Sexagenus erat ... comæta.
[1563 only adds: Dux Normanorum transit mare, vicit Heraldum.]
John Wade, University of Sheffield
It was the year 1066 when the English perished, a comet star showing. The duke of the Normans crossed the sea and conquered Harold.
This forms the introduction to the Battle Abbey Roll, a Latin inscription which was originally displayed in the abbey, but known to us only from sixteenth century versions of it published by Leland, Holinshed and Duchesne (cf. Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Filius est præsul ... & Abba. &c.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
The son is a bishop, the father is an abbot and each is a Simon:
What would we not hope for if we were to possess money?
Money has everything because it wants, it makes, it adds and it takes away.
It is all too unjust a thing, a bishop and an abbot made by money.
Cæsar lex viua ... cuncta sibi.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
Caesar stands as the living law commanding kings as emperor, and under the living law are all rights given. That law punishes, it frees and itself binds. He is the founder of the law and must not be held by the law, but it has pleased him to be held under the law willingly. Whatever has pleased him will be like justice. God who binds and frees has brought him forth to the world; the divine power has divided the kingdom with him; it has given the stars to the celestial deities and all the rest to him.
Pars quoque papalis ... mens tua cedat ei. &c.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
The papal party also counters that of the emperor in this way. We grant that you reign, with the proviso that you be subject to Peter; for Christ creates both rights for us. The spirit and the body are effectually subject to me. I hold earthly things in my body and heavenly things in my mind; whence, by holding heaven, I loose and bind earth. The pope is seen to reveal the heavens, to touch celestial things. For he is entitled to give, to take, to bind, to loose everything. To him the new law and the old law have given every right: the ring and the staff, although they are thought to be earthly things, of right belong to heaven. What they seem to signify is: have regard to the laws of God; let your mind give way to him, etc.
Si probitas ... Fridericus qui iacet intus.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
If honesty, sense, the grace of virtues, wealth and nobility of birth could resist death, Frederick, who lies within, would not have died.
The Emperor Frederick to Pope Innocent
Fata mouent ... esse caput.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
The fates warn, and the stars and flights of birds teach: at once I shall be the hammer of the whole world. Rome tottering for a long time after being driven by long errors will collapse, and cease to be the head of the world.
Pope Innocent of the Emperor Frederick
Fata silent ... cuspide cuncta minatur.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
The fates are silent, the stars are silent, the bird predicts nothing: to know the future is the privilege of God alone. You are striving in vain to submerge Peter's ship: that ship floats but never sinks. Rumour reports, Scripture teaches, and your sins tell us that life for you is short, but your punishment will be everlasting. Julian realised what power the hand of God had: you are succeeding him and the anger of God holds you. FRE - rages in the world, DE - presses down lofty things into the deep, RI - searches out evil, CUS - threatens all with his spear.
Frederick to Innocent
Fata mouent ... christianoq; gregi.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
The fates warn, the stars teach, the flights of birds tell that you are soon destined to fall into the caves of black Styx. It is not Peter's ship but that of Christ which swims in the waves; that ship floats, but never sinks. Rumour reports, your writings tell us, and your abominable sins show us your destruction and death. A fly strangled Adrian, and does not the anger of God think also of exacting punishment from you? Benedict hanged himself in prison, and the other one caught in debauchery perished, wounded by his own sword. Satan, himself more wicked, killed Silvester: so you will be gaining rewards worthy of your deeds. You note in what you sa that you are innocent, although you are about to harm the world and its Christian flock.
Frederick to Innocent afresh
Esses si membrum ... sidera, jura, Deos.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
If you were a limb you would not be boasting that you are the head of the world and the city when you are a burden to the world and the city. Now you are not a member, but a rotten corpse, a sore that should be cut away with the sword, a ridiculous head. By Daniel you are said to be an 'abomination', a sin and the head of evils, by Paul to be the son of destruction. We make Christ only our head, but you make yourself the head of the evils of the whole world. And the head is one, as Paul says everywhere. You, foolish jester, tell me what sort of head. The head then of a monstrous body, and you are giving birth to monsters, you are giving birth to monsters who are monks and you are fondling abominable prostitutes. Your religion is debauchery, anger, arrogance, murder, error, pleasure, disasters and shameful profit. From this then it is clear that you spurn Christ: that you are a hateful enemy and a disgrace to God. In the end the King will come gliding down from high heaven, and then your sacraments will not defend you, nor your masses and crosses; not the plumes rising on the top of your head, not a powerful diploma, not your sacred cohort; not your triple crown, nor your see gained with blood, no honour of your throne and no purple. Judas sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver, you are selling more bodies of your Christ. You are selling for a little piece of bronze bodies of Christ, and the pole, heavenly spirits, the stars, the laws and the Gods.
Manet alta mente repostum
Judicium Paridis.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
There remains buried deep in her heart the judgment of Paris.
A re nomen habens ... Maledicte.
J. Barrie Hall
Having your name from your actions, speak well, do well, Benedict. Or, turning the actions round, speak ill, do ill, Maledict.
Dum viguit rex ...reganvit honestas.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
While the king was active and your power was very strong,
Deceit lay hidden, there was great peace, and honesty reigned.
Hic situs est Nero ... repleta mero.
John Wade, University of Sheffield
Here lies Nero, death to the laymen, a viper to the clergy, a deviant from the truth, a cask filled with unmixed wine.
Immensum scelus est ... gramine damna viæ. &c.
J. Barrie Hall
The injury which you have done to the pilgrim by taking away his straw is a great crime. You did not heed the fact that he had endured many dangers, was destined to endure very many more, and that he was a pilgrim. You did not heed the fact that the journey he had to travel was over very great expanse of land and sea. You took no heed of holy men or of holy temples, nor even of holy Jerusalem which belongs to holy men. In doing this to an unknown pilgrim you are a thief, and you well know in what honour a thief ought to die. You may have confessed, you may have been convicted, but do you have the means to cloak such injuries? He came back through the same places, and realised that so violent an evil was unexpectedly at hand. I say nothing of the pope whose protection hired such an one and whose help you disparage. Though he were the messenger of the whole church, he suffered loss on the road through the taking away of his grass.