1576 Edition | Book 4 | Page 344 
full of pitifull complaintes, and lamentations, touchyng the auarous amibition of the Ecclesiasticall persons, and pertinacie of the Byshops of Rome: and that he would receiue & take no satisfactiō nor yet excuse in the defēce of the right and priuiledge of the Empire, which he maintained: also of their manifold and infinite conspiracies which they practised both secretly and openly agaynst him: And of the often admonitions which he gaue to the whole multitude and order Ecclesiasticall, to attend vpon and discharge their functions and charges. And who, that farther is desirous to know and vnderstand the truth, and coueteth to search out the renowmed vertues of magnificent Princes: MarginaliaDeserued cōmendation vpon the Epistles of Fred.let thē read the Epistle of Fredericke dated to all Christian Princes which thus begynneth: Colligerunt principes, pontifices & Pharisæi cōsilium: and an other, wherin he perswadeth the colledge of Cardinals to take vp the dissention betwene the Emperour and the Pope, which begynneth. In exordio nascentis mundi, and also an other which thus begynneth Infallibilis veritatis testem, besides yet an other: Ad Reges & principes orbis Christiani, with diuers other moe wherin may well be sene the princely vertues of this so worthy a piere: all whiche Epistles collected together in the Latin toung, the learned sort I wish to read, whereout they may picke no litle benefite and comoditie to themselues: In his Epistle last recited these are his wordes: Non existimetis id me a vobis ideo contendere, ac si ex sententia pontificia priuationis maiestas nostra sit perculsa: Cum enim nobis sit rectae voluntatis conscientia, cumq:̀ deum nobiscum habeamus, eundem testem inuocamus id nos spectasse, cum totum ordinem Ecclesiasticum tum præsertim primores neruis potentiæ, dominationisq̀ eorum succisis xrtirpatisq̀ytirannidis radicibus ad primitiuE ecclesiæ conditionem & statum reuocaremus: That is, Thinke ye not that we so earnestly desire or craue this peace at your hand, as though our maiesty were terrified with the Popes sentence of depriuation: MarginaliaFriderick purposed with the hazard of the imperiall state to reforme the church of Rome.When as God (vpon whom we trust and inuocate) is our witnes, and iudge of our conscience: that when we went about to reforme the Ecclesiasticall state, but especially the ringleaders of the same: and should restrayne their power & extirpate your great tyranny, and reduce the same to the state and condition of the primatiue Church: we looked for no lesse at your hands. For these causes peraduenture, those which had the gouernement of the Ecclesiasticall dignitie, decreed and pronounced Friderike to be an enemy to the Church: which (as I haue sayd) I leaue to others to iudge therof. Hetherto Pandolphus Colonutius.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaFred. shewed hymselfe no enemy, but a frende to the Church of Rome.And doubtles examples to the contrary doth appeare, that Fridericke was an enemy to the Church of Rome, for that he both gaue large and great giftes thervnto, and also franchised the same with great priuileges and imminuities: which thynges, by his owne constitutions, statutes, and customes may be perceaued and vnderstode. But rather contrarywise, that the Byshops of Rome most filthely recompenced the same his great liberalitie and princely beneuolēce agayne, which he gaue and bestowed vpon the same, as partly in the discourse of this history you haue heard: Who notwithstandyng, they so molested and tyred hym with such & so many iniuries as you haue sene: he neuerthelesse, forgiuyng and pardonyng all the same, for the great zeale he had to the common Christian wealth (wherof he more forced, then els of any other thyng) sought by all the meanes he might for to haue peace, although it were to his own great hynderaūce. MarginaliaSelfe, doe, selfe haue the prouerb is.Therfore, seyng he was of necessitie by the byshops of Rome prouoked to that warre: if he dyd them any skath in reuenge of his Imperiall dignity, let them thanke their owne selues, which might otherwise haue remedyed the same. Notwithstandyng, vpon this occasion diuers (both Italian and Germaine writers, which at that tyme sought for fat benefices, and euer since euen vnto these our dayes haue done the lyke, MarginaliaHope of gayne allureth many to flatter and to write vntruthes.by flattery rather to obtaine that which they hunted for, then to beare true and faythfull testimony of thynges as they were in deede) tooke great occasion to write, and sclaunder thys good Emperour. But let vs passe ouer these Parasites and returne to those, which although they themselues were of that callyng, I meane of the Ecclesiasticall order: yet notwithstandyng, for that they rather preferred the study of veritie, and to reuerence the truth before Popish authoritie, and flattering seruitude: greatly extolled and commended this good Emperour Fridericke. So did Nicholaus Cusanus a cardinall, in his writing affirme thys emperour to be an alter Carolus Magnus: both for hys wisdome and also diligent regard to the commō weale. So also writeth AEgidius Biturigum the Bishop, in hys bookes of the institution & bringyng vp of a prince, which he wrote to the French kyng: exhortyng hym and all others, to take a patterne of this most worthy and excellent Prince. In com-mendation of whose worthy prayse and vertue these verses are written on his tombe.
