A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

A HISTORY OF THE Controversies in Religion, And other AFFAIRS transacted in the CHURCH DURING THE Thirteenth Century. (Book 1)

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

The History of the different Revolutions in the Empire and Italy, during the Thirteenth Century.

THE Affairs of the Church in this Century are so interwoven with those of the Empire, that before we can enter upon Ecclesiastical Matters, we must lay down a Scheme of the State of Germany, and Italy, of the principal Revolutions that have happen'd in them, and of the scuffles that the Popes had with the Emperors, and the Princes of Italy. This is what I design to do in this Chapter.

The Emperor Henry VI. dying at Messina about the end of the year 1197. or, as others * 1.1 will have it, at Palermos, at the beginning of 1198. left behind him a Son nam'd Frederick, of about seven years of Age. Him by his last Will he made Heir and Successor to all his Estates, as well as the Empire, to which he himself had been chosen some time before by the Princes of Germany. He desired the Pope to settle him in the Possession of them: and to engage him, order'd that he should receive from Frederick, for the benefit of the Holy See, all those Estates that had belonged to the Princess Mathilda, and some other Towns. In the mean while he constituted his Brother Philip, the Duke of Suabia, Regent of the Empire. Con∣stantia the Mother of Frederick demanded of the Pope to have him crown'd King of Sicily, which was accordingly done; but as for the Empire, Frederick was not put into possession of it: that being disputed by Philip Duke of Suabia, who was chosen by the major part of the Electors, and crown'd at Mentz by the Bishop of Tarentaise; and also Otho Son of Henry Duke of Saxony, was elected by the Archbishop of Cologn, and some other German Princes: to whom the Country of Cologn, the Palatinate, Thuringen, and Livonia submitted; while all the rest of Germany were for Philip. The King of France stood for Philip, and England for Otho. Pope Innocent III. declared for Otho, confirm'd his Election, and rejected that of Philip, who nevertheless had the better of it in Germany, and by the force of his Arms had brought many of those that had acknowledged Otho to submission. Upon this, in the year

1201. the Pope sent his Legate Cardinal Guy Bishop of Palestrina into Germany, to coun∣tenance Otho's Party; who straight declar'd Philip no better than a Rebel, and commanded all the Germans, under pain of Excommunication, to acknowledg Otho for their Emperor. Still this did not put a stop to the Progress of Philip's Arms; who having drawn over Adolphus Archbishop of Cologn to his side, got himself crown'd a second time by the hands of this Arch-bishop in the year 1204, at Aix la Chapelle, maugre all the opposition of the Popes Legate; and, understanding that Conrade Archbishop of Mentz was dead, he got the Vacancy sup∣ply'd by the Election of Diepold, or Lupold Bishop of Worms: but he was no sooner gone from thence, but that the greater part of the Canons protested against the freedom of the Election; and thereupon having put in an Appeal to the Holy See, they reassembled them∣selves at Bingen, and elected Sifroy to the Archbishoprick of Mentz, whose Election w•••• confirmed by the Pope, who likewise excommunicated Lupold, and the next year by his Le∣gate deposed Adolphus Archbishop of Cologn, and chose Bruno into his place. In the year 1206. Otho was besieged in Cologn by Philip, and not thinking himself in a condition to sustain the Siege, retired with some Troops, accompanied by the new Archbishop Bruno; but being set upon by Philip, he was defeated, Bruno taken Prisoner, and Cologn forc'd to re∣ceive Philip for its Master. Otho secur'd himself in Saxony, and from thence pass'd into Eng∣land. The Princes of Germany, being at length desirous to settle an entire Peace in the Em∣pire, dispatch'd their Envoys in the year 1207. to Pope Innocent, desiring him to acknow∣ledg Philip, and apply himself to the reconciling of the two Pretenders to the Empire. The Pope agreed to the Proposition, but upon this condition, that Philip's Daughter should be given in Marriage to Richard his Nephew. In hopes to make this design succeed, he sends three Legates into Germany, who were present at an Assembly held at Northuse upon the Christmass-Holydays, where the two Kings concluded a Peace; Otho giving up the Empire to Philip, on condition of marrying his Daughter, and being his Heir. Adolphus was in this Assembly absolved by the Legates, and Bruno set at liberty by the Emperor. Philip did not enjoy the Peace long, for he was the next year kill'd at Bamberg by Otho Count Palatine of Witilspach, who was incens'd against him for engaging himself to give that Daughter to another, which he had before promis∣ed him in marriage. Philip being dead, without any consideration of the right that Frederick King of Sicily had to the Imperial Crown, Otho was by universal consent of the Princes of Germany chosen Emperor.

