest sorrow on being interdicted.
8* (a) Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.), IV, 166. Henry II tried to bribe
the Curia not to lay the interdict, (b) Philip Augustus also tried to buy
the Curia. See Appendix, case 57, France. (c) John of England
stopped at nothing in his efforts to defeat the pope.
^ (a) Gesta Hen. II {R. Ser.)^ I, 8. *'Arctatus ergo rex Anglorum
severitate canonica tandem adquievit . . ." (b) Gesta, c. 58. Leon
and Portugal were interdicted because of incestuous marriages. "Unde
quod illegitime factum fuerat est penitus revocatum." (c) King Richard
and Philip Augustus were threatened with interdict and consequently made
a truce. See Appendix, case 13. (d) The Archbishop of Salerno was
released at threat of interdict, (e) Citizens of Oxford were brought to
submission by interdict. See Appendix, case 81.
66 THE INTERDICT
gathered from accounts.^ Governments continued in their
regular courses : taxes were levied,^' payments were made to
and by the treasury,^ the chancellery issued letters attested as
before,^' councils met,^ wars were waged ,^^ and crusades were
urged. '^ Legal functions also continued : grants of land and
other properties were made/'' real estate was transferred,'^ liti-
gation continued ,^^ oaths were taken, ^ testaments were con-
^^ (a) Lea, Inquisition^ II, 278, 281. (b) Ibid., Ill, 195. Venice,
1309. (c) Pflugk-Httg., Iter Italicum, 516. (d) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI,
143 (Potth., 3501). (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 102 (Potth., 1947). (f)
Hontheim, Hist. Trevir., I, Urk., 491. Cited from Raumer, Gesch.
Hohenst., VI, 161. (g) Gall. Christ, y X, ii, 61. If the people do
not yield " facialis redditus ac debita et alia bona ipsorum in nundinis
ubicumque reperta fuerint . . , detineri." Called excommunication.
«7 Rigord, De Gest. Ph. Aug. ad an. 1199, in Rec, XVII, 51. "...
tertiam partem omnium bonorum suorum eis violenter abstulit. A burgen-
sibus suis intolerabiles tallias et exactiones inauditas extorsit. "
®* (a) Rot. Claus., I, 116, May 16, 1212. (b) The pipe rolls give no
evidence of decreased business during the years of the interdict.
^^ (a) Rot. Claus. and Rot. Pat, 1208-1214, passim. In England let-
ters were attested by the Bishop of Winchester, Rot. Claus., I, no, in,
116, 117, etc., etc.; by the Archdeacon of Huntingdon, /(5iV/., 116, 117, etc.
(b) Bibl. Nat., MSS., Coll. Moreau, vol. 100, pp. 178-197. Cited from
Davidsohn, Philip II und Ingeborg, 107. The Bishop of Paris attested a
sale during the French interdict.
^^ Quell. Gesch. Stadt Koln, VI, 7. The Council of Cologne was al-
lowed to celebrate mass in time of interdict at its council sessions.
*^ Wars suffered somewhat from the unwilHngness of men under inter-
dict to enter battle. Thus, in Leon, the Christians hesitated to enter battle
against Saracens, Gesta, c. 58. And the English soldiers hesitated to
march under the leadership of John against the pious William of Scotland,
Gerv. Canterb. {R. Ser.), II, 102-103.
®' Gesta, c. 84. During the interdict of France, Innocent sent letters to
France urging a crusade.
®' (a) Rot. Claus., I, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 126. (b) Rot. Chart.,
I, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191. (c) Rot. Pat., I, 82.
«* (a) See above, n. 87. (b) Cartul. de S. Euverte d'Orlfeans, Bibl. Nat. ,
MS. Lat. 10,089, p. 189. Cited from Davidsohn, Philip II und Inge-
borg, 107. The monastery of S. Euverte d'0rl6ans purchased a house, July
15, 1200.
^5 (a) Placit. Abbreviatio, p. 67, col. I (l2lo). " Elias . . . captus
pro contumacia sua eo quod contemsit uxorem suam venit et dixit se velle
stare considerationem sancte ecclesie et inde invenit plegios." (b) Rot.
Claus., I, 149, September 9, 121 3. King John determines the validity of
an advowson.
*« (a) Rot. Pat., I, 97, 98b, loob, 106. (b) Rot. Claus., I, 59, Janu-
ary 3,1213. ". . . per sacramentum xii liberorum et legalium homi-
num."
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 67
firmed," and so on through a long list of legal activities.*^
But the residents of a district experienced no little material
discomfort from the interdict. The joy with which they hailed
the removal of a sentence indicates the sorrow they felt during
its operation.^ Princes in time of interdict took occasion to
oppress their subjects with burdensome taxes/°° lawlessness
prevailed, and brigandage flour ished.^'^^ To add to these evils
factions developed ,^°" and either those observing or those ig-
noring the interdict were oppressed ; in Limoges, for example,
those persons who heeded the interdict were fined by the op-
posing party. '•'^ Ambassadors were affected by interdicts laid
at home,'*^ and even travelers in an interdicted country suffered
the same inconvenience as the inhabitants. ^°^
'^ (a) Rot. Pat., I, 99. The king confirmed the testament of Gilbert,
Bishop of Rochester, (b) Hontheim, Hist. Trevir.^ I, Urk. 491, Cited
from Raumer, Gesch. Hohenst., VI, 161.
'*The material cited above is mainly from English sources. For this
reason it may not be quite typical. However, English sources for the
period of Innocent III are more complete and available than those of
other countries, which may account for the fact that similar material is not
equally abundant for interdicts elsewhere.
^ See below, chapter IV.
^°° (a) See above, n. 87. (b) In England John oppressed first the
clerks and then the people.
^•'^ Mariana, De Rebus Hispan., lib. XIII, c. 12. *' Latrocinia et male-
ficia quae ex superiorum temporum [of interdict] licentia et Sanctii Regis
socordia impune grassabantur tota provincia sustulit."
'"^Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 134 (Potth., 4839). *' Mandamus quatenuspost-
quam interdictum Angliae fuerit relaxatum omnes conjurationeset factiones,
si quae occasione discordiae inter regnum et sacerdotium factae sunt,
denunties auctoritate nostra irritas et inanes. "
!»' (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 97 (Potth., 1934). (b) Tractatus de Inler-
dicto^ Proposit. VII. The Seven Theologians consider it just that those
who observe the interdict of Venice should lose their properties. " Eccle-
siasticis hujus Dominii Justus imminet metus amissionis vitae et bonorum
suorum et etiam multorum malorum tam privatomm quam publicorum,
quae ipsorum propinquis inde evenient, si interdictum servaverint."
^^* Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul V, 108, 135-137. Attempts were made by
papal agents to exclude Venetian ambassadors from church services. The
King of Spain did not use his chapel for many days, in order to avoid de-
claring himself on the status of the ambassador, j'did., 112-113. The
Duke of Savoy acted similarly, idid., 118-119. The Venetian agent at
Nancy and all his house were excluded from confession. When news of
the agreement of Venice and the pope reached Spain, the papal nuncio
68 THE INTERDICT
It was to be expected that the guilty person and the district
included with him would both feel the interdict, but not that
the church would suffer from the discipline she used. As
a matter of fact the church and the hierarchy often suffered
very much from the interdict. In the first place, the persons
whose misdeeds provoked the sentence often resisted what
they regarded as the aggression of the church by most violent
counter-measures. In the second place, the public instead of
rising against the offenders sometimes rose against the author-
ity pronouncing the cessation of services. ^^ The dangers of
such an occurrence were fully realized by the church. She
knew that public opinion could neither be foretold nor created
at will, and therefore she usually repeated her threats ,^*'^ and
actually promulgated the sentence only as a last resort.^"®
there, Easter being near, advised the ambassador of Venice to abstain from
communion at Easter, considering that shortly after he might be present
with the pope's permission. The ambassador refused to receive his coun-
sel and was admitted to all ceremonies, ibid.^ 410-41 1.
^^^ (a) Bishop Hugh of Lincoln, traveling in France, was obliged to re-
tire to a monastery in order to be able to celebrate mass. Vita S. Hugonis
Lincol. {R, Ser.)y lib. v, c. 15, p. 324. (b) Capefigue, II, 145, says that
on the death of nobles their names were not entered on the registers.
Ilurter inclines to doubt this statement. The citations given by Capefigue
do not justify his contention.
^°^ (a) Steph. Tornac, Ep. 235, in Migne, Pat. lat., 211, co\. 504.
" Insultat nobis protervitas laicorum et occasione sumpta de silentio nostro,
pravis comminationibus armati, in publicis et privatis colloquiis conflant
ejectionem sacerdotum, direptionem rerum, contumelias personarum
Dicunt se solvere quod non rapuerunt, pro peccato alterius injuste puniri,
sacramentis carere quibus utpote catholici parati sunt parere." (b)
Idle/., 237, in idle/., col. 506. Stephen, after relating his endeavors to
enforce an interdict, adds, "Pro his omnibus digna reporto jurgiorum
stipendia, increpationes in populis, indignationem et iram ..." (c)
Innocent III (Epp., II, 75; Gesta, c. 58; Potth , 716) relates that the
Spanish bishops complained because the laity did not pay their customary
dues, (d) Cone. Lugdun. II, 1274, c. 31, in Hard., VII, 718. The
council of Lyons took the clergy under its protection because they were so
much abused by the people, (e) Clemens XI, Const. "Ad Plurimas,"
1713, in Bullar. Rovi., XXI, 588. Secular and regular clergy suffered
confiscation of property, imprisonment, and exile.
^^"^ Cf. above, p. 37.
^°^Conc. Ravennat., 1314, c. 9, in Hard., VII, 1390. '* Quoniam ex
sententiis interdict! non est dubium multa oriri scandala . . . propterea
non debent sine urgenti necessitate proferri ..."
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 69
Threats of interdict could do the church but little harm ; and,
if successful, they might do her great good. Wisely therefore
did the church, as far as possible, rely upon them rather than
upon the actual sentence ; for, in the words of a contemporary
of Henry II, '' It is not well that the sentence should go into
effect when the threat alone easily accomplishes what is
desired ".^'^
When, however, the interdict was laid, and was opposed by
potentates or parishioners, the church and clergy experienced
grave hardships. Particularly did ecclesiastical property be-
come subject to confiscation, seizure, and damage. ^^" Reve-
nues of the church were seriously diminished;"^ so seriously,
indeed, that in Genoa it was at one time found expedient not
to reassign vacant prebends, but instead to devote these in-
comes to the common use."'^ Monastic orders suffered great
losses ; but, as they were less in touch with the populace and
often enjoyed papal privileges of exemption, their hardships
were not so grave as those of the secular clerks. In one case
the clerics had to get special permission to sell their pro-
duce ; "^ in another case clerics who observed the interdict
»°»Mat. Hist. Becket {R. Ser.), VII, 175.
"® (a) Const. Galteri Archiep. Senon., c. 14, in Hard., VI, 560. (b)
Coggeshall, in Kec, XVHI, 91. (c) Rigord, De Gest. Ph. Aug. ad an.
1 199, in Rec.^ XVII, 51. "... bona eorum diripuit ..." (d)
Inn. Ill, Epp,, VI, 97 (Potth., 1934). *' , . bona ceperunt eorum
. . " (e) Chron. S. Denis ad an. 1209, in Rec.^ XVII, 394. (f)
Rot. Claus, I, 107, 108, no, III, 126, 130, 174. (g) Rot. Chart. ^ I,
203-204, 214. (h) Rot. Pat., I, loi, 102, 124. (i; Giry, Hist, de S.
Otner, 138.
"^ (a) Chron. S. Denis ad an. 1 199, in Rec, XVII, 387. Fees and
rents of the clergy were seized, (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 75 (Potth., 716).
Spanish bishops complain that, because of the interdict, *' cum clerici
laicis spiritualia ministrare non possent, laici clericis temporaiia subtra-
hebant, oblationes, primitias et decimas detinentes. " (c) Mansi, XXIII,
1 184, c. 4. A decree against laymen who fail henceforth to pay tithes in
time of interdict.
'^' See Appendix, case 67. Case of Genoa.
^^^ Rot. Claus. y I, 114. " Mandatum est . . . quod permittant Archi-
episcopos, Episcopos, Abbates, et omnes viros rehgios et omnes clericos
vendere blada sua per summas usque ad festum S. Katerine."
70
THE INTERDICT
were exiled or outlawed or imprisoned ,"* and , if exiled , they
dared not enter the realm without royal safe-conduct."^ It
even came to pass that an indignant populace attacked the
clergy for depriving it of religious consolations."*' In England
vacancies remained unfilled and the king retained the custody
in the meantime ; "' many clerks chose to bear the expense of
buying peace from the oppressor rather than to incur the
greater losses and dangers attendant upon continuance of
hostihty."® The church endeavored to protect the hierarchy,
and an inevitable condition for the relaxation of the interdict
was the restoration of properties taken from ecclesiastics and
satisfaction for damage done."^ In England a commission
was appointed to estimate this damage. ^^° It is manifest that
the interdict was not a care- free vacation for the clergy, but
that they shared with the populace the harmful effects of the
cessation of spiritual ministrations.
"* (a) Clemens XI, Const. "Ad plurimas", 1713, in Bullar, Bom.,
XXI, 588. Girgenti, 1713. (b) See also the cases of France and
Auxerre in Appendix, cases 57 and 88.
"3^?^/. Pat., I, 82.
^^^ (a) See above, n. io6a. (b) Hocsemius, Hist. Pont. Leod. ad an.
1255, in Chapeaville, II, 278f. ** . . canonici pro parte a civitate
recedunt interdictum ne violare cogantur. "
^^"^ Rot. Claus., I, 107, no, et passim. The patent rolls give similar
evidence.
"» (a) Rot. Claus., I, io8-ii3b. (b) Vita S. Hugonis Lincol., lib. V,
c. 13 {R. Ser.), 303-304. ** . . . cum tempore interdicti Anglicani
omnes fere ecclesiarum rectores, quos tamen in exilium barbaricus regis
furor minis coegerat interveniente pecunia bona sua redimerent a manu
laicali ..."
*^^(a) Const. Galteri Archiep. Senon., c. 14, in Hard., VI, 560.
" Praecipimus ut nullatenus relaxetur [interdictum] donee ad arbitrium et
moderamen relaxantis presbyteris parochialibus et damnis et perditis
interdicti cccasione illatis plane fuerit satisfactum vel de satisfaciendo
cautum." (b) Cone. Skenninge, 1248, c. 8, in Mog. f. d. K.-Gesch. d.
Nordens (Miinter), I, 188. (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 236 (Potth., 4398).
*' , mandamus, quatenus concessiones, pactione.s sive promissiones
quas clerici seu religiosi viri cujuscunque professionis vel ordinis Joanui
regi Angliae super ablatis vel extortis post interdictum fecerunt
denuntietis irritas et inanes ... Si qui vero praedictorum noluerint
ablata vel extorta repetere, detentores eorum nihilominus ipsa restituere
compellatis." Cf. Rot. Pat., I, 124. (d) yi2s\o\.. Hist, de Reims, III,
823-826, No. 183.
120 Rot. Claus.y I, io6b.
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE
71
Besides these material losses, the church experienced spir-
itual harm through both the clergy and the people. Com-
paratively little has been recorded regarding the effects of the
interdict on the religious life of the clergy ; but that little
shows that the effect was bad. They often disagreed on the
question of observing the interdict, and this produced danger
of schism. ^"^^ Discontinuance of the daily services caused
remissness among the clerks ; and, since they were perforce
negligent of spiritual affairs, it is not surprising that they went
unshaven and unkempt during interdict.^^'^ The regulars and
the seculars disputed with each other over various privileges
possessed by the former, especially over the right of burial.
Ecclesiastical orders not infrequently had privileges granting
them the right to bury devotees regardless of interdict,^^^ in
consequence of which they endeavored to secure burial pledges
from as many laymen as possible. ^'^^ Under such conditions
121 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 295 (Potth., 712). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill,
15. *' . . . timendum esset de filia [Gallicana ecclesia], ne a paternis
prorsus exorbitaret vestigiis, et quae ... in devotione sedis apostolicae
solebat esse ferventior, ab ejus obsequio redderetur nimium aliena "
(c) Hist. Episc. Autiss., c. 59, in Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 481. (d) Inn.
Ill, Epp., XII, 9 (Potth., 3686). (e) Mat. Hist. Becket (Ji. Ser.), V,
321. Gilbert Foliet advises Alexander not to issue an interdict, and
warns him of the danger of schism.
^^'^ (a) Dominicus Soto, in 4. distinct., 22. qu, , art. i. Cited from
Pithou, Des Interdicts Eccl., 18-19. " Interdictum, quamvis ex una parte
ad terrorem excommunicatorum conducat, ex altera tamen in periculum
divini cultus vergit potissimum; nam tunc non solum populus desuetudine
frequentandi divina officia, affectum eorum et sensum perdit, verum etiam
et clerus ipse fit remissior, et ignavior ad eadem divina celebranda qua
utique ratione et divina religio detrimentum patitur, et populus solet in
moribus silescere." (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 9 (Potth., 3686). The
Cistercians in England averred " . . . quod ex dissuetudine celebrandi
gravis in religione jactura et in ordine dissolutio secutura timetur."
(c) Du Cange, Glossarium^ under "Interdictum".
*^ See below, chapter IV.
"* Berengarius, Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat. 15415, fol. 232, col. IV. When
a church and cemetery are interdicted it might happen, ** quod aliqui
religiosi vel clerici seculares aliquos inducunt ad vovendum, jurandum, vel
fide interposita seu aliter promittendum ut apud eorum ecclesias sepulturam
eligant vel jam electam ulterius non invitent; si tales in suis ecclesiis
vel cimiteriis praesumpserint sepeliri ad restitutionem tam sepultorum cor-
porum, si petantur, quam omnium que occasione sepulture illorum per-
venerint ad eosdem . . . faciendam tenentur . . . "
72 THE INTERDICT
considerable loss might be suffered by the secular clergy because
of the diversion of burial fees and the like into other channels.
The losers invariably complained and sought redress, and with
what success appears from the agreements in which some
return of unusual incomes derived as a result of interdict is
stipulated.^"
If the frequent assertions of the sources are accepted as
evidence, the effect of the interdict was more disastrous to the
church through the harm done the laity than through harm
done the clergy. Even when the church dominated the re-
ligious situation the people grew cold in their allegiance,
heresies flourished, vices increased; they so far forgot re-
ligious ceremonies that, after an interdict was relaxed, they
mocked and scoffed at the priests who were performing ser-
vices. ^''^ Repeatedly the growth of heresies is ascribed to
interdicts. Father Paul, the apologist of Venice, boldly de-
clares that the numerous interdicts and excommunications of
the twelfth and thirteenth centuries were the cause for the
great prevalence of heresies, which had begun at that time
and had gained strength to his day.^" Following this line of
^^^ See above, n. lo.
^*^(a) Gesta, c. 58. For quotation see below, p. 74: '* From heretics
. . . ", etc. (b) Hist. Episc. Autiss., in Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 475.
(c) C. 2. de sent, excom. Exlrav. comm. 5. 10. *' . . adolescentes
et parvuli, participantes rariiis sacramenla, minus inflammanturet snlidantur
in fide, fidelium tepescit devotio, haereses puUulant et mulliplicaniur
pericula animarum." (d) C. ult, de sent, excom. VI. 5. 11. "Quia
vero ex districtione hujusmodi stalutorum [of interdict] excrescit indevotio
pnpuli, pullulant haereses, et infinita pericula animarum insurgunt, ac
ecclesiis sine culpa earum debila obsequia subtrahuntur . . " (e)
Cone. Ravennat., 1314, c. 19, in Hard., VH, 1390. " Quoniam ex
sententiis inierdicti non est dubium multa oriri scandala, ex quibus non
solum saepe puniuntur insontes, immo excrescit indevotio populi, pullulant
haereses, ac ecclesiis ac ecclesiasticis personis sine culpa earum debita
subtrahuntur obsequia. . . " (f) The reply of Bellarmin to the Seven
Theologians is as follows (Bellarmin, Rxsposta^ Proposit. VH): ••In
Uibino duro I'interdetto ancora piu longo tempo come gli stessi sette
Dottori atlestano nel discorso della quinta prop, et talmente fCi asservato
senza sospetto nessuno di violenza popolare, che bisogno poi usare mollo dili-
genza, et molte essortationi per ridurre il popolo alia frequenza delle messe."
'^^ Apologia P. M. Pauli, 531, col. i. '• . . haereses anno 1300
natae, et hodie ad summum evectae, aliunde ortum non duxerunt quam ab
innumeris excommunicationibus et iuterdictis quae coeperunt ferri anno
THE INTERDICT IN FORCE 73
thought the interdict may be said to have had a significant
part in producing the movement which finally culminated in
the Reformation. If Christians were deprived of the benefits
of ecclesiastical ministrations when they were in no way cul-
pable, they might reasonably conclude that such a deprivation
could not bring them harm in the life to come ; and if the
hope of eternal life suffered no diminution from a deprivation
of services, often unjust, why should it suffer from voluntary
cessation? By these logical steps many a layman undoubtedly
was brought to reason that the mediation of priests was not
essential to salvation ; and thus the interdict, that weapon
which served to establish the church in its struggle against
external and temporal powers, contributed to the weakening
of her inner and spiritual control.
Of the general effects of interdict perhaps no more inter-
esting description can be given than in the phrases used by a
few of the chroniclers. The Chronicle of St. Amand com-
pares the interdict to the Babylonian Captivity. ^^® Stephen
of Tournay relates that altars were contaminated, cemeteries
profaned, and the sacraments of the Lord publicly sold.^*^^ At
another place ^^*^ he says : ** As yet the recent wounds of the
former interdict still flow \jpirant'\ ; nor do the wounded
breathe \^respirant^. And if a second blow comes redoubled,
death will be within the gates ; and in the sad silence those
heresies which are already beginning to put forth sprouts will
grow strong ; spiritual melodies will be unheard, and those
who have been accustomed to eat \jnanducare'\ the bread of
life at the table of the Lord will be compelled to beg \_mendi-
care\y The interdict on Leon provoked several Spanish
prelates to exert themselves in behalf of their kingdom ; they
I2CO, ac tot illo seculo viguerunt. Qui omnium illorum annorum historias
leget lacr}'mas contineri non potuerit tantamspiritualem stragem legentem."
^**Chron. S. Amandi, in Rec.^ XVIII, 592. ** . . . transmigrationem
Babylonis repraesentare videtur".
'^Steph. Tornac, Epp. , 246, in Migne, Pat. Lat., 211, col. 513.
*' Contaminantur altaria, profanantur coemeteria, prostituuntur in tributis
Dominica sacramenta. "
^^ Ibid.y 231, in ibid.^ col. 501.
74
THE INTERDICT
asserted that from the interdict a three- fold danger from
heretics, Saracens, and Christians threatened the kingdom.
** From heretics, because in pursuance of the interdict the lips
of pastors were closed in those parts and the faithful could not
be instructed by them against the heretics, or in any way
taught to resist them ; so that, both from this cause and also
because the King of Leon, averring that he was hindered by
the interdict, did not oppose them, the heretics prevailed
against the faithful and various heresies were now spreading in
the kingdom. From the Saracens, for, inasmuch as the
people of Spain had customarily been induced to attack the
pagans by the exhortations and remissions of the church, the
devotion of the people grew lukewarm when the office of
preaching ceased ; for, as long as the people saw themselves
interdicted, being subjected to the same penalty as their
prince on account of a fault to which they had consented,
though merely by keeping silent, they probably did not regard
themselves faultless and for this reason they were less ardent
to war against the Saracens, fearing they might die in sin.
From the Catholics, for, as clerics could not minister to the
spiritual needs of the laity, laymen denied the temporal ne-
cessities to the clergy, retaining oblations, first-fruits, and
tithes. Now, as the clergy in those parts were largely de-
pendent on these, they being withdrawn, clerks were forced
not only to beg, but to serve and toil for the Jews, to the
opprobrium of the church and all Christendom." ^"
From a later time^"^ comes another equally interesting
account of what effect it was hoped the interdict would have.
At Rome, says Sarpi, it was expected to have three notable
effects. ** I. That the Religious would all depart the Countrey
and so the interdict at least by necessitie should be observed ;
2. That Cities and people seeing themselves deprived of Divine
Offices and Exercises would seditiously be moved and send to
the Prince to give satisfaction to his Holinesse ; 3. That upon
this occasion the Nobilitie might be disordered, grieved, and
terrified, and so divided amongst themselves."
"^ Gesta, c. 58. '" Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul F, p. 100.
CHAPTER IV.
Moderation and Relaxation of the Interdict.
To complete our discussion of the interdict it is necessary
to present the means by which the severity of the sentence
could be tempered to any desired degree, and be made to fit
any conditions. This was done by privileges, and by mitiga-
tions such as partial^ and ambulatory interdicts. Privileges
were freely used to blunt the edge of the interdict ; by grant-
ing them the church sought in part to still the accusation of
injustice raised against her for afflicting the innocent with the
guilty. The first known privilege was given the monastery of
Fleury (Orleans) in 997.^ During the eleventh century
privileges became established in principle ; during the twelfth
they became numerous. They were given usually by papal,
and rarely by episcopal authority.^ They were always strictly
construed and were held to confer no rights not distinctly and
explicitly granted;* thus tertiaries or **conversi" were not
included in the benefits of a privilege given an order. ^ Fur-
thermore, they were revocable at any time by the authority
* Partial interdicts are those which prohibit only a part of the services
usually denied. Their use was not common.
'Aimoin, Vita S. Abbonis, c. 12, in Rec.^ X, 335. Cf. Hinschius, V,
20, n. I. Kober states that this is the earliest privilege known.
' (a) Miraeus, 0pp. DipL, I, 97. Privilege by the Bishop of Cambrai
to the church " Grimbergana ". '* Concedo etiam ut si inbannitur terra
remotis excommunicatis haec cantet Ecclesia, clausis januis. " (b) Anti-
quus Cartul. Eccl. Baiocer.sis, No. 47, in Mem. Soc. Aniiq. Norm., VIII
(1834), ii, 443-445. The Bishop of Beauvais grants a privilege to those
who shall contribute to the fund for the repair of the cathedral: "propter
nullam interdicti sententiam nisi nominatim excommunicati fuerint ecclesi-
asticis priventur sacramentis. "
* Kober, XXI, 338-340.
*C. 3. de sent, excom. in Clement. 5. 10.
(75)
^(i THE INTERDICT
which granted them, and so it came to pass that Innocent III,
in his endeavor to make his interdicts on England and on
France of the utmost severity, allowed no privileges to prevent
the observance of the sentence.^
Privileges were of two general classes : First, they forbade
judges to lay interdicts on designated persons or localities.'
Second, they conferred exemption from all interdicts upon
persons,® such as princes* or prelates ;^° upon localities, such
as royal and noble chapels,^ churches," hospitals, ^^ districts
and countries ;^^ and upon corporations, such as military^* and
religious orders. ^^ Privileges granted to persons varied in
their character. William, Lord of Montpellier, received per-
mission to have silent services in his chapel in time of inter-
dict, unless he himself should chance to be excommunicated.^'
'*G. de Blosaville," his wife, and his mother were to hear
services behind closed doors." Baldwin, Emperor of Con-
stantinople,^® Simon de Montfort and his wife,^" and the
«(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 9 (Potth., 3686). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI,
121 (Potth., 3175). (c) Inn. 0pp., IV, 190, No. 136. (d) Migne, /*a/.
Lat.^ 214, col. xcvii, n. 60. (e) Raynald., AitnaL, 1238, XLVIII.
■^ The nature of those privileges which forbade the promulgation of inter-
dict upon some person or locality is clear without further explanation.
^ Kober maintains that privilege does not exempt from episcopal inter-
dict.
»(a) J-L., 5552, 9860. (b) Potth., 1452, 1540, 1689, 1883, 2203,
3174, 4135a, 4485* 4842, 49"» 5143. 5213. 5269.
10 (a) J-L., 12446. (b) Potth., 328, 1527, 3604.
^^ Potth., 2203, 4842, 491 1.
"(a) Potth., 5449. (b) Quell. Gesch. Stadt K'dln^ II, 263. A privi-
lege is given to the superintendent of the leper-hospital at Cologne.
"(a) J-L., 161 73 (10053). (b) Potth., 5924, 10402, 10463, 1 1023.
(c) Auvray, Reg., 3334.
^* (a) J-L., 13745 (8833;, Hospitallers; ibid., 17446, Templars, (b)
Archives Nat., L. 236. Cited from Davidsohn, Philip II und Ingeborg^
loi. Templars.
" Henriquez, Regula Const, et Privil. ordin. Cisterc, Privileg. VII,
VIII, XI, LXXI.
"Potth., 1450, 1451, 1452.
"J-L., 9860.
"Potth., 5143.
^» Potth., 5213.
MODERA TION AND RELAX A TION yy
Bishops of Cremona and Pampluna^'' had similar privileges.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, and the
Bishops of London, Ely, and Worcester were allowed to cele-
brate services in spite of the interdict on England, if for any
reason they should chance to cross to the island. •^^ Religious
orders were the principal recipients of the privileges granted
to corporations. A typical privilege of this class is to this
effect : the recipients, in time of interdict, had the right to
celebrate offices behind closed doors, with subdued voice and
without the ringing of bells, those interdicted and excom-
municated nofnifiatim being excluded ; and to give canonical
burial to those of their number who died in good standing."
Exceptional privileges were those by which monks were al-
lowed to ring a single bell for a short time in case of the burial
of one of their number ; ^^ or those by which they were per-
mitted to call the brethren from their labors to the church by
ringing one bell, provided their monastery was so separated
from villages and cities that the sound of this bell could not
be heard. ^* The Praemonstratensians were privileged to cele-
brate divine offices solemnly, if their churches were removed
from habitations, on condition that the excommunicated and
interdicted be kept so far away that they could not hear ; in
churches near human dwellings they were to observe the limi-
tations set by the typical privilege.'^* Peculiar privileges
are the following : the Council of Laval permitted the canons
to recite canonical hours ,^^ and Boniface IX permitted
the council of Cologne to hear mass behind closed doors on
'0(a) Potth., 1527. (b) Potth., 328.
" Potth., 3604.
" (a) Cartul. de I'Abbaye du Paraclet, in Coll. des Princip. Cartul. du
Dioc de Troyes, 34, No. 21. (b) Cartul. de I'Abbaye de S. Loup, ibid..
No. 134. (c) Potth., 4984. (d) J-L., 135 14, 14601 (9460), 14704.
161 72.
»Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 23 (Potth., 1862).
"Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 2.
"Potth., 1247.
•*Conc, apud Vallem Guidonis, 1242, c. 6, in Hard., VII, 349.
78 THE INTERDICT
days of council session." The Archbishop of Cologne, in his
eagerness to increase the funds for building the cathedral,
gave the following privilege : ** We order that, if any churches
shall have been put under interdict by us, or the archdeacons,
or the deans, whenever on Sundays or feast-days it shall seein
that the aforesaid matter [the building of the cathedral] can
be advanced, holy offices shall be celebrated, persons excom-
municated and interdicted nominatim being excluded; and,
because of the evident need of the said work, the word of ex-
hortation shall be preached to the people."^**
A privilege frequently granted was the right to bury the
dead. This was doubtless valuable because of burial fees and
payments, which, if desirable in ordinary times, must in time
of interdict have been especially remunerative to those privi-
leged to bestow the dead. Sometimes persons secured the
right of burial for themselves ,^^ but this was less common than
the privileges of monasteries to bury whoever might come.^
La Charity claimed this privilege,^^ St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital in London had the right to bury its dead,^^ and the
Templars could bury any but excommunicated and interdicted
persons,^^ which was the common limitation of the privilege.
A very decided moderation of the interdict resulted from
the a7nbulatorium ^ which began to be used about the middle
of the twelfth century. This interdict was designed to ac-
complish just as much as the local general interdict without
many of its evil effects. Intrinsically it is the local interdict
"Chapters, (a) J-L., 16854 (10368), 16998 (10426), 17159, 17413,
17544. (b) J-L., 16708. Benefactors of the Holy Sepulchre, (c)
Quell. Gesch. Stadt Koln^ VI, 7. City Council of Cologne.
