1576 Edition | Book 4 | Page 207 
in charge that they should cal together a Councel or sitting in Almany, and there to be defined to whether part the empire should pertaine by most right and publike consideration Promising that what they should therin determine, he (lokyng vpon the matter, through the authoritie of god omnipotent, and of S. Peter, and S. Paul) would ratifie the same. Moreouer for that, no lette nor impechement should happen to the Legates by the way, he geueth with them letters, to the princes & nations of Germany. Wherof the contents be declared briefly in Platina: If any list to read them.
[Back to Top]But The Emperor would not so permit the Legates to haue any Councel within Germany, except they would first depriue Rodolphus of hys kingdome. The Legates consideryng that, to be agaynst the drifte and intention of the Pope, returned agayne from whence they came. The Pope hearyng this and seyng hys purpose so disapoynted by the Emperour, draweth out an other excommunication agaynst hym, and agayne beriueth him of hys kyngdome: sendyng about hys letters excommunicatorie, throughout all places: thinkyng therby to further the part of Rodolphus the better. Platina hath in hys boke the whole effect of the writyng, which tendeth after this sort.
[Back to Top]Crocodili lachrymæ.BLessed S. Peter, prince of the Apostles, and thou Paul also the teacher of the Gentiles, geue eare vnto me, I beseche you a litle, and gently heare me. For you are the disciples and louers of truth, the thinges that I shal say are true. This matter I take in hand for truth sake, that my brethren (whose saluation I seke) may the more obsequiously obey me, and better vnderstand, how that I trusting vpon your defēce (next to Christ & his mother the immaculate virgin) resist the wicked, and am redy to helpe the faithfull. I did not enter this seat of mine owne accorde, but much against my wil, & with teares: for that I accoūted my self vnworthy to occupy so high a throne. And this I say, not that I haue chosen you, but you haue chosen me, and haue layd this great burthen vpon our shoulders. And now wheras by this your assignment, I haue ascended vp this hill, MarginaliaScripture well applied.crying to the people, and shewyng thē their faults, and to the children of the church, their iniquities: the members of Sathan haue risen against me, and haue laid hands together to seke my bloud. MarginaliaA figure called xxx.
Cuius contra riū verū est.
Vim faciunt scripturis, vt plenitudinem accipiunt potestatis.For the kings of the earth haue risen vp against me, and the Princes of this world: with whom also haue conspired certaine of the Clergy: subiects against the Lord, and against vs his annoynted, saying: let vs breake a sunder their bandes, and cast of from vs their yoke. This haue they done agaynst me, to bring me either to death, or to banishment. In the number of whom is Henricus, whom they call king, the sonne of Henry the Emperour, which hath lift vp so proudly his hornes and hele against the church of God, making conspiracy with diuers other bishops, both Italiās, French, and Germaines. Against the pride of whom, hetherto your authoritie hath resisted: MarginaliaLet all papistes marke here well the holynesse of their holy father.who rather being broken then amended, comming to me in Cisalpina, made humble sute to me for pardon and absolution. I thinking nothyng els but true repentaunce in hym, receaued him againe to fauour, and did restore hym to the communion onely, from which he was excommunicate: but to his kingdome (from which in the Synode of Rome he was worthily expulsed) I did not restore: nor to the rentes and fruites therof (that he might returne to the fayth againe) that I graunted not vnto him. And that I did for this purpose, that if he shold deferre to fall to agreement with certaine of his neighbours, whom he hath alwayes vexed, and to restore agayne the goods both of the church, and otherwise: than he might be compelled by the censures of the Church, & force of armes therunto. Wherby diuers and sundry bishops and princes of Germany (such as he had long troubled) beyng helped by this oportunitie, elected Rodolphus their Duke, to be kyng in the place of Henricus: whom they for his transgressions had remoued and dispatched frō his Empire. But Rodolphus first in this matter, vsing a princely modestie, & integritie: sent vp hys messengers to me, declaring how he was constrained (wild he, nild he) to take that regall gouernment vpon him: albeit he was not so desirous therof, but that he would rather shew hymselfe obiedent to vs, then to the other that offered him the kingdom, MarginaliaAs though he were not set vp by you, rather then by thē.and whatsoeuer our arbitrement should be therin, he would be vnder obedience, both of God and of vs. And for more assurance of this his obedience, he hath sent his owne children hither for pledges. Vpon this Henricus began to snuffe, and first entreated with vs, to restraine and inhibit Rodolphus, through the payne of our curse, from the vsurpacion of his kingdom. I answered againe, I would