The porgaiiii new document in the archives of the Dominicans in Krakow was so damaged due to rot that, apart from several smaller holes, there was one larger, longitudinal one, spanning six lines, which damaged the text in the dotted places. The same address; hand written "Gneznen". A copy of the document described above was kindly provided to me by Dr. Fr. Piekosiński.
This document, as far as I know, was previously known only from its summary in Bsovms Ann. eccl. 1232, no. 12, which reads as follows: "Georgius Jacobo Crescentio Provinciali et F. Doinaslao ordiuis praedicatorum provinciae Poloniae commiserat potestatem inquirendi statum circuutstantiasque regionis et nationis Ruthrnarum caeteraque omnia, quae ad institutionem episconi pertinere videbantur. Dedit ea de re utrique literas Interamnae IV. Cal. Maii pontif. anno 6. quarum initium est: Significante dilecto filio Gnesnensi electo etc." This is apparently the content of our document, but with important errors. First of all, our brief is not addressed to Jakób Crescentius, the provincial, and Domasław, the monk, but to the unnamed provincial and the brothers Jakób and Domasław. Once again, Bzowski omitted the date because it was written by Cal. Maii instead of Idus Maii. Bzowski then misled other writers and even the newest Dr. Reifenlcugla (die Griinditng der rómisch-kutholischen Bidhiimer in den Territorien Halicz und Władimir. Wien 1874), who (p. 16) gives a brief on April 28, 1332 (which is undoubtedly a printing error instead of L232) and follows Bzowski in general. The provincial of the Polish Dominicans at that time was not Jakob Crescentius, but Gerard of Wrocław, as Barącs, Bi/s dziej, quite aptly states, of the preaching order in Poland I., 75-77, not being misled by Bzowski's message expressed in his Annal. eccles. and in the great work dc rebus Prot. Polonium.
In Lateran on May 12, 1284
Gregory IX. the pope authorizes Dominicans going to Russia to hear the confessions of Catholics residing there and to grant absolution even excommunicated ones.
Gregunus episcopus serv"us servorum Doi, dilectis fiłiis fratribus oidinis fratrum Predicatorum in terras Ruthenorum et Pagauorum proficiscentibus salutem et apostolieaiu beuedictioiiem. Cum messis multa sit, operarii vero pauci, evangelicus ille paterfamłlias in messcm suum operarios adhuc raittit, et in hac quasi undecinia hora vinee sue novos deputat vinitores, quorum laborem pari cum primis dcnario recompeuset. Cum igitur in terris Ruthenorum aliorumąue iiifidelium vobis sit animarum sollicitudo commissa, ut illius operante clemeutia, qui de lapidibus potest abtas {sk) filios suscitare. verbo et e.ycniplo protiriatis iliidoni.
quod niinisterium vestruni diligontor implentes,. vos operarios inconfusibiles cxhibetis {vici)orum sentes extirpare de aiiro domini satagcndo, proptor quod indiibitatam de vobis fiduciam obtiuemus, ut qui spiritu vivitis s ainbuletis et do doitiina et, conversatione vestra flores et fructus proveniaiit gratiores, devotioiii vestrc preseiitium auctoritate concedimns, ut in terris illis vobis sit iicituni christianorum ibi uiorantuin de prelatorum suoriim consilio duiumodo sint catliolici et alioqu aciredentium confessiuiies aiulire ac eis peuitentiani iuiiuigere salutarem, et ipsis si aliquibus exconiinuunioatiomu)i seiitentiis suiit astricti satisfactione premissa beaeficium absolutionis iusfa formam ccdesie iiiipertiri. ita tameii. quod christianis ad partes illas accedentibus huiusinodi absolutio non ni-^i in necessitatis aiticulo impendatur et tunc iniungatur eis, qiiod de lure fuerit iniungeuduiu. Liceat qiioque vobis cum vestri ordiais fratribus super irregularitate, nisi adeo sit enormis et gravis, quod ea uotati ad sedem esseut apostolicam transinittendi. provide dispensare, ac alia facere, que ad couversionein intidelium et salutem pertinere!KJveritis auimarum. Nulli ergo omuiuo homiuum liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis iiifringere vel ei ausu tomerario coutraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit, indignationem oinnipotentis Dei et beatoium Petri et Pauli apostolorum eius se noverit incursurum. Datum Latcrani III. Idus Maii. pontificatus nostri anno octavo.
A parchment document in the archives of the Dominicans in Krakow was significantly damaged due to moisture, so much so that there was a hole in the middle fold and the ink was spattered in many places. The lead bull of Pope Gregory IX hangs on a strand of yellow and crimson silk. A copy of the document described above was kindly provided to me by Dr. Fr. Piekosiński. I find mentions of this brief in Barącz, a history of the order of preachers. in Poland, as well as in other publications.
III.
In Orvieto fapud urbem reterem) i3. January 1283
Martin IV. the pope approves all privileges granted to the order
Augustynów in Miechów