^^ Ibid.^ II, 502-504.
2»J-L., 16708.
'OJ-L., 13963.
'^ Gall. Christ.^ XII, Instrumenta, col. 174. ** . . . monachi dicunt
quod habent privilegia a sede apostolica, quod durantibus interdictis
possunt admittere in suis cimiteriis ad jus ecclesiasticae sepulturae omnes"
[except excom. or those responsible for the interdict].
^^ See above, chap. Ill, n. 67.
'8(a) J-L., 16742. (b) J-L., 15820 (9904). Usurers are excepted.
MODERATION AND RELAXATION
79
in motion ; except for its ambulatory character it offers noth-
ing new, and whatever has been said of the theory, causes,
and effects of the local interdict applies also to the ambula-
tory interdict. Instead of putting the whole of a prince's
dominions under sentence, only that part suffered in which he
chanced to be ; the remainder in the meantime celebrated all
services in the usual way. The ambulatory interdict wandered
about with the offender as did his own shadow. He was
never out of interdicted territory, or beyond the reach of
public sentiment. The populace, instead of rejoicing at his
approach, must have rejoiced at his departure. Bishop
Stephen of Tournay, in writing to the Archbishop of Reims
regarding a local interdict threatened against the Count of
Flanders, said that it seemed to him and to many other
prudent persons that the Count would both be wounded more
deeply, and disconcerted more openly, if he and his adherents
were every Sunday declared excommunicate, and if all places
to which he came ceased from divine services as long as he re-
mained there. ^* The size of the district affected by an ambu-
latorium varied ; it might be a diocese ,^^ a province,^® a city,"
a village ,^ a town ,^^ or a parish ; ^^ often no limits were speci-
fied, and it was merely stated that all places to which the
offenders came should cease from services.*" The ambulatory
interdict was particularly serviceable when the offender himself
was migratory , and therefore the presence of such offenders as
" Steph. Tornac, Epp., 231, in Migne, Pat. Lai., 211, col. 501.
»5PoUh., 27, 29, 2344.
^*J-L., 12248, 12705.
" (a) Gesta, c. 58. *' . . ad quamcumque civitatem, villam, vel
oppidum devenirent nullus ibidem eis praesenlibus divina officia celebraret."
(b) Marlot, Hist, de Reims, III, 783. The chapter of Reims agrees to
suspend services if a certain Enguerraud is present.
** See above, chap. II, n. 116.
'• Prov. Cone. Trev., 1238, c. 2, in Mansi, XXIII, 479. ** . . . per
totam illam parochiam . . . ."
*o(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 155 (Potth., 1813). (b) Ibid., VIII, 84
(Potth., 2530). " . . .in omnibus . . . locis . . . ." (c) Ibid.^ XI,
26 (Potth., 3324). "... omnia loca . . . ."
8o THE INTERDICT
kings or nobles,*^ murderers of prelates," marauders of
churches," crusaders who refused to keep their vows,** and
persons who attended tournaments in spite of ecclesiastical
prohibitions** commonly caused its use. That this ambu-
latorium was considered an amelioration of the severity of the
interdict appears from the fact that Innocent III, inconse-
quence of a complaint of the Spanish prelates about the griev-
ous results of the general interdict, partly relaxed it by mak-
ing it ambulatory.** The ecclesiastics of Auxerre found it ex-
pedient to do the same thing during the quarrel of their bishop
with Peter Courtenay.*'' The interdict on Denmark, after
having been generally unobserved for two years, was finally
changed to an interdict solely on those parts in which the
queen and her accomplices were.*®
A few cases of ambulatory interdict arose out of the deten-
tion of some person or property in a locality : Henry II of
England was notified that, unless he yielded the daughters of
Louis within forty days, the province in which they were de-
tained would be interdicted.*' The Archbishop of Cologne
ordered that, if any ecclesiastical person were detained in a
place for more than three days, the locality should fall under
interdict. *** The captivity of Queen Sybil and other Sicilians
caused interdict to be threatened for all dioceses in which
they were held prisoners." The Cistercians obtained papal
« (a) Ibid ,\l, 63 (Potth., 1911). (b) Ibid., VII, 171 (Potth., 2344).
(c) Ibid., VIII, 84 (PoUh., 2530). (d) Potth., 8162, 10811. (e) Auctor
Anon, ad an. 1261, in Ludewig, IX, 81-82.
«Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 155; XI, 26 (Potth., 1813, 3324).
*' (a) J-L. , 15247. (b) Carlul. de la Chapelle-aux- Planches, No. 41.
** (a) Potth., 8162. (b) Gesta, c. 84. *' . . . et quocunque tales
[crusaders] devenerint, divina prohibeatis eis praesentibus officia celebrare."
** Gesta, c. 84. Cf. Inn. Ill, Epp., IX, 197; X, 74 (Potth., 2927.
3127).
<6 Gesta, c. 58.
*■' See Appendix, case 88. Interdict on Auxerre.
** Auctor Anon., in Ludewig, IX, 81-82.
*'J-L., 12248, 12705.
^ Quell. Gesch. Stadt Koln, II, 273.
"Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 26 (Potth., 27).
MODE R A TION AND RELAX A TION g I
protection for themselves and their property with this addi-
tion : that villas in which any of their goods or men were forci-
bly kept, or in which brethren, fugitive monks, or ** conversi "
were detained contrary to their own will, or in which the
looters of their property remained, should be interdicted until
the cause for grievance was removed, unless the inhabitants
upon notice expelled the offenders." The provincial Council
of Trier determined that a parish should be interdicted as long
as any stolen goods, the thieves, or the purchaser of the goods
remained there. ^ The presence of stolen goods alone was
cause for an interdict, it appears from a privilege to the Abbey
of Basse- Fontaine.^* The struggle between the Bishop of
Auxerre and the Count of Nevers gives a very adequate idea
of the way in which an ambulatory interdict operated. It was
there decided to observe the interdict in this way : as soon as
the count's arrival was known, and as long as he was present,
churches were closed and services were celebrated in the
silence demanded by the interdict ; when his departure was
announced by the bell of the public crier, services were re-
sumed. ** Certainly a profitable and salubrious agreement,
for the Count could not enter or leave his own city without the
greatest commotion, nor could he stay very long because of
the clamor of the populace ; and the church by her silence was
not obliged to neglect the building and the progress of souls. "^'^
An interdict ended with its relaxation. This was under
some circumstances automatic,^ but usually there was a judicial
absolution. If this absolution was reserved to some one, that
authority alone could relax the sentence ; as a special privi-
lege to the Bishop of Oviedo, Innocent III reserved to him
^' See above, chap. II, n. ii6.
** Prov. Cone. Trev., 1238, c. 2, in Mansi, XXIII, 479.
^*Cartul. de I'Abbayede Basse-Fontaine, 142, No. 106. " Villas autem
in quibus bona praedictorum fratrum per violentiam detenta fuerint quandiu
ibi sint interdicti sententiae supponatis. "
^^See Appendix, case 88. Interdict on Auxerre.
^ Kober, XXII, 42!,
82 THE INTERDICT
the right of raising the interdict in his own diocese, though
the papal commissioners removed it from the other parts of
Leon." As a rule, only the person who laid the interdict, his
vicar, his successor, or his superior ^^ could remove it. Who
was properly a higher authority was open to some question :
Anacletus II, anti-pope, removed a personal interdict laid by
Honorius 11,^* and the anti-pope Victor IV gave Albert,
Bishop of Verdun, the right of relaxing an interdict in the
church of Saint Michel (Verdun).^ According to law a
sentence must actually have accomplished the purpose for
which it was laid before it could be removed;*^ usage, how-
ever, demonstrates that the working of this law was not always
in keeping with the theory. If possible, the interdict was left
in force until it accomplished its original purpose ; but it was
not always possible to secure the desired effects, and under
such circumstances there was no option but to take as little
less as could be obtained. This was notably the case in
Venice. The city refused absolutely to observe the interdict
or to yield in the slightest degree ; the papacy had exhausted
all possible devices to secure its aims ; for the Roman pontiff
the matter resolved itself into getting out of the situation with
all possible grace. He sought to induce Venice to do some-
thing which would afford him a pretext for relaxing the sen-
tence ; but the Venetians would not so much as pray him ,
directly or indirectly, to give up his hostility ; they refused to
observe the interdict merely as a form for even a few days ;
and when peace was arranged they refused an absolution.
The mediating cardinal desired to celebrate mass and give the
"Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 125 (Pctth., 131).
*^ (a) J-L., 5959. (b) Potth., 10020. (c) Hist. Episc. Autiss., c. 59,
in Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 481.
59 J-L., 8371 (5924).
««J-L., 14431 (9378).
*' (a) Cone. Galteri Archiep. Senon., c. 14, in Hard., VI, 560. (b)
Cone. Lemovicen., Sess. H, in Hard., VI, 56of. (c) Ivo Carnot., Epp.,
94. (d) Gesta, c. 53, 54. (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 14. (f) Inn. Ill,
Epp., XIII, 43. (g) See Appendix, ease 45.
MODE R A TION AND RELAX A TION 83
benediction, but it was not agreeable to the Republic; the
citizens, since they maintained that the interdict was never
actually laid, would not hear of anything that even suggested
absolution. The cardinal announced the end of the interdict
in the following words : *' I rejoyce very much that this happy
day so much desired by me is come , wherein I declare unto
your Serenitie that all the Censures are taken away , as indeed
they are ; and I take therein much pleasure, for the benefit
which shall redound hereby to all Christendome and particu-
larly to Italy." On the day the pope revoked his sentence, a
nunor spread that the cardinal had given absolution at a mass ;
this caused great discontent among the people, who were
zealous that nothing should be done to cast aspersion on their
cause; the rumor, however, was false. Many had supposed
that on this occasion there would be bonfires and other signs
of joy, at the least the ringing of bells. " Notwithstanding,
nothing of this was done, nor one bell sounded neither at
Venice nor in any Citie of the State when the News arrived
... to the end that such signes of joy might not be inter-
preted to signifie some absolution which they had received,®^
or the Republique thereby conceived to have been formerly in
a fault." The pope drew off entirely beaten, not even able
to save appearances.
But the experience was unique, and usually the church was
able to make conditions for the relaxation. ^^ The particulars
of these conditions varied with circumstances ; among the
common stipulations were, first, the promise to make repara-
tion for all harm done the church during the time in which
the sentence was operative ; ^ second, to give security that the
terms would be fulfilled f"" and third , that the offender obey
*^ Sarpi, Quarrels of Paul F, 414-417, 424-425, 427-428.
^'Mun. Acad. Oxon. {R. Ser.), igoi.
** See above, chap. Ill, n. 119.
*5 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 35 (Potth., 31). "... cautione recepta
. . ." (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 461 (Potth., 473). (c) Potth., 3421.
(d) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 156 (Potth., 3885). (e) /die/., XV, 12
(Potth., 4406). (f) /did., XVI, 98 (Potth., 4798}.
84 THE INTERDICT
the authorities in regard to the matters under dispute.^ Not
infrequently it was stipulated that certain of the conditions of
peace be actually fulfilled before the interdict was relaxed.*'^
The pope commanded his agents to see that everything expedi-
ent was done before the sentence was removed,^ which was
nothing more than the good business principle of giving no
receipt before having value received. Not always, however,
was it easy to come to terms, or to have all the conditions
clearly stated, much less fulfilled ; under such circumstances a
part of the terms of peace were left to be determined after re-
laxation.^^ In England, the fact that some of the details of
the peace were not understood did not defer the removal of
the interdict.^** No definite form of absolution seems to have
developed ; each formula of relaxation was drawn to fit its spe-
cial case. Even less can be said of the ceremonies of relaxation.
At the removal of the interdict and excommunication from
Roger, Count of Pamiers, the count on his knees, before the
Bishop of Pamiers, prayed with joined hands for absolution,
which was accorded.'^ Relaxations of interdicts bring out
several matters of value : the joy displayed by the people on
such occasions indicates that the interdict was oppressive ; "
a special aid was levied for its removal in England ; " the re-
laxation of interdict was so much desired that letters of re-
^^ (a) J-L., 9169 (6373). Eugene III reproved the Bishop of Verona for
removing an interdict without first having secured the restoration of the
•canons' property, and ordered him to secure the restoration, (b) Inn.
Ill, Epp. , III, 16 (Potth., 1 1 50). Innocent reproved Octavian for dis-
regarding his instructions, " . in qua continetur, quod prae-
missis omnibus quae ante relaxandam sententiam interdicti mandavimus
praemittenda, post modum ipsam sententiam relaxares."
«^ Potth., 3881.
68 Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 108 (Potth., 4531).
«'y^eV., XV, 234 (Potth., 4393).
"^^ Hist. Gen. de Languedoc, IX, 190-192, n.
"^^ (a) Hist. Guerre des Albig., c. 17, in Rec, XIX, 131. *' Et adonc
s'6s levada dins ladita villa una tala joya et alegretat, que jamay tala non
fouc vista." (b) Matt. Par., Hist. Angl. ad an. I2l3,in Rec.^ XVII, 714.
"^^ Rot. Claus.^ 208, 213.
"Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 52 (Potth., 4732),
MOVER A TION AND RE LA XA TION §5
moval were forged. In Portugal a relaxation was stopped by
the king's opponents on the plea that the exhibited papal
letters of absolution were fraudulent.'* That the papal com-
missioners were induced by this assertion to postpone action
until they could investigate seems to give ground for crediting
the accusation. In the preceding year, also, the pope had
instituted an inquiry about certain forged letters granting
papal absolution to Stephen, Count of Burgundy, from an ex-
communication and interdict laid by the Archbishop of Be-
san^on.'* Before dismissing the subject, let it be noted that
the abuse of relaxations, exemplified by the clergy of Reims
in demanding a sum of money before removing the interdict,
was opposed by the papacy, and that Innocent IV in this in-
stance administered a strong rebuke.'^ On the whole, the im-
pression given by the silence of the sources is that the misuse
of relaxation was not common.
'♦Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, ii (Potth., 4408).
"^^ Arch, de Reims, II, i, 659. Cf. Raumer, Gesch. d. Hokenst.y VI, 162.
APPENDIX.
Interdicts from 1198TO1216.
The author realizes that any arrangement of eighty-five
miscellaneous cases of interdict is likely to be bad. A
strictly chronological list separates interdicts that are closely
related in cause if not in time ; a chronological arrangement
by countries has not even the virtues of a consecutive list ; a
topical arrangement is not feasible because of the number of
unconnected topics. The plan that seemed open to fewest
objections is to arrange all manifestations of the interdict from
the year 1198 to the year 12 16 in three groups: threats of
interdict, possible cases, and actual cases of interdict. Within
each group the order is a combination of chronological and
topical arrangement. Whenever the sources furnished suffi-
ciently interesting material, the case was narrated.
THREATS.
1 Hungary^ iigS}
2 Portugal and Castile^ iigS,^
3 Leon and Castile, iigS,^
4 Leon, 12 12,^
5 Cyprus, February, 1200}
6 Violators of crusaders'* vows, 1201, Ambulatory,^
7 Ltalian Cities, June, iigS.
At a convention of Italian bishops held at Verona, under
linn. Ill, Epp., I, 271 (Potth., 285).
Mnn. Ill, Epp., I, 249 (Potth., 263).
^ Ibid., 92 (PoUh., 81).
* Ibid., Epp., XV, 15 (Potth., 4417).
'^Theiner, Vet. Mon. Slav. Merid., I, 47, No. 5 (Potth., 956).
« Hoveden, Chron. {R. Ser,), IV, 165.
(86)
APPENDIX 87
the chairmanship of the legate Gregory, it was decreed that
heretics should not be allowed to hold offices or vote for city
officials, and that all podestas, consuls, and councils were to
take oath to enforce this rule. The convention instructed the
Archdeacon of Milan, who was sent to administer the oath to
the cities, to use excommunication and interdict against the
lands of any who refused to swear. Innocent confirmed these
instructions/
8 Brindisi, Gaiiipoli, Otranto^ Bari, 1203,
There is probably no better example of the use of threat of
interdict for political purposes, than the one which follows.
In the course of the struggle between the papacy and the
Hohenstauffen in southern Italy, Innocent found himself com-
pelled to call in French aid in the person of Walter of Brienne.
From the first Count Walter found adherents, but in the
vicissitudes of the struggle Brindisi, Gallipoli, and Otranto
rebelled against him and occupied one of his castles, thereby
causing some loss of life. About October, 1203, orders came
from the curia to the prelates and people of these cities com-
manding them under pain of interdict to return to their
allegiance within a month. These orders were apparently not
effective ; for in December of the same year the cities above
mentioned, with the addition of Bari, were threatened with
interdict unless they returned to their allegiance within a
month. There is no further trace of this interdict.®
9 Orvieto , July ^ i2og.
The citizens of Orvieto were guilty of numerous offences ;
the one which made their insolence no longer tolerable was
the seizure of some of the cattle of Aquapendente. Innocent
gave them fifteen days within which to return the stolen cattle ;
if they failed to do so, their officials were to be excommunicated
and the city put under interdict.^
'Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 298 (Potth., 286).
"Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 191, 192 (Potth., 2064, 2065).
^Ibid., XII, 80 (Potth., 3777).
;
88 THE INTERDICT
10 Bologna, June ^ 1211}^
11 Lands of Philip in Rouen, iigS.
About 1 198 the Archbishop of Rouen and the King of
France disagreed regarding the cession of Andelay to Richard
of England. The king appealed to Rome to prevent any
action prejudicial to him from being taken. In spite of this
the archbishop disturbed him and threatened to subject what-
ever lands he possessed in the diocese of Rouen to interdict.
The pope forbade the archbishop to molest the king there-
after, or to presume to lay an interdict on his lands ; and
certain abbots were instructed to see that any sentence laid by
the archbishop contrary to law was declared null, and to arbi-
trate the matter fairly, without respect of persons."
12 Lands of the Count of Nevers , iiQQ,
Baldwin, Count of Flanders, and the Count of Nevers had
made an agreement under oath in regard to certain marriages.
A part of the agreement was that, if either of the parties failed
or refused to carry out his part of the contract, he was to be
forced to do so by the King of France, by the Archbishops of
Reims and Sens, or by the Bishops of Auxerre and Nevers, by
means of excommunication of person and interdict of lands.
Peter, Count of Nevers, failed to perform his part of the
agreement. The pope instructed the above-mentioned pre-
lates to force Peter to keep his oath. The count was notified
of the order, and at the same time a bull requested the King
of France not to hinder the count from keeping his oath.
There is no evidence that a sentence was issued.^*
13 England and France, I ig8.
The ardent desire of Innocent to organize a crusade was
balked by the endless wars between England and France.
^^Ibid., XIV, 79 (Potth., 4264).
" (a) Wendover, Flor. Hist, ad an. 1197 {R. Ser., I, 267). (b) Inn.
Ill, Epp. I, 108 (Potth., 107). (c) Ibid., I, 131 (Potth., 141).
"(a) Rec, XIX, 375 (Potth., 674). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 44
(Potth., 675).
APPENDIX 89
For this reason, on August 13, 1198, he addressed letters to
the kings of these two countries, in which he ordered them to
make peace, or at least a truce for five years, within two
months after receiving his letters, and to keep inviolate the
agreement they should make. Peter of Capua was sent to
promote these matters. If, upon warning of the legate, they
failed humbly to receive and fulfill the papal mandate within
the time fixed, their entire lands were to be placed under in-
terdict, so severe that no divine office except baptism of in-
fants and penance of the dying could be celebrated. All
prelates of both realms were warned to observe the interdict,
should it be issued ; even the Templars and the Hospitalers
were to be affected. It was further ordained that, if any cleric
whatsoever dared to perform any ministration for the kings
after the interdict was laid, he risked the loss of his orders and
his benefice. The agreement demanded by the pope was
made. Coggeshall states that the kings did not make a peace,
but entered into a five-year truce about the time of Lent
(1199). This record is confirmed by another which reports
that a verbal truce to hold for five years was entered into in
1 1 99, but was hardly kept until Easter. Wendover relates
that the kings met and swore to keep truce for five years.
Philip, however, soon plotted with John against Richard,
thereby violating the spirit of the truce, and war was con-
tinued. But there is no evidence that the sentence threat-
ened for the violation of the truce was ever issued.^^
14 Eiiglandy iigS,
Richard was threatened with interdict if, upon seeing the
^3 (a) Wendover, Flor. Hist, ad an. 1198 {R. Ser.),\, ^%Q\. States
that the pope took this action at Philip's request, (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., I,
355 (Potth., 351), and e^zc/., II, 57 (Potth. , 682). (c) Rad. Coggesh., in
Rec.y XVIII, 84. (d) Sigeb. , Contin. Acquic, ad an. 1199, in MGSS.,
VI, 435. (e) See also Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 163. (f) The threat of inter-
dict I 1203) mentioned by Luchaire, Les Royautes Vassales du S.- Siege, p.
189, as a local interdict seems to me to have been a personal interdict : *' Si
quis autem contrarium praesunipserit excom. se noverit sent, innodatum et
totam familiam suam suppositam interdicto." Inn., Epp., VI, 164 (Potth.,
2010).
go THE INTERDICT
letters of the pope, he failed to remove the Archbishop,
Hubert Walter, from the justiciarship/^
15 York and England^ HQQ-
The disputes of Geoffrey, Archbishop of York, with his
brothers, Richard and John, were the cause of two threats of
interdict; one in 1199, the other in 1207. In 1196 Richard
had disseized Geoffrey of his ecclesiastical estates and temporal
functions. In spite of the prelate's efforts, and of the papal
warnings, the king did not restore the properties. With the
accession of the new pontiff. Innocent, Geoffrey's cause was
strengthened. On April 28, 1199, ^^ pope ordered Richard
to restore the properties of the archbishop on pain of interdict
upon the province of York, which would be followed by an
interdict on all England, if the sentence on York did not
bring him to submission. Before the bull reached its destina-
tion Richard died, and John soon after came to an agreement
with Geoff rey.^^
16 York^ i2oy.
When John, in 1207, proposed to levy a tax of a thirteenth
on all chattels of the realm, his obstreperous brother, Geoffrey,
headed the opposition. He forbade his clergy to pay the
tax, declared all collectors excommunicated, and secretly left
for the continent. His property was seized by the king.
The pope vigorously interfered in Geoffrey's behalf. In De-
cember, 1207, he wrote to the Bishops of Worcester, Ely, and
Hereford, instructing them to urge the king to repair the
harm done the archbishop; and, to give point to their en-
treaties, the pope permitted them to use interdict against the
province of York, if the king proved obstinate. These com-
missioners did nothing ; for early in the following year the
quarrel over the archbishopric of Canterbury came to a head
and an interdict was laid on the whole of England. But
"(a) Wendover, Flor. Hist., {/?. Ser.), I, 276 (Potth., 552). (b)
Diet. Natl. Biog., «* Hubert Walter."
•5(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 57, 59 (Potth., 682, 683). (b) Stubbs,
Preface to Hoveden {R. Ser.), IV, Ixix-lxxv.
APPENDIX Qi
Innocent did not merge the affairs of York with those of Eng-
land. In May, 1208, a bull was issued from Rome addressed
to the Bishops of London and Rochester and to the Dean of
Lincoln, informing them of the situation in York, of the in-
structions previously given, and commissioning them to per-
suade the king to yield within three months. Should John
refuse to do so, the bishops were to lay an interdict on the
province of York and were to enforce its observance until
satisfaction was forthcoming. Nothing came of this interdict
because all the bishops except the Bishop of Winchester were
obliged to leave England on account of the great interdict.
Geoffrey never returned to England ; he died in Normandy
in 1212.^®
17 Normandy^ 1 203,
King John retained some of the property of the bishopric of
S^ez and refused to acknowledge Silvester as the Bishop of
S^ez, because he had been consecrated by the Archbishop of
Sens, when the right of consecration belonged to the Arch-
bishop of Rouen. On May 25 the pope ordered the king to
receive the bishop and restore his properties within a month,
under pain of interdict on that part of Normandy subject to
the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Rouen ; this interdict
was to be observed until the king came to terms. John had
not submitted in December of 1203, for at that time he
remonstrated with the Archbishop of Sens for presuming to
consecrate Silvester, and stated that he had appealed to the
pope and put himself and his lands under papal protection,
and that the archbishop should therefore ordain nothing
against him or his realm. This shows that the sentence had
not been laid, and no doubt John accepted Innocent's de-
cision in the matter, for Silvester became Bishop of Sdez.^'
^« (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 87 (Potth., 3418), etc. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
X, 172 (Potth., 3248). (c) Wendover, Flor. Hist, ad an. 1207 {R.
Ser.), II, 35.
"(a) Rot. Fat., I, 16, August 12. (b) Raynald., /4««fl/., 1203, Ixi.
(c) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 73 (Potth., 1919J. (d) Rot. Pat., I, 22b, De-
cember 19.
92 THE INTERDICT
1 8 Dublin, 1 203-1 205,
In 1 197, the Archbishop of Dublin was exiled and his
property was confiscated by the crown. The pope urged and
pleaded in vain. In 1203, he proceeded to more rigorous
measures ; he commanded the king to recall the prelate and
restore his property ; and he instructed the Archbishop of
Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely that, if John failed to obey
within a month after receiving the papal order, they should
interdict whatever diocese the king chanced to enter, as long
as he tarried therein. The pontiff assured the king that, if
these measures did not soften the regal will, he should adopt
severer measures. The prelates disregarded their orders and
nothing came of the threat, except that the English prelates
were roundly rated for their disobedience. A year and a half
later John again received a communication from Rome, and
this time he was given two months for reflection ; if his medi-
tations meanwhile had not brought him to give satisfaction to
the Archbishop of Dublin, an ambulatory interdict was to
make John's itinerary frcm diocese to diocese its own; if this
proved inadequate, the whole province of Dublin was to be
interdicted. The pope added that he should remain firm in
the defense of the church. In 1205 the king and the arch-
bishop came to an agreement, and thus ended the necessity for
the interdict.^®
19 Parts of Germany y iigS,
During the pontificate of Celestin III various Sicilians had
been carried as captives across the Alps to German lands ;
among these were Queen Sybil and the Archbishop of Salerno.
They were detained by Philip of Suabia or his minions. Im-
mediately after his accession. Innocent took up the cause of
the captives. He ordered "Wicel de Berc",who held the
archbishop, to free him under pain of excommunication and
interdict. If he refused, he was to be deprived of all his
»Ma^ Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 171 fPotth., 2344). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
VI, 63'(Polth., 191 1), (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 64 (Potth., 1910). (d)
Cf. Did. Natl. Biog., "John Comyn".
APPENDIX C)3
church benefices and all his land ; and the whole diocese in
which the captive was, or to which he was transferred, was to
be interdicted. The Bishop of Sutri and the Abbot of St.
Anastasius were commissioned to carry out his orders, and
were empowered to secure the release of Sybil, her son and
her daughter, and other Sicilians by similar measures. The
German clergy were instructed to give full obedience to their
acts; and the princes were warned that, unless they secured
the release of the prisoners, the whole of Germany would be
interdicted. The outcome of the matter was an agreement
between Duke Philip and the papal agent, by which the
Archbishop of Salerno was surrendered. The other captives
escaped to France ; it is possible that their flight was made
easy, because of the pressure exerted by Rome.^^
ao Lands of supporters of the Bishop of Hildesheim^ 1200.
Conrad, the Bishop of Hildesheim, transferred himself with-
out papal authority to the see of Wiirzburg. In spite of sus-
pension and excommunication, he opposed the person prop-
erly elected. He was supported by the Counts Adolph,
Herman, and Henry of Harzburg, Frederick of Lille and the
ministerials of his church, namely Lupoid and **Escherte",
and by Ugo the Vicar. On this account the pope instructed
three German clerics to investigate the matter. If things were
found to be as reported to him and if the offenders would not
yield, these prelates were to excommunicate them and lay an
interdict on their lands and on every place to which they
should come. These orders were given February 2, and were
to remain in force until the offenders submitted. Conrad
yielded to the pope shortly after (April, 1200), and the sen-
tence against his supporters had no further purpose. ^°
"(a) Inn. Ill, Epp , I, 24, 26 (Potth., 29, 27). (b) Gesta, c. 22,
23, 26. (c) Robt. Altissiod., in Rec, XVIII, 264. (d) Minorita
Florent.,in Bohmer,-F(?«/<f^, IV,6i5. (e) Winkelmann, /yzzV. von Schwaben^
I, 80, n. 4.
'"(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 335, 574; II, 54, 201, 204, 278, 288.
(Potth., 944). (b) Winkelmann, Phil. v. SchwabeUy I, 513, Erlauter-
ungen, Vllj.
g4 THE INTERDICT
21 Lands of Hermann of Thuringia, 1200,
Hermann, Landgrave of Thuringia, had given an oath of
homage to Otto of Brunswick ; afterwards he refused to keep
it and allied himself with Philip of Suabia. Innocent, there-
fore, instructed the Archbishop of Mainz to urge the Land-
grave to keep his oath, and, if he refused, to force him, by
papal excommunication and by interdict of his lands, to return
to his allegiance, or at least to restore what Otto had paid him
for it. It may have been, as Otto believed, that this threat
caused the vacillating Hermann to grow cool in the cause of
Philip and ultimately to desert him entirely. However, the
fear of ecclesiastical discipline had not impressed Hermann
deeply enough to keep him from yielding to Philip's military
force."
22 Lands of Louis of Bavaria and others.
An interdict was authorized in 1201.'^''^
23 Lands of the Count of Namur^ 1204.,
At the orders of John, Bishop of Cambrai, a structure put
up by Philip of Namur was razed to the ground. Philip, aided
by the nobles of his locality, retaliated with an armed force,
and carried devastation into the bishop's possessions. He
oppressed the prelate so severely as to make his ruin immi-
nent. Bishop John put the count and his supporters under
excommunication , but to no purpose ; he therefore appealed
to Rome. April 10, Innocent republished the excommunica-
tion and ordered that the lands of the Count of Namur and
his adherents be interdicted, and that an ambulatory interdict
2* (a) Inn. Opp., Ill, 1023, No. 27 (Potth., 1197). (b) Reg. de negotio
imp., in Migne, Pat. Lat, 216, col. 1108, No. 106. Otto writes the
pope: ** . . . Langravium Thuringiae . . per potentiam non habuimus,
sed per magnam vestram soUicitudinem et frequentem." (c) Chron. Mont.
Sereni, A/GSS., XXIII, p. 170. *' , . . lantgravius . . . hortatu papae
ad Ottonem rediit secumque regem Bohemiae a Philippo deficere per-
suasit." (d) Winkelmann, /*/«/. V. Sc/noaden, I, 328, and note 2.
"Meiller, Meg. d. Salzb. Erzbisch., 170, No. 7 (PoUh., 1250).
APPENDIX g5
pursue the count, if within one month the offenders had not
yielded. '^3
24 Lands of Philip of Suadia^ J20j.
When Innocent deposed the Archbishop of Mainz, Philip of
Suabia supported the archbishop so vigorously that he was
threatened with interdict. The Patriarch of Aquileia and
Peter, Abbot of Neuburg, were instructed to interdict Philip's
lands and all places to which he should come, unless he with-
drew his favor from Lupoid, the Archbishop, within a month
after being warned.^*
25 Lands of Henij^ Count Palatine^ 1205?^
26 Lands of He7iry\, Duke of Brabant, I20§}'^
27 Lands of Leopold of Austria^ I20g,
Leopold, Duke of Austria, had seized some of the posses-
sions of the Bishop of Bamberg because of the bishop's sup-
posed connivance at the murder of Philip of Suabia. The
pope decided to investigate the accusation, but before taking
up the case he desired that the accused prelate's affairs and
possessions be in the condition in which they were prior to
Philip's murder. The Archbishop of Salzburg was delegated
to secure a restoration of the property sequestrated by the
Duke of Austria ; and, if such extreme measures should be
found necessary, he was ordered to use excommunication upon
his person and interdict upon his lands ; the right of appeal
was denied. In order to restore all the affairs of the accused
bishop to their former status, the pope ordered the Archbishop
of Mainz, the Bishop of Wiirzburg, and the Abbot of Fulda to
'Ma) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 48 (PoUh., 2172). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
VII, 45 (PoUh., 2176).
"^^Ibid., VIII, 84 (Potth., 2530). Cf. Winkelmann, Phil. v. Schwaberiy
I, 378f.
