"Urban, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to all the faithful, both princes and subjects, waiting in Flanders; greeting, apostolic grace, and blessing.
Your brotherhood, we believe, has long since learned from many accounts that
a barbaric fury has deplorably afflicted an laid waste the churches of God in
the regions of the Orient. More than this, blasphemous to say, it has even grasped
in intolerabe servitude its churches and the Holy City of Christ, glorified
b His passion and resurrection. Grieving with pious concern at this calamity,
we visited the regions of Gaul and devoted ourselves largely to urging the princes
of the land and their subjects to free the churches of the East. We solemnly
enjoined upon them at the council of Auvergne (the accomplishment of) such an
undertaking, as a preparation for the remission of all their sins. And we have
constituted our most beloved son, Adhemar, Bishop of Puy, leader of this expedition
and undertaking in our stead, so that those who, perchance, may wish to undertake
this journey should comply With his commands, as if they were our own, and submit
fully to his loosings or bindings, as far as shall seem to belong to such an
office. If, moreover, there are any of your people whom God has inspired to
this vow, let them know that he (Adhemar) will set out with the aid of God on
the day of the Assumption of the Blessed Mary, and that they can then attach
themselves to his following."
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