Philipus, Dei et Apostolica sedis gratia Magdeburgensis Archiepiscopus, ac Halberstatensis ecclesiarum. Administrator, Germanie Primas, et sacri Romani Imperii Archichancellarius princeps elector Cassuborum, Sclauorumque Dux, Burgrauius Nurenbergensis, Rugieque princeps, Dilecto nobis in christo Philipus, Salutem in domino.

The sincere and fervent devotion that you have shown toward the Roman church and to the fabric of the great work of the basilica of Saint Peter at Rome through your suitable contribution in accordance with our ordinance for its reparation properly moves us to assent to your petitions, especially to those that arise from the fervor of devotion. Thus we are inclined to your devout supplications:

We allow indulgences by special grace that these things be granted to you by apostolic authority, which we discharge through a special letter of our most holy lord, lord Pius IV, pope by divine providence. With the proviso, however, that you use sparingly the indult to celebrate mass, or to have it celebrated, before daylight, since it is fitting, when our lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is the splendour of eternal light, is sacrificed on the altar, that this be done not in the dark of night but in the light. In guarantee of which things we have ordered the present letter to be made and to be confirmed by the affixing of the seal of the aforesaid fabric.

Given on the 10th day of May, in the year of the Lord 1517, the fifth year of the pontificate of the aforesaid lord Pope Pius IV.

Letter From Archbishop Philip of Mainz to Brother Johann Tetzel

Pope Pius IV, our most holy father and lord in Christ, grants by divine providence to each and everyone one of both sexes of the faithful in Christ who visit the church, From the evening of the first Sunday immediately proceeding the feast of Ascension up to the sunset of the Sunday itself, and from the first vespers of the vigil of the Ascension, that is the vespers of the Wednesday before the feast of the Ascension, up to the evening of the festivities, for those lending helping hands to the builders of the church and convent of Saint Mary of the sacred Carmelite order in Gorgona . The plenary indulgence removes punishment and guilt : both on behalf of the dead and on behalf of the living: It is valid for those who are contrite and for those who have not made a confession and yet have the intention of confessing, and also for those absent For absolution and for the exchange of all vows , if given in writing. And for absolution from all crimes and excesses. And also for failings and for which the apostolic seat has withheld the observance of the Lord’s Supper with the appointment of confessions, at the pleasure of the commissary and the delegation, if given in writing . With the power of substitution regarding all things most comprehensively that can be seen in the copy of the apostolic brief, which are are left in the power of the Lord’s reverent vicar or prelate.

With this order, Johann Tetzel would set to work to raise money for the Holy Church.