"(a) Inn. 0pp., Ill, 1124, No. 120 (Potth., 2489). (b) Poid.^'^o.
121 (Potth., 2490). (c) Winkelmann, Phil. v. Schivaben, I, 365.
2«(a) Inn. 0pp., Ill, 1124, No. 121 (Potth., 2490). (b) Winkel-
mann, Phil. V. Schwaben, I, 365.
gS THE INTERDICT
attend to this restitution and interdict the lands of any who
opposed it."
CASES IN WHICH IT IS PROBABLE THAT AN INTERDICT WAS LAID.
28 Invaders of the Monastery of St. Victor (^Marseilles') , iigS?^
29 Antioch, i2oy-i2o8.''^
30 '* Spigant'\ i2og.^^
31 Diocese of Osimo^ about 1211}^
32 Rouen ^ about June ^ iigS,
In June, 1198, the pope addressed a letter to the Arch-
bishop of Rouen, from which it appears that the archbishop
had issued a sentence of excommunication and interdict
against certain clerks and laymen of his diocese, and that
these were contumaciously refusing obedience. It was there-
fore ordered that the sentence should continue in force until
satisfaction was made, and that any one who violated these
orders should be smitten by canonical penalties. On the
same day, in another letter, in compliance with the request of
the prelate, the pope ordered that all persons subject to the
diocesan law of the archbishop should strictly observe any
sentence he might issue, unless they could show special privi-
lege or other legitimate cause for not doing so.^^ The first of
these letters leaves some doubt as to the kind of interdict
meant ; if excommunication applied to all * * clerks and lay-
men ", then the interdict was necessarily local, as a personal
interdict would under such circumstances be meaningless.
The situation would then be that all clerks and laymen were
" (a) Meiller, Reg. d. Salzb. Erzbisch., 170, No. 7 (Potth., 1250). This
reference is to a previous episode at Salzburg (1201) in which there is a
suggestion that an interdict was threatened, (b) Inn. Ill, Epp. , XII, 118,
119, 120 (Potth., 3841, 3842, 3843). (c) Chron. Mont. Sereni, MGSS.^
XXIII, p. 175.
28 Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 268 (Potth., 282).
29(a) Ibid., XI, 9 (Potth., 3314). (b) Cf. Potth., 1689.
30 Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 144 (Potth., 3844).
^^ Ibia., XIV, 20 (Potth., 4203).
32 (a) Ibid,, I, 266 (Potth., 277). (b) Ibid,, 265 (Potth., 276).
APPENDIX
97
under excommunication and local interdict. Besides, the
interdict, if personal, could not have affected all the clerks
and laymen, for in that case the excommunication would have
been entirely superfluous ; and the only way to reconcile the
matter would be to regard some of the disciplined as excom-
municated, and others as personally interdicted.
As far as the papal letters from which these facts are drawn
are concerned, either view is justifiable. There are, however,
several other papal letters which add some light and some
complication. On June 3, the pope wrote a letter "Uni-
verse populo Rothomagensi ' ' , notifying them of the excom-
munication of the people of Rouen. On the following day
two letters were issued ; one to the Archbishop of Canterbury
and his suffragan bishops, and another to the Archbishop of
Rouen and his suffragan bishops, instructing them to pub-
lish in their dioceses the sentence of excommunication issued
against the burgesses of Rouen. ^^ According to their term-
inology these letters have to do with a case of excommunica-
tion. If so, it is not an ordinary excommunication ; if one at
all, it affects the citizens of a whole city, which makes it pos-
sible to see in it an interdict. And this is supported by the
letter of June 11, which, as has been said, mentions an inter-
dict already laid against certain clerks and laymen of the
diocese.
The objections to identifying the ^' excommunication
against the burgesses of Rouen " with the * excommunication
and interdict of certain clerks and laymen of the diocese ' ' are
obvious : first, the ** burgesses of Rouen " and ** clerks and lay-
men of the diocese " cannot mean the same persons. That
the burgesses are laymen of the diocese is undeniable , but what
becomes of the clerks? The answer to this lies in the pur-
pose of the earlier letters ; one of these is directed to the peo-
ple of Rouen and notified them of the sentence and could
have no object in mentioning the clerks, the other two were
''Arch, du depart, de la Seine-Inferieure, Invent, somm.y VI, 3596,
gg THE INTERDICT
directed to prelates and instructed them to publish the sen-
tence against the citizens of Rouen, and there was no need of
mentioning clerks in those letters, since the sentence against
them needed no publication. Second, if the laymen were
under interdict, and the clerks under excommunication, by
what argument can any one justify a deliberate interpretation
of the excommunication of the burgesses to mean a local in-
terdict? In answer to this it may be said that the word ex-
communication is frequently used, even in the thirteenth cen-
tury, when it undoubtedly refers to local interdict.'* The
conclusion drawn from the letters above cited is that the city
of Rouen was under a local interdict in 1 198, and at the same
time, for causes connected with those of the interdict, some
of the clergy were excommunicated.
33 Never Sy 1211-1212,
Herv^, Count of Nevers, disagreed for a long time with the
monastery of Vezelai. About 121 1 he carried his aggression
so far as to blockade the monastery for a while, allowing noth-
ing to pass in or out without his permission ; he also forced
clerks to appear in civil courts and otherwise did much harm
to the church. Herv^ had married within the prohibited de-
grees, a circumstance which gave the church a special point
of attack. The pope wrote to the Bishop of Paris, the chan-
cellor of Paris, and the Abbot of St. Victor that they should
use excommunication and, if necessary, interdict to bring the
count to terms, if Philip Augustus had not induced the count
to yield within two months. Their commission was good for
three years. In another letter, apparently not extant, he
gave these same commissioners orders to investigate the report
about the consanguinity of the count and the countess. These
instructions greatly disturbed the count's agent at Rome, who
begged the pope to cancel the orders, giving all assurance he
could that the count would cease molesting the monastery.
**(a) Potth., 1526, 1527. See below, case 66 (Cremona, 1201). (b)
See below, n. 57a.
APPENDIX gg
The pontiff thereupon ordered the commissioners to take no
action unless they had already done so ; these second orders
followed the first after an interval of six months. If the com-
missioners obeyed their first instructions to act within two
months, they had taken some action when the new bull
arrived. The first orders, however, read that interdict was to
be used if necessary ^zxA it is very likely that the sentence was
never issued. By the next year the disputants came to some
agreement and Herve was absolved from excommunication on
December 20, 12 13, and obtained a papal dispensation
sanctioning his marriage.*''
CASES OF ACTUAL INTERDICT.
34 Navarre y iigy}^
35 Cesendy December ^ iigS.^'^
36 Tortona, iigS.^
37 Castello, May^ iigg}^
38 King JohyVs possessions^ 1200.^
39 Lands of the Sons of Galbinay about 1203}^
40 Lands of Gallus^ about 1207.^'^
41 MetZy i2og.^
»(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 126 (Potth., 4332). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
XV, 83 (PoUh., 4514). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 22 (Potth., 4704).
(d) The fact that absolution from excommunication only is granted argues
that the interdict was never laid, (e) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 154 (Potth.,
4862).
36(a) //^i^., I, 92 (Potth., 81). (b)/^?V/., 287 (Potth., 328). On June
6, 1198, Innocent gave the Bishop of Pampluna the privilege of holding
silent services in his own chapel in time of interdict. The bull gives no in-
dication whether there is an interdict in force in Navarre or whether this
privilege is given in anticipation of one.
"/^iV/., 461 (Potth., 473).
^^ Ibid., lyi (Potth., 150).
^^ Ibid., II, 285 (Potth., 718).
♦^'Theiner, Vet, Mon, Slav, Merid., I, 48, Nos. 43, 44 (Potth., 997,
998).
" Mittarelli, Annal. Camald.y IV, App., col. 255 (Potth., 1904).
"Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 143 (Potth., 3205).
••* Cited from Raumer, Gesch. Ilohenst., VI, 168, n, 7.
lOO T^fJE INTERDICT
42 Lands of Ours. Removed 1211.^^
43 Lands of Count Stephen of Burgundy ^ 1212.^
44 Parts of Achaia^ etc., between May, 12 12, and August^
1213.^
45 Treviso, October, 1200.
In a battle between the people of Treviso and the forces led
by the Bishop of Belluno, Gerardus Taciolus, the prelate, had
lost his life (1197) ; for this reason Celestin III put Treviso
under interdict. This endured until October of 1200, at
which time the citizens of Treviso sent messengers to Innocent
offering to make satisfaction if the pope would raise the inter-
dict. In the course of the negotiations the question arose
whether Celestin had laid the interdict for the death of the
bishop or for other excesses of the city also. The bull laying
the interdict could not be found in the register, and for this
reason Innocent sent agents into the vicinity of Treviso to
search for a copy of the bull. He forbade with threat of
anathema the concealment of such bulls. Should a copy be
found, and should it appear that the interdict was laid only for
the death of the bishop , or should no copy be found, in which
case Treviso was to have the benefit of the doubt, the inter-
dict was to be relaxed, provided the citizens took oath to abide
by the papal award. But if the bull was found, and it ap-
peared that the interdict was laid for other causes than the
death of the bishop, the interdict was in no case to be re-
laxed until they had made satisfaction for those excesses.
Nothing more is known of this case ; it is probable that the
interdict was relaxed soon after these instructions were given,
for relaxation was certain if no letters were found ; and, if the
letters were found and gave evidence that the people of
Treviso had been sentenced for several offences, they no doubt
*Mnn. Opp., Ill, 485 (Potth., 4331).
*Mnn. Ill, Epp., XV, 11 (Potth., 4408).
*« (a) Ibid., XVI, 98 (I>**frj:47^.M(^l37m^ XV, 75 (Potth.,
4483).
APPENDIX lOl
gave the extra satisfaction, rather than endure longer the
interdict which had already compelled them to yield/'
46 Parma and Piacenza, iigS.
This interdict was laid at the command of Innocent III and
was afterwards confirmed by him. Peter, Cardinal-deacon of
S. Maria in Via Lata, while performing the functions of legate
in Lombardy had been robbed of some of his possessions, and
the robber took refuge in Parma and Piacenza. This was the
cause of the interdict. It was only partially observed, and
the pope found it necessary to command the clergy to see that
it was heeded. The cities were also threatened with punish-
ment, if they failed to procure a restoration of the stolen
property : the church of Borgo San Donnino, near Parma, was
to be transferred to the jurisdiction of Rome ; Piacenza was
to be subjected to the Archbishop of Ravenna ; if this did not
prove adequate, both cities were to be deprived of episcopal
dignity. These threats did not avail, and on April 21, 11 98,
Innocent wrote to the bishops and clergy of both cities that
his threat would take effect if they remained obdurate after
fifteen days. He also gave them to understand that he had
written to the Empress Constance, to the Kings of France and
England, to the Count and Barons of Champagne, to the
Duke of Burgundy, and to the Count of Maurienne, instruct-
ing them to seize the goods of all Parman and Piacenzan
merchants within their domains ; that this property was to be
held until the cities had made satisfaction to both the plun-
dered cardinal and the pope, and until the pope gave instruc-
tions about the disposal of the properties. In addition, the
consuls of Piacenza and the Podesta of Parma were threatened
with excommunication, and all cities and lands to which they
should come were to suspend services as long as they were
present.*®
The cities persisted in their disobedience and the punish-
♦^ Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 39 (Potth., 1160). Cf. ibid., II, 27.
**Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 121, 122 (Potth., 91, 89).
102 THE INTERDICT
ments went into effect.** The Archbishop of Ravenna was
notified of the increase of his jurisdiction ,^° and a bull dated
August 26, 1 1 98, shows that the threat against Parma had at
some previous time been executed by the Archbishop of Milan
and the Bishop of Como." By October of the same year,
however, Parma came to an agreement with the cardinal. The
citizens agreed to pay half of the sum which had been taken,
and made a first payment of one hundred marks ; the re-
mainder was to be paid by the octave of the next Easter.
The cardinal surrendered his claim to the other half of the
sum, relaxed the sentences of excommunication and interdict,
and restored the church to the city. The pope confirmed the
cardinal's acts and surrendered whatever claims the papacy
had in the stolen sums.^^ In November of the same year San
Donnino ^ was notified of its restoration to Parma. No further
mention of the interdict of Piacenza is made ; it is possible
that it ended at the same time as that of Parma, for it is not
specified in the letters that Parma is paying merely her share
of the plunder.
47 Piacenza^ sentence removed 1213!^
48 Pisa, iigS.
In 1 198 the pope sent two cardinals to Pisa to induce her
to join the Tuscan League. The Pisans were unwilling to do
** Whether at the time threatened or not is uncertain, as the letter to the
Archbishop of Ravenna is undated.
5«Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 123 (Potth., 90).
" Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 340 (Potth., 355).
52 Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 393 (Potth., 399).
58 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 403 (Potth., 413). (b) Aguirre, Cone. Hisp.,
V, 1 18. The bull given by Aguirre, though beginning with the same
words as that in Migne (Inn. 0pp., I, 378), is different. The bull in
Migne is probably a combination of two letters. The interdict mentioned
at the close of the bull, is, as far as the evidence of the fragmentary letter
goes, a personal interdict.
5*Annal. Placentini Guelfi, ad ao. 1215, in MGSS, XVIII, p. 431.
When this sentence was laid is not stated by the annalist, but it is very
improbable that this is the interdict laid in 1198. Cf. Luchaire, /^ Con-
cile dt Lairatty p. 16.
APPENDIX 103
this, and to their great annoyance their city was interdicted.
Later Innocent made certain demands of the league and in-
structed the cardinals that, if the rectors of the league agreed
to his conditions, Pisa was also to be induced to agree, and
the interdict was under no circumstances to be relaxed unless
she did. Should the rectors of the league, however, not be
ready to meet his wishes, then, since it seemed rather severe
that Pisa should for so long a time lie under interdict on ac-
count of the delay of the league, he ordered that the interdict
be removed without delay, if the citizens would pledge them-
selves to abide by the papal award. Should this pledge be
unobtainable becausa Pisa was just then without a rector, the
legates were to give the city license to celebrate services and
were to rely on the promises of the city's nuncios. It was to
be understood by the citizens that, if at a later time the rectors
of the league accepted the papal order, Pisa, unless she did
likewise, should again fall under interdict.^^
49 Narniy iigS.
At the beginning of Innocent's pontificate, the inhabitants
of Nami were seriously molesting Otricoli. In spite of the
warning to discontinue under threat of interdict and penalty
of a thousand marks, they seized and destroyed the fortress.
In the struggle they were aided by the citizens of Viterbo,
who were also interdicted. The pope thereupon sent an army,
which reduced the inhabitants of Nami to submission. He
exacted the bond of a thousand marks and obliged them to
add two hundred pounds, to be used for the restoration of the
ruined walls, before he relaxed the interdict.^
50 Viterbo^ about II gg- J 200.
Innocent, having been opposed by Viterbo in the affair of
Nami, favored the Romans in their dispute with Viterbo over
" (a) Cronica di Pisa, in Muratori, Rer. Jt. Scr,^ XV, 977. (b) Inn.
Ill, Epp., I, 35 (Potth., 39). Cf. ibid., 15, 34.
*• (a) This threat may have been made by Celestin III. (b) Gesta, c.
133. (c) Ibid., c. 16.
104 ^-^^ INTERDICT
Vitorchiano. He commanded the people of Viterbo not to
molest Vitorchiano, or to justify their course before the curia.
They completely ignored this command and were interdicted.
In the struggle which followed, the pope gained a point by
winning over the Tuscan League , and finally Viterbo was sub-
jected by force of arms.^^
51 Narni, 1208.
Whether this interdict of Narni is connected with that of
1 198 is not evident from the limited statements of the sources.
The papal bull of September, 1208, begins by stating that
since the people of Narni were so reprobate, and since the
pope no longer chose to tolerate their insolence , he had placed
the city under the strictest interdict. No sacrament what-
ever was to be allowed except penance for the dying and bap-
tism for infants. Burial was denied, and if any one gave
burial in consecrated ground, he was to be excommunicated.
It was prohibited to trade with Narni under pain of excom-
munication. The clergy was ordered to leave the city, and
go to convenient neighboring places ; and , if the city refused
to yield, it was to be deprived of its bishop.^®
52 Leon and Portugal y Jig8-i204.
When Innocent was elected pope there was an interdict on
Leon and Portugal, which had been laid by Gregory, Cardinal-
deacon of the title of St. Angelus, because of the consanguin-
eous marriage of Alfonso, King of Leon, to Tarasia, Princess
of Portugal. This union was dissolved in 1196, but the inter-
dict was not removed, and still existed when Innocent came
into power. ^* In April, 1198, he ordered his emissary,
^^ (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 207. The sentence is called an excommunica-
tion, (b) Gesta, c. 133. (c) Cf. Inn. 0pp., I, clxxix, n. 40.
^ (a) Inn. Ill, Epp,, XI, 143 (PoUh., 3501).
5» (a) La Cl^de, Hist, de Port., II, I56f. (b) Portugal was also under
interdict (Mariana, De Rebus Hisp., lib. IX, c. 19, in Schott, Hisp.
Illustr., II, 544). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 92 (Potth , 81). (d) That
Gregory was in Spain at the time of Celestin appears from the fact that the
Bishop of Zamora, who was excommunicated by Gregory' (Epp., I, 92),
came to Rome in the time of Celestin to seek absolution {ibid., 58). A
APPENDIX
105
Rayner, to relax the interdict/*^ if Alfonso would give oath to
obey the commands of the church relative to the dissolved
marriage.'^ Whether the interdict was relaxed under these
conditions remains a mystery ; its subsequent history is ob-
scured by the new interdict threatened in the same bull which
provided for the relaxation of the old.^ The King of Castile,
who had used arms to compel the dissolution of the marriage,
had given his daughter, Berengaria,as wife to Alfonso in 1197.
This was done for the sake of peace and with the consent of
Pope Celestin, though Berengaria, like Tarasia, was related to
Alfonso within the prohibited degrees. When report of this
reached the new pontiff, Innocent, he took immediate action
and dispatched Rayner to Spain to dissolve the marriage. ^'^
Rayner's instructions were to warn the monarchs of Leon and
Castile earnestly, and, if they refused to dissolve the incestuous
marriage, to employ excommunication and interdict against
them. Rayner, after repeatedly warning Alfonso, finally set a
time and a place at which the king might show cause why the
interdict should not be laid. The monarch did not appear,
even though the legate waited beyond the time set. The in-
terdict was then issued upon Leon ; Castile was not interdicted
because its ruler professed himself ready to dissolve the illicit
union.
Efforts were at once made to secure a dispensation from
Innocent. Three Spanish prelates applied in Rome for
special consideration, but were given such a rebuff that they
Portuguese writer states that the cardinal sent to Spain was the Cardinal of
St. Angelus (AASS., June, IV, 389), and, as the marriage of Alfonso and
Tarasia occurred in 1 194 (Hoveden \^R. SerJ], III, 90), this cardinal
could have been Gregory only; for he was promoted in 1190 (Eubel,
Hier. Caih.). But, whether the sentence laid by Gregory was because of
the offensive marriage or not, it is clear that the sentence, stated by Epp.,
I, 92, to have been laid by him, was laid in the time of Celestin III.
The correctness of this is supported by the fact that Gregory was in Rome
and attested letters beginning with March 13, 1198 (Potth., 46, 54, 107,
etc.). Cf. also Epp., I, 125. (e) Hoveden [R. Ser.)^ Ill, 90.
<»Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 125 (Potth., 131).
^^ Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 92, 93 (Potth., 81, 92).
«=»Gesta, c. 58.
lo6 THE INTERDICT
quickly saw the hopelessness of their plea." Neither did the
twenty thousand marks sent by Alfonso to the pope and the
cardinals, nor his offer to support two hundred crusading
knights, secure for him the privilege of living with Berengaria
until God gave them an heir, or of living with her for three
years at least. Innocent yielded to none of his inducements.*'
When the Spanish emissaries saw that they could not obtain
a dispensation , they prayed that at least the interdict might be
relaxed, because it brought harm to the church from three
sources — from heretics, Saracens, and the Christians them-
selves.** Innocent was not inclined to grant their petition,
but for the sake of the great number involved he finally de-
termined upon tentative mitigation. Services were to be
allowed in the realm, but no layman was to enjoy Chrisiatn
burial, though clerks might be buried without solemnity in the
cemeteries. In order not to lessen the severity of the sentence
for the royal offenders, it was determined that they and their
principal councillors and adherents should be bound by ex-
communication, and that services should cease in any city or
town when they were present. The rulers of Castile were
ordered under pain of excommunication and interdict to aid
in securing the dissolution of the incestuous union. These
efforts failed to have the desired effect ; it was not until 1 204
that Berengaria separated from her husband. Even then not
the interdict, but apparently her own desire, induced her to
leave him; for in May, 1204, she was absolved, though
Alfonso remained under interdict. The absolution of Alfonso
and those excommunicated with him followed on June 20 ; and
at the same time the pope agreed that the interdict was to be
removed upon the receipt of sufficient security.*^
^Hoveden (A\ Ser.), IV, 78-79.
•* Gesta, c. 58. See above, p. 74.
«(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 67, 94 (Potth., 2219, 2249). (b) When
the marriage of Alfonso to Berengaria took place, Alfonso transferred a
chateau to Castile, probably as a dower. Upon the dissolution of the
marriage Innocent ordered the chateau to be restored to Leon, under pain
of excommunication and interdict. There is no evidence that the threat
was executed.
APPENDIX 107
53 Porto, I20g.
Laid by the Bishop of Porto on his city and diocese.**'
54 Tortosa, iigQ-1207.
In April, 1199,3 papal letter was addressed to the Hos-
pitalers of Amposta"', in which it was stated that the Hos-
pitalers had been violating their privileges by burying and by
admitting to the sacraments persons interdicted by the Bishop
of Tortosa ; they were commanded to discontinue such prac-
tices. The cause for this interdict on Tortosa was the refusal
of the citizens to pay tithes and first-fruits. No further men-
tion of an interdict on the city is found until 1207, when,
about November, it is reported that an ** excommunication "
laid upon the city for the non-payment of tithes and first-
fruits was removed. During the time that this excommunica-
tion was in force about a hundred bodies had been buried in
the cemetery of the church. A condition of the relaxation
was that these bodies be exhumed. This was done to expiate
the former contempt of the citizens.***^ Two circumstances
make it reasonable to consider the excommunication men-
tioned in 1207 the same as the interdict mentioned in 1199 :
first, in each case the sentence is said to have been laid for the
same cause, namely, the retention of tithes and first-fruits;
second, a hundred people were buried during the time the
sentence was in effect. This number of dead indicates an in-
terval of some years, in view of the comparatively small popu-
lation of mediaeval towns of the importance of Tortosa. Nor
does a hundred account for all that died in this interval, for it
is not at all likely that even a majority of the dead were buried
in the cemetery; the letter of 11 99 shows that some had
secured burial with the Hospitalers, and no doubt others re-
spected the commands of the church enough not to infringe
•*Raynald., Anna/., 1210, § 4. C/. Pottb., 4CX)i, 4002, and Luchaire,
L^s Royautis Vassales du Saint-Siege^ 13.
*^ VUlanueva, Viage literario d las iglesias de Espafla, V, 275 (Potth.,
Addend., 664a, 25466; cf. Potth., 664b).
•»Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 158 (Potth., 3234^.
Io8 THE INTERDICT
her rules. In view of these circumstances, it seems reason-
able to assert that both letters refer to the same interdict.
55 Flanders^ iigS-iigg,
In the decade preceding the accession of Innocent, Flan-
ders had two interdicts. About 1194 the Count of Flanders
and others damaged church property and an interdict was laid
upon his lands.^^ This interdict was removed by 1196 or
1 1 97, for at that time a second interdict was threatened at
the instance of the Cardinal Legate Melior.''** Stephen of
Tournay strongly objected to the proposed interdict, on the
ground of the harm which would result from it.''^ Neverthe-
less the sentence was laid. The time of its removal was prob-
ably the latter part of 1197 or the first part of 1198. A third
interdict was laid on Flanders in the early years of the new
pontificate, the causes for which ran back into the time when
the second interdict was in force. In June, 1196, a compact
was made between Philip Augustus and Baldwin, Count of
Flanders and Hainault, by which Baldwin swore fealty to
the King of France.'^ Article 5 of the pact reads : ** Further-
more we will ask and in good faith require the Archbishop of
Reims and the Bishops of Arras, Cambray, Tournay, and
Terouanne that so often as we shall fail to keep the aforesaid
terms they shall excommunicate us and place our whole land
under interdict, regardless of any appeal, until emendation be
made to the King of France." ^^ Later Baldwin found that he
could not secure observance of the pact from his subjects, and
he requested and secured a release sanctioned by Philip. The
latter, however, concealed the fact that he had released the
count, secured a papal confirmation of the compact from
**Steph. Tornac. , Epp., 232, in Migne, Pat. Lat., 211, col. 502. Cf.
Rec.^ XIX, 462a.
'^Steph. Tornac, Epp., 231, in Migne, Pat. Lat.y col. 501.
"^^ Ibid.y 233, 234, in ibid.^ col. 502-504.
" Delisle, Cat. des Actes de Ph. Aug., No. 497. Cf. Diet. Natl. Biog.^
XLVIII, 142.
"(a) Rec, XIX, 352-353. Cf. Potth., 673. (b) Delisle, Actes, No.
498.
APPENDIX log
Celestin III,'* and on this pontiff's death a reconfirmation
from his successor." The new pontiff instructed the Arch-
bishop of Reims and his suffragans to enforce the compact by
excommunication and interdict if necessary. Thereafter
trouble arose ,'^ and, when the Archbishop of Reims was about
to excommunicate the count and interdict his lands, Baldwin
appealed to Rome, asserting that the papal letters confirming
the convention were obtained under false pretences. This
apparently did not hinder the laying of the interdict, for the
papal letter of April 26, 11 99, which relates these matters,
ordered that the count be absolved from excommunication and
his lands from interdict within twenty days after the receipt
of the letter, if the complaint of the count was true. The pope
added that, if those instructed failed to do as bidden, he had
commissioned others to fulfill his orders." On the same date
the chancellery issued a letter to Philip, in which the pope
explained his action and requested the king not to be disturbed
over this just decision.'^ Two days later the pope took Bald-
win and his wife under papal protection, forbidding any one
to use excommunication or interdict against them without
good and sufficient cause. '^'^ In consequence of the order of
Innocent, the interdict was probably removed. In January,
1200, Baldwin made peace with Philip.'*^
56 Normandy , iigg.
Normandy was interdicted by the legate, Peter of Capua,
on account of the detention of Philip of Beauvais, who was
taken prisoner by the English and was detained for some
time.^' Immediately after Innocent's accession he " sent his
'*Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 40 (Potth., 673).
"^(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., I. 130 (Potth., 153). (b) See above, n. 74.
"^^ Del isle, Actes, No. 519.
" (a) Potth., 673. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., II, 41.
''^Rec, XIX, 375 (Potth., 672).
"Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 45 (Potth., 680),
^''Delisle, Actes^ 579.
^^ (a) Hoveden, Chron. {R. Ser.), IV, 94. (b) Rigord, De Gest. Phi!.
August., in Rec, XVII, 50. (c) Diet. Nail. Biog.^ XLVIII, 142-143.
I lo TIfE INTERDICT
legate to King John desiring him to release the Bishop of Bel-
voire (taken prisoner by King Richard the first in the field,
and kept prisoner by him all his life , notwithstanding this and
other popes' importunate letters for his enlargement) under
pain of interdict, who had then by the space of two years been
detained under most cruel imprisonment (some months in his
very armes, in which he was taken fighting, not suffered to be
put off day or night). But, because the said bishop was taken
in armes as a soldier and plunderer, against the dignity of his
order, the king (notwithstanding the pope's entreaties and
menaces) would not enlarge him until he had paid 6,000
marks sterling money to his exchequer, and two thousand
marks for his expenses, during his imprisonment under King
Richard and himself ; which he accordingly paid." ^'^ Another
account gives three thousand marks as the amount paid by the
bishop for his freedom. The interdict was not relaxed until
the bishop was freed.®^
57 France^ 1200.
The story of the interdict of France begins with the search
of Philip Augustus for a queen. His choice was cast on a
princess of Denmark, reports of whose good qualities had
penetrated far beyond the confines of her native land. Agents
passed to and fro between the Capetian and Danish courts to
arrange a marriage. Their labors were successful, and the
Princess Ingeborg with her suite made the journey to France.
Meantime her suitor was all impatience, and, as soon as he
heard that the negotiations for the marriage had been success-
ful, he hastened toward his boundaries to meet his bride. The
meeting took place at Amiens, and Philip was apparently so
charmed that he could brook no delay of the marriage. In
the presence of nobles and prelates, and amidst regal splendor,
the ceremony took place on August 14 or 15, 11 93. On the
following day, in the midst of mass, the king was observed to
shudder and grow pale as he looked at the queen. From that
^'Prynne's Records, II, 227. ""See above, n. 8ia.
APPENDIX 1 1 1
moment he hated her for reasons which have never become
knovNTi. Idle tongues, indeed, spread tales touching the
queen's good name, rumor told of witchcraft, and all wondered
at the cause of the sudden and violent repulsion with which
the king regarded Ingeborg. His estrangement was now as
complete as his enchantment had formerly been thorough.
Nor did this unexpected passion subside with the passing of
time ; instead it began to be rumored that the cause of the
estrangement was the king's discovery of consanguinity with
the queen, and it was upon this plea that the Archbishop of
Reims, on behalf of the prelates of France, finally pronounced
Philip divorced from the object of his disappointment (No-
vember 4 or 5, 1 193). Ingeborg was present; but, as she
could not understand the language in which the hearing was
conducted, she remained ignorant of what was being done
until after the action was taken. Then she was told of her
divorce. In despair she employed the only course open to
her and appealed to Rome.
At that time the inert Celestin ruled. He remonstrated
against this flagrant violation of marriage vows, rebuked the
prelates who had granted the divorce, and canceled their
sentence, but never proceeded to more active measures.
Luckily for Ingeborg and unfortunately for Philip, this senile
pontiff soon went the way of all flesh, and was succeeded by
the vigorous Innocent. The new pontiff was early confronted
by the ambassadors of King Cnut of Denmark, who com-
plained both of the injustice done his sister and of Philip's
second marriage ; for that monarch, as if to offend Ingeborg
doubly, had taken as wife Agnes of Meran (in June, 1196).
Innocent was always ready to defend the canons of the church,
and, upon these complaints of Cnut and others, he instructed
the legate, Peter of Capua, to use all means to induce the
King of France to dismiss Agnes, and to receive his lawful
wife, and, if Philip failed to do so, to sentence France
with interdict.^ Philip soon received warning of the inten-
** Hoveden, Chron., Pars post., ad an. 1199 {R. Ser.), IV, 85-86,
TT2 THE INTERDICT
tions of the pontiff from no less a person than the pontiff him-
self, who assured the king that, cost what it might, he would if
necessary raise his hand in defense of Ingeborg.*^ The king
refused to be moved, in spite of repeated monitions and the
efforts of the legate, who accomplished nothing in ten
months.^ This lukewarmness ended when orders were received
from Rome that, unless the king had within a month after
warning received his rightful queen into favor, and treated her
with proper honor, the whole realm should be interdicted.
The pope specified what services should be allowed, and what
prohibited, and commanded that all the prelates of France
should observe the sentence, and cause it to be observed in
their jurisdictions.®^
The legate now became active and called a general council ^
of all the prelates of the realm to meet at Dijon ,^ in Burgundy,
on December 6, 1199.^° Thither he repaired on his return
journey to Italy .^^ The Archbishops of Lyons, Reims, Besan-
9on, and Vienne, eighteen bishops, the Abbots of Cluny,
Vezelai, S. Remi, S. Denis ,^" and a great many other persons'**^
assembled there for the council, which lasted seven days, so
important was the matter to be discussed. What happened
can only be inferred. Undoubtedly the clergy who later re-
fused to observe the interdict opposed the sentence ; but
85 Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 171.
**^Chron. Sythiense S. Bertini ad an. 1199, in Rec^ XVIII, 599.
^Hnn, III, Epp., I, 347 (Potth., 361).