No sooner was Otho rais'd to this Dignity, but his old Adherents got the upper hand again, * 1.2 and routed those that had been for Philip. Bruno reenter'd upon his Archbishoprick of Cologn, and Adolphus was depos'd; Sifroy took possession of the Archbishoprick of Mentz, and drove out Lupold: only Conrade Bishop of Spire, who had been Philip's Chancellor, retiring into a very strong Castle, would not make his Peace with Otho, nor pay him Allegiance, but upon condition of continuing in his former Charge; which Otho was forc'd to allow him.

Pope Innocent having notice of Otho's Election, sent his Legates into Germany, to invite * 1.3 him to Rome, there to receive the Imperial Crown from his hands. His Legates were receiv'd in an Assembly held at Wirtzburg in 1209, where they gave their Approbation of the Mar∣riage that had been agreed upon between Otho, and the Daughter of Philip. The same year Otho took a Journey into Italy, and came to Rome, where he was receiv'd by Pope Innocent III. and crown'd in St. Peters, the 4th of October. The Pope obliged him to take an Oath to defend the Patrimony of St. Peter; and the Romans demanding of him what was customary for Emperors to give in this Ceremony, there arose a Disturbance, in which the Romans coming to blows with the Germans, there were many kill'd on both sides: which made Otho remove, instantly from Rome, and ravage all the Church-Lands, as well to revenge the Affront, as to mortify the Pope whom he began now to be jealous of. Upon this the anger and hatred of the Pope broke out against Otho to that degree, that he threatned to excommunicate and depose him, if he did not cease those Hostilities: but Otho was so far from regarding it, that he took a reso∣lution to seize upon Romagna, and make himself Master of Sicily and Apuleia, which belong'd to Frederick, and whereof the Pope had had the Government ever since the death of Constan∣tia the Mother of that Prince. The Pope willing to put a stop to such designs as these, excom∣municated the Emperor, and afterwards call'd a Council at Rome, wherein he declared the * 1.4 Empire void, and all the Subjects of it free from their Oath of Fidelity to Otho, forbidding them any more to acknowledg him for Emperor. He made this Sentence be publish'd in Ger∣many in the year 1211, by Sifroy Archbishop of Mentz, who quickly repented of having done it; for the Count Palatine, the Duke of Brabant, and some other Princes of the Em∣pire entred the Territories of his Archbishoprick with an Army, where they laid all waste, forcing him to retire for safety into Thuringen. The Disturbances that the Publication of this Sentence had made in Germany hastned Otho's return home. He call'd an Assembly at Nurem∣burg, about Whitsontide the same year; wherein he declared War against Herman Count of Thu∣ringen, for protecting Sifroy Archbishop of Mentz, and for refusing any longer to acknowledg him Emperor. Straight he gathered his Troops, entered Thuringen, took two of the strongest Towns, and put all the Country to Fire and Sword. Being return'd to Northuse, he celebrated his Marriage with the Daughter of Philip, who died within few days after the Ceremony.