see whether of them had more right and title therunto, and to send our Legates thether vpon the same, to know the whole state of the matter: and therupon I would decise betwixt them, whither of them had the truer part. But Henricus would not suffer our Legates to come to take vp the matter, and shew diuers both secular men, and of the Clergy, spoiling and prophaning churches, and so by this meanes hath indangered himself in the bandes of excommunication. I therfore trustyng in the iudgement and mercy of God, and in the supportatiō of the blessed virgin, also bold vpon your authoritie, do lay the sentence of curse vpon the sayd Henricus, and all hys adherentes: MarginaliaThe more to blame Emperours to suffer you to be so sausie with them.and here againe I take his regall gouernment from him, charging and forbidding all Christen men, that haue bene sworne vnto him (whom I discharge here of their othe) that hereafter they obey him in nothing, but to take Rodolphus to their king, who is elected by many Princes of the prouince. For so right it is and conuenient, that as Henry for his pride and stubbernes, is depriued of his dignitie and possession: so Rodolphus being gratefull to all men, for his vertue and deuotion be exalted to the imperiall throne and domination.[Back to Top]
Therefore O you blessed Princes of the Apostles, graūt to this, and confirme with your authoritie that I haue said, so that all men may vnderstand, if you haue power to bind and lose in heauen, you haue also power in earth to geue and take away Empires, kingdoms, principalities, and what so euer here in earth belongeth to mortall men. For if you haue power to iudge in such matters, as appertain to God: what then should we thinke you haue of these inferior & prophane thinges? MarginaliaNego argumentum.And if it be in your power to iudge the aungels, ruling ouer proud princes: what then shall it beseme you to do vpon their seruants. Therefore let the kings vnderstand by this example, and all other princes of the world, what you be able to do in heauen, & what you are with God: that thereby they may feare to contemne the commaundementes of holy church. And now do you exercise this iudgement quickly vpon Henricus, MarginaliaConfer this clause with the historie of the storie hereafter folowing, O double hipocrite.whereby all mē may see this sonne of iniquitie to fall from hs kingdome, not by any chaunce, but by your prouision and only worke. Notwithstanding, this I would craue of you, that he being brought to repentance, through your intercession, yet in the day of iudgement, may finde fauor and grace with the Lord. Actum Rome. Nonis Martii, indictione. 3.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaGilbertus Archbishop depriued.Furthermore, Hildebrand not yet content with this, interditeth & deposeth also Gibertus archbishop of Rauenna, for takyng the Emperours part, commaundyng all priestes to geue no maner obedience to hym: And sendeth thether to Rauenna an other Archbishop, wyth full authoritie.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe. 4. battell betwixt Henry and Rodulph. Henricus victor.After and vpon this, Henricus and Rodolphus, to try the matter by the sword, coped together in battell not without bloudshed: where as Henricus by the fauour of God, agaynst the iudgement of Hildebrand, had the victory. Rodolphus there greatly wounded in the conflict, was had out of the army, and carried to Hiperbolis: where he cōmaunded the bishops, and chiefe doers of his conspiracy to be brought before hym. When they came, he lifted up his right hand, in which he had taken hys deadly wound, and sayd: MarginaliaRodulphus at his death repenting.
The pope geueth war but God geueth victorye.This is the hand, which gaue the othe and sacrament vnto Henricus my Prince: and which through your instigation, so oft hath fought agaynst him in vayne. Now go and performe your first othe and allegeance to your king, for I must to my fathers, and so dyed. Thus the pope gaue battayle, but God gaue the victory.
Henricus (after his enemy beyng thus subdued, and warres beyng ceased in Germany) forgat not the old iniuries receiued of Hildebrand, by whom he was twise excommunicate and expulsed from his kingdome: and three dayes makyng humble sute (yea and that in sharpe winter) could finde no fauour with hym. Besides þt, he incited moreouer & ayded his enemy agaynst him: wherfore calleth together a coūcell or assemble of diuers byshops of Italy, Lombardy & Germany, atMarginaliaConcilium Brixiense.
An.1083.Brixia, an. 1083. where he purged himselfe, and accused the Byshop Hildebrand of diuers crimes: to be an vsurper: periured: a necromanser and sorcerer: a sower of discord, complayning moreouer of wronges & iniuries done by the bishop & Church of Rome: in þt the church of Rome preferred the Byshop before him, when that his father beyng Emperour before him, had inthronised and set in diuers and sundry Byshops there by his assignment, without all other election. And now this Byshop contrary to his othe and promise made, thrust in himselfe, without the will and