88 (a) Rigord, De Gest. Ph. Aug. ad an. 1199, in Rec.^ XVII, 51. (b)
Chron. de S. Denis, ad an. 1199, in Rec.^ XVII, 387.
8^ (a) Ibid, (b) Chron. S. Benigni Divionensis ad an. 1200, in Labbe,
Nova Bibl., I, 295. (c) Guill. Armor., De Gest. Ph. Aug. ad an. 1199,
in Rec.y XVII, 75. (d) Mart^ne, Thesaurus^ IV, 147. (e) Gesta, c. 51.
(f) See above, n. 86.
^^ (a) See above, nn. 88, 89b, c. (b) Hoveden, Chron., Pars post., ad
an. I2(X) {R. Ser.)f IV, 112-113.
*^ (a) See above, n. 86. (b) Sigeb., Contin. Acquic, ad an. I2CX), in
MGSS., Wl, 436. (c) Robt. Altiss., Chronolog. ad an. 1 199-1200, in
Rgc, XVIII, 263.
^^ See above, n. 89b.
**" Gesta, c. 51. ** . . . et aliorum multorum ..."
APPENDIX 113
whether they were in a minority or whether they dared not
oppose the legate's execution of his orders from the pope is a
matter for speculation. Whatever the position of the prelates,
the council determined to lay an interdict on France; not,
however, before Philip's nuncios, perceiving that such action
was about to be taken, appealed to the pope against the coun-
cil.'* The legate, relying on his instructions, ignored the ap-
peal ; '* it was determined that the sentence should not go into
effect until twenty days after the coming Christmas,^'' possibly
in the hope that in the mean time the king would perceive the
precariousness of his position and yield. The council also pro-
mulgated a form of interdict which announced what services
and ecclesiastical ministrations were prohibited. From Dijon,
the legate continued his journey to Vienne, which lay without
the bounds of Philip's realm. There he held a special coun-
ciP^ attended by several archbishops, some of them from
France ; ^® in this council he promulgated the interdict ordered
by the pope,^^ and enjoined its observance on the prelates,
after which he went his way.'"" Meantime Philip sent agents
to Rome to secure relief.'"' The twenty -day period after
®* (a) Gesta, c. 51. (b) See above, n. 88a. (c) See above, n. 88b.
*^ Gesta, c. 51. *' . . . quatenus alibi mandatum apostolicum com-
modius adimpleret . . . ".
^ See above, nn. 88, 89c.
'' (a) Chron. S. Benigni Divionensis, ad an. 1200, in Labbe, Nova
Bibl.y I, 295. *' . . apud Viennam particulare revocavit Concilium
. . ". (b) Gesta, c. 51.
^ Ibid. ** . . . apud Viennam multis Archiepiscopis convocatis, inter
quos quidam de regno Francorum fuere praesentes ".
** (a) Chron. Sythiense S. Bertini ad an. 1199, in Rec,^ XVIII, -599.
(b) Sigeb., Contin. Acquic, ad an. 1200, in ^4/ 6^ 55., VI, 436. " Sen-
tentiam quam in Franciam ex domni pape precepto dare debuerat, ibi
dedit et regem cum omni terra sua inaudita severitate interdixit." (c)
See above, n. 97.
'^(a) Gesta, c. 51. (b) Hoveden, Chron., Pars post., ad an. 1200
(^R. Ser.), IV, 112-113.
•"GuiU. Armor., De Gest. Ph. Aug. ad an. 1199, in Rec, XVII, 75.
•* . . . non multo post Philippus Rex misit solemnes nuncios ad dominum
Papam."
1 14 THE INTERDICT
Christmas having elapsed, the interdict was published and
went into force.
This was the sentence : '^ <* All churches shall be closed, and
no one shall be admitted to them unless it is to baptize infants,
nor shall they be opened for any other purpose than for the
care of the lights, or when the priest must get the host and
holy water for the use of the sick. Mass may be celebrated
early every Friday morning, for the consecration of the host
needed for the sick, but only one clerk may be present to assist
the priest. To take the place of mass, priests may preach on
Sundays in the vestibules of churches, and thus spread the
word of God. They may recite canonical hours outside of
churches, provided laymen do not hear; if they recite the
epistles, or the gospels, they shall take care not to be heard by
the laity. They shall not permit bodies to be buried, or to be
placed unburied, in cemeteries. Furthermore, they shall in-
form the laity that they sin grievously if they bury bodies in
unconsecrated ground , even without blessing , and that they go
to excess in assuming another's office in this matter. The
priests shall forbid parishioners to enter open churches in the
land of the king ; they shall not bless the wallets of pilgrims,
unless it be outside of the church. In passion-week they shall
not celebrate ; on Easter-day they may celebrate privately, but
only one clerk may be admitted , as has been stated above ; no
one shall commune even on Easter, unless he is sick and at
the point of death. Either on Palm Sunday or during pas-
sion-week the people shall be told to gather before the church
on the morning of Easter, where they will be given the privi-
lege of eating the blessed bread and meat of the day.'"'
Clerks positively may not admit women into the church for
purification ; they shall advise them to gather with their neigh-
^•^(a) Martdne, Thesaurus^ IV, 147. (b) Migne, Pat. Lat., 214, col.
xcvii, n. 60. (c) Cf. Rowland's translation, in Univ. of Penn. Trans,
and Reprints ^ V.
*®' On Easter morning it was the custom to bless some meat, bread, and
eggs, which were eaten before any other food.
APPENDIX
lis
bors on the day of churching, and to pray outside of the
church ; women who are to be purified may not enter the
church even for the purpose of raising children to the sacred
font for baptism ; even after the interdict, they may not enter
the church until they are invited to do so by the priest. The
confession of all who seek it shall be heard by the priests in
the vestibule of the church ; and, if the church has no vesti-
bule, the confession may be heard on the threshold of the
outermost door, which the inclemency of wind or rain permits
to be opened, but nowhere else ; all must be excluded except
the person who wishes to confess, but the voices must be so
loud that the priest and the person confessing can be heard by
those who chance to be outside of the church. If the weather
is mild, confession shall be heard before closed church-doors.
Receptacles with holy water shall not be placed outside of the
church ; nor shall clerks use holy water anywhere, since it is
understood that all ecclesiastical sacraments are prohibited but
those two which are excepted. Extreme Unction, which is
the last sacrament, may not be given." This sentence was
confirmed by the pope, who, however, decreed that all who
had taken or should thereafter take the cross might hear mass
and have Christian burial ; ^°* no others were to be excused
from a strict observance of the interdict.
The severity of the sentence called forth firm resistance
from the angry Philip. He expelled from their sees all the
prelates of his realm, because they had assented to the inter-
dict; he seized the fees and rents of the lower clergy, ex-
pelled many of them, and despoiled even parish priests. ^°^
Ingeborg, the cause of these difficulties, felt the wrath of the
king ; she was deprived of all companionship and thrust into
confinement in the castle of 6tampes.^^ Some of the bishops
'* (a) Hoveden, Chron., Pars post., ad an. 1200 i^R. Ser.)^ IV, 113.
(b) Gesta, c. 84.
»<'Ma) Chron. de S. Denis ad an. 1199, in Rec, XVIl, 387. (b)
Rigord, DeGest. Ph. Aug. ad an. 1199, in Rec.^ XVII, 51.
^»« Ibid.
Il6 THE INTERDICT
were very ardent in the observance of the interdict ; among
them were the Bishops of Paris, Senlis, Soissons, Amiens, and
Arras. ^°^ Philip was most enraged against the Bishop of Paris,
and sent some knights who despoiled him of his horses and
other properties and forced him to leave his diocese on foot ; '°®
the Bishop of Senlis suffered the same indignity. These pre-
lates, however, received sympathetic and encouraging letters
from Rome.'°^ There was by no means unanimity among the
ecclesiastics regarding the observance of the sentence ; some
humbly deferred to the papal order, others either from pre-
ference for the king or from fear of him violated the inter-
dict.^"^^ Among the latter were the Archbishop of Reims and
the Bishops of Laon, Noyon, Auxerre, Beauvais, T^rouanne,
Meaux, Chartres, and Orleans."" The prelates met, and after
deliberation declared that the sentence need not be observed."^
They sent agents to Rome to excuse their action, and to pro-
fess that they would observe the sentence, if the pope should
demand it ; " ' in the mean time they and others of the clergy
maintained friendly relations with the king. At the marriage
of Philip's son in Normandy many French bishops and eccle-
siastics were present with the king and nobles ; the Archbishop
of Bordeaux performed the ceremony. '^^ The Bishop of Meaux
and Philip of Beauvais were still with the king in May, 1200."*
The Cistercians also disagreed ; some of them convened in
Paris and deliberated as to what course to pursue, others dis-
'"'' (a) Gesta, c. 52. (b) Sigeb. , Contin. Acquic, ad an. 1200, in
MGSS., VI, 436. (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 25.
108 Had. Coggesh., in Rec. , XVIII, 91. Cf. Davidsohn, Philipp IT und
Ingeborg, 105.
i^(a) See above, n. 107b. (b) Theiner, Vet. Mon. Slav. Merid.^ I,
48, No. 39 (Potth., 993).
"0 (a) Ibid., I, 48, No. 62, 63; 58, No. 85 (PoUh., 1387); 61, No.
197, 198 (PoUh., 1524); 63, No. 261 (PoUh., 1600). (b) Gesta, c. 52.
{c) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 20.
»"Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 20.
"2 Gesta, c. 52.
'"Hoveden, Annal. ad an. I2CX), in Kec, XVII, 604.
•1* Davidsohn, Philipp 11 und Ingeborg , 104.
APPENDIX
117
regarded the sentence from the beginning."^ The Abbot of
S. Germain des Pr^s "^ and many others of the clergy refused
to cease from services.^''
So largely was the interdict violated that the pontiff deter-
mined to have it republished under severer penalties. Ac-
cordingly, in March he addressed himself to Walter, Arch-
bishop of Rouen, and the Bishop of Poitiers, ordering them to
reissue the sentence of interdict on the realm of France, and
to cause it to be observed by all prelates ; to investigate
whether any had disregarded the sentence, and to report to
him. If any should disobey after this new publication, their
punishment would be very severe ; those who had disobeyed
up to that time were reserved to the judgment of the pope.'^®
This new publication of the sentence seems to have secured
observance : Diceto says that France lay under interdict from
Mid-Lent,"^ which in 1200 fell on March 19, seven days after
the letters to the Archbishop of Rouen and the Bishop of
Poitiers were issued. Diceto's statement can best be ex-
plained on the ground that the sentence was but little observed
before Mid-Lent.
It was probably the new publication which caused Philip in
his wrath to go beyond wise bounds. Not content with afflict-
ing the clergy, he embittered his lay subjects by demanding a
third of their income and oppressing them with other intoler-
able exactions.'^" While trying by means of repression at
"^Registr. Capitulor. General. Cisterc. Ord., in Bibl. de I'Arsenal
(Paris), MS. 926, p. 142. Chap. Gen., 1200, 48 and 51.
'^^Theiner, Vet. Mon. Slav. Merid., I, 62, No. 221 (Potth., 1551).
^^'^ Ibid., I, 61, No. 197, 198 (Potth., 1524).
I's (a) Inn. 0pp., IV, 58 (PoUh,, 969). (b) See also below, n. 119.
^^^ Diceto, Imagines, in Rec, XVII, 659. "Terra regis Franciae sub
interdicto posita est ab archiepiscopo Rothomagensi et episcopo Pictavensi
de praecepto summi pontificis, . . . et mansit sub interdicto a media
Quadragesima usque ad festum Sanctae Mariae Magdalenae; ..."
120(a) Chron. de S. Denis, ad an. 1199, in Rec, XVII, 387. (b)
Rigord, De Gest. Ph. Aug. ad an. 1199, in Rec, XVII, 51. (c) Bibl.
Nat., MS. Fr. 17,264. "II [Philip] manda les chevaliers de la terre et
ses hommes et puist dians le tierch de chou, que leur terre ualoit I an,
parcoi il pierdi moult leur cuers."
1 1 8 THE INTERDICT
home to defeat the interdict, Philip, feeling the pressure of
public opinion,'"''' was doing what he could at Rome to arrive
at the same end. He complained to the pope of the injustice
of the interdict on two grounds, namely, that it had been pro-
mulgated in spite of his properly made appeal, and that it had
been actually pronounced beyond the confines of his realm.
These technicalities the Roman pontiff easily brushed aside,
by explaining that the legate had been commanded to grant
no appeal, and that the instructions given to Peter of Capua
had included the provinces of Vienne, Lyons, and Besangon in
his jurisdiction ; so that the legate was still within his jurisdic-
tion, even though he was outside of the kingdom of France.
Moreover, the legate was not the creator of the sentence of
interdict; he was only its publisher in the place of the pope,
whose jurisdiction was as wide as Christendom.'-^ The pope,
however, gave Philip some hope of relaxation ; seeing that the
monarch had remained unmoved thus far, the pope proposed
to relax the interdict and to excommunicate the king instead,
saying, ** It is expedient for us, that one man should die for
the people, and that the whole nation perish not." The plan
was most welcome to Philip. His first ambassador was unsuc-
cessful ; nevertheless he sent another requesting that the sug-
gestion be put into execution. '"^^^ Philip's eagerness for so
slight a mitigation furnishes a valuable commentary on the
strength of the interdict. To him, excommunication, which
cut him off from church and heaven, seemed preferable to a
sentence which temporarily deprived his subjects of the minis-
trations of the church. The former was a personal censure,
the effectiveness of which depended on his own faith ; the
effectiveness of the latter depended on the faith of others,
and thus became a strong weapon against him. The pope
perceived this as clearly as did the king, and did not weaken
his cause.
^" Gesta, c. 53. "... rex jam non valens ecclesiasticae severitatis
sustinere rigorem . . . ."
"'C. 7. X. de offic. legati. i. 30 (PoUh., 1074).
»»•'' Hoveden, Chron. {R. Ser.), IV, 113.
APPENDIX , ig
The effect of the interdict, which caused Philip to plead for
change of sentence, demands consideration. Though busi-
ness was not prohibited by the interdict, it is natural to expect
that a discipline which would affect the entire religious life of
a mediaeval people would extend its influence to their com-
mercial activity. Davidsohn has shown that churches and
monasteries transacted business during this interdict.''^* But
his evidence was not designed to be comparative, and there-
fore does not show whether business was decreased. How-
ever the interdict affected the course of business, its principal
manifestations were always in religious matters ; in this France
was no exception. The Count of Ponthieu withdrew to Rouen
with the sister of Philip Augustus to receive the nuptial bene-
diction ; ^^^ and the king's son Louis went to Normandy to be
married to Blanche of Castile. ^^^ Marriages were solemnized
at graves instead of altars.^" The chronicler of S. Amand was
reminded of the Babylonian Captivity by the various afflictions
of the church.^-^ The people clamored against their monarch. ^^*
Bishop Hugh of Lincoln, who was traveling on the continent
at the time, and who celebrated mass every time there was an
opportunity,^^" found himself deprived of that privilege in
Capetian lands ; and for that reason he diverted his way to
Citeaux in order to celebrate solemn mass on the Assumption
of the Virgin, August 15.^^^ Another chronicler tells of the
sad condition of the church, because no sacraments or services
except baptism and viaticum were celebrated ; monasteries as
^** Davidsohn, Philipp II und Ingeborg^ 107-109.
^'^Geraud, in Bibl. de l£cole des Chartes^ 2™® serie, I, 99.
"* Hoveden, Annal., in Kec.^ XVII, 604.
*" Such is the phrase, in speaking of this interdict, of Hurter, the his-
torian of Pope Innocent and his times; and, though he mentions no sources,
he can hardly be talking at random. He means, of course, that marriages
took place in the churchyard instead of in the church.
"'^Chron. S. Amandi, in Rec.^ XVIII, 592.
"^Gesta, c. 53.
I'^Vita S. Hugonis Lincolniensis, lib. V, c. xv {R. SerJ), 310, 312,
326, 328, 329.
^^^Ibid., 324.
I20 THE INTERDICT
well as churches ceased from services. Burial was denied the
dead ; everywhere in the kingdom there was sadness, for
**the organs of the church were silent, and the lips of those
praising the Lord were closed." ^^'^ The account of Cogge-
shall is the most famous : " O what a horrible, what a fright-
ful sight in every city ! The doors of churches closed, and
entrance denied to Christians like dogs ; divine offices sus-
pended, the sacraments of the body and the blood of the Lord
unoffered ; people no longer coming to the feasts of saints ;
the dead deprived of the rites of Christian burial, their odors
infecting the air, and the horrible sight filling the minds of the
living with terror." ^^^
Whether these pictures are real or imaginary, there is no
doubt that Philip suffered no little inconvenience from the in-
terdict. He complained at Rome of the severity of Peter
of Capua ; he professed to be willing to be bound by the oath
of any of his agents, and promised to obey whatever sentence
either legates or judges delegated from Rome should pro-
nounce. The response of the pope was that no oath to obey
would be necessary for the relaxation of the interdict, if Philip
accepted the judgment already rendered, namely if he dis-
missed Agnes and received his legitimate wife ; if the king
submitted to a papal judgment to be given at some later time
regarding the validity of his marriage to Inge bo rg, a pledge
would be accepted, provided that for the interval the concu-
bine gave place to the legitimate wife. This reply roused all
the king's anger, but, since he must choose a way, he sum-
moned several ecclesiastical and secular princes, and asked
them for their advice. They counseled him to submit. Turn-
ing io the Archbishop of Reims he asked : '* Is it true that the
pope in a letter to you has spoken of my divorce as a farce
rather than as a valid affair?" The archbishop responded
that such was the case, whereupon the king replied : '* Then
**2 Robt. Altiss., Chronolog. ad an. 1 199-1200, in Rec, XVIII, 263.
^^^ Rad. Coggesh., Chron. ad an. 1200, in Rec, XVIII, 91.
APPENDIX 121
you, who pronounced my divorce, are a fool and an im-
becile."^**
Abusive language did not ease the interdict, though it may
have eased the king's mind. It was still necessary for him to
get the most favorable terms from Rome. He therefore sent
to Innocent, requesting him to remove the interdict and to
try the matter afterwards. Frequent messengers to Rome,
prayers, and money, were all of no avail with the pope ; ^''^ he
refused to remove the interdict until it had accomplished its
purpose. ^"^ Philip was compelled to yield. ^" Cardinal Octa-
vian was sent to France to arrange for a settlement. ^^® He
was instructed to exact full and entire satisfaction for the in-
juries and damages done ecclesiastics who had observed the
interdict ; to secure the expulsion of Agnes from the realm \
to force the king to receive Ingeborg, and to give oath not to
separate from her without a judgment of the church ; to in-
duce the king, if possible, to treat Ingeborg with affection ;
and, if the king insisted on demanding separation, to set a
hearing for six months later; when these things were done,
the cardinal was to raise the interdict, reserving to the pope
the punishment of all disobedient prelates. ^^' Octavian was
accompanied by the Cardinal- presbyter of the title of St.
Prisons ; both were urged to be exceedingly careful and
patient, and to show no partiality in deciding about the
marriage of Philip.
Octavian's coming produced great joy in France. To some
he seemed a deliverer ; he was met at various stages of his
^^*Gesta, c, 53.
"5Rad. Coggesh., Chron., in Rec, XVIII, 91.
^^*The pope, however, lightened the sentence by granting privileges to
monasteries. For example: (a) Inn. 0pp., IV, 63, No. 35 (Potth., 1080).
(b) Ibid., 64, No. 36 (Potth., 1079). (c) Arch. Nat., L. 236. A privi-
lege to the Templars.
"^ (a) See above, n. 135. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 17. Philip wrote,
"Noverit sanctitas vestra quod nos , . per vim vestram et per mandatum
vestrum fecimus . . . quamvis hoc esset contra voluntatem nostram. "
"^ Potth., 1094, 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 1 100, iioi, 1 102.
^'^ Gesta, c. 54.
122 THE INTERDICT
journey, especially at Vezelai, by joyous bands of people, who
blessed him and believed themselves visited by God. Princes
and nobles welcomed him ; ^^ even Philip joyfully hastened to
meet him at Sens, received him with humility, and treated
him with honor. There, in the presence of many,^*^ the king
made reparation for all insults of the clergy and for their
material losses ; ^*^ he restored to his favor the Bishops of
Paris and Soissons.^*** He agreed to give up Agnes and not
see her again until the validity of his divorce was determined.
Another meeting was arranged to take place at St. L^ger-en-
Iveline, at which it was hoped to accomplish the reconcilia-
tion. On the seventh of September this meeting occurred.
The king publicly honored Ingeborg, and by proxy took the
oath demanded of him by the church. After these things
were done, the legate solemnly raised the interdict. ^*^ Though
the story of Ingeborg does not end with the relaxation, it has
no further purpose here. It is enough to note that Philip,
despite his professions, did not give Ingeborg his favor for
many years ; "* and that the legate Octavian was most roundly
dealt with by the pope ,^*^ because he failed to obey his in-
structions to use all means of securing a reconciliation between
the king and the queen.
The relaxation of this interdict, which had lasted thirty
weeks, produced great joy in France.^** Bells were rung, and
the greatest felicity prevailed among the people and the clergy.
It is related that over three hundred were killed in the crowds
that celebrated the removal of the interdict."^ The Bishop of
Soissons in a report to Rome stated that, just as the grief of
»»Inn. Ill, Epp.,III, 13, 15.
'"Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 15.
"^Cartul. de Notre Dame de Paris, I, 59 {Docs. Inidits).
"'Dubois, Hist. Eccl. Paris^ lib. XIV, c. iii, 219.
'** For the subsequent history of Ingeborg, see G6raud, in Bibl. de
Pit cole des Charles^ a"*" s6rie, I.
»«Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 16 (Potth., 1150).
"6(a) Gesta, c. 86. (b) Hoveden, in Rec, XVII, 6o8d.
"^Capefigue, Hist, de Ph. Aug.^ II, 156.
APPENDIX
123
the people over the interdict had been so great as to be in-
expressible, so their joy and exultation at its removal was the
more perfect.^** To this is added the testimony of the Bishop
of Paris, that the faithful grew more devout in their praises of
the Creator upon the removal of their distress J^" The legate
Octavian found it impossible to describe the joy which filled
the kingdom upon relaxation of the sentence. The people
blessed the pope and sang his praises, not only for the justice
shown the unfortunate queen, but also for his mercy in re-
moving the interdict. ^°^
Those prelates who had refused to observe the interdict
were disciplined. The chapter-general of the Cistercians
ordered that those abbots who had attended the meeting at
Paris, and had disregarded the interdict, were to be in '' levi
culpa " for six days, and for one day of the six they were to
be put on bread and water ; ^"^ those who had not convened at
Paris, but had violated the interdict, were for three days to be
in **levi culpa ", and were for one day of the three to subsist
on bread and water. ^"^^ The ecclesiastics who had not ob-
served the interdict from the beginning incurred suspension,
and their punishment was reserved to the pope. The Arch-
bishop of Reims, the Bishops of Chartres, Orleans, Meaux,
Auxerre, Noyon, and Beauvais, and several abbots were com-
pelled to appear in Rome in person. Several bishops, because
of age and ill-health, were excused from going to Rome j ^•'^•'
these and those abbots who could not go were permitted to
send deputies. At Rome they all gave a public oath to obey
what the pontiff should command ; whereupon they were ab-
solved from suspension, but the pope reserved the right to
i«Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 14.
"8/3ic/., 13.
^^Ibid,, 15.
^^* Registr. Capitulor. General. Cisterc. Ord., in Bibl. de V Arsenal^ MS.
926, p. 142, Chap. Gen., 1200, 48.
^""'^ Ibid. J Chap. Gen., 1200, 51.
^^ These were probably the Bishops of Laon and T6rouanne. See
Potth., 1600.
124 ^^^ INTERDICT
punish them at his discretion. ^^* The lesser clergy who had
failed to heed the interdict were not forgotten. Innocent
gave Philip, Bishop of Beauvais, the power to receive an oath
of obedience from all abbots, priors, and prelates of his dio-
cese who were guilty of violation. ^^'^ It is probable that simir
lar orders went to other bishops.
Circumstances brought fitting punishment to Hugh Noyers,
Bishop of Auxerre, who, at the very time that he was trying to
enforce an episcopal interdict on his own diocese, refused to
observe the papal interdict on France. The death of Michael,
Archbishop of Sens, occurred in November, 1199. Later the
canons of Sens unanimously elected Hugh Noyers to the
vacancy, and the king gave his consent. But the pope, re-
membering that Hugh was one of those bishops who not only
disregarded the interdict, but was also present at that meeting
which decided, for reasons considered frivolous by Innocent,
that it ought not to be observed, canceled the election ; for
the pope regarded it as unfitting that a bishop who had de-
liberately despised papal orders should be elected by those
who had kept the interdict as faithfully as had the canons of
Sens. Hugh wrote to Innocent what seemed to the latter to
be an accusation rather than an exculpation. He said that,
on account of papal wrath, he was reduced to the greatest
confusion and abjection; that he was pointed at with fingers,
as one who had not fought honorably, but had deserted and
joined the enemy ; he asserted that he would rather die than
live thus. He also assured the sovereign pontiff that he did
not write these things because of any ambition by which he
hoped to ascend to some higher rank, but because he hoped
to escape the derision in which he was held. These reasons
did not prevail with the stern Innocent to acknowledge the
*** Gesta, c. 57.
^^^ Mscr. in Beauvais (Cartul. de S. Rerre de Beauvais.)* ?• 89, tit. 329.
"Attendens apostolica sedes .... Dat. Anagnie, nonis Novembris."
The year is not given, but the letter very probably has to do with the inter-
dict of 1200.
APPENDIX
125
election; he did, however, grant the petitioner absolution
from suspension. ^^^ William of Dijon had a similar experi-
ence. He was at first influenced by threats to disregard the
interdict, but after a time obeyed the mandate of the church.^"
Later he was elected to the Archbishopric of Bourges. The
circumstances were so much like those of Hugh Noyers that
Innocent realized the danger of being accused of partiality,
should he agree to the election. There seemed to him, how-
ever, to be a distinction between those who had erred from
contempt and those who had erred from ignorance ; and on
this ground he decided to confer on William the pallium, pro-
vided that he purge himself by oath of his contempt, that he
obey whatever the pope enjoin for those faults which grew
out of ignorance, and that he issue letters patent to that
effect. ^^ The Bishop of Arras, on the contrary, was particu-
larly faithful in observing the interdict, ^^^ and it was probably
for this reason that the pope favored him with privileges in
the bull which begins : * ' Since recently , in the day of the
battle for the house of the Lord, you opposed yourself like an
impregnable wall against a charge from without, so much the
more willingly do we show you apostolic favor, as we have in
this affair experienced your obedience and steadfastness."^^''
58 Brittany, 1200,
The only notice of this interdict is in a papal letter of May
12, 1200, in which the pontiff answered the question whether
certain things might be done ' * during the interdict laid on the
whole of Brittany ". The Abb^ Chauffier in an article on this
** Lettre incite d 'Innocent III " is of the opinion that this in-
terdict of 1200 had no connection with that of France, and
surmises that it was laid because the clergy of Dol refused to
156 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 20. (b) Gesta, c. 56.
15'^ Hist. Archiepisc. Bituricensiuni, in Labbe, Nova BibL, II (1657),
99ff.
'58 Inn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 43 (Potth., 1249).
i^'' Andrens. Chron., cited by Hurler, Innocenz III, I, 381, n. 188.
»«nnn. Ill, Epp., Ill, 25,
126 THE INTERDICT
accept a papal order of June, 1199, subjecting their diocese
to the Archbishop of Tours. ^''^ He suggests that some of the
prelates of Brittany probably desired to execute this sentence
in all of its details, which got them into difficulties so serious
that they were obliged to appeal to Rome for explanations ;
and that the above-mentioned letter is the response to their
inquiry. ^"'^ It was asked whether viaticum, extreme unction,
and burial of the dead were to be allowed for clerks and lay-
men ; whether divine offices could be celebrated in conventual
churches with voices subdued and doors closed, interdicted
persons being excluded ; and whether penance was to be as-
signed to those assuming the cross or visiting the shrines of
saints. The pope answered that viaticum was granted to the
truly penitent, and that he conceded as a special favor that
clerks who had observed the interdict might be buried in the
cemetery of the church in silence, without solemnity and the
sound of bells. In conventual churches, clerks by twos and
threes might recite, not chant, canonical hours, with doors
closed and voice so subdued as not to be heard outside, inter-
dicted persons being excluded. Regulars were given their
usual privileges. Crusaders and other pilgrims were allowed
to have confession when they demanded it. This answer was
clearly not the end of the matter, for on December 17, 1201,
Arthur, Duke of Brittany, agreed to execute the papal sen-
tence subjecting Dol to Tours. But whether even this made
an end of the long struggle of the Bretons to be ecclesiastically
independent of France is not yet surely known ; and the dura-
tion of the interdict must remain likewise uncertain.
59 Le Mans, 1 200-1205.
An interdict was laid on the city of Le Mans, either by its
bishop or by the dean or chapter, because of some excesses of
161 Wendover, Flor. Hist, ad an. 1199 {R. Sey.)y I, 291.
^" (a) BibL de P^cole des Charter, XXXIII, 595-605. (b) It may be
added that the title of this article is misleading, for the substance of this
papal letter, with the exception of the reference to the interdict of Brittany,
has long since been published in the Corpus juris canonici : C. Il, X.
de poenit. 5. 38 (Potth., 5042).
APPENDIX
127
the secular power. The canons of St. Peter de Curia disre-
garded the sentence , and, though all others ceased from ser-
vices, they boldly rang their bells and performed ecclesiastical
rites with wide-open doors for all except excommunicated and
interdicted persons. The matter being brought to the notice
of Octavian, who acted as legate in those parts from the
year 1200, he decided against the canons of St. Peter. After-
wards ( 1 204-1 205) on account of trouble with political
powers, the city was again interdicted, and again the canons,
in spite of notice to cease, celebrated with unusual solemnity.
This time the difference was carried to Rome, where the pro-
curator of the disobedient canons justified their action by
pleading the prescriptive independence of the church of St.
Peter de Curia, which exempted it from interdicts. The pon-
tiff regarded this plea as dangerous to the discipline of the
church, declared the privilege invalid, and ordered the canons
to observe the interdict strictly, as far as they were not ex-
empted by privileges ordinarily extended in time of interdict.
The subsequent history of the interdict is unknown. ^^'^
60 Lands of Nicolas de Rumigny^ 1 200-1 203,
Nicolas de Rumigny molested the canons of Reims in vari-
ous ways, his prime offence being the seizure of their forest
lands. After being repeatedly and uselessly warned by Wil-
liam, Archbishop of Reims, he was finally excommunicated,
and his household and lands were put under interdict at the
request of the chapter. In order to make the sentence effec-
tive, all priests were commanded to leave the district affected,
the Hospitalers were forbidden to celebrate services, an
ambulatory interdict was to follow Nicolas in his movements,
and the sentence was confirmed by the legate Octavian some-
time after August, 1200.^^ The Hospitalers refused to observe
^"Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 213, 212 (Potth., 2675, 2679).
'"* Varin, Arch. Adm. de Reims, I, ii, 437-438. The mention of the
legate helps to fix the date. Octavian was dispatched to France in July,
I2CO (Potth., 1094, 1 102), and met the king at Sens on August 27. On
September 7, he was at St. Leger-en-Iveline, where he relaxed the inter-
128 T^HE INTERDICT
the sentence, on which account the canons complained of
them at Rome, and on January 21, 1201, Innocent rebuked
them and ordered them not to go beyond their privileges. ^^
Nicolas made peace '^ with the church in February of 1203,
and gave a charter for the reparation of damage done. The
charter does not mention the interdict, but in the absence of
any other evidence it is probable that the interdict was relaxed
at that time.