In the mean while Sifroy Archbishop of Mentz, the King of Hungary, the Archbishop of * 1.5 Treves, and the Count of Thuringen, with some other Princes of the Empire, resolve to re∣vive the old Election of Frederick, and to make him Emperor in the stead of Otho. They brought their Resolution into practice, and having made a solemn Election of him anew, they sent two Deputies to carry him the Decree of his Election, and to invite him to come and take possession of the Empire. Frederick made no scruples but what he thought necessa∣ry to satisfy himself of their fidelity, and being assur'd of that, he parted for Germany. He took Rome in his way, and there desired Pope Innocent to crown him, but was put off by him with an excuse, that he would send a Cardinal into Germany with him in the Quality of a Legate, to order the Princes of the Empire to relinquish Otho, and acknowledg him. Frederick went on his Journy till he arrived at Constance, where a number of the German Princes, especially those of Suabia, came to meet him with their Troops. Otho would fain have come and set upon him with his Army, but his Troops by little and little dropping away from him, he was forc'd to shift for himself. Frederick on the contrary was kindly received every where, and in a little time made himself Master of Mentz, Cologn, and Aix la Chapelle, where he was crown'd Emperor in the year 1214. Afterward he enter'd into an Alliance with Philip Augustus King of France. Otho who on his part was in league with John King of England, Renaud Earl of Bologn, and Ferdinand Earl of Flanders, having raised a numerous Army against the King of France, join'd Battel with him at Pont de Bowines in Flanders, the 15th of July in the year 1214. King Philip's Person was there in great dan∣ger, but the Confederate Army was entirely routed, and Otho after having lost his whole Army forc'd to fly. He with much ado got into Saxony, where he died, some say in the year 1216, others in 1218, never caring to meddle in State Affairs after this Defeat.

Otho by his death left Frederick in peaceable possession of the Empire. This Prince made himself be crown'd a second time by the hands of Sifroy Archbishop of Mentz; and again a third time by the Pope's Legate. At this last Coronation he made a Vow to go to the assistance of the Holy Land, and gave to the Holy See the Earldom of Fondi in the King∣dom of Naples. Upon this Pope Innocent wrote to the Princes of Germany in his behalf, and engaged Theodorick Archbishop of Treves to get that City to acknowledg him: so that in 1215 Frederick saw himself in a peaceable possession of the whole Empire.

In the year 1220 he was crown'd Emperor by Honorius III. the Successor of Innocent; * 1.6 and for an acknowledgment he gave to the Holy See some Lands in Italy, and engaged him∣self anew to go the Holy Voyage: but within a while after he and the Pope fell out about two Earls of Tuscany, whom he had rob'd of their Lands, and who were fled to Rome for relief. The City of Bologn, and some other places in Italy rising against him, he came to * 1.7 Rome, and broke entirely with the Pope, by attempting to turn those Bishops out of the Churches which the Pope had put in, and to put in some of his own; pretending it to be a right of the Kings of Sicily, which Pope Innocent III. had encroach'd upon during his mino∣rity. The Pope rebuk'd him soundly for his boldness, and threatned him with Excommunica∣tion, if he did not let things continue as they were. Frederick not minding to hearken to * 1.8 him, Honorius the Third darted the Thunderbolt of Excommunication upon him, declar'd him to have forfeited all his Kingdoms, and freed all his Subjects from the Oath and Alle∣giance they had sworn to him: Which was afterwards the occasion of a multitude of Mis∣fortunes to the Church and Empire. This Sentence nevertheless did then little or no execu∣tion, not any one thereupon revolting from Frederick: but on the other side, in an assembly of the Princes of Germany held at Wirtzburg in the year 1222, Frederick got his Son Henry, then but twelve years old, chosen King of Germany, and crown'd at Aix la Chapelle by Engelbert Archbishop of Cologn.

Honorius the Third died before he could push the Sentence home against Frederick; Gre∣gory * 1.9 the IX. who in the month of April in the year 1227 succeeded him, contented himself to warn Frederick of his Journy to the Holy Land, as he fear'd an Anathema. Henry King of Germany call'd a General Assembly of all the Princes of the Empire at Aix la Chapelle at the beginning of the year 1227, where the Expedition for the Holy Land was resolv'd upon. Upon this all that belong'd to the Croisade repair'd to Brines ready to embark, where Fre∣derick, who had engag'd himself to command them, made them wait a pretty while, pre∣tending himself very ill. At last he makes shift to come to them by August, and embarks to go into Asia, but he was no sooner there but he was back again. The Pope having notice * 1.10 of his return, rubs up the old Sentence that his Predecessor had set out against him; yet with a Promise of Absolution if he would undertake the Voyage to the Holy Land. Fre∣derick hereupon published four Manifesto's against the Popes and Cardinals: the first he ad∣dressed to all Kings; the second to the Cardinals; and the third to the People of Rome; in all which he complains of the Excommunication which the Pope had thrown at him: and a fourth is presented to all Princes, giving them advice against Churchmen. For all this, not * 1.11 long after Frederick took a Resolution of going into Syria, and put it in execution in August 1228. When he went he sent Ambassadors to the Pope to demand the Absolution. But the Pope absolutely refus'd him, gave order to the Knights Templars, and Hospitalers, to cross him in all his Designs, as a profest Enemy of the Church; and forbid all that were upon the