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Si probitas, sensus, virtutum gratia, census.
Nobilitas orti possent resistere morti:
Non foret extinctus, Fridericus qui iacet intus.
CloseSi 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.
Wherfore, in as much as it appeareth by the approued writers of whom I haue made mention: who & what maner of prince Fridericke this Emperour was: And, for that he diligently laboured as well in the preseruatiō of the christen common weale, as in the conseruation of the Imperiall dignitie: procured to hymselfe the great hatred and displeasure of the Romaine byshops (who haue bene, to all the good Emperours for the most part vtter foes and enemies) and with what wicked slaunders and other iniuries both by them & by their ministers they continually molested hym withall: This lesson ought to be ours: that hauing the same in our memory, we imitate and folow his vertues, hatyng & detestyng the wicked and flagitious doynges of those holy fathers that will so be called, and Byshops of Rome: desiryng God that he will so guyde the hartes of all kynges and Princes, that they may by his grace aduaunce and set forth his glory, and reforme the corrupt and vicious maner and order of the Church, to all sinceritie and puritie both of lyfe and doctrine.
[Back to Top]These verses which here insue were sent and written betwene the Emperour & Pope Innocētius the 4. which for that to the learned are both commdious and profitable at the end of this history I thought good to place.
CloseThe 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.
Fata mouent stellæq; docent, auiumq; volatus
Totius subito malleus orbis ero.
Roma diu titubans longis erroribus acta
Corruet, & mundi desinet esse caput.
ClosePope 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.
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Fata silent, stellæq; tacent, nil prædicat ales:
Solius est proprium nosse futura Dei.
Niteris in cassum nauem submergere Petri,
Fluctuat: at nunquam mergitur illa ratis.
Fama refert, Scriptura docet, peccata loquuntur:
Quod tibi vita breuis, pœna perennis erit.
Quod diuina manus potuit, sensit Iulianus:
Tu succedis ei, te tenet ira Dei.
Fre.fremit in mundo, de deprimit alta profundo:
Ri.mala rimatur, cus.cuspide cuncta minatur.
CloseFrederick 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.
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Fata mouent stellæq; docent auiumq; volatus
Lapsurum te mox at stigis antra nigræ.
Cymba Petri non est, sed Christi, quæ natat vndis:
Fluctuat, at nusquam mergitur illa ratis.
Fama refert, tua scripta docent, peccata nefanda
Interitum ostendunt, exitiumq; tuum.
Stangulat Adrianum musca, annon ira tonantis?
Cogitat & de te sumere supplicium?
Carcere suspendit sese benedictus, & alter
In stupro captus, saucius ense perit.
Siluestrum extinguit Sathan sceleratior ipse:
Ergo tuis factis præmia digna feres.
Innocuum te voce notas cum sis nociturus
Orbi terrarum Christianoq; gregi.
CloseFrederick 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.
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Esses si membrum non te caput orbis & vrbis
Iactares cum sis orbis & vrbis onus.
Nunc membrum non es, sed putre cadauer & vlcus,
Ense recidendum ridiculumq; caput.
A Daniele xxx, nesasq; caputq; malorum
diceris, a Paulo filius exitij.
Nos solum Christum nostrum caput esse. malorum
Totius orbis te caput esse facis.
Et caput est vnum, quod Paulus dicit vbiq;,
Tu vecors balatro, dic mihi quale caput?
Corporis ergo caput monstrosi monstra parisq;
Monstra paris monachos, scorta nefanda foues.
Est tua religio stuprum, Ira, superbia cædes,
Error, deliciæ, fulmina, turpe lucrum.
Ex his ergo liquer Christum te spernere Christo
Hostem esse inuisum, dedecoriq; Deo.
Rex tandem veniet cælo delapsus ab alto
Tunc non defendent te, sacra, missa, eruces
Non in sublimi surgentes vertice cristæ,
Non diploma potens, non tua sacra cohors