61 Lands of Roge?- de Rozoy^ 1200- 1203,
In the papal letter of January, 1201, not only the lands of
Nicolas ' * de Ruminiaco ' ' but those of Roger ' * de Roseto ' '
(Rozoy-sur-Serre) are said to be under interdict.^*'
62 La7ids of Nicolas de Rozoy^ I200?-I2ii}^^
Nicolas de Rozoy was a younger brother of Roger. As he
tells us, at his submission, that he has **long" been under
excommunication by the church of Reims and his lands under
interdict for wrongs to the canons, it is not impossible that he
diet on France {Bibl. de PJ^cole des Chartes, 2™® s6rie, I, 95-98). It was
no doubt after that time that he confirmed the sentence of the Archbishop
of Reims. This cannot have been late in 1200, for in January, 1201, upon
complaint from Reims, Innocent commanded the Hospitalers to observe
the interdict.
lesy^rin, Arch. Adm, de ReimSy I, ii, 435 (Potth., 1248). Varin gives
the year in the margin as 1200; but this is a palpable error in reckoning.
^^^ The charter is printed in Varin, Arch. Adm. de Reims, I, ii, 450.
During the year 1201, Nicolas wrote a letter to the canons to justify himself
for hanging a man, and offered amends (Varin, Arch. Adm. de Reims, I,
ii, 448, 449); but this can hardly be taken as a submission, which pro-
duced relaxation of the interdict; for in the charter of 1203 Nicolas men-
tions the hanging among the things for which he is making amends.
i«'f (a) Inn. 0pp., IV, 57, No. 28 (Potth., 1248). (b) From a charter
of Roger de Roseto, 1205 (Varin, Arch. Adm. de Reims, I, ii, 459, 454),
it appears that Roger was in controversy with the cathedral chapter at
Reims, the same with which Nicolas of Rumigny had been in disagreement
[ibid., 450). Rigordus relates that in 1201 King Philip, who, in Dec,
1201, took under his express protection the canons of Reims (Varin, Arch.
Adm. de Reims, I, ii, p. 448; Delisle, Cat. des actes de Ph. Aug., No.
691), intended to attack Roger de Roseto lor harming the church, where-
upon Roger made his submission and agreed to make reparation. {Rec,
XVII, 54; cf. Guill. Armor., Philippis, I, in Rec, XVII, 133-134.)
168 Yarin, Arch. Adm. de Reims, I, ii, 480; cf. ibid.y i, 387-391. The
date of the charter is January, 121 1,
APPENDIX I2g
was included in the same interdict with Roger ; and both may
have been laid under interdict at the same time as Nicholas
de Rumigny.
63 St. Omer^ about 1201,
The citizens of St. Omer had a dispute with the Abbey of
St. Bertin regarding some marsh-lands. In 1198 Innocent
appointed commissioners to settle the quarrel, and a few
months later he urged the burgesses to give the abbey satis-
faction. The efforts of the papal agents were apparently
futile, for in August, 1200, a confirmation of the Count of
Flanders made knowTi that Arnoul , steward of T^rouanne , and
fifty other persons who had been chosen to terminate the dif-
ference between the abbey and the citizens, had divided the
disputed meadows between the two parties. ^^^ This, however,
did not settle the matter, and the resistance of the citizens
brought upon them a sentence of '* excommunication" laid on
papal authority by the Bishop and Archdeacon of Arras. The
citizens paid no heed to the sentence, whereupon orders were
issued by the curia to the Dean and the Archdeacon of Amiens
to cause the sentence to be inviolably observed until sufficient
satisfaction was made.^^° The surviving evidence leads one to
believe that this order was also fruitless. In 1202 the Count
of Flanders proposed to go to the Holy Land, whereupon his
bailiffs were warned by the curia to allow no harm to come to
the abbey. The Count himself secured from the abbey a
promise to postpone the settlement of the quarrel for three
years until his return from Jerusalem.^" Meantime St. Omer
lay under interdict ; when the sentence was laid or by whom
is nowhere stated. Indeed the only indisputable reference to
interdict throughout the whole disagreement is contained in a
communication of Innocent to the abbots of Blagny and
^••Haigner^, Les chartes de S. Bertin^ I, 185, No. 425, 427; t88,
No. 433.
"°Inn. Opp., IV, 80 (Potth., 1422).
^" Haignere, Les chartes^ I, 200, No. 456, 457,
I30 THE INTERDICT
Auchy and the prior of Hesdin, which states that, though the
citizens were excommunicated and the town was interdicted
on papal authority, the canons of St. Omer in the diocese of
T^rouanne celebrated services in the presence of excommuni-
cates. Every attempt to settle failed ; the dispute dragged
on with varying hostility until 1247 or 1248, when the Count
of Artois put an enforced end to it by recognizing the claims
of the citizens in part, and obliging the abbey to accept the
terms/" What became of the interdict is not known ; it may
have continued to the final settlement, or may have been re-
moved long before, as far as any existing evidence goes.
Probably the interdict went hand in hand with the excom-
munication, which, already twice issued, was republished in
February, 1203."^ A papal letter of September, 1204, shows
that at some previous time the ecclesiastics were forced by the
Count of Namur "* and the bailiffs of the Count of Flanders to
relax the excommunication temporarily."^
64 Limoges, 1 202-1 203.
In the course of the continental wars of Henry II and his
sons the walls of Limoges had been damaged. The citizens
attempted to fix the burden of building and repairing the walls
and moats upon the monks of S. Martial. The abbot, Hugh
de Brosse, supported by the bishop, firmly opposed the de-
mand made upon the monastery and declared himself ready to
have the matter heard in court. The burgesses thereupon re-
sorted to violence ; they seized and damaged the property of the
monks and inflicted much harm and injury upon them. Some-
time before October 6, 1202 , the bishop put an interdict on the
city, and, when some of the clergy disregarded the sentence, he
i"(a) Giry, Hist, de la Ville de St, Omer, 138, n. 3; 139. Cf. Rec.
XIX, 470. (b) Haigner6, Les Chartes de S, Bertin, I, 199-200, No. 455.
^"^^ Ibid., 204, No. 465.
"*The Count of Namur was threatened with interdict in April, 1204;
perhaps this gave him sympathy for the burgesses of St. Omer and caused
him to interfere. Inn. Ill, Epp., VII, 45.
"*^^r.,XIX,47o.
APPENDIX 131
condemned them to suspension and excommunication."® Later
Innocent III instructed the Archbishop of Bourges and the
Bishop of Cahors, and in another letter the Archbishop of
Bourges and his suffragan bishops, to confirm the sentence of
the Bishop of Limoges, if lawfully laid, and to force its ob-
servance in the whole province of Bourges."' This was done
and civil war raged in the city ; the bishop ordered a daily
renewal of his malediction upon the consuls and the disobe-
dient priests. Garments were not given the poor that year on
Maundy Thursday, but the price of these was distributed to
many paupers."®** The burgesses appealed to Rome against
the sentence of the Archbishop of Bourges, but the pope de-
cided against them "' and they went to worse excesses than
before, becoming so violent that the abbot was obliged to
leave the city."^ It was even preached in churches that ex-
communicates need not fear to perform ecclesiastical ministra-
tions. The citizens expelled the monks of S. Martial, took
their remaining property, and punished by fines matrons and
other persons who from conscientious scruples absented them-
selves from services held by excommunicated priests, or who
refused to receive the host from their hands on Easter-day.
^'^ (a) The date for this interdict is taken from the statement of Varia
Chron. Fragment, ad an. 1202, that in the monastery of St. Salvator there
were no services from the feast of St. Pardulphus, October 6th, to July 22nd.
The latter date meets very well the requirements of the p?.pal letter and the
charter of the Bishop of Limoges. The interdict was in force March 30
(Chron. B. Iterii, in Duplds-Agier, Chroniq. de S.Martial de Limoges, p.
68); and on Easter, April 4 (Epp., VI, 97). The former date is made
somewhat doubtful by the fact that from the Varia Chron. Frag, the cap-
ture of the Viscount of Limoges seems to occur during the interdict; and,
unless more than one viscount was captured, that occurrence took place
before September 7, 1202 {Rot. Pat., I, i, 18). It is therefore possible
that the interdict began before October 6. (b) Lasteyrie, VAbbaye de S.
Martial de Limoges, 121. Just when this damage was done is hardly as-
certainable. War was in progress in the autumn of 1202, for about Sep-
tember of that year the Viscount of Limoges was captured by the consuls
of the city, who adhered to John; Rot. Pat., I, i, 18. (c) Rec, XVIII,
226, n. b, (d) Varia Chron. Fragment, ad an. 1202, in Duplds-Agier,
Chroniq., 192-193. From this source the cessation seems to have been
voluntary.
"'Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 97 (Potth., 1934).
'"* Lasteyrie, D Ahbaye de S. Martial de Limoges^ 114.
132 THE INTERDICT
On June 8, 1203, the pope instructed the Archbishop of
Bourges and the Bishop of Cahors that, if the disobedient
clerks did not yield obedience within a month, they should be
deprived of their benefices ; and if that did not accomplish its
purpose they should be degraded. ^^^ This papal order had
speedy effect, for the burgesses and monks came to an agree-
ment attested by the bishop, in which the former made repa-
ration for damage done, and agreed thereafter to resort to
judicial procedure in similar cases. '^ Though nothing was
said of the interdict, it w^as probably removed at the same time.
65 York and Beve?'ly^ 1 200-1 201.
When John went to the continent in 1200, he ordered
Geoffrey, Archbishop of York, to attend him. The arch-
bishop refused and also hindered John's emissaries from col-
lecting a carucage in the province of York. In addition he
laid the whole province of York under an interdict. For these
reasons John ordered him to be deprived of his possessions.
Geoffrey retaliated by excommunicating the king's partisans ;
and at the same time laid an interdict on the town of
Beverly, the inhabitants of which had broken into the arch-
bishop's park.'®^ Wishing to avoid serious difficulty, John or-
dered the archbishop's estates restored on condition that the
archbishop should answer for his offence in the king's court,
and pay three thousand marks which he owed King Richard.
A settlement did not immediately follow ; indeed the events of
John's visit at Beverly in January, 1201, threatened complete
estrangement. The canons of Beverly wished to receive the
king with a procession and the sound of bells, but this was
forbidden them. The king was entertained by an excommu-
nicate.^®^ Though such treatment angered the king, it did not
prevent a settlement; this came by Mid-Lent of 1201, when
"•Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 97 (Potth., 1934).
'80 y?^<:., XVIII, 226, n. b.
^"Hoveden, {R, Ser.)y IV, 139-140.
^^^Ibid., 156.
APPENDIX 133
the king and archbishop met at York and the latter purchased
favor by paying a fine. In May, John restored to his brother
the properties in return for a promise of a money payment.
Though not mentioned, the interdicts were, no doubt, relaxed
at that time.'^'
66 Cremona^ 1201^ and 120J— 1204.
The citizens of Cremona were put under interdict because
they vexed their bishop and clergy with tallages, and otherwise
oppressed them. The sentence is called an excommunication
in one bull, but that it was an interdict appears from a letter
of November, 1201, to the Bishop of Cremona which granted
that he might celebrate ecclesiastical offices because he had
taken the cross, notwithstanding the interdict under which his
city was laboring. ^^ This interdict is perhaps the same as
that of 1 203-1 204, though no positive proof of connection be-
tween the two has been found. The interdict existing in 1203
grew out of a disagreement between the citizens of Cremona
and the monks of St. Sixtus, and was laid by the Bishop of
Modena. The sentence was not observed by all priests ; some
of them even conducted public services. In February, 1203,
Innocent ordered the Bishop of Modena to renew the sentence
of interdict, to suspend all clerks who violated it, to deprive
them of their livings, and to force them to appear before the
pope. In 1204 the contending parties came to an agreement
in Innocent's presence, and he ordered the Bishop of Parma
to relax the sentence. ^^
67 Genoa ^ about 1202.
When this interdict was laid cannot be determined ; it prob-
'^ (a) I(>id.^ 139-140, 157, 163. (b) Stubbs, preface to Hoveden, IV.
(c) Wendover, Plor, Hist, ad an. 1200 [R. Ser.), I, 301. (d) Prynne's
Records, II, 230-231.
'^Theiner, Vet. Mon. Slav. Merid., I, 61, No. 200 (Potth., 1526),
No. 201 (Potth., 1527).
^«*(a) Inn. III,Epp.,VI, 13 (Potth., 1846); VIII, 163 (Potth., 2338) ;
X, 143 (Potth., 3205). (b) The trouble was not permanently ended. If
the comment to the letter printed in Pflugk-Harttung, Iter Italicum^ 516-
517, may be believed, the same dispute was alive in 1226.
134 ^-^^ INTERDICT
ably grew out of a dispute between Archbishop Boniface and
the canons of Genoa, which was settled on May 30, 1201, by
commissioners of Innocent III. The interdict may have been
removed at the same time ; it certainly was removed sometime
before November, 1202. The revenues of the chapter in
Genoa were so considerably diminished by the interdict that
it was necessary to adopt remedial measures ; and it was there-
fore determined that any prebends which fell vacant should
not be reassigned, and that the income derived from them
should be applied to the common use. Later four prebends
became vacant, and the archbishop assigned one of them on
the ground of prescriptive right. After the interdict was re-
laxed the canons challenged the act of the archbishop and car-
ried the matter to Rome. Innocent ruled that several of the
prebends had been vacant so long that the right of appoint-
ment belonged to him rather than to the chapter of the arch-
bishop. These circumstances give some idea of the duration
of an otherwise obscure interdict. ^"^
68 Armenia, 1203 {1204).
The interdict of Armenia is an episode in the quarrels of
the crusaders. It resulted from a dispute between Leo of
Armenia and" Boemund of Antioch over the possession of An-
tioch. Boemund III of Antioch had two sons, Raymond III
and Boemund of Antioch. Raymond married the sister of
Leo, King of Armenia, and by her had a son, Rupino, whom
he acknowledged to be his rightful successor. When Ray-
mond died, about 1200, his brother Boemund disputed
Rupino's claim and Leo supported his nephew Rupino.^" In
^^(a) This interdict probably grew out of the dispute between Afch-
bishop Boniface and the canons of Genoa, which was settled in 1201, May
30, by commissioners of Innocent III. Ughelli, It. Sacra, IV, col. 881-
882. (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 123 (Potth., 1780).
'^"^ (a) I have not been able to verify my belief that this interdict occurred
in 1203. That it was in 1203 or 1204 is clear from the following. The
legates attested letters at Rome in March, 1202 (Potth., 1644). They were
sent to the East in the same year (see below, n. 189). They cannot have
reached the Holy Land early enough to have had their quarrel with Leo of
Armenia and to have made peace by September, 1202. This makes it very
APPENDIX 135
1201, Leo subjected himself to Rome and sought the privilege
that no one excommunicate him or interdict his lands without
permission from Rome.'*^ Innocent granted this privilege.
When the dispute in the East became serious, Innocent sent
two legates, Soffridus, Cardinal-presbyter of the title of St.
Praxedis, and Peter, Cardinal-presbyter of the title of St.
Marcellus, to secure peace. ^^ The quarrel of the princes was
aggravated when the Templars gave their support to Boemund.
The King of Armenia in revenge confiscated their property.
The legates vainly tried to secure an agreement between the
king and the Templars. One of them, Peter, finally called a
council ; and, though the Catholicus of the Armenians and the
Bishop of Antioch were absent, laid an interdict on Leo's
lands, in spite of his appeal to Rome made on the ground of
the privilege previously gran ted. ^^ The prelates of Armenia
held a convention, and decided that the sentence need not be
observed because the Catholicus had not been present when
the sentence was laid, and had therefore not given his assent. ^^^
The king complained of the legates ^^^ and requested their
recall, which came later. In the meantime a convention was
held at Acre in September, 1203 or 1204, ^.nd there the king
agreed to abide by the award of the legates ; whereupon peace
was made. It is likely that the interdict, which had probably
never been observed, was removed at the same time.^^
probable that the interdict fell in a later year. It must have been before
1205, for by March of 1205 the legates had already left Palestine (see
below, n. 192). Soffridus again attested letters in Rome, May, 1206
(Potth., 2767); Peter, in March, 1207 (Potth., 3064). (b) Inn. Ill,
Epp., II, 252, 253. (c) Gesta, c. in. (d) Robt. Altiss., Chronolog. ad
an. 1204, in Rec.^ XVIII, 272.
»^Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 43, 44 (Potth., 1689).
*if They were sent about 1202. Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 48.
^^ Called excommunication.
^•' Gesta, c. 116, or Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 119.
^8' (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, i (Potth., 2429). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp.,
VII, 223: VIII, 126. From these letters it appears that the legates had
left the Holy Land before March, 1205. (c) Cf, Migne, Pat. Lat.y 214,
clix, n. 77.
^^ (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VIII, 119, 120. (b) Gesta, c. 118. Cf. Gesta,
c. 109-119. (c) Wilkins, Gesch. d. Kreuzzue'e,V , i6ff. (d1 Notes to
Chronique du ConnHable Sempad^ Vol. II.
136 THE INTERDICT
69 Lands of the murderers of the Bishop of Wurzburg^ 1203.
Conrad, Bishop of Wiirzburg, who had transferred himself
from Hildesheim without papal consent, was killed December
6, 1202. In January of the next year. Innocent wrote to the
prelates of Germany instructing them to excommunicate the
murderers, to put their lands and those of their adherents
under interdict, and to interdict any place to which they
should come, for the time they remained there. This sentence
seems to have brought the murderers to quick submission, for
by April they had appeared in Rome to do penance so severe
that some one has said a death sentence was preferable."*
One of the conditions of their shriving was that neither they
nor their heirs were ever to acquire ecclesiastical benefices
without obtaining special permission from Rome. It was de-
creed that, if any fief were ever obtained contrary to the pro-
visions above set forth, the diocese in which it lay should be
under interdict until the fief was surrendered or the inhabi-
tants of the diocese removed the offence. The interdict on
the lands of the murderers was raised after they submitted. ^•^
70 Lands of the Counts of Geldern ^ Jiilich ^ Hochstaden ^ Berg^
and A/tenay I20§-I20y,
The following cases of interdict were attempts to strengthen
the papal cause in the quarrels between the Guelfs and
Ghibellines. During the struggle between Otto and Philip of
Suabia, Adolf, Archbishop of Cologne, was deposed by Inno-
cent. In the fall of 1205 the Counts of Geldem, Jiilich,
Hochstaden, Berg, and Altena were excommunicated and
their lands were interdicted by papal agents, because of their
adherence to the deposed archbishop, and because of their
19* (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., V, 155 (Potth., 1813); 51 (Potth., 1886); VI,
113 (Potth., 1958). (b) Winkelmann, /%z/z>>/ v. Schwabetty I, 267-271.
1^^ (a) Boehmer, Rgg. imp.^ No. 5834 (April 18, 1203). (b) The same
bull which relates the submission of the murderers ordered excommunica-
tion and interdict to be used against all unrepentant accomplices until they
made their purgation; and, if they refused to submit, they were to be fol-
lowed by an ambulatory interdict. Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 113 (Potth., 1958).
APPENDIX
137
attack on the churches of Cologne. The sentence was re-
moved on Easter, 1206. Many clerks observed the sentence,
though they were forced to beg; others, overcome by want,
celebrated services.^*" The Dean and the Prior of Cologne
asked Innocent how to punish the clerks, monks, and nuns
who had violated the interdict and still continued to do so,
though they had been excommunicated. On May 15, 1207,
Innocent replied that clerks guilty of violation of interdict
were to lose their benefices ; and that monks and nuns should
be sent to monasteries with a more rigid discipline. ^^' After
the interdict, Innocent remitted to their superiors for judgment
several persons who had, though excommunicated, held ser-
vices during the interdict. ^^® The sentence was undoubtedly
relaxed in 1207, when peace was made between Philip of
Suabia and Otto, and the deposed archbishop surrendered his
claims.^*"
71 Bremen^ 1208-12 11 and 1211-1216.
In November, 1207, Hartwig, Archbishop of Bremen, died.
Philip of Suabia had pledged himself to help Waldemar, Bishop
of Schleswig, to secure his election to the archbishopric of
Bremen, and their plan easily carried. But when Waldemar
went to Rome to secure papal confirmation, at first he was
put off, and finally was refused. Thereupon, though the pope
had ordered him not to depart without permission, he secretly
left Rome and occupied the new see on his own authority,
with the joyful assent of the people of Bremen. ^"^ For this
high-handed procedure Waldemar was excommunicated, but
he prevented the publication of the bull by excluding it from
»»« (a) Annal. Colon, max., 1205, in MGSS., XVII, 821. Cf. Potth.,
2716. (b) Chron. Regia Coloniensis Cont., I, ad an. 1206-1207, in
MGSS., XXIV, 12-13.
"^(a) Inn. Ill, Epp. X, 62 (Potth., 3101). (b) Cf. Winkdmann,
Philipp V. Schwaben^ I, 393 and notes.
"8 MS. in Berlin (PoUh., 3363).
^'•Winkelmann, Philipp v. Schwaben^ I, 397.
'<» (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 209 (Potth., 3299). (b) Inn. Ill, Epp., X,
210 (Potth., 3300). (c) Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 10 (Potth., 3354).
138 T^HE INTERDICT
the city; finally, it was given legal validity by being secretly
deposited on the altar during mass. It was futile, however,
and an interdict was laid on the city between April and De-
cember of 1208,^°^ and was renewed July 2, 1209. Nothing
more is heard of this interdict. Perhaps it also was delayed
by allowing no knowledge of it to reach the city.*^"^ After the
death of Philip of Suabia, Waldemar for a time lost his power
and made his submission at Rome, and it seems probable that
the interdict was then relaxed. At any rate, when in 121 1
Otto IV turned against the papacy, and Waldemar, whose
fortunes now rose, reentered Bremen, another "^ interdict was
'^^^ It is impossible to do more than approximate the date of the interdict.
Innocent had, it seems, by February 21, 1208, determined to excommuni-
cate Waldemar, if the date assigned (by Potthast, Reg.^ 3299) to the pope's
letter to Philip of Suabia's queen, Mary, urging her to cause Philip to
avoid Waldemar as an excommunicate, may be trusted. This is supported
by the uncertain evidence of two other undated bulls, fixed by Potthast in
February, 1208 {Reg.^ 330o)> and March, 1208 [Reg.^ 3354 )> respectively.
The first of these, addressed to the bishop-elect of Wurzburg, instructs
him to announce Waldemar excommunicated. The second is addressed to
the King of Denmark, and notifies him of the excommunication and of the
instructions given many prelates to publish the sentence. No letters to
prelates containing such instructions are extant. The evidence of these
bulls is that the excommunication was published as soon as the letters,
issued sometime in February, 1208, could reach Germany. This was pos-
sibly the case. Nevertheless, in a bull dated November 4, 1208 (Epp.,
XI, 173; Potth., 3530), it is said that the Archbishop of Magdeburg, his
suffragan bishops, those of the see of Bremen, and the Bishops of Milnster
and Osnabriick, had been ordered to command Waldemar to go to Rome,
and if he failed to comply within one month to anathematize him.
Another bull, dated July 2, 1209 (Epp., XII, 63; Potth., 3760), agrees
almost verbally, in the part here considered, with that of November, 1208.
It is not impossible that these were the instructions given in February,
1208, though they may be of later date and may be regarded as a renewal
of the excommunication formerly issued. The importance of this for the
present purpose is that the letter of November, 1208, states that the prel-
ates had been instructed not only to anathematize Waldemar if he refused
to depart for Rome, but also to interdict any city, fortress, or commune
which adhered to him. Bremen adhered to Waldemar, and, if the papal
orders were executed, the city must have been interdicted. From these
facts it seems clear that the interdict was pronounced by December of 1208
at latest, and may have been pronounced as early as April of the same year.
'O'(a) Arnold. Lubec, lib. VII, c. 10 and c. 19, in MGSS., XXI. (b)
Winkelmann, Philipp v. Schwaberty II, 268.
'** It may be that the former interdict had been suspended.
APPENDIX 139
laid upon the city.""*^ The people bore the cessation of ser-
vices with great equanimity, for, being friendly to Otto, their
trade with England prospered.^"^ No other information re-
garding the interdict is forthcoming. Waldemar's fall was
assured by the defeat of Otto at Bouvines (1214), and in
i2i6 he was expelled from Bremen. '^'^ It is hardly possible
that the interdict lasted after the citizens expelled Waldemar.'^"'
7a Capua, 1220.
The canons of Capua celebrated services in the presence of
the Emperor Otto, and for this reason their city was put under
an interdict.'^
73 Naples, about 121 J.
The interdict of Naples was laid by the archbishop of the
city, because the citizens adhered to the excommunicated
emperor. Some questioned whether the papal excommunica-
tion of the emperor really gave any prelate authority to employ
interdict also, and the Archbishop of Naples put the question
before Innocent. The reply was that the Neapolitans by aid-
ing the emperor had justly incurred the loss of spiritual minis-
trations, and it was ordered that the sentence remain in force
until the fault was amended. Not even the dying were to be
allowed penance, unless they swore to obey the commands of
the church, and abjured the emperor, and even then they
might not have canonical burial.^"®
'°* Annal. Stadenses ad an. 121 1, in MGSS., XVI, 355.
*^ Bremer Urk. B., I, 127. Cited from Winkelmann, II, 386.
*"*Annal. Stadenses ad an. 121 7, etc.
'^' (a) Cf. Dehio, " Waldemar, Bischof von Schleswig," in \.ht Hisi.
Zeiischr., XXX (1873), 222-238. (b) Winkelmann, II, 460.
'^(a) Ryccardus de S. Germ., Chron. ad an. 1211, in MGSS., XIX,
334. (b) Ryccardus {MGSS., XIX, 338) states that at the Lateran Coun-
cil of 1 21 5 the Milanese were not allowed to speak for the Emperor Otto,
since they, being his adherents, were like him excommunicated. No other
source has been found to shed light on this sentence. If the whole city
was under disciphne, the sentence implied was no doubt an interdict.
2"»(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 74 (Potth., 4274). (b) Cf. Hurter, Inno-
ce?iz III, II, 367.
140 THE INTERDICT
74 Liege ^ ijg8-February 7^, Jigg,
This case has no connection with the struggle between
Philip of Suabia and Otto IV.""
TS Brabant y about 121 2 {i2 1 4), Liege^ 1212-1213. Lands
of Henry of Brabant {1212-1214).
Henry, Duke of Brabant, was excommunicated and his land
was interdicted by the Archbishop of Mainz, because of his
adherence to Emperor Otto. He was also under an interdict
resulting from his maltreatment of the Guelf bishop, Hugh of
Liege; in May, 1212, the city of Liege was besieged by the
Duke of Brabant and was captured and plundered by his
army. Thereupon a council of all the prelates of the diocese
of Liege, held at Huy,"^ determined that services should be
suspended, that the crucifix and the relics of the saints should
be encircled with thorns and thrown prostrate in every church
of the whole diocese, and that on all feast-days the sentence
of excommunication should be renewed against the duke.''^"
For nearly eighteen months, the crucifix and the relics of St.
Dodart and others lay on the floor of the cathedral. After
repeating the regular hours the canons of St. Gilles daily
entered the church, and at the close of the mass one of the
priests, clothed in the vestments of his oflSce and followed by
the whole clergy, led the way to the centre of the cathedral,
where all prostrated themselves and cried : " Look down, O
Lord, from thy holy habitation." ^'^
To these two interdicts of Henry a third was added. It
happened that, at a lawsuit presided over by papal commis-
sioners, one of the duke's servants struck a clerk so hard as to
'^^Reineri Annales, in MGSS.yXVl^ 654-655. Citizens buried their
dead without solemnities; but those who swore never thereafter to contra-
vene ecclesiastical liberty were not deprived of viaticum.
»'» (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 56 (Potth., 4736). (b) Chron. Leod., in
Rec.y XVIII, 622-623. Cf. Winkelmann, Philipp v. Sckwaben, II, 304.
^" Aegidius Aureavall. , Gest. Pont. Leod. ad an. 1 212, in MGSS. , XXV,
118.
"'Reineri Annal. ad an. 1212, in MGSS., XVI, 664, n. 24.
APPENDIX 141
draw blood ; on account of this the commissioners excom-
municated the duke and interdicted his lands, though he was
absent and ignorant of the whole affair. The trebly inter-
dicted duke's fortunes declined with those of the excommuni-
cated emperor, who could afford him no help equal to that
which Hugh obtained from France and Flanders. Henry
therefore deprived Hugh of French help by himself becoming
an ally of Philip Augustus, who at that time was on good terms
with Innocent HI ; a part of their agreement was that Henry
should marry a daughter of Philip. Henry then made appli-
cation to the pope, saying that he was ready to obey him and
to satisfy the Bishop of Li^ge , if the interdicts under which he
lay were removed. In response orders came from Rome in
May, 1 2 13, that the interdict should be relaxed as soon as the
duke had abjured all allegiance to Otto and had made satis-
faction or some agreement with the injured bishop. ^^* Bishop
Hugh, however, prevented the absolution of Duke Henry, and
the latter, still under the ban, was married at Laon by an ex-
communicated priest. He continued his attacks on the
bishop, who met him boldly and finally won a complete
triumph over him at Steppes, October 13, 12 13. The bells
of Liege at last broke the silence imposed upon them by the
interdict to proclaim the good news of the duke's defeat.
When the bishop returned to Liege, a conference was held with
the prominent men of the city, and after much dispute it was
decided to renew services at Liege. The interdict on Brabant
continued until the next year. On the last of February, 12 14,
Henry completed his peace with Bishop Hugh ; the duke
entered the cathedral, lifted up the prostrate crucifix, humbly
kneeled before the body of St. Lambert, and finally gave the
bishop the kiss of peace ; then he and his lands received
absolution."^
""Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 56 (PoUh., 4736).
'"Reineri Annal. ad an. 1213-1214, in MGSS.y XVI, 664-671. I
have found no record of an absolution by the other authorities who laii!
interdicts on the duke.
142 THE INTERDICT
76 Cologne^ 1214-1215,
Cologne adhered to Otto during his anti- papal wars, and
afforded him refuge even after the battle of Bouvines had given
Frederick II the victory. It held out in spite of papal inter-
dict until Frederick approached from Aachen. Then it
yielded and induced Otto to depart from the city. In conse-
quence of this submission the interdict was removed on Au-
gust 4, 1215 , after having lasted for seventeen months.'^^® The
interdict on Cologne ends the series of cases connected with
the Guelf and Ghibelline troubles.
77 Lands of the Countess of Blots (^between 1205 and 1213^.
This interdict grew out of the arrest of a robber by an offi-
cer of the Countess of Blois. The canons of Chartres de-
manded his surrender on the ground that he had been arrested
in their jurisdiction. When the quarrel grew serious, the
countess gave a pledge to abide by a judicial decision of the
matter, but the canons, disregarding the pledge, put her lands
under interdict and refused to relax it until she made amends.
They justified their refusal to relax by their privilege that
no one might relax interdicts laid by them unless suitable sat-
isfaction (*' congrua satisfactio ") had been made ; and they
considered reparation to be the only satisfaction. Failing to
get consideration from the canons, the representatives of the
countess applied to the metropolitan, who felt himself unable
to decide the case, and therefore referred it to Rome. There
the case was heard sometime between 1205 and 12 13 by
Roger, Cardinal- presbyter of the title of St. Anastasia.-" In-
nocent then wrote to the Abbot of St. Genevieve, the Dean,
and the Chancellor of Paris that the interpretation of the con-
tested words of the privilege depended on whether the inter-
dict was laid for contumacy, that is, if some one, when cited,
refused to stand before the law ; or whether it was laid for an
offence, that is, if some one, when ordered, refused to make
"• Winkelinann, Philipp v. Sckwaben, II, 393-396.
'"This fixes the date.
APPENDIX
143
reparation. In the first case, a pledge to appear before a court
was *' congrua satisfactio ", and the interdict could be relaxed :
in the second case, if the offence was clear, the interdict could
not be relaxed until actual reparation was made."* What ac-
tion was taken upon this decision is not known, for the inter-
dict is not heard of elsewhere.
78 Lands of the Countess of Champagne , various dates,
MeauXy 1214.
That the Countess of Champagne was repeatedly annoyed
by interdicts is evident from her complaint at Rome, in which
she asserts that the Archbishop of Sens and the Bishops of
Troyes, Langres, Chalons, and Auxerre hastily pronounced sen-
tences of excommunication and interdict against her lands
and her subjects, rather from impulse than from zeal for
righteousness. Her complaint brought the offending prelates
a communication from Rome demanding of them such deport-
ment as would give the countess no further grievance (No-
vember, 1210).'^^* Perhaps the warning was temporarily effec-
tive, but subsequent events show that it lost its power over
some of the former offenders, for in 12 14 Innocent found it
necessary to take Blanche and her son Thibaut IV under his
protection, against the bishops and other prelates of the pro-
vince of Reims, and especially against the Bishop of Chalons.