same Expedition in Lombardy and Apuleia to join him. In the mean while Renaud Son of the Duke of Spoletto, whom Frederick had left Regent of the Kingdom of Sicily during his ab∣sence, had entred into the Marquisate of Ancona, and the Valley of Spoletto; against whom the Pope rais'd his Troops on the other side, and sent them into Apuleia under the command of John de Briennes King of Jerusalem, who made himself Master of many Towns. Frederick receiving this News in Syria, where he had successfully taken some Towns from the Saracens, was obliged to clap up a Treaty with the Sultan; the Conditions of which were advantageous enough to the Christians, viz. That the Sultan should deliver into their hands the City and all the King∣dom of Jerusalem, except the Temple and some Castles; and that there should be a Truce of ten years between the Christians and Saracens. In pursuance of this Treaty Frederick took possession of Jerusalem, and made himself be crown'd King therof in the Lent of the year 1229. He gave notice to the Pope that he had made such a League with the Sultan: at which the Pope shewed no small dissatisfaction, and accused Frederick of having treated with an Infidel, still stirring up his Subjects what he could against him. Frederick hearing of this, made a quick return into Apuleia, where bringing in an Army from Germany, he recover'd all the Towns that were taken or had revolted from him, and made a reprisal upon the Church, by taking the Dutchy of Spoletto, the Marquisate of Ancona, and the City of Benevento. This * 1.12 success did not make him so high but that he was willing to sue for the Pope's friendship: to gain which he dispatched the General of his Army with the Archbishop of Messina to the Pope to desire his Absolution; which the Pope still refused to agree to, but upon condition that he should pay 26 thousand Ounces of Gold to the Church of Rome for the damage he had done it; and should restore all the Lands that belonged to it. Frederick's Deputies being returned, he himself went to meet the Pope at Anagni, where he received his Absolu∣tion, was reestablished in his Empire, and declar'd King of the two Sicilies, and of Jerusalem. The Pope and the Emperor seem'd to be very well reconcil'd upon the occasion, they eat to∣gether, and one would have hoped here had been a firm Peace establish'd between them: yet 'twas not long before they broke again; for the Romans rebelling against the Pope, and Fre∣derick coming to assist him with his Troops, there happen'd a misunderstanding between them: the Pope accusing Frederick for underhand dealing with his Enemies, and Frederick again reproaching the Pope for secretly treating with the Romans, and telling them that it was with∣out his consent that Frederick set upon them near Viterbo. Howsoever it was, Frederick left the Pope, retir'd to Pisa, and from thence pass'd into Germany; but the Pope drew good part of his Soldiers from him, by promising those that would come into his Camp good En∣tertainment.

