fore, I aduise you, amend: for whyle you go about to obtayne of vs your consecration and crowne, and to get those thinges you haue not: I feare much, your honour will lose the thinges ye haue. Thus fare ye well.

FRdericke by the grace of God, Romayne Emperor, euer Augustus: vnto Adrian bishop of the Romayne church, and vnto all such that be willing to cleaue vnto those thinges which Iesus began to woorke and teache, Greeting. The law of iustice, geueth to euery person accordingly that which is hys. Neyther doo we derogate from our parentes: of whom, according as we haue receiued this our dignity of the imperiall crowne and gouernaunce: so in the same kingdome of ours, we do render their due and true honour to them agayne. And for as much as duty in all sortes of mē, is to be sought out: let vs see, first in the tyme of Constantine (Siluester then being bishop of Rome) what patrimony or regalitie he had of his own, due to him that he might claim? Did not Constantine of his liberall benignity geue lyberty, and restored peace vnto the church? And whatsoeuer regality or patrimony the see of your papacy hath: was it not by the donatiō of Princes geuen vnto them? Reuolue and turne ouer the auncient chronicles (if eyther you haue not red, or neglected that we doo affime) there it is to be found. Of them which be Gods by adoption, and hold our lordships of vs: why may we not iustly requyre their homage, and their sworne allegiance, when as he which is both your maister and ours (taking nothing of anye king or anye man, but geuing all goodnes to all men) payde toll and tribute for hym and Peter, vnto Cesar? Geuing you example to do the lyke. And therefore sayth to you, and all men: Learne of me, for I am meeke ond humble of hart. &c. Wherfore eyther render agayne your lordshippes and patrimonies which ye hold of vs: or els if ye finde them so swete vnto you, then geue that which is due to God, to God: & that which is due to Cesar, vnto Cesar. As for your Cardinals, we shut them out both of churches and cities. For that we see them, not preachers, but proylers: not repairers of peace, but rakers for money: not pyllers and vpholders of the church, but polers insatiable of the world and moylers of money and golde. What time we shall see them to be other men (suche as the churche requireth them to be) members & makers of peace, shining forth like lightes to the people, assisting poore & weake mens causes in the way of equity. &c. Then shall they finde vs prest and readye to relieue them with stipendes, and all thinges necessary. And were as you infer suche questions as these vnto secular men (litle conducing to religion) you incurre thereby no litle note and blemish of your humilitie (which is keeper of all vertues) and of your mansuetude. Therfore let your fatherhood beware and take heede, least in mouing such matters as seeme to vs vnseemely for you: ye geue therby offence to such as depēd of your word (geuīg eare to your mouth, as it wer) to an euening shower. For we cannot but tell you of that we heare: seing now the detestable beast of pryde, doth creepe into the seate of Peter: prouiding alwayes (as muche as we maye by Gods grace) for the peace of the Church. Fare ye well.

Vpon this Hadrianus the pope directeth out a Bul, agaynst Fredericke: excommunicating him with publike and solemne ceremonies. Moreouer (cōspiring with William duke of Apulia) sought all maner of waies to infest the Emperour, and to set all men agaynst hym: especially the clergy. Amongest many other, wryting to Hillinus bishoppe of Triuers: to Arnulphus bishoppe of Mentz: and to Friderike bishop of Colen: seeketh first to make them of his side. His Epistle to them soundeth to thys effect.

MarginaliaA seditious & proud letter of the pope to the bishops of Germany.THempire of Rome was transferred frō the Grekes, to the Almaynes: so that the king of Almains, could not be called Emperour, before he were crowned of the bishop Apostolicall. Before his consecratiō he is a king, afterward Emperour. Whēce hath he his empire the, but of vs? By the electiō of his princes he hath the name of a kyng: by our consecration he hath the name of the Emperour, of August, or of Cesar. Ergo, by vs he raygneth as Emperour. Search auncient antiquities. Zacharias pope, promoted Carolus, and made him a great name: that he was made and called Emperour. And after that, euer the king of Almaynes was named Emperour, and aduocate to the see Apostolicall: so that Apulia (cōquered by him) was subdued to the bishop of Rome: which Apulia, with the citie of Rome: is ours, and not the Emperours. Our seate is at Rome, the seate of the Emperour is at Aquis in Arduenna, which is a wood in Fraunce. MarginaliaWell bragged & lyke a pope.The Emperour what soeuer he hath, he hath it of vs. As Zacharias did translate the Empyre from the Greekes, to the Almaynes: so we, maye translate it agayne from the Almaines, to the Greekes. Behold it lyeth in our power to geue it to whom we wyll: MarginaliaScripture well wrasted.being therefore set vp of God aboue Gentiles and nations, to destroy and plucke vp, to build and to plant. &c.

And yet further to vnderstand the ambicious presūption of this proud see of Rome: it so chaunced this Emperour Fridericus as his first cōming vp to Rome, did behold there in the palace of Lateran, a certain picture brought forth vnto him: How Lotharius. ij. Emperour was crowned of the pope, with the inscriptiō of certain verses in Laten: declaring how the foresayd Emperour cōming to Rome, first did sweare to the citie: after, was made the popes man, and so of him receiued the crown. Fridericus offended with this pycture, desired the pope it might be abolished, for that it should be no cause of any dissention hereafter. The pope vnderstanding thentent of the Emperour, howe loth he was to come vnder subiectiō to his see: deuised by all crafty wayes to bring it to passe. MarginaliaEx Radenulco, in apendice Frinsingensis.And first taking his occasion by the bishop of Laodicia (being then deteyned in custody, I cannot tell by whom) sent diuers and sharpe letters vnto him. And yet not so sharpe, as proud and disdainful. Wherein the first salutacion by his Legates, was this in laten: Salutat vos beatissim⁹ pater noster Papa, et vniuersitas Cardinalium, ille vt pater, hii vt fratres: MarginaliaSee the ambitious presumption of a proud priest.That is. Our most blessed father þ^e pope, greeteth you, and the vniuersall company of the Cardinals, he as your father, they as your brethren. Meaning therby that he should vnderstād him selfe to be subiect and vnderling to the pope, no les then the Cardinals were. Moreouer, in his letters obiectyng diuers thinges agaynst him, reciteth: howe manye and great benefites he had receiued of the church of Rome, by the which church he had obtayned the fulnes of hys honour and dignitie. &c. Themperour with his princes perceuing wherunto the pope by his Legates did shute: (being a prince of courage) could not abide such intollerable presumption of a proud message: wherupō muche contention fell betwene the Legates and the Princes. And of whom then (saye the Legates) receiueth Cesar hys Empery, if he take it not of þ^e pope? Wyth þ^e which word the Germayne princes were so muche offended: that had not þ^e Emperour staid them (w^t much ado) they would haue vsed violence against þ^e legates. But þ^e Emperor not permitting that, cōmaūded þ^e legates away: straitly charging thē to make no turne by þ^e way to any persō or persons, but straight to depart home. And (he to certify the whole state of the empire) of the truth of the matter, directeth forth these letters that followe.

FOr as much as the prouidence of God (wherof depēdeth all power both in heauen and earth) hath cōmit-