All these had encroached upon her civil jurisdiction '^^"^ and had
used excommunications and interdicts to sustain their courts,
and to compel the payments of the fines of those persons who
violated the Lord's day by fighting. ^^' In order to make this
protection of the countess effective, on December 10, 12 14,
the pope called the attention of the Archbishop of Reims, the
Bishops of Chalons and Soissons, and their officials and chap-
ters, to his recent intervention in behalf of the countess, and
*^®C. 23. X. de verb, signif. 5. 40.
"»Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat. 5993 A, fol. 6, r°-7, v' (Potth.,
'•^Ibid. (Potth., 4943). V^^^^ OF MEOM£>Nv
»'*Lebeuf, Mim. Diocise d' Auxerre, I, 389-3 9^r^\^^Jj>'-- ^"^^ p
ST. MICHAEL'S
OOLLfcQE y^^
144 ^^^ INTERDICT
suggested that they should not lightly issue either excommuni-
cation or interdict against her or her subjects ; he also notified
them that the Bishop of Auxerre, the Abbot of Vezelai, and
the Archdeacon of Auxerre were empowered to use ecclesi-
astical disciplines against them.^" But even this was not ade-
quate protection, for in 12 15 Innocent granted to the countess
and her son the privilege that no one could excommunicate
them or interdict their lands. These orders and privileges
were no doubt the result of frequent threats, if not of sentences
of interdict. ^^^ Of the duration, extent, and effectiveness of
the threats and sentences nothing is known with the exception
of the following interdict on the town of Meaux in 12 14. A
charter of Stephen of Noyon relates that he came to Meaux on
business and found the place under interdict because the pr^vot
of the Countess of Champagne had seized some church proper-
ties. Finding that the countess was in the town, Stephen
went to her and advised her to restore the properties. She
acted on his advice, but reserved all rights. *^^* This charter of
Stephen is dated Sunday , March 2 , 1 2 1 4 , about which time it
is probable that the interdict was relaxed.
79 Rouen, 1207.
This interdict was laid on Rouen and all its churches by
the chapter of the city, because a canon had been imprisoned
by the mayor on account of a brawl. "^ The King of France
was greatly concerned about the matter, and wrote to the
chapter many times, advising, commanding, and threatening;
finally he sent four commissioners to induce the chapter to
relax the interdict for the honor of the king, and promised
that the cause of the canons should be tried. On the first
day, the chapter stood its ground and the negotiations were
futile ; on the second day, the commissioners offered to acquit
'"Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat. 5993 A, fol. 7, r^-S, v« (Potth., 4946).
"'Potth., 5269.
"♦Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat. 5993 A, fol. 158, r-'-isg, V. C/". Arbois de
Jubainville, Comtes de Champagne^ V, 87, 905.
"*Chron. Rothomag. ad an. 1207, in Labbe, Nova Bibl., I, 370-37»»
APPENDIX 145
the canon on condition that the interdict be relaxed. The
chapter responded that the mayor had detained the canon
contrary to justice and to ecclesiastical liberty, even after he
had been asked to free him ; and that therefore the city was
imder interdict, which sentence ought not to be and could not
be relaxed until the mayor had made reparation. The chap-
ter carried the day. The canon was surrendered, and the
mayor, in the presence of the full chapter, the royal agents,
and a large throng which gathered to witness the event, gave
bail and provided good and sufficient sponsors. ^^^ These
things having been done for the praise of the Lord and the
honor of the church, the interdict was removed.'^"
80 England^ 1208-1214,
The great interdict of England and the interdicts growing
out of it are intentionally omitted.
8i Oxford, I20g-i2i4,
In the course of the year 1209, ^ student, while practicing
archery, accidentally killed a woman. ^^^ When he found that
she was dead, he sought safety in flight. The mayor and
others, upon discovering the body, searched for the homi-
cide in the lodgings which he with three fellow-clerks had
rented. Not finding the guilty man, they imprisoned his
three companions, who were still entirely ignorant of the
accident. Some days after, at the order of King John, whose
realm was then under interdict, and who doubtless enjoyed
the opportunity of making the lot of clerks miserable, the
"•Antiquus Cartul. Eccl. Baiocen., No. 300, in Mem. Soc. Antiq.
Norm., 8 (1834), i, 452-453-
"■'Chron. Rothomag. ad an. 1211, in Labbe, A'<7e/« Bibl., I, 372. This
interdict was caused by the Archbishop of Rouen's retention of the chap-
ter's share of the income from Dieppe. It was laid on the cathedral Sep-
tember 17, and was removed September 29 through the mediation of the
Bishop of Evreux.
"^ The Chronicle of Lanercost (ed. Stevenson, Bannatyne Club, p. 4 —
I take this from Walt. Covent., Mem., R. Ser., II, 201, n. 2) leads one
to suppose that the cause for the trouble was the maltreatment and subse-
quent murder of a girl. Cf. Chron. Mailros, ed. Fulman, p. 182.
146 THE INTERDICT
captives were conducted out of the city and hanged."" In
consequence about three thousand scholars, including nearly
all the masters, departed from the city.^^ Some went to
Cambridge, and others to Reading. An interdict was laid
upon the city, though when and by whom is nowhere stated ; **'
it endured at least until October, 12 13, for Bishop Nicolas of
Tusculum reached England about the end of September, 12 13,
and made his way to Westminster, where he was met by the
citizens of Oxford who were responsible for the hanging, and
who now begged for absolution.'^"''' The legate fixed a penance
for them, a part of which was that they should lay aside their
garments and shoes, and with scourges in their hands should
go to each church of Oxford, sing the fiftieth Psalm, and
^^^ From the statement of Wendover (i?, 5^r.), II, 51, it seems that
three clerks were hanged. Later, however, he says that only two clerks
perished in this way, ibid.^ 94. The Annals of Coventry and the Chronicle
of Lanercost state that one clerk was hanged. That several were hanged
appears from the form of absolution to be mentioned later.
230 Wendover i^R. Ser,), II, 51, states that not a single one was left.
By the terms of submission this statement is proved to be too strong. C/.
Annal. Osney {R. Ser.) and Annal. Monast. {R. Ser.)^ IV, 54, and
Chron. Petroburgense^ ed. Stapelton, p. 6.
2^* C. W. Boase, in his Oxford^ p. 65-66, states that the interdict was
laid by the legate Nicolas, Bishop of Tusculum. This cannot be correct,
for Nicolas was in or near Rome throughout the year 1209 and attested
papal letters (Potth., 3621, 3637, 3726, 3740, 3742, 3755, 3770, 3789,
3852, 3856, 3858). He was not sent as legate to England until 1213,
Wendover {R. Ser.), II, 93. The fact that there was an interdict on
Oxford appears from the penance imposed on the city by the legate Nicolas,
Mun. Acad. Oxon. [R. Se7:), I, 1-4. The annals of Coventry and the
Chronicle of Lanercost hint at an interdict.
i3s \Yendover {R. Ser.), II, 94. The penance mentioned by Wendover
seems to have been assigned at Westminster. It should, however, be
noted that on June 25, 1214, the legale Nicolas issued the terms for the
absolution of the people of Oxford, and that at that time the interdict was
still in force. Possibly the legate assigned a preliminary penance in West-
minster, and the absolution to be given by the priests was merely for the
murder and not from the interdict. At any rate this account of Wendover's
raises a curious point. In the first place, as has been said, the interdict
was still in force in Oxford on June 25, 1214. How, then, could priests
give absolution in churches? This difficulty is made more serious by the
fact that the interdict of the realm was still in force until about July i. No
doubt Nicolas in his capacity as legate had power to open churches for the
purpose indicated by Wendover, whose statement is therefore reconcilable
with events.
APPENDIX
147
thereby obtain absolution from the priest. In order that
neither they nor others should dare to commit a similar deed
it was determined that this penance should be prolonged by
their going thus to but a single church each day.
The citizens as a whole were also disciplined. On June 25 ,
1 2 14, the legate addressed a letter to the burgesses of Oxford
fixing their penalty for permitting the clerks to be hanged. It
was therein stipulated that for ten years the townsmen should
exact for loclgings only one- half the rent that they had charged
previous to the withdrawal of the clerks. As for halls con-
structed afterwards, or halls the rent of which had not been
determined, the charges were to be fixed by a board of four
clerks and four burgesses. Besides, the city was to contribute
fifty pounds annually, payable in two instalments, for the
support of poor scholars ; and forever after on St. Nicholas'
day the city was to set a feast of bread, ale, pottage, and fish
or meat for one hundred poor scholars to be named by the
Bishop of Lincoln, or on his authority. The citizens were to
swear to sell provisions to the scholars at fair and reasonable
rates, and not to circumvent this agreement by fraudulent
arrangements of any sort ; ^'^ if thereafter they arrested a clerk
they were on demand to deliver him to the Bishop of Lincoln
for safe-keeping ; and they were to renew this oath each year.
A properly certified charter containing these terms was to be
drawn up and given to the Bishop of Lincoln for safe-
keeping.'"^ The masters who had continued teaching after the
scholars had fled from the city were suspended from lecturing
for three years. After the interdict was relaxed all those citi-
zens who had been convicted of hanging the clerks were to go
without hats, coats, or shoes to the graves of the clerks whom
they had hanged, and were to bury them properly in a place
indicated by the clergy. When these things were complied
"••This gave the University a right to share in the regulation of the
markets of the city. See Burrows, Collectanea^ II, 46 {Pub. Oxf. Hi$i.
Soe., 1890).
"*Mun. Acad. Oxon. {R. Ser.), 1-4.
148 THE INTERDICT
with, the lectures were to be resumed except by those who
were suspended. Should they fail to meet the terms once
agreed to, the interdict was to revive. The Bishop of Lincoln
was made executor of the order. With the imposition of this
severe penalty the interdict of Oxford disappears.
82 Bergamo, about 12 10,
The city of Bergamo disagreed with the canons because the
citizens made exactions on ecclesiastics. For this reason the
city was interdicted and remained under the sentence for a
long time. As a consequence of the cessation of services the
piety of the people began to diminish, and heresy began to
put forward a bolder front. When the podesta of the city at
last pleaded for mercy , the bishop and the chapter hesitated to
accept without papal consent the satisfaction offered , and they
brought the matter before Innocent. In April, 12 10, he in-
structed the Abbot of St. Ambrose and the Archdeacon of
Milan to make what terms seemed most expedient, and there-
after to relax the interdict.*^*
83 Coimbra, 1211 .
The interdict of Coimbra grew out of a difference of long
standing between King Sancho of Portugal and the Bishop of
Coimbra. ^^^ The immediate occasion for it was the bishop's
demand that the king dismiss a sorceress whom he daily con-
sulted. In a rage the king summoned the bishop, who refused
to come. Seeking some further cause against the prelate, the
king, stopping in a village of the bishop, demanded a meal
under the right of purveyance. The demand was refused and
Sancho demolished the buildings belonging to the bishop and
canons, despoiled the church, and seized considerable episco-
pal property. For this reason the bishop interdicted his dio-
cese, and to prevent the Archbishop of Braga, who was friendly
to the king, from raising the sentence appealed to the pope.
Receiving news of this, Sancho ordered the confiscation of
'"Inn. Ill, Epp., XIII, 43 (Potth., 3962 U
""Luchaire, Les Rovautis Vassales du Sairtf-Si^j^f, 14.
APPENDIX I4Q
the property of any clerics who refused to hold services, de-
claring that he should consider them his personal enemies,
and that he should regard those as traitors who assisted them
in any way. The Archbishop of Braga, on instructions from
the king, summoned the Bishop of Coimbra to his presence to
show cause for laying the interdict, and after a day ordered
the bishop to remove the sentence. This the prelate declined
to do, because no reparation had been made or promised for
the damage to his church and property. But when the en-
raged king, among other cruelties, blinded several clerics, who
persisted in observing the interdict, in the presence of their
relatives and friends, the bishop, fearing for his own safety
and that of the innocent, relaxed the interdict in spite of the
cost and loss to himself.^" Not long afterward King Sancho
came to an agreement with the bishop and the pope, and the
latter confirmed his testament. "^^^ Sancho died soon after.
84 Portugal, 1212-1213.
Alfonso II, Sancho's successor, and his sisters fell into dis-
agreement over their inheritance, and the sisters applied to
the pope and obtained a confirmation of their father's testa-
ment."'* The Archbishop of Compostella and the Bishop of
Zamora were instructed to guard the rights of the princesses,
and thus it came about that Alfonso was excommunicated and
Portugal interdicted.^*" Two Spanish abbots were commis-
sioned by the pope to arbitrate the difference. When they
were about to absolve the king from excommunication and in-
terdict, the sisters restrained them on .the plea that the papal
letters ordering the absolution were forged. The abbots de-
cided to take time to investigate. The king maintained that
he suffered damage, because the agreement to remove the
sentence as soon as he had taken the required oath had not
been kept, and he therefore appealed to Rome. Both parties
«Unn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 8 (Potth., 4187).
»8Inn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 58 (Potth., 4255).
«9 Potth., 4316, 4318, 4319, 4324.
**°Luchaire, Les Royautes Vassales^ 25.
ISO
THE INTERDICT
sent representatives to the pope , who commanded on May 2 1 ,
1 2 1 3 , that as soon as the king took oath to accept the papal
award the sentences should be removed."'
85 Lands of Raymond of Toulouse^ 1 2oy. Ambulatory inter-
dict^ i2o8-i2og. Toulouse^ i2og-i2io and 1211-
1214.
The difficulties of the church with the Albigenses caused
several interdicts. As early as 11 98 Innocent gave his agents
in Albigensian lands authority to use interdict to compel obe-
dience to the church,^*^ The discipline was, however, not em-
ployed until 1207. At that time, Pierre de Castelnau, the
legate, was endeavoring to force Raymond VI of Toulouse to
make peace with his local enemies, and to cease favoring the
heretics. Raymond refused, whereupon the legate excom-
municated the count and put an interdict upon his lands ; this
sentence was confirmed by the pope on May 29, 1207.^**
Raymond must have met the demands of the legate, for he was
absolved before the first of August, and the interdict was
doubtless removed at the same time.'"^** Before the end of the
year Raymond and the legate again disagreed. The latter
considered the count too tolerant toward heretics, and ex-
pressed his conviction by excommunicating him. Raymond
tried to come to an understanding, but he seemed too vacil-
lating and uncertain in his attitude to the papal emissaries, and
they refused him favor. The angry count threatened them
with death. On January 15, 1208, as Pierre de Castelnau
was about to cross the Rhone, he was murdered by two un-
known men generally supposed to have been under orders
from the Count of Toulouse. This crime brought the wrath of
the church upon the count. Orders were issued by the curia
211
Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 52 (PoUh., 4732)-
2«Inn. Ill, Epp., I, 94 (PoUh., 95).
2*3 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., X, 69 (PoUh., 31 14). (b) Rec, XIX, 491
(PoUh., 3115).
"♦ (a) Petrus de Vallibus-Sarnaii, c. 3, in Rec.^ XIX, 1-113. (b) Hist.
Gin. de LanguedoCy VI, 258.
APPENDIX
ISI
on March lo to the prelates of southern Gaul to excommuni-
cate the murderer and those who gave him advice or aid, and
to put under interdict all places to which he and his friends
should come. To this was added a special excommunication
of the count.^*""^ This sentence endured for more than a year,
though nothing is recorded of its operation. In June, 1209, a
council was held at St. Gilles, and there Raymond came to
terms. He took oath to the conditions propounded by the
legates, and was absolved from excommunication with a thor-
ough shriving. '*'^ The terms under which the interdict was to
be relaxed were fixed at the council and were afterwards pub-
lished by the legates. Persons of importance excommunicated
and interdicted nominatim who had not been present at the
council were to appear, with letters from their bishops, before
one of the legates for absolution. As to persons of lesser im-
portance and the people, it was enough if the bishop or his
authorized agent went to the place interdicted, and received
the oath of the inhabitants to accept the award of the church.
Bodies buried during the interdict were exhumed and were in-
terred anew with the customary rites — unless they were ex-
communicated nominatiniy in which case they had no right to
burial anyway. If these things were done, the interdict was
to be relaxed."^" Raymond then joined the crusaders against
the Albigenses, and for a short time there was harmony. It
ended when the legates sent emissaries to demand of the count
and the citizens of Toulouse that they deliver to the barons of
the army all persons whom the deputies should name , in order
that such persons might clear themselves of charges of heresy.
They were to deliver also the property of the persons named,
under pain of excommunication and interdict. Raymond re-
sponded that the demand was unjust, since he was recently
absolved of all faults ; and the citizens of Toulouse who were
named as suspects by the deputies proclaimed that they were
2*^ Inn. Ill, Epp., XI, 26 (Potth., 3324).
"• Hist. Gen. de Languedoc^ VI, 277-282.
^' Acta Concilii Vaurensis, in Hard., VI, 2019-2035.
152
THE INTERDICT
perfectly orthodox, and that they with their fellow-citizens had
sworn to that effect.^*® The consuls of the city called the
attention of the deputies to the fact that they had burned
heretics whenever they found them, and they declared them-
selves prepared to undergo legal action in their own city.
This answer seemed contumacious to the legates, and they ex-
communicated the consuls and proclaimed an interdict against
the city. This probably occurred after mid-year of 1209. To
this sentence was presently added a sentence of excommuni-
cation against Count Raymond and an interdict upon his
lands because the count refused to comply with the various
demands made upon him. The sentence was moderated by
giving Raymond until All Saints' day to make his peace;
until that time the interdict was to be suspended. Innocent
was notified of these proceedings about the tenth of Septem-
ber.^*' The sentence of interdict no doubt went into effect,
for Raymond did not appear before the legates. He resolved
instead to complain to the pope in person.
He visited the court of Philip Augustus to influence that
monarch in his favor, and from there went to Rome (Janu-
ary, 1210).^^" Innocent received him with kindness; and, if
the count did not secure all he had hoped, he at least ob-
tained the right of disproving the accusation of heresy.
About the same time, envoys of the citizens of Toulouse ap-
peared in Rome with credentials, and sought from the pope
absolution for their city. In the same month, Innocent gave
orders that the sentence should be removed, if the city gave
sufficient pledge ; but, if the citizens failed to fulfil their
promises, the interdict should revive. It seemed to the pope
to be ill-advised to continue an interdict for so long a time
when a city was prepared to yield. ^" These instructions were
"8(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 170 (b) Hist. Gin. de Languedoc.Vl,
300-301; VIII, 612-613.
2«Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 107.
^^ Hist. Gin. de Languedoc, VI, 308, 319-320.
2^1 (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XII, 156 (Potth., 3885). (b) Hist. Gin. dt
Languedoc^ VIII, 614-615.
APPENDIX 153
followed. The legate Arnold, without waiting for ThMise,
who had been associated with him in this affair, agreed to
relax the interdict for a payment of a thousand pounds. The
citizens promised to pay this sum and were given the bene-
diction. When, however, only one-half of the sum promised
was forthcoming, because of a misunderstanding among the
people regarding the apportionment of the tax, the legate re-
newed the excommunication of the consuls and the interdict
of the city, though all the citizens were willing to obey him.
This step greatly angered the people and it seemed for a time
that the trouble was further than ever from a settlement.
Still they did not dare to be open rebels, and therefore re-
newed their oath, and gave hostages of their good faith,
whereupon the sentences were again removed (1210)."^
But the difficulties of the citizens of Toulouse were not yet
over. A council was held at St. Gilles in September, 12 10,
to try Raymond on the charge of heresy, and for the murder
of Pierre de Castelnau. Acquittal was refused him on the
ground that he had not fulfilled promises made under oath,
and that he was therefore guilty of perjury. An excommuni-
cation followed, and was confirmed by Innocent on April 15,
1 2 1 1 }^' The interdict is not mentioned in this connection,^^*
but it is evident that an ambulatory interdict dogged the
count, for on the Saturday after Mid- Lent, 12 11, when the
Bishop of Toulouse desired to ordain priests, he was prevented
by the presence of the count.^^^ In order to surmount this
difficulty the bishop requested the count to leave the city on
pretense of making a pleasure excursion ; Raymond in wrath
sent an envoy to the bishop ordering him to depart at once.
^'^ Hist. Gen. de Languedoc^ VIII, 614-616.
'Winn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 36, 38 (Potth., 4226).
^^The letter of the Bishop of Riez and Magister Thedise in relating the
excommunication states : ''Propter quae a legatis, de communi consilio
praelatorum, multoties fuit anathematis mucrone percussus et exposita terra
ejus." This last statement probably implies an interdict. Hist. Gin. de
Languedoc, VII, 49, n. xvi,
^^^Petrus de Vallibus-Sarnaii, c. 51.
154 ^^^ INTERDICT
The prelate replied : "The Count of Toulouse did not create
me bishop, nor was I ordained by him , nor for him ; I was
elected in accordance with ecclesiastical law and not thrust in
by violence or by the authority of a prince. I will not leave
because of him. Let him come if he dare ; I am prepared to
be put to the sword in order to attain glory by the cup of pas-
sion. Let the tyrant come, armed and with his minions; he
will find me alone and unarmed. I await the reward, and will
fear nothing that men can do to me." The bishop remained
forty days expecting each one to be his last, but the count
dared not touch him and allowed him to depart unharmed
from Toulouse and join the army of the cross.
In the same year, 121 1, the crusaders turned upon Ray-
mond, and because the people of Toulouse adhered to him
they were once more interdicted by the legate. '^^ This inter-
dict disappeared in the troublous times which followed and is
not heard of again until 12 13, when it receives passing men-
tion in a papal bull.^^^ The existence of an interdict in
Toulouse is also indicated previous to the battle of Muret.
The citizens of Toulouse were beginning to weaken and sent
an envoy to ask Bishop Fulc to come into the city. The pre-
late asked Peter of Aragon, the military ally of Toulouse, for
a safe-conduct, but was refused and told that, if he cared to
negotiate with the citizens, he could do so with perfect se-
curity. Fearing this was raillery, the bishop replied : *' It is
not meet for a servant to enter a place from which his master
is exiled. I shall not return to a place from which the body
of Christ has been expelled until my God and my Lord him-
self returns." ^^ The cause of the people of Toulouse became
hopeless with the victory of Simon de Montfort and the death
of Peter of Aragon at Muret, but efforts for immediate peace
failed.'^ So far had the oppression of Toulouse gone that
"^"^ Hist. G'en de Languedoc, VJ, 363.
2" Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 48 (Potth., 4741).
^^ Hist. Gin. de /.anguedoc, VI, 423-424.
'^^'* Ibid., 432.
APPENDIX 155
Innocent at this time sent a new legate to bring the city
back into harmony with the church ; and took the city under
the protection of the Holy See.'*^ In April, 12 14, the city
finally submitted, and it was then, no doubt, that the inter-
dict, now three years old, was relaxed.
86 Marseilles^ frovi about September^ I20g^ till after Aprils
I2JI.
The interdict just described lay also on the lands of Rous-
selin. Viscount of Marseilles."*^'
87 Narbonney 1216.
As long as Raymond and his followers were able to oppose
Simon de Montfort, the latter and the church agreed fairly
well ; but, when Raymond was conquered, there was no check
on the ambition of Simon except the church. Among other
objects he desired to possess the Duchy of Narbonne, and
therefore he occupied it. This was absolutely contrary to the
desires of the Archbishop of Narbonne, who retaliated by ex-
communicating the count and by putting an interdict on all
the churches of Narbonne, especially on the chapel of the
castle, for the time that Simon remained in the city. Simon
now had little of the horror of interdicts that he formerly pro-
fessed to have, and he zealously had services performed in
the chapel particularly interdicted ; he had its bell rung
though all other churches in the city were closed. '■^^^ The
archbishop, thereupon, forbade clerks to perform services in
this chapel, but to this prohibition they paid no attention ; he
forbade Simon to enter or attend services in this chapel,
but Simon made sport of it all with a laughing retort. The
archbishop could not endure this insult and solemnly ana-
"^Inn. Ill, Epp., XVI, 172 (Potth., 4890).
*•* (a) Hist. Gen. de Langutdoc^ VI, 304-306. (b) Inn, III, Epp.,
XIV, 40 (Potth., 4230).
^" Potth., 5213. De Montfort may have done this in pursuance of the
papal privilege which permitted him and his wife to hear services in inter-
dicted places. This pri\-ilege was annulled by Honorius Ill's confirmation
of the sentences imposed on Simon.
156 THE INTERDICT
thematized Simon. This aggravated interdict only irritated
Simon, and produced greater ill-will toward the archbishop
among the people.
The legates then became interested in the matter. Arnold,
Abbot of Citeaux, confirmed the sentences against Simon, and
prayed for papal ratification. Before this was obtained Inno-
cent died, and Honorius III was appealed to. He con-
firmed the sentences and called the case before him by a wTit
of November 23, 12 16. Simon continued to act as Duke of
Narbonne ; otherwise the outcome of the episode is unknown.'*"
88 Auxerre^ about 11 84-1 204.
Hugh Noyers, Bishop of Auxerre, disputed with Peter of
Courtenay over property almost from the time that the latter
became Count of Nevers (1184). The bishop defended him-
self with the interdict. It was in force for fifteen years, ex-
cept at such rare times as the prelate and the noble seemed to
be at peace. Invariably the count offended anew, and the
interdict again went into effect. '^^* The long struggle finally
began to show its evil effects in the large increase of crimes ;
and it was feared that heresies would spread, inasmuch as men
were becoming careless of their spiritual safety, for which
reason the bishop and the canons, after some deliberation,
agreed to alter the nature of the interdict. The count was
excommunicated, and the interdict was observed in the city
only so long as the count was present ; services did not cease
altogether, but were conducted according to the rules for
privileged places. By this substitution of an ambulatory for a
local interdict the pressure was not removed from the count,
though the burden of the church was lessened. ■^'^ Hardly had
this arrangement been made when the interdict was laid on
France (1200). For various reasons the Bishop of Auxerre,
strange as it may seem, refused to heed it.^^
^^ Hist. Gin. de Languedoc, VI, 479-481.
'^^^ Davidsohn, Philipp II und'Ingeborg^ 1 02- 103.
^•^ Hist. Episc. Autiss. ad an. 1203-4, in Labbe, Nova Bibl.^ I, 475.
''*^ See above, p. 79f.
APPENDIX
157
For nearly two years little is heard of the Auxerre interdict ;
in March, 1203, papal letters were addressed to Abbot Ro-
dulf and the monks of St. Germain of Auxerre, granting them
as an especial favor the right to ring one bell at the burial ser-
vice of a monk, providing the interval between the strokes of
the bell was brief, and the bell was rung for a short time. This
privilege was granted, it is stated, because the Bishop of
Auxerre had granted a like privilege to the monastery of St.
Julian and to the cathedral of Auxerre. '"^^^ This clearly shows
that an interdict was in force, though the accounts of the in-
terdict give some cause to infer a lull in hostilities, if not an
agreement, during the first half of 1203.'"'^ Peace, however,
did not last long. The excommunication of the count and the
interdict pursuing him finally provoked him to a violent attack
on the bishop and the clergy. ''^^'* About September, 1203,
Count Peter was in Auxerre, and as a consequence of his pre-
sence the interdict was in force in the city. A mother whose
child had died and could not be buried, because sepulture in
the cemeteries was prohibited by the interdict, came to re-
proach the count. Her importunate clamor and lamentations
sent him into such a fury ^"^ that after the body had lain for
three days '™ he ordered it to be buried before the bed in the
bishop's chamber.^^^ After this order was executed, the count
»«^ (a) Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 23 (Potth., 1862). (b) It is possible that
this practice of the cathedral is part of the agreement mentioned above, to
mitigate the interdict.
^^This may be a new case altogether, (a) Hist. Episc. Autiss. ad an.
1203-1204, in Labbe, Nova Bihl., I, 475. "Comes. . . quodam
tempore excommunicatus fuerat ab Episcopo Autiss. civitas interdicto con-
clusa propter graves ejus excessus, qui vehementis indignationis igne suc-
census . . Episcopum . . . et Canonicos et Clericos . . a civitate
ejecit ..." (b) Robt. Altiss. , Chronolog. ad an. 1204, in Rec.^
XVIII, 269. '• Siquidem, anno praeterito, idem Comes, quibusdam de
causis, ab episcopo anathematis vinculo innodatus ..." (c) Inn. Ill,
Epp., VI, 149 (Potth., 2002). (d) Ibid.^ 150 (Potth., 2003),
"'See above, n, 268a.
'^"Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 149. •* . . . corpus . . . triduanum forsan et
foetidum . . , "
''^ See above, n. 268,
Igg THE INTERDICT
pretended that he desired reconciliation and secured a confer-
ence, at which instead of reaching an agreement he per-
petrated a new outrage. The dean and other clerks were
pursued to their homes by servants of the count. Shortly
after, much ecclesiastical property was seized,''" and persecu-
tion became so severe that the bishop fled from the diocese
and retired to Pontigny."' The King of France profited by
this opportunity to appropriate some of the bishop's property.
The time at which the burial of the child occurred can only be
inferred; it seems to have been about September, 1203,
judging from the fact that between the ninth and the twenty-
first of October '''^* of that year Innocent wrote a letter to the
count, in which he mentioned the insult offered to the bishop
in trying ** to convert his home into a cemetery," and com-
manded Peter to recall the prelate and make good the many
injuries done him. If the count failed to do this, the Arch-
bishop of Sens and the Bishops of Chartres and Chalons
would on every Sunday and feast-day declare him excommuni-
cated, and would on papal authority subject not only all his
lands to interdict, but also every locality to which he should
come.^^^ These instructions are extant : besides ordering the
above threatened sentences to be proclaimed, they instruct the
commissioners to urge the King of France to restore those
properties of Bishop Hugh which he had wrongfully appro-
priated."^
At the same time there was issued from the papal chancel-
lery a letter, addressed to Philip of France, which began with
an unusually long eulogy of that monarch, and, after recount-
ing the startling events at Auxerre, urgently requested the king
to restore the confiscated possessions of the bishop and to use
*" Robt. Altiss., Chronolog. ad an. 1204, in Rec.^ XVIII, 269.
*"Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 150.
^''^That this letter was written in October is not absolutely certain. Cf,
Potth., 2003.
"^Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 149, 150 (Potth., 2002, 2003).
"«Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 151 (Potth., 2004).
APPENDIX IgQ
his authority to bring Count Peter to obedience.'" The Arch-
bishop of Sens and his assistants informed the Bishop of
Auxerre of this papal interference in his behalf."'^ For a time
the count remained firm, but his humihation came at last and
the bishop exacted a fitting revenge. On Palm Sunday, April
i8, 1204, there gathered in Auxerre a much larger number of
people than was usual on that festival ; nobles and prelates
from other dioceses were there, besides many whom the
novelty of the scene to be enacted had induced to come. In
the presence of this multitude the count performed his pen-
ance. At the appointed time Peter of Courtenay, clothed in
penitential garb, entered the bedchamber of the bishop, and
with his own hands disinterred the body, which had now lain
some months, and which emitted odors offensive to all present.
Then, as though he were the commonest of men, the humili-
ated noble raised the putrid body to his shoulder, and, in the
sight of all conveyed it in procession to the cemetery, where
he completed his expiation by doing sexton's service."^
89 Auxerre^ between 120J aud 1220.
The Dean of Auxerre gave orders to observe an interdict,
laid probably by the authority of the chapter. The bishop
countermanded the order and as a result many priests paid no
attention to the dean's instruction. He therefore suspended
them, but the bishop absolved them, and they continued to
perform offices. The difficulty came to the knowledge of the
Archbishop of Sens ; he ruled againt the bishop and ordered
those who had relied on the bishop and disobeyed the dean to
be scourged. This evident injustice to the clergy was prob-
ably the reason why one of their number. Master Robert, re-
»" Potth., 2003.
"^Inn. Ill, Epp., VI, 152 (Potth., 2005J.
