31 - Letter from Bartholomew, Warden of Babwell Friary, Accompanying an Indulgence of Pope Sixtus IV for the Jubilee Year, 14 April 1475 [Bl Ms Add. 6416/5]

Summary

Brother Bartholomew, warden of the Friars Minor at Babwell

In Christ God

The warden and friars, greeting and peace by honoured virtue, so that the merits of the heavenly kingdom might be promoted. Since the Lord Sixtus IV, by divine providence pope, has written not only to our brothers and sisters of our order but also to all brothers and sisters of the confraternity and to all people offering prayers, and has graciously granted by the apostolic benevolence that whoever of them is able to choose the same, both they and whosoever of their own should bear absolution from each and every crime, excess and sin (even those reserved to the Apostolic See); and on this one occasion for the duration of a year from the publication of public letters, that is to say calculated from 14 April. And on this one occasion others may obtain grace, as many times as needed, by joining themselves to salvation by absolution and penance, or by a full confession of all sins (and remission of the same in the true moment of death) by his apostolic letters benevolently granted. On account of your donation which you granted on account of the reverence you have to our fraternal order, we consider, assert and accept you.

And to all and singular of the friars of the English administration, I accept your offerings in a personal capacity equally in life and in death, and according to the apostolic words for all beneficiaries of spiritual goods according to the form and effect of these same presents.

In order to add to salvation, concerning the spiritual grace of the metropolitans: so that after the death of all men they might be made participants; let the display of these things in our provincial chapter come to be an equal recommendation for you, just as for our dead friars in the same convent. Farewell in Christ Jesus and pray for me. Given at Babwell in our Chapter House.