Frederick found himself crossed in Germany by the Factions of the Princes, and suspecting * 1.13 his Son Henry, he deprived him of the Government, and sent him into Sicily, which very much displeas'd most of the Princes of Germany: but yet he made shift to keep Germany in Peace, and having gathered his Troops together, he returns to Italy in 1235, and sets upon those Towns of Lombardy which had entered into League against him; he takes Verona and Vicenza, and lays all the Country round waste. His Son Henry being discontented, enters him∣self into the League with the Towns of Lombardy, and had drawn over many of the German Princes to his Party, had not Frederick applied a ready remedy, by getting the Pope's Let∣ter, charging the Princes of Germany not to take the Son's part against the Father: and there∣upon he arrested and deposed his Son, and banished him into Apuleia, where he ended his Life the following year in a Prison. Frederick gets his second Son Conrade elected King of Germany, and brings Vienna, and all Austria, which had hitherto opposed him, to an acknowledg∣ment of their Duty. While he was thus labouring to establish his Power in Germany, he did not forget his Pretensions to the Kingdom of Jerusalem; and thinking that they had been en∣croach'd upon, he wrote to Pope Gregory by the Archbishop of Ravenna to do him justice in that matter. The Pope gave the Archbishop commission in quality of his Legate to take care of the preservation of the Rights of Frederick, which is an evident proof that from the year 1230, the Pope had not made an open breach of his Agreement with Frederick till 1238. But in this year their Differences began to grow very hot, because Frederick had made war * 1.14 upon those Cities of Lombardy that would not acknowledg him. The Pope sent the Cardi∣nals to him to make him desist from carrying on the War in Italy, but all in vain; for Fre∣derick who was strongest continued his Progresses, defeated those of Milan that opposed his passage, took Brescia, and all the other Cities of Lombardy, except Bologna and Parma. The Pope seeing that Affairs went but ill with him, would have retired to Rome, but there John Cincius, a Senator of Rome that the Emperor had gained, procured the Gates to be shut against him; yet the Pope by the assistance of his Friends that were in possession of the Capitol, got into Rome, drove out Cincius, procured a Peace between the Venetians and Genouese, and taking courage, made the States of Italy enter into a League against Frederick. He more∣over exercised his spiritual Arms against him, in publishing a Sentence of Excommunication * 1.15 against his Person, and in declaring all his Subjects dispensed with for the Oath of Fidelity to him: and in fine, to raise a powerful Enemy against Frederick, he sends his Nuncio's into France to offer the Imperial Crown to Earl Robert, Brother of St. Louis King of France; but that Prince refused it, and by the advice of the French Lords sent back his Answer in these

words:

What strange spirit, or what boldness indeed is this in the Pope, that he should go * 1.16 about to rob of his Estates, and depose so great a Prince as Frederick, without either proof or acknowledgment of the Crimes of which he is accused; and who, did he deserve such dealings, could not be lawfully deposed but by a General Council? for his Enemies (of whom it's evident the Pope is one of the chief) ought not to be credited in those things of which they accuse him. As for Us, We see no reason hitherto to think him otherwise than innocent; he has dealt with us as a good Prince and Neighbour, and we have nothing to find fault with either in his Fidelity or Religion which is truly Catho∣lick. Do not We know that he has made war for the Name of JESUS CHRIST, and has exposed himself both by Sea and Land for the Church? This is greater Religion than we can yet discover in the Pope, who, instead of aiding and defending him that fought God's Battels, did all he could to cross and destroy him. We do not desire to throw our selves into so evident a danger as attacking a Prince so powerful as Frederick, who would be assist∣ed by so many Kingdoms, and whom the Justice of his Cause alone is sufficient to uphold. We see very well how little the Romans care how lavish we are of our Blood, so we be but the Instruments to satisfy their passions; and We cannot but foresee if the Pope should happen to conquer by our means, how he would trample all the Potentates of the Earth under his Feet, exalted with the Pride of having crush'd so great an Emperor as Frederick.

He promised however to send his Deputies to Frederick to know what his Sentiments were a∣bout Religion, assuring him that he was ready to persecute and destroy all those who had any evil Principles in that, tho it were the Emperor or the Pope himself. Accordingly he sends his Deputies to the Emperor, who acquainted him with the Propositions that the Pope's Nuncios had made. The Emperor assured them that he was a Catholick, and thanked the Deputies of France, who satisfied him that their Prince had no designs against any Christian Prince whatsoever, counting it sufficient to be Brother to the King of France, which in their opinion was more glorious than Emperor; the one being a King born, the other receiving his Title only by Election.

The Emperor and the Pope accused one another mutually in their publick Manifestos. The * 1.17 Emperor complain'd that the Pope had broken the Peace by entring with Arms into Sicily, while he warred in the East, by opposing his passage into Italy, by assisting the Lombards against him, and by having excommunicated him unjustly. The Pope in answer to these Re∣proaches says, That he was obliged to employ both his spiritual and temporal Arms for the re∣covery of those Lands which Frederick detained from the Church