■'"• (a) Hist. Episc. Autiss. ad an. 1203-1204, in Labbe, Nova Bibl.^
II, 475. (b) Robt. Altiss. , Chronolog. ad an. 1204, in Rec.^ XVIII,
269. (c) There is no mention of removal of the sentence of either ex-
communication or interdict. It is probable that the sentences were re-
moved upon the completion of the count's abject submission.
l6o '^HE INTERDICT
belled : he was kept on bread and water for a period. ^^ That
it is not the same interdict as that which lay on the city so
long because of Count Peter of Courtenay is evident from the
fact that the bishop opposed this sentence. ^^^ Though little
is known of this case, one feature of it is noteworthy ; namely,
the inferiors suffered when the authorities disputed over an in-
terdict.
90 Orleans and Auxerre, 12OQ-1212.
In 1209 King Philip ordered the feudal army to assemble
for an expedition into Brittany. ^^^ When the Bishops of Or-
leans and Auxerre arrived, and learned that the king was not
to command in person, they returned home without the king's
consent, averring that they were obliged to serve only when he
led the army ; many lay princes followed their example. The
king was exceedingly angry ; he ordered the bishops to explain
and to make amends, and when they failed he seized their
temporalities, leaving them their titles and spiritualities. The
response of the bishops was an interdict on all royal lands
within their dioceses ,^®^ and a journey to Rome to make a
complaint. '^^ The pontiff declined to infringe upon the laws
of the realm j"^^ and preferred to get as much as possible for
the church by persuasion of the king. In November, 12 10,
the pope wrote two letters : "^ one to the king requesting him
to restore the temporalities, and to pardon any offense given
him ; and another to the Archbishop of Sens and his suffragan
bishops urging them to lessen the wrath of the king. These
letters were altogether ineffectual. In August, i2ii,acom-
'*''" Hist. Episc. Autiss., c. lix, in Labbe, Nova Bibl.^ I, 481.
^^^ See above, p. 156.
282(a) Chron. de S. Denis ad an. 1209, in AV., XVII, 394. (b)
Lebeuf, Mim. Diocise d'' Auxerre, I, 370-372.
2S3(a) Chron. de S. Denis ad an. 1209, in Rec, XVII, 394. (b)
Lebeuf, Mim. Diocise d' Auxerre, I, 370-372. (c) Guill. Armor., De
Gest. Phil. Aug. ad an. 1209, in Rec, XVII, 82.
28* See above, n. 283a, b.
28s See above, n. 283a, c.
'8« See above, n. 283b.
APPENDIX l6i
munication was sent by the curia to Philip stating that, as he
would not restore the bishops' property without legal proce-
dure, so the pope could not remove the interdict without judi-
cial cognition. The suggestion followed that each party give
up its demand for legal action, and that the matter be settled
by arbitration.'^ About March, 12 12, Innocent once more
tried to persuade the king to surrender the temporalities, and
promised that after that had taken place he would sift the
matter to the bottom. This was an advantage that the king
refused to have taken from him, for he was well aware of the
justice of his position and would not weaken his case. Instead
he secured from the pope a commission to the Archbishop of
Sens to hear and decide the case f^ the archbishop was in-
structed to induce both parties to give up legal procedure and
to settle the matter by agreement.'^^*^ Disregarding his in-
structions and over-riding the appeal of the bishops, the arch-
bishop at once decided in the king's favor ^^^ and declared the
interdict relaxed. ^^ His acts were canceled by the pope,'^^^
who restored all things to their former state and ordered that
no one presume to violate the interdict ; "^^^ at the same time he
wrote to the king, and, without mentioning the reversal of the
decision of the Archbishop of Sens, he endeavored to convince
the king that he had acted illegally toward the bishops, that
he deserved the interdict issued by them, and that he ought
to restore the properties before the interdict was relaxed ; after
restoration and relaxation had taken place, the case could be
tried in the royal court. ^' But this sort of reasoning did not
induce Philip to give up the property, the possession of which
was the strongest point in his case. Having given these sug-
»nnn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 163 (Potth., 4300).
288(a) Inn. Ill, Epp., XIV, 163 (Potth., 4300). (b) Ibid., XV, 108
(Pouh.,4S3i).
*®Lebeuf, Mem. Diocese d^ Auxerre, I, 370-372.
^^ Ibid., IV, Preuves, No. 113.
«^ Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 123 (Potth., 4543).
ws/^ty., 39 (Potth., 4444).
^^Ibid, 40 (Potth., 4443).
y62 THE INTERDICT
gestions a few weeks to produce results, the pontiff notified
Philip that he had refused to confirm the decision of the Arch-
bishop of Sens. He proposed again that Philip restore the
property to the bishops, that they in turn relax the interdict,
and that thereafter the courts of the realm try the whole
question.^**
Innocent was, however, beginning to feel that the matter
had been pressed far enough ; for he wrote the bishops to do
everything in their power to secure peace, "since a bow
which is always stretched loses its strength, unless it is occa-
sionally unbent, and princes are sometimes better subdued by
mildness than by rigor ' ' .^^^ He therefore proposed this ex-
pedient : that the bishops should raise the interdict and ap-
pear before the king for judgment ; and that the king pardon
them and give them ** main-lev^e ".^'^^ This suggestion was
acted upon, and led to the establishment of peace. In
August, 12 12, the bishops issued a joint proclamation from
Meaux, in which they declared that they would question no
marriage contracted after the relaxation of the interdict by the
Archbishop of Sens, or any other act pertaining to the sacra-
ments , if done according to approved custom ; that they
would take only such steps against the canons of St. Anianus,**
who had refused to observe the interdict, as they would have
taken had their quarrel been with another than the king : and
that they would harm no clerk or layman as a consequence of
their long disagreement with the king.'^^^ Besides this joint
declaration, the Bishop of Auxerre issued a separate charter,
in which he acknowledged that he owed military service like
all other bishops and barons, and that he would thereafter
serve the king through his knights as did all others ; he also
announced that the king had exempted him for life from per-
sonal service, that he in return granted to the king as much as
^ See above, n. 288b.
"6 Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 109 (Potth., 4532).
''•^Lebeuf, Mtm. Diocise d' Auxerre, IV, Preuves, No. 113.
=»^ Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 12 (Potth., 4406).
APPENDIX 163
he chose to keep of the profits from the episcopal regalia
seized before June 24, 12 12, and that he agreed to relax the
interdict."^ The king in turn issued a charter in which he
confirmed these terms. ^
There arises a question as to what agreement was reached
by the Bishop of Orleans and the king. Though it is very
probable that the bishop made the same terms as did the
Bishop of Auxerre, there is no documentary evidence of it ex-
cept the joint declaration of the bishops. This, coupled with
the fact that in January, 12 13, the king and the Bishop of
Orleans were in disagreement over the interdict of that prelate
on a royal chapel,^'* argues that the Bishop of Auxerre alone
came to a complete agreement with Philip. Though this dis-
agreement over the chapel may indicate the continuation of
the struggle between the king and the Bishop of Orleans, it
is very probable that the interdict laid in 1209 on the dioceses
of Orleans and Auxerre was relaxed in August, 1212.
'•^Bibl. Nat., MS. Lat. 9779, fol. 274. *' W. Dei gratia Autissiodoren-
sis episcopus omnibus presentes litteras inspecturis in Domino saluteni.
Noveritis quod nos confitemur debere Domino nostro Regi Francorum
illustri Philippo exercitum suum sicut commune episcoporum et baronum
debet, et ilium de caetero per milites nostros et aliter serviemus. Idem enim
Dominus Rex personam nostram ex seivitio exercitus quamdiu vixerimus
relaxavit, et nos pro hac relaxatione et pro amore ipsius et gratia habenda
concedimus et volumus quod ipse de proventibus regalium nostrorum quos
percepit usque ad festum Sancti Joannis Bapt. nuper praeteritum retineat
pro sua voluntaie; super eo autem quod ex inde retinebit ipsum vel haeredem
suum vel alium pro ipso in causam per nos vel per alium non trahemus et
relaxabimus interdictum .... Actum apud Meled. anno D. MCCXII.
mense Augusto. " (I have not found this charter in print.)
'^Lebeuf, Mem. Diocese d'' Auxerre, IV, Preuves, No. 114.
=«»Inn. Ill, Epp., XV, 227 (Polth., 4666).
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
The source material for the study of interdicts is usually meagre, and
hidden away in the midst of information on other subjects. The only ex-
tended contemporary account which has come to the author's notice is
Sarpi's " Historia particolare " of the Venetian interdict of 1606. The
brevity of most references to interdicts makes information on the subject
scrappy, and any treatise on the interdict perforce has something in com-
mon with a crazy-quilt. Source material is also widely dispersed. One
sometimes discovers it in most unexpected places, and again fails to find it
where it is most reasonably sought; a gloss upon a manuscript may con-
tain a bit of useful information, while the " Catalogue des actes de Philippe-
Auguste " is disappointingly destitute of material on the interdict. The
official correspondence of churchmen and the acts of councils and synods
are the most fruitful sources. Chronicles follow in importance, and are
valuable for the dramatic aspects of the interdict, though their short ac-
counts might lead one to believe that interdicts were of little importance.
"What has just been said of sources in general is especially true of the
period of Innocent III; there is not a single extended account of an inter-
dict in the original sources, though two of the most important interdicts
occurred during this time. So many sources of the period have been pub-
lished, that manuscripts offer relatively less than they do in other periods.
All the pipe rolls in the Record Office for the years from 1207 to 12 16
were worked over, and all entries likely to shed any light on the operation
of the English interdict were noted. This work promises to give modest
results, but of so detailed a character that they are reserved for use at a
later time in a discussion of certain phases of the interdicts on England
from 1208 to 1 216. Besides the pipe rolls, many manuscripts in Paris and
London were read, with the same scrappy results that the printed sources
gave. Of the published sources, the correspondence of Innocent is most
useful; episcopal correspondence and conciliar acts ar? little less valuable.
Charters, if they concern the interdict at all, are extraordinarily serviceable.
Chronicles are not so helpful as one expects and wishes; a few give short,
interesting accounts of the effects of interdicts. The sermons perused
yielded nothing, and ** Vitae " gave Httle help.
Secondary works were of more use for general knowledge of the inter-
dict than for the period of Innocent IIL They usually treat the interdict
as a part of a larger subject. All canonists devote some space to a con-
(164)
BIBLIOGRAPHY 165
sideration of the interdict; noteworthy among them are Avezanus, Avila,
Dupin, van Espen, Ferraris, Fried berg, Lrimmer, Permaneder, Phillips,
Richter, Schulte, and Vering, whose works are not given below because
they have been made unnecessary by more comprehensive works. Several
histories of the period of Innocent III give considerable attention to special
interdicts. Of the monographs on the interdict — the studies of Pithou, of
Kober, and of Howland — I have spoken at the beginning of this essay;
and more precise information may be found under these names below.
For convenience of reference, the titles below, with the exception of the
manuscripts, are arranged in alphabetical order. Works cited without
comment have only incidental value for the interdict.
SOURCES.
Manuscripts.
Biblioth^que Nationale (Paris), MS. Lat. 9779, fol. 274. — A charter of
the Bishop of Auxerre; valuable, as it gives information about the relaxa-
tion of interdict.
Bib. Nat., MS. Lat. 5993. A, fol. 158-9. — A charter of Stephen of
Noyon relative to the interdict of Meaux, 1214.
Bib. Nat., MS. Lat. 5993. A, fol. 6-8. — Papal bulls concerning the
interdict in Champagne.
Bib. Nat., MS. Fran?. 17264. — Contains a brief note on the conduct of
Philip Augustus during the interdict on France, 1200.
Berengar Fredoli: Tractatus de excommunicatione, de interdicto. Bib.
Nat., MS. Lat. 154 15, fol. 229f. (Found also in other libraries.) — This
treatise was written while the author was Bishop of Beziers (1294- 1305),
and instructs his parishioners what to do in cases of excommunication and
interdict. He quotes the canons; thus the substance of his work may be
found in the Corpus Juris Canonici. The virtue of the work is that it
brings together all canons relating to conduct in time of interdict.
Archives departementales de I'Oise (Beauvais), Cartulaire de S. Pierre
de Beauvais, p. 89, tit. 329. — A papal bull to the Bishop of Beauvais con-
cerning the relaxation of an interdict, probably that of France, 1200.
Arch, depart, de I'Oise (Beauvais), II. 2143. (Inventaire de titres de
S. Comeille de Compiegne). — A bull of Innocent commanding observance
of interdict.
Arch, depart, de la Seine-In f^rieure (Rouen), 6. 3596. — A bull of Inno-
cent concerning a discipline upon the burgesses of Rouen.
Arch.depart.de I'Yonne (Auxerre), H. 14. — A bull of Innocent III
granting important privileges against the interdict.
Arch, depart, de la Cote-d'Or (Dijon), No. 73, fol. 172. — Enumerates
several important causes for interdicts.
l66 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Published Sources.
Achery^ Lucas d\- Spicilegium sive collectio veterum aliquot scriptorum,
qui in Galliae bihliothecis, maxime Benedictinorum, delituerant. Nova
editio. Paris, 1723.— Of no value for the period of Innocent III, but of
some use for earlier interdicts.
Acta Sanctorum Bollandistarum. Brussels, etc., 1643 ff. — Not es.
pecially valuable for the present research.
Aguirrey Jos. Saenz de : CoUectio maxima conciliorum omnium His-
paniae et novi orbis . . . Rome, 1753-55.
Annates S. Edmundi^ ed. F. Liebermann, in Ungedruckte Anglo-
Normannische Geschichtsquellen, pp. 97-155. Strassburg, 1879. — These
annals are of some value for the interdict of England, 1208.
Beliarmin, P., Cardinal: Risposta del Card. Bellarmino al Trattato de
i sette Theologi di Venetia sopra I'interdetto della Santita di nostro Signore
Papa Paolo Quinto. Rome, 1606. — A reply, on the Pope's behalf, to the
argument of the theologians of Venice (see Sarpi, P., and others, Trac-
tatus). It gives attention to the results of interdict.
Boe/imer, J. F. : Fontes rerum Germanicarum. Stuttgart, 1843-1868.
Boehmer, y. F.: Regesta imperii inde ab anno 1198 usque ad annum
1254. Neue Bearbeitung. Stuttgart, 1847-49. — The still later revision
by Ficker and Winkelmann (Innsbruck, 1881-1901) has not been used in
this research.
Bullarium Romanum. — Bullarum, privilegiorum, ac diplomatum Ro-
manorum pontificum amplissima collectio. (Ed. Cocquelines.) Rome,
1738-45. — I have sometimes used instead the Taurinensis editio^ 1857 ff.
Chapeaville^ y.: Qui gesta pontificum Tungrensium, Trajectensium, et
Leodiensium scripserunt, auctores praecipui . . . Li^ge, 1612-18. — Con-
tains important source material for the interdicts of Li^ge, in Hocsemius'
Hist. Pont. Leod.
Chevalier y U.: Ordonnances des rois de France et autres princes
souverains relatives au Dauphine. Colmar, 1871.
Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London. Translated by H, T.
Riley. London, 1863.
Collection des principaux cartulaires du dioche de Troyes. (Edited by
C. Lalore.) Paris, 1875-90. — Contains some useful information about the
interdicts in Champagne.
Corpus yuris Canonici. — This has of course been of fundamental im-
portance. I cite it, as is customary, without use of title.
Delisle, L.: Catalogue des actes de Philippe-Auguste. Paris, 1856. —
Contains but little reference to interdict.
Du Cange, C. Dufresne : Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis, ed.
Henschel. Paris, 1840-50. — Contains a brief discussion of the interdict
BIBLIOGRAPHY 167
and gives the text of the sentence of interdict issued by the Council of
Limoges.
DupUi-Agier, H.: Chroniques de Saint Martial de Limoges. Paris,
1874. — A reliable source; of importance for Limoges interdicts.
Fonti per la storia cV Italia. Rome, 1887 ff.
Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa . . . Paris,
171S-1865.
Gesta Innocentii Papae III, ab auctore anonymo, sed coaetaneo,
scripta. (In Migne, Patrologia Latina, v. 214, col. xv-ccxxviii.) — Very
valuable. Gives information about several interdicts of which no other
evidence could be found.
Goffridus Vindocinensis : Epistolae. (In Migne: Patrologia Latina, v.
I57-)
Haddan^ A. iV., and Stubbsy W.: Councils and ecclesiastical docu-
ments relating to Great Britain and Ireland. Oxford, 1869-78.
Haignere, I..: Les chartes de S. Bertin. Paris, 1886-89. — A reliable
and useful work.
Hardouiny y.: Collectio regia maxima conciliorum, ab anno 34 ad
annum 17 14. Paris, 1715. — Contains conciliar acts which are useful for
every phase of the interdict.
Harzheimy J.^ and others : Concilia Germaniae. Cologne, 1759-90. —
Of little value to the present study.
Henriquezy C: Regula, constitutiones et privilegia ordinis Cisterciensis.
1630.
Huillard-BreholleSy jf. L. A.: Historia diplomatica Friderici Secundi,
sive Constitutiones, privilegia, mandata, instrumenta quae supersunt istius
imperatoris et filiorum ejus. Paris, 1852-61. — Contains a few documents
of value for interdicts.
Innocent III^ Pope : Opera omnia. (In Migne: Patrologia Latina, v.
214-217.) — This edition, a reprint of older ones, contains not only the
literary works of Innocent and the anonymous life of him (Gesta Inno-
centii) named above, but the entire body of his papal letters. These let-
ters yielded more information than any other source. They are cited
sometimes by book and number (the " books " corresponding to the years
/of his pontificate), sometimes by volume and page: i. e., as ** Inn. Ill,
Epp.," etc., or as '* Inn. 0pp.," etc.
Ivoy Carnotensis Episcoptcs (Bp. of Chartres) : Epistolae. (In Recueil
des historiens des Gaules, XV, 70 ff.)
yaffi, Ph.: Bibliotheca rerum Germanicarum. Berlin, 1864-73. — ^^
some value for the interdict in general.
yaffi. Ph.: Regesta pontificum Romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad
annum 1198. Ed. 2., cur. S. Lowenfeld et al. Leipzig, 1885-88. — In-
dispensable. Particularly helpful in discovering interdicts. Cited as
"J-L."
1 68 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Labbe^ Ph.: Nova Bibliotheca Manuscriptorum Librorum. Paris, 1657.
— Besides other useful sources, this collection contains the Hist. Episc.
Autiss. and the Chron. Rothomag., which are important sources for the
interdicts of Auxerre and Rouen respectively.
Langebek, y.: Scriptores rerum Danicarum medii aevi. Copenhagen,
1772-1834. — This and the source next named are useful for tracing inter-
dicts in Denmark.
Ludewig, y. P.: Reliquiae manuscriptorum omnis aevi diplomatum ac
monumentorum ineditorum adhuc. Frankfort, Leipzig, Halle, 1720-41.
— The chronicle of the "Auctor Anon." found in Ludewig contains an
important passage upon the interdict in Denmark.
Mansiy y. D.: Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio.
Florence and Venice, 1759-98. — More complete than Hardouin and of
similar value.
Martine^ £., and Durand, U.: Thesaurus novus anecdotorum, seu
Collectio monumentorum, complectens regum ac principum aliorumque
virorum illustrium epistolas et diplomata bene multa. Paris, 171 7. — Con-
tains the text of the sentence of interdict on France, 1200.
Meiller^ A. v.: Regesta archiepiscoporum Salisburgensium — Regesten
zur Geschichte der Salzburger Erzbischofe. Vienna, 1886. — Of some
use for interdicts in the Empire.
Migne, y. P.: Patrologia Latina. Paris, 1844-64 (the title-pages of
the set most used in this research bear date 1889-91). — This compre-
hensive and convenient though careless reprint of all the writers of the
Latin church to Innocent's time is of course indispensable.
Miraeus, A., and FoppenSy y. P.: Opera diplomatica et historica.
Brussels, 1723-48.
Mitlarelli,^ y. B.^ and Costadoni^ A.: Annales Camaldulenses ordinis
S. Benedicti. Venice, 1755-73. — Of incidental value.
Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Hannover and Berlin, 1826 ff. —
The chronicles printed in the Monumenta (cited as '* MGSS ") are useful
in following interdicts in the Empire. Of particular value are the
chronicles of Arnold of Liibeck and Aegidius Aureaevallensis.
Muraioriy L. A.: Rerum ItaHcarum Scriptores. Milan, 1723-51. —
Not very helpful for the period of Innocent HI.
Pfiugk-Harttung^y. v.: Actapontificum Romanoruminedita Tubingen
and Stuttgart, 1881-88. — Useful for the period preceding Innocent.
P/lugk-Hartiung, y. v.: Iter Italicum. Stuttgart, 1883. — Contains a
useful reference to the interdict of Cremona during Innocent's reign.
Placitorum Abbreviaiio. Record Commission, London, 181 1. — Good
for effect of the interdict on legal processes.
Potthast, A.: Regesta pontificum Romanorum ab anno 1198 ad annum
1304. Berlin, 1874-75. — Continuing Jafffe's Regesta, and likewise indis-
pensable. Cited as •* Potth."
BIBLIOGRAPHY 169
Quellen zur Geschichte der Staiit K'oln. (Edited by L. Ennen and G.
Eckertz. ) Cologne, 1860-79. — Contains various ordinances and regula-
tions of the Archbishop of Cologne relative to interdicts.
Kaynalaus^ O.: Annales ecclesiastici ab anno 11 98, ubi desinit Car-
dinalis Baronius. Lucca, 1747-56. — Embodying many documents, but
not very useful for the present study.
AW/j Series. — Rerum Britannicarum medii aevi scriptores, or Chronicles
and memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the middle ages.
London, 1858 ff. — On the whole, the sources in the Rolls Series are not
particularly valuable for the interdict; but this does not apply to the
Materials for the History of Becket or to the Gesta Henrici Secundi.
Roger of Wendover, in spite of inaccuracy, is useful for the history of the
Oxford interdict. The Munimenta Academiae Oxoniensis is of very great
value for the same interdict.
Rotuli chartarum, 1199-1216, edited by T. D. Hardy. London, 1837.
— This source and the two next named were of great use in tracing inter-
dicts in England. They contain valuable items upon the interdict of 1208.
Rotuli litterarum clausarum^ 1 204-1 227, edited by T. D. Hardy.
London, 1833-4.
Rotuli litterarum patentium^ 1201-1216, edited by T. D. Hardy.
London, 1835.
Rymer, T.: Foedera, conventiones, literae, et cujuscunque generis acta
publica, inter reges Angliae et alios . . . The Hague, 1739-45. — Contains
the text of several important documents relating to the interdict of Eng-
land, 1208-13.
Sarpi, P.: Historia particolare delle cose passate tra'l Sommo Pontefice
Paolo V. e la serenissima Republica di Venetia. Venice, 1624, and often
thereafter. In English translation (London, 1626) as " History of the
Quarrels of Pope Paul V with the State of Venice." — The most extended
account of an interdict that has come to the author's knowledge. Very
interesting and suggestive.
Sarpi, P.: Apologia adversus oppositiones factas ab illustr. Card.
Bellarmino ad tractatus et resolutiones Johan. Gersonis circa valorem
excommunicationum. Venice, 1606. — One of the pamphlets of the dis-
pute over the interdict of Venice, 1606. Discusses the results of interdict.
Sarpi, /*., and others : Tractatus de interdicto sanctitatis Papae Pauli V.
Venice, 1606. The reply on behalf of Venice, composed by seven theolo-
gians, of whom Sarpi was the chief, to the papal interdict of 1606. For an
answer from the papal side, see Bellarmin. The Tractatus, as well as the
Apologia, may be found (in Italian) in all editions of Sarpi's works.
Songe du Vergier, Le. (Somnium Viridarii.) — Both in its Prench and
in its Latin form this famous dialogue on the claims of church and state
has been printed by itself; but it may be found in Goldast's " Monarchia "
or in the •* Traitez des droits de I'eglise gallicane."
170
BIBLIOGRAPHY
St. Bartholomew'' s Hospital Journal, XII, ii (August, 1905). — This
issue contains a very valual^le bull of the bishop of London discovered in
the cartulary of the hospital.
Stephanus, Tornacensis Episcopus (Bp. of Tournay) : Epistolae. (In
Migne: Patr. Lat., v. 211, col. 309 ff.)
Teulet^ A.: Layettes du Tr^sor des Chartes. Vols. I, II, Pans, 1863,
1866. — The later vols., by other editors, lie beyond the scope of this study.
Theiner^ A.: Vetera inonumenta Slavorum meridionalium historiam
illustrantia maximam partem nondum edita ex tabulariis Vaticanis de-
prompta collecta ac serie chronologica disposita. Rome, 1863. — \'aluable,
but the statements of the work are too brief to be of much service^
Tractatus de interdicto. See Sarpi, P., and others.
Ughelliy F.: Italia sacra. Venice, 1717-22.
Varin, P.: Archives administratives de la ville de Reims. Paris,
1839-48. (In the French national "Collection de Documents Inedits".)
— Contains information of unusual quantity and quahty about the interdict.
Villanueva^ y. L.: Viage literario a las iglesias de Espafia. Madrid,
Valencia, 1803-52. — Vol. V contains an important letter of Innocent III
relative to an interdict on Tortosa.
Wilkins, D. : Concilia Magnae Britanniae et Hibemiae. London, 1 737.
Secondary Works.
Andreae, Johannes: Tractatus utilissimus de modo observandi inter-
dictum. Magdeburg, 1483. — A treatise briefly explaining the canonical
law relating to the observance of interdict. Its substance is much the
same as that of any other work on canon law.
Arbois de Jubainville, H. d' : Histoire des dues et des comtes de Cham-
pagne. Paris, 1859-69. — Of some use in tracing interdicts in Champagne.
Boase, C. W. : Oxford. London, 1887. — Gives some consideration to
the Oxford interdict, but is inaccurate.
Capefigue, J. B. H. R. : Histoire de Philippe Auguste. Paris, 1829.
— An interesting but unreliable general account; superseded by Davidsohn.
Catalogue generale des manuscrits des bibliotheques publiques des
departements [de France]. Paris, 1849-79. (^" the Collection de
Documents Inedits.) — This and the Inventaires (see below) give some in-
dication of the contents of manuscripts in departmental collections, and in
several cases give information on interdicts.
Chauffier, Abb6: Lettre In^dite d'Innocent III . , in Bibl. de
I'fecole des Chartes, XXXIII, 595-605. — An article relating to the inter-
dict of Brittany, 1200.
Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica. London, 1834-43.
Davidsohn, Robert: Philipp II, Augustus, von Frankreich, und Inge-
BIBLIOGRAPHY
171
borg. Stuttgart, 18SS. — An excellent work, which gives important details
of the operation of the interdict in France.
Diericx, Charles Louis : M6moires sur la ville de Gand. Gand, 1814-16.
Dondi dair Orologio, F. S. : Dissertazione sesta sopra I'lstoria ecclesias-
tica Padovana. Padua, 1812.
Felten, J.: Papst Gregor IX. Freiburg i. B., 1886.
Gautier, Th. : Histoire de la ville de Gap. 1844.
G^raud, H. : Ingeluirge de Danemark. In the Bibl. de I'ficole des
Charles, 1844 (2e serie, I, pp. 3-27, 93-118). — This study gives the inter-
dict of France (i2CX)) careful consideration.
Giry, A.: Histoire de la ville de Saint-Omer et de ses institutions.
Paris, 1S77. — A reliable work; of use for the interdict on Saint Omer.
Hefele, C. J. v.: Conciliengeschichte. Freiburg i. B., 2. ed., 1873 ff. —
Of little value for the interdict.
Hinschius, Paul : Das Kirchenrecht der Katholiken und Protestanten in
Deutschland : System des katholischen Kirchenrechts. Berlin, 1869-97.
— The most exhaustive and impartial discussion of the interdict. Particu-
larly excellent upon the legal aspects of the subject. The history of the
interdict is given with much detail; but, being scattered through several
volumes, it is not readable. He gives no special attention to the period of
Innocent III.
Histoire G^nerale de Languedoc. Nouvelle Edition. Toulouse, 1872-
92. — Very useful for tracing interdicts in southern France, though inter-
dicts receive no special attention.
Howland, Arthur Charles: The Interdict, its Rise and Development to
the Pontificate of Alexander III. — A Thesis presented at the University of
Pennsylvania for the Degree of Ph. D., 1897. Unprinted. The best
account of the origin and development of the Interdict. The author evi-
dently had not seen Kober,
Howland, A. C. : The Origin of the Local Interdict. Printed in the
Report of the American Historical Association, 1899, Vol. I, 429-448. —
A presentation of the above m altered form.
Kurter, Friedrich von: Geschichte Papst Innocenz III. und seiner
Zeitgenossen. Hamburg, 1836-42. — Long the most important work on
Innocent III, but somewhat biased and now growing antiquated.
Inventaires sommaires des archives departementales [de France] ant6-
rieures k 1790. Paris, 1848.
Kober, Franz: Das Interdict. In the Archiv fiir katholisches Kirchen-
recht, Vol. XXI (Neue Folge, XV) (1869), pp. 3-45, 291-341; Vol.
XXII (N. F., XVI) (1869), pp. 3-53. — This study treats principally the
law of the church relative to the interdict, but its discussion of the history
is reliable, and is the most readable in existence. \
LaCl^de: Histoire Gen^rale de Portugal. Paris, 1735. — Of some val\te
for the interdict on Portugal.
172
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lasteyrie, Charles de: L'Abbaye de Saint Martial de Limoges. Paris,
1901.
Lebeuf, J.: M6moires concernant I'Histoire Civile et Ecclesiastique
d'Auxerre et de son Ancien Diocese, continues jusqu'a nos jours par M.
Challe et M. Quantin. Auxerre et Paris, 1848-55. — A scholarly and
helpful work.
Luchaire, A. : Innocent III — Les Royaut^s Vassales du Saint-Sidge.
Paris, 1908.
Luchaire, A. : Innocent III — Le Concile de Latran et la R^fomne de
I'Eglise. Paris, 1908. — Contains a very good bibliography for the period
of Innocent III.
Magazin fur Kirchengeschichte und Kirchenrecht des Nordens. Altona,
1792-6. Herausgegeben von Friedrich Munter.
Mariana, J. : Historiae de Rebus Hispaniae libri XXX. Printed in
Schott: Hispania Illustrata, II, IV. Frankfort, 1603-1608.
Marlot, G. : Histnire de la ville, cit6, et universite de Reims, contenant
l'6tat civil et ecclesiastique du pays. Reims, 1843-5. — ^ ^^O' good work,
containing a number of valuable facts about interdicts in and near Reims.
Miinchen, Nicolaus: Das canonische Gerichtsverfahren und Strafrecht.
Cologne and Neuss, 1865. Volume II, 208-214, contams a short sketch
of the history of the interdict, which is superseded by Kober and Hinschius.
Norgate, Kate : John Lackland. Gives so excellent a discussion of the
interdict on England (1208) that any additional account, except of a few
phases, is superfluous.
Pithou, Pierre: De I'origine et du progr^s des Interdicts eccl6siastiques.
Printed in the Commentaires sur le Trait6 des Libert6z de I'feglise Galli-
cane, Paris, 1652. — For a long time this was the only history of the inter-
dict. It is a short, good account. Its substance, though not all its ideas,
may be found in Hinschius.
Planck, G. J. : Geschichte des Pabstthums in der abendlandischen
Kirche von der Mitte des neunten Jahrhunderts an. Hannover, 1805.
Prynne, William: An exact chronological vindication and historical
demonstration of our British, Roman, Saxon, Danish, Norman, English
Kings Supream Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over all Prelates, Persons,
Causes, within their Kingdoms and Dominions. London, 1666. — Useful
for England. Citations lacking.
Raumer, Fr. von: Geschichte der Hohenstaufen. 3. Aufl., Leipzig,
1857. Contains some important facts about interdicts.
Rohricht, R. : Geschichte des Konigreichs Jerusalem. Innsbruck, 1898.
Rosny, L. de: Histoire de I'abbaye de Notre Dame de Loos. Lille,
1837.
Schulte, Joh. Friedrich v: Ueber Kirchenstrafen. Berhn, 1872. Pub-
lished as No. 14 of the series *• Deutsche Zeit- und Streitfragen. "
BIBLIOGRAPHY 173
Thomassin, P. : Ancienne et nouvelle discipline de I'figlise. Paris,
1 688.
VioUet, Paul: Histoire des Institutions politiques et administratives de
la France. Paris, 1 890-1 903.
Winkelmann, Eduard: Philipp von Schwaben und Otto IV, von Braun-
schweig. Leipzig, 1873, 1878. — Gives very satisfactory discussions of
interdicts in the Empire.
INDEX.
Absolution from vows, 50
Abuse of interdict, 35-37, 85, 143
Achaia, 100
Acre, 46 n., 49, 135
Adolf, Archbishop of Cologne, 136
Adolf of Harzburg, 93
Adrian IV, 20 n.
Aggravation of interdict, 52
Agnes of Meran, in, 120, 121, 122
'* Aid " for removal of interdict, 84
Albigenses, 150
Albricus, knight, 27
Alduin, Bishop of Limoges, 26
Alexander II, 9, 20 n.
Alexander III, 39 n., 47 n.
Alexander IV, 45 n.
Alexander VI, 33 n.
Alfonso II of Portugal, 149
Alfonso, King of Leon, 104
Altars, 50, 51 n., 73, 119; altars
interdicted, 47
Altena, 136
Amalfi, 33 n., 39 n., 46 n.
Ambassadors affected by interdict,
56, 67
Ambulatory interdict, 2, 75, 78, 86,
92, 93> 94, 106, 127, 136, 150,
151, 153, 156, 158
America, 49
Amiens, no, 129
Amiens, Bishop of, 116
Amposta, 107
Anacletus II, 82
Andelay, 32 n., 88
Andrew of Hungary, 65 n.
Andronicus, 6
Angelus, 15
Anjou, 46 n.
Antioch, 96, 134
Anti-pope, 82
Appeal, 148; against interdict, 41,
88, 91, 113, 131; denied, 42,
95, 108; disregarded, 42, 113,
"8, 135
Appels comme cfabuSy 42 n.
(i
Aquileia, Patriarch of, 95
Aragon, 33 n., 36 n., 46 n.
Aries, 47 n.
Armenia, 46 n., 134
Arnold, papal legate, 153, 156
Arnoul, steward of T^rouanne, 129
Arras, 47 n.
Arras, Bishop of, 108, 116, 125,
129
Arthur of Brittany, 126
Artois, Count of, 130
Assisi, 28
Asylum, right of, 34
Auchy, Abbot of, 130
Austria, 95
Authorities who laid interdict, 19;
limitations of their authority, 21,
25
Auxerre, 45, 47 n., 58, 65, 80, 81,
156, 159, 160
Auxerre, Bishop of, 31, 116, 123,
124, 125, 143, 144, 156
Auxilius, 6
Baldwin, Emperor of Constanti-
nople, 76
Baldwin of Flanders, 88, 108
Bamberg, Bishop of, 95
Bandits, 26, 27; see also Robbery
Banishment of clerics, 34, 70, 115,
131
Bankers of Florence, 31
Baptism, 15, 104, 114, 119
Barren lands, 46 n.
Bari, 87
Basse-Fontaine, Abbey of, 81
Bavaria, 46 n. , 94
Beauvais, 47 n.
Beauvais, Bishop of, 109, n6, 123,
124
Becket, Thomas a, 28, 42
Beggars, see Paupers
Bells, the ringing of, 13, 15, 18, 53,
77, 122, 126, 127, 132, 141,
i55» 157
75)
176
INDEX
Belluno, Bishop of, 28 n., 100
Benedict XII, 25
Benediction of marriage, 14, 17,
119
Benevento, 46 n.
Berengar of Narbonne, 35 n., 36
Berengar, Archbishop of Tarragona,
28 n.
Berengaria of Castile, 105
Berengaria, Richard's queen, 27
Berg, 136
Bergamo, 148
Besangon, Archbishop of, 85, 112,
118
Betrothal, 17
Beverly, 132
Beziers, 47 n.
Blagny, Abbot of, 129
Blanche of Castile, 58, 119
Blanche, Countess of Champagne,
36n.,44, 143
Blois, 23 n, 142
Bodies unburied, 60, 120
Bodies disinterred, 51, 57, 107,
I5i> 159
Boemund of Antioch, 134
Bohemia, 46 n.
Bologna, 88
Boniface VIII, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24
n., 37 n., 48, 77
Boniface, Archbishop of Genoa, 134
Bordeaux, Archbishop of, 116
Borgo San Donnino, loi
Bourges, Archbishop of, 125, 131
Bouvines, 139, 142
Brabant, 95, 140
Bracton, 57
Braga, Archbishop of, 34 n., 148
Brambles placed before churches, 50
Bread and water, 123
Bremen, 40 n., 60, 137
Bribery, 65 n., 106, 120
Brienne, Walter of, see Walter of
Brienne
Brigandage, see Robbery
Brindisi, 27, 87
Brittany, 46 n., 125, 160
Burgundy, 6 n., 112
Burgundy, Duke of, loi
Burial, canonical, see Canonical
burial
Burial fees, 57 n., 72, 78
Business uninterrupted by interdict,
65, 119
Cahors, Bishop of, 131
Cambrai, 32 n.
Cambrai, Bishop of, 94, 108
Cambridge, 146
Canonical burial, 17, 18, 51, 53,
57, 60, 71, 'JT, 78, 104, 106,
114, 120, 126, 139, 140 n., 157
Canonical hours, 14, 77, 114, 126,
140
Canterbury, 46 n., 47 n.
Canterbury, Archbishop of, 46 n.,
77, 90, 92, 97
Capitular interdicts, 23, 144, 159
Capua, 32 n., 139
Capuchins, 54
Cardinals, their power to lay inter-
dict, 22
Carthage, 47 n., 49
Casino, Monte, 30
Castello, 99
Castile, 28, 46 n., 86, 105
Catania, 47 n.
Catechumens, 15
Cause of interdict forgotten or un-
known, 100
Causes of interdict, 25 f., and Ap-
pendix
Celestin III, 92, 100, 104 n., 105,
109, III
Cemeteries, 73, 114; see also Ca-
nonical burial
Cesena, 25 n, 99
Cessatio a divinis, 7 n., 9
Chalons, Bishop of, 143, 158
Champagne, 44, loi, 143
Chanting, 13
Characteristics of interdict, 8
Chartres, 23 n., 33 n., 142
Chartres, Bishop of, 116, 123, 158
Chauffier, Abb6, 125
Children, 17
Christmas, 15 n.
Church harmed by interdict, 36 n.,
68, 98, 106, 108, 131, 137, 139,
148, 156
Church-building during interdict,
63, 78; church dedication, 62
Churching of women, 14, 58, 114,
115
Cistercians, 29, $2 n., 71 n., 80,
116, 123
Citation, 37, 38
Citeaux, 119, 156
Classicianus, 6
INDEX
177
Qement IV, 35 n.
Clement V, 64 n.
Clerics, banishment of, see Banish-
ment of clerics
Qerics harmed by interdict, 69, 71,
158; see also Church
Clergy unshaven and unkempt dur-
ing interdict, 71
Clermont, 35 n.
Cluny, 112
Cnut of Denmark, iii
Coggeshall, 89, 120
Coimbra, 44, 148
Cologne, 31 n., 35 n., 45 n., 142
Cologne, Archbishop of, 35 n., 78,
80, 136
Cologne, Council of, 48, 77
Commerce affected, loi; see also
Business
Communion, 15, 16
Como, Bishop of, 102
Compi^gne, 23 n.
Compostella, Archbishop of, 34 n.,
149
Confession, 115, 126
Confirmation, 15
Confirmation of interdict by the
Pope, 21, 115, 150, 156; by the
state, 25
Confiscation of property; see Prop-
erty confiscated.
Congrua satisfaction 1^2
Conrad, Bishop of Hildesheim, 93
Conrad, Bishop of Wurzburg, 28
Consanguineous marriage as a cause
of interdict, 28, 65 n., 98, 104,
III
Consecration of the Host during in-
terdict, 114
Constance, Empress, loi
Conversij 75, 81
Corpus Christiy 15 n.
Cremona, 45 n., 133
Cremona, Bishop of, 77
Crucifix prostrated, 50, 140, 141
Crusades and Crusaders, 66, 86, 88,
115, 126, 129, 133, 151, 154
Cyprus, 31,46 n., 49, 86
Dedication of churches during in-
terdict, 62
Degradation of clerics, 29, 52, 132
Delegate his power to lay interdict,
20, 22
Denmark, 34 n., 45, 46 n., 49, 80,
138".
Deprivation of benefices, 53, 132,
U3. 137
Diceto, 117
Dieppe, 145 n.
Dijon, Bishop of, 125
Dijon, Council of, 22, 112
Disinterment of bodies; see Bodies
disinterred.
Distribution of interdicts, 48
Divorce as a cause of interdict, in
Dodart, Saint, 50 n., 140
Dol, 125, 126
Doors closed, 13, 14, 53, 64 n.,
76, 77, 115, 120, 126, 140
Druids, 4
Dublin, 92
Duration of interdicts, 44
Easter, 15 n., 114, 131
Eastern church, 49 n.
Effect of interdict, 13, 58, 119,
120, 153, 156; on officia divina,
13; on sacramentals, 14; on
preaching, 15; on the sacra-
ments, 15; on canonical burial,
18
Effectiveness of interdict, 48, 64,
94, 106, 118, 120, 132, 136, 139,
145, 148, 149, 151, 153, 155,
159, 161
Election of a Pope, 19
Ely, Bishop of, 77, 90, 92
Empire, 46 nn., 136
England, 38, 40, 42, 46 n., 47 nn.,
65 n., 88, 89, 90, 139; England
(1208), 9 n., 14, 15, 17, 18,
37 n., 38, 44 n., 52 n., 59, 60,
64, 70, 76, 77, 84, 90, 145
Episcopal interdicts, 20, 76 n., 107
' * Escherte " , 93
fitampes, 115
Eugene III, 84 n.
Eugene IV, 37 n.
Evreux, Bishop of, 145 n.
Excommunicates, 13, 14, 16, 131,
132, 141
Excommunication, general, the
predecessor of interdict, 4 ff.;
severity of, 7; opposition to, 7;
changed to interdict, 7-8
Excommunication, personal, 12 n.,
118
178
INDEX
Exemption from interdict, 76
Exorcism, 14
Extent of interdict, 46
Extreme unction, 15, 16, 115, 126
Factions, 67, 71, 116, 159
Faversham, 51 n.
Feast-days, interdict suspended on,
15, 18, 29, 78
Ferrara, 44, 47 n.
Ferrara, Bishop of, 43
Flanders, 25, 79, 108, 129, 130
Fleury, Monastery of, 75
Florence, 31, 33 n., 44 n., 47 n.,
55
Forgery, 55, 85, 149
Formulas of interdict, 39, 113, 114
Formulas of relaxation, 83, 84
France, 47 n., 49, 84
France (1200), 14, 22, 37 n., 38,
58, 60, 65, 76, iiof.
Francis of Assisi, 28
Frederick II, Emperor, 27, 33 nn.,
142
Frederick of Lille, 93
Frequency of interdicts, 43, 143
Fulc, Bishop of Toulouse, 154
Fulda, Abbot of, 95
Gallipoli, 87
Gallus, 20 n., 99
Gap, 46 n.
Geldern, 136
Genoa, 47 n., 56, 69, 133
Geoffrey, Archbishop of York, 35
n., 90, 91, 132
Geoffrey de Mandeville, 59 n.
Geographical distribution of inter-
dict, 48
Gerardus Taciolus, 100
Germany, 48, 92, 136 f.
Ghibellines, 136
Gifts to churches during interdict,
63
Gilbert, Bishop of Rochester, 67 n.
Girgenti, 34 n., 47 n., 70 n.
Gloucester, Countess of, 59 n.
Government unimpeded during in-
terdict, 66
Grace, length of, 37-38, 113
Greek Church, 49 n. w
Gregory VII, 49
Gregory VIII, 39 n.
Gregory IX, 13, 25
Gregory, Cardinal deacon, 104
Gregory of Tours, 28, 50
Guelfs, 136
Hainault, 108
Harzburg, Adolph of, 93
Henry of Brabant, 95, 140
Henry of Constantinople, 34 n.
Henry, Count Palatine, 33 n., 95
Henry II, of England, 28, 33 n.,
65 n., 69, 80, 130; Henry III, 27
Henry of Harzburg, 93
Henry, Mayor of London, 61 n.
Henry, Duke of Normandy, 34 n.
Hereford, Bishop of, 90
Heresy, 36 n., 52, 55, 72, 73, 74,
87, 106, 148, 150
Heresy as a cause of interdict, 29,
150
Hermann of Harzburg, 93
Hermann of Thuringia, 94
Herve, 98, 99
Hesdin, Prior of, 130
Hildesheim, Bishop of, 93, 136
Hincmar, Archbishop of Reims, 15,
.17. 36
Hincmar, Bishop of Laon, ion.,
17*36
Hinschius, 9 n., 10 n., 11 n., 43 n.
Hochstaden, 136
Holy water, 14, 114, 115
Holes in doors, 64 n.
Holidays, see Feast-days
Holy Sepulchre, 78 n.
Honorius III, 155 n., 156
Hospitalers, 18 n., 76 n., 89, 107,
127
Hospitals, 61, 76, 78
Hoveden, 58
Howland, A. C. , i, 43 n., 48
Hubert, Walter, 90
Hugh de Brosse, Abbot, 130
Hugh, Bishop of Li^ge, 140
Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 68 n.,
119
Hugh Noyers, Bishop of Auxerre,
31. 156
Hungary, 46 n., 65 n., 86
Huntingdon, Archdeacon of, 66 n.
Huy, Council of, 140
Images prostrated, 50
Immorality as a cause of interdict,
27 f.
INDEX
179
In artiiitlo mortis, 16, 1 14, 130
Indulgence, as persuasion to ob-
servance of interdict, 54, 55
Infidels, 33; see also Saracens
Ingeborg, 28, no f.
Innocent II, 20 n.; Innocent III,
2, 3, 9, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20 n.,
21, 24 n., 26, 27, 31, 37 n., 43,
44, 46 n., 48, 49, 52 n., 76, 80,
81,86-163; Innocent IV, 36 nn.,
85; Innocent \'I, 37 n.
Inquisition, 32 n., 55; lays inter-
dict, 25
Instruction of scholars during inter-
dict, 63
Interdict, the word, 8-9; kinds of,
2, 19; local, 2, 4-8; personal,
2 n., 12 n., 21, 23, 28 n., 89 n.,
102 n.; threats of (see Threats)
Interdicts, duration of, 44; effect
of (see Effect of interdict); ex-
tent of, 46; frequency of (see
Frequency); purpose of, 9- 11
InterdictuTH ferendae sententiae, 19,
40; inierdictuni latae sententiae,
19, 40; interdiclum partiale, 2
n. , 75 ; inter dictum totale, 2 n. ; in-
terdictivn propter honore?fi, 2 n. ;
interdictum propter horror em, 2n.
Isabella, Countess of Gloucester,
59 n.
Italy, 49, 86
Ivo of Chartres, 17, 34 n., 62
Jerusalem, 33 n.
Jesuits, 54, 55, 56
Tews 1 £l
John' VIII, 20 n. ; John XXII,
47n.
John, Bishop of Cambrai, 94
John, King of England, 26, 27, 52
n., 59, 64, 65 n., 66 n., 89, 90,
91, 101, no, 132, 145
Joppa, 46 n., 49
Joy at cessation of interdict, 67, 84,
121, 122
Jiilich, 136
Kinds of interdict, 2, 19
Kober, F., i, 7 n., 43 n.
La Chants, 23 n., 32 n., 51, 57, 78
Laity, effect of interdict on the,
45 n., 70, 72, 119, 148
Langres, Bishop of, 143
Languedoc, 36 n., 150-156
Laon, 44, 46 n.
Laon, Bishop of, 116
Lateran, Council of the, 139 n.
Laval, Council of, 77
Laying cornerstones during inter-
dict, 63
Laying of the interdict, 19, 25, 68
Laymen punished for non-observ-
ance, 52
Lectures suspended during inter-
dict ,146, 147
Legal processes unimpeded during
interdict, 66
Legates, Papal, 20, 22, 67 n., 83,
84, 87, 89, loi, 103, 104, 105,
108, III, 120, 127, 135, 146,
150
Le Mans, 23 n., 126
Length of interdicts, 44
Leo IX, 8
Leo, King of Armenia, 134
Leon, 28, 73, 82, 86, 104
Leopold of Austria, 59, 95
Letters of interdict excluded, 65 n.
Li^ge, 40, 46 n., 50, 140
Limoges, 32 n., 45, 67, 130, 131
Limoges, Council of, 17, 26
Limoges, Viscount of, 131 n.
Lincoln, Bishop of, 68 n., 119, 147
Lincoln, Dean of, 91
Lipari, 47 n.
Local particular interdict, 2 n., 47
n., 145 n.
Lodi, 47 n.
Lodi, Bishop of, 7.\
Lombard cities, 27, loi
London, 26, 47 n., 61
London, Bishop of, 61 n., 62, 77,
90
Louis of Bavaria, 32 n., 94
Louis VIII, 27, 116, 119
Louis IX, 25, 28
Lucca, 32 n., 47 n.
Luchaire, i n., 89 n.
Lucius III, 39 n., 62 N.
Lupoid, 93
Lupoid, Archbishop of Mainz, 95
Lyons, Council of, 19, 39, 68 n.
Lyons, Archbishop of, 112, 118
Magna Charta, 27
Maidenhead, chapel in, 25, 46 n.
i8o
INDEX
Mainz, Archbishop of, 94, 95
Malmesbury, 23 n.
Manors interdicted, 27
Mantua, 45, 47 n.
Markets, 147 n.
Marriage, 15, 16, 56, 57, 58, 59,
116, 119, 162; benediction of,
14, 17, 119; marriage laws
violated, 28, 105, iii. See also
Consanguineous marriage
Marseilles, 96, 155
Mass, 13, 16,54, 55, 56, 68 n., 82,
83, 114, 119, 131, 138, 140
Matilda, 59
Maundy Thursday during interdict,
131
Maurienne, Count of, loi
Mauritius, Archbishop of Rouen, 17
Means of securing observance of
interdict, 50, loi, 104, 127, 132,
140
Meaux, 144
Meaux, Bishop of, 116, 123
Melior, Cardinal, 108
Mctz, 21 n., 99
Mexico, Council of, 49
Milan, 56, 139 n.
Milan, Archbishop of, 21, 102
Milan, Archdeacon of, 87, 148
Miles de Nanteuil, 23 n.
Mileto, 33 n.
Misuse of interdict, 35-37, 85, 143
Mitigation of interdict, 15, 16, 75,
106, 118
Modena, Bishop of, 133
Moderation of interdict. See Miti-
gation
Monks and Monasteries, 23, 28,
52, 53, 66 n., 69, 75, 76, 77, 80,
81, 96, 98, 116, 117, 119, 121
n., 123, 126, 129, 130, 133,
137. 157
Monition, 37, 112
Monte Casino, 30
Montfort, Simon de, 76, 154, 155
Montpelier, 47 n.
Mortival, Roger de, 45 n.
Murder, as a cause of interdict, 28,
80, 136, 145, 150
Muret, 154
Namur, 94, 130
Nancy, 67 n.
Naples, 33 n., 46 n., 139
Narbonne, 35 n., 155
Narbonne, Archbishop of, 36, 155
Narni, 20 n., 50, 193, 104
Navarre, 99
Neuburg, Abbot of, 95
Nevers, 38, 98
Nevers, Count of, 31, 81, 88, 156
Nicolas de Rozoy, 128
Nicolas de Rumigny, 127
Nicolas of Tusculum, Cardinal, 146
Non-observance of interdict, see
Violation
Normandy, 32 n. , 34 n., 46, 60,
91, 109
Notaries, publication of interdict
by, 41
Noyon, Bishop of, 24 n., 123, 144
Number of interdicts, 43, 143
Nuncio withdrawn during interdict,
Nuns, immoral, as cause of inter-
dict, 28
Oaths, 33, 88
Observance of interdict, 116, 125,
i3i» 137- See also Violation of
interdict
Octavian, Cardinal-Legate, 121,
122, 123, 127
Offertory of the Mass during inter-
dict, 13, 16
Offlcia divinuy 13, 15, 18, 74, 1 26
Olmiitz, 46 n.
Operation of interdict, 50. See
also Effect of interdict
Ordination during interdict, 15, 16,
153
Origin of the interdict, 2, 4-9
Orleans, 58, 160
Orleans, Bishop of, 116, 123
Orvieto, 87
Osimo, 96
Otranto, Z'j
Otricoli, 103
Otto of Brunswick, Emperor, 32
nn., 33 n., 94, 136, 138, 139,
140, 142
Ours, 100
Oviedo, Bishop of, 81
Oxford, 45 n., 145
Palatinate, 95
Palm Sunday during interdict, 1 14
Pampluna, Bishop of, 77, 99 n.
INDEX
l8l
Paraments, benediction of, during
interdict, 15; seizure of, as a
cause of interdict, 30
Paris, Bishop of, 98, 116, 122,
123
Parma, 9 n., 50, lOi
Partial interdict, 2 n. , 75
Passion-week during interdict, 114
Paul V, 54
Paupers, 17, 62, 13 1
Peace of God, breach of, as a cause
of interdict, 26
Penalties for non-obser\ance of in-
terdict, 52, 53
Penance, 15, 104, 126, 139, 146
Pentecost, 15 n.
Perpignan, 25
Personal interdict, 2 n., 12 n., 21,
23, 28 n., 89 n., 102 n.
Personal interests of churchmen
protected by interdict, 34
Peter of Aragon, 154
Peter of Arras, 54
Peter of Capua, 89, 109, 11 1, 120
Peter, Cardinal-deacon, loi
Peter, Cardinal-presbyter of St.
Marcellus, 135
Peter of Courtenay, Count of
Nevers, 31, 80, 156, 159
Peter, Abbot of Neuburg, 95
Peter of Nevers, 88
Philip II (Augustus), King of
France, 28, 58, 65 n., 88, 89, 98,
loi, 108, 128 n., 141, 144, 152,
158, 160; Philip IV, 42 n. ;
Philip VI, 25
Philip, Bishop of Beauvais, 109,
116
Philip of Namur, 94
Philip of Suabia, Emperor, 92, 94,
95, 136, 138, 140
Piacenza, loi, 102
** Pierre Bornihores," 25
Pierre de Castelnau, 28 n., 150,
153
Pilgnms, 53, 114, 126
Pisa, 102
Pithou, Pierre, i
Poitiers, Bishop of, 1 17
Poitiers, nuns of, 28
Poitou, 46 n., 47 n.
Poland, 44 n., 46 n., 49
Pollution as a cause of interdict, 29
Ponthieu, Count of, 58, 119
Porto, 107
Ports guarded, 65 n.
Portugal, 28, 34 n., 45, 46 n., 85,
86, 104, 148, 149
Praemonstratensians, 30 n., 77
Prague, 46 n.
Preaching permitted as a rule, 15,
51, 74, 78, 114
Priest may not lay interdict, 23
Private gain, as a motive for inter-
dict, 35
Privileges, 17, 18,44, 62 n., 69, 71,
75, 96, 107, 121 n., 125, 126,
127, I33» I35> 142, I44> 155 "•>
^57 .
Procession, during interdict, for-
bidden, 132
Prohibition of interdict, 76, 88
Promotion canceled, 63, 124
Promulgation of interdict, 39, 113
Property confiscated, 52, 68 n., 69,
91, 92, 115, 130, 132, 135, 148,
158, 160
Public opinion, 41, 48, 64, 68, 70,
74, 79, 118, 119, 124, 131, 139,
156
Publication of interdict, 40, 41, 65
"v 137
Punishment for non-observance of
interdict, 51, 123, 131, 132, 133,
137
Purification during interdict, 14, 58,
114, 115
Purpose of interdict, 9-12, 63, 74,
82, 100
Ravenna, Archbishop of, loi
Raymond of Toulouse, 33 n., 59,
150
Raymond Trencavel, 28 n.
Rayner, Legate, 105
Reading, 146
Reformation, interdict as a cause of
the, 73
Regensburg, 35 n.
Registers of deaths, during interdict,
68 n.
Regular clergy, 23, 68 n., 69, 71,
126, 137. See also Monks and
Monasteries
Reims, 9 n., 23 n., 35 n., 36, 47
nn., 63, 127, 128, 143
Reims, Archbishop of, 79, 108,
112, 116, 120, 123, 127
l82
INDEX
Relaxation of interdict, 67, 70, 81,
100, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107,
109, no, 118, 122, 133, 141,
146, 147, 149, 151
Relics, 30, 140
Remissness of clergy, as a result of
interdict, 71
Renaud of Noyon, 24 n.
Reparation for damage, 70, 83, 90,
121, 122, 131, 142, 149
Republications of interdict, 41, 52,
117, 130, 131, 133, 140, 158
Reserved cases, 117, 123
Resistance to interdict, 65, 68, 115,
131. 149
Reward for observance of interdict,
,54» 125
Richard I, King of England, 27,
32 n., 65 n., 88, 89, 90, no
Richard Furmi, 58
Riez, Bishop of, 153 n.
Rimini, 47 n.
Robber-barons, 26
Robbery, as a cause of interdict,
26, 29, 30, 80, 81, 87, 142
Robert of Rouen, 36
Rochester, Bishop of, 67 n., 90
Roger, Cardinal, presbyter of St.
Anastasia, 142
Roger de Mortival, 46 n.
Roger of Pamiers, 84
Roger de Rozoy, 128
Roman law^ and the interdict, 5
Rome, 47 n., loi
Rosello, Bishop of, 34 n.
Rouen, 24 n., 32 n., 36, 45, 46 n.,
88, 96, 144
Rouen, Archljishop of, 30 n., 42,
88, 91, 117
Rousselin, Viscount of Marseilles,
155
Rozoy, Roger de, 128
Rumigny, Nicholas de, 127
Rupino, 134
Sacramentals, during interdict, 13,
14
Sacraments, during interdict, 15,
73, 104, 115, 162
Saint Amand, Chronicle of, 73, 119
Saint Ambrose, Abbot of, 148
Saint Anastasia, Cardinal of, 142
Saint Anastasius, Abbot of, 93
Saint Angelus, 104
Saint Anianus, Canons of, 162
Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, 61,
78
Saint Bertin, 129
Saint Corneille, 23 n.
Saint Denis, 6 n., 112
Saint Dodart, 50 n. ; 140
Saint Euverte (Orleans) 66 n.
Saint Floribert, 51 n.
Saint Genevieve, Abbot of, 142
Saint George (Genoa), 47 n.
Saint Germain des Pr6s, 1 1 7, 1 57
Saint Gilles, Council of, 151
Saint Lambert, 141
Saint Julian (Auxerre), 157
Saint Leger-en-Iveline, 122
Saint Maldaberta, 50 n.
Saint Marcellus, Cardinal of, 135
Saint Martial (Limoges), 130
Saint Omer, 129
Saint Peter de Curia (LeMans), 127
Saint Praxedis, Cardinal of, 135
Saint Priscus, Cardinal of, 121
Saint Remi, 112
Saint Salvator (Limoges), 131 n.
Saint Sixtus (Cremona), 133
Saint Victor, 20 n. , 96, 98
Salerno, Archbishop of, 65 n., 92
Salzburg, Archbishop of, 95, 96 n.
Sancho of Portugal, 148
Sancta Maria in Via Lata, Cardinal
of, lOI
Santa Sabina, Cardinal of, 31
Saracens, 33 n., 74, 106
Sarpi, P., 54, 72
Satisfaction, 141, 142, 145, 148;
see also Congrua satisf actio,
Savonarola, 33 n.
Savoy, Duke of, 67 n.
Schleswig, Bishop of, 34 n., 137
Scholars, during interdict, 63, 146
Scotland, 46 n., 49, 66 n.
Seez, Bishop of, 35 n., 91
Senlis, Bishop of, 116
Sens, Archbishop of, 91, 124, 143,
158, 159, 160, 161
Sentence of interdict, 39, 114; see
also Formulas of interdict
Sicily, 54
Silvester, Bishop of S^ez, 91
Simon de Montfort, 76, 154, 155
Simony, as a cause of interdict, 28
Soffridus, Cardinal-presbyter of St.
Praxedis, 135
INDEX
183
Soil made barren by interdict, 46 n.
Soissons, 23 n., 36, 42
Soissons, Bishop of, ii6, 122, 143
Sorcer)', 148
Spain, 49, 67 n.
" Spigant," 96
Stephen of Burgundy, 85, 100
Stephen Langton, 77
Stephen of Noyon, 144
Stephen of Tournay, 73, 79, 108
Steppes, 141
Strangers, 17, 67; see also Travelers
Suburbs interdicted with a city, 21,
46, 51
Suspension, 29, 52, 53 n., 123,
125, 131, 133, 147
Sutri, Bishop of, 93
Sybil, Queen of Sicily, 80, 92
Synodal interdicts, 22
Tarasia of Portugal, 104
Tarragona, Archbishop of, 28 n.,
33 n., 36 n.
Taxation, as a cause of interdict,
31, 36, 37, 90, 132, 133, 148,
153; taxation during interdict,
66, 67; evaded by means of in-
terdict, 35, 36-37
Templars, 21 n. , 18 n., 44, 76 n.,
78. 89. 135
Terms of relaxation, 83, 121, 136,
141, 146, 151, 153, 159
Territorial extent of interdicts, 46
T6rouanne, Bishop of, 108, 116
Tertiaries, 75
Teutons, the, and the interdict, 6
Theatines, 55, 56
Th^dise, Papal Legate, 153
Theobald Walter, 59 n.
Thibaut IV, of Champagne, 143
Threats of interdict, 43, 65, 68, 69,
86, 106 n., 130 n.
Thuringia, 94
Tithes, failure to pay, as a cause of
interdict, 31, 35 n., 74, 107
Toledo, 47 n., 49 n.
Tortona, 99
Tortosa, 47 n., 107
Toulouse, 9 n., 45 n., 47 n., 150
Tournaments forbidden on pain of
interdict, 26, 80
Tournay, Bishop of, 73, 79, 108
Tours, Archbishop of, 126
Trade, during interdict, 63, loi, 119
Travelers affected by interdict, 67,
68 n., 119
Treaty with infidels, as a cause of
interdict, 32-33
Trent, Council of, 21, 22, 25
Treviso, 44 n., 100
Trier, Council of, 81
Troyes, Bishop of, 143
Tuscan League, 102, 104
Tusculum, Cardinal-bishop of, 146
Ugo, Vicar, 93
Urban II, 20 n.
Urban III, 39 n.
Urbino, 45 n., 72 n.
Usque ad congruam satisf actionem^
II n., 96, loi, 129, 142
Usury, 19, 78 n.
Vagrancy suppressed by means of
interdict, 26
Vallemagne, 27
VendSme, 17, 62
Venice (1309), 65, 66 n; Venice
(1606), 40, 54, 67 n., 72, 74,
82
Verdun, 82
Verona, 47 n., 84 n., 86
Vestibules of churches, use of dur-
ing interdict, 114, 115
Vezelai, Monastery of, 31, 98, 112,
122, 144
Viaticum, during interdict, 13, 119,
126, 140 n.
Vice increased by interdict, 72,
156
Victor IV, 82
Vienne, Archbishop of, 112, llS
Vienne, Council of, 113
Violation of interdict, 44, 50, 96,
107, 116, 125, 127, 130, 131,
.133, 135. 137, 155, 159. 162
Violation of vows, as a cause of in-
terdict, 33
Visitation of churches during inter-
dict, 63
Viterbo, 103
Vitorchiano, 104
Voices subdued during interdict, 13,
14, 114
Vows, violation of, 33
Waldemar, Bishop of Schleswig,
34 n., 137
i84
INDEX
Wales, 32 n., 49
Walter of Brienne, 27, 87
Walter, Archbishop of Rouen, 117
War hindered by interdict, 66 n.
Warning of interdict, 37, 105
Warwick, William of, 59 n.
Westminster, 146
"Wicel deBerc", 92
William, Bishop of Auxerre, 163 n.
William of Montpellier, 76
William of Scotland, 66 n.
Winchester, Bishop of, 66 n., 91
Worcester, Bishop of, 77, 90
Wiirzburg, Bishop of, 11 n., 28,
47"., 93, 95» 136, 138 n.
York, 46 n., 90, 132
Zamora, Bishop of, 104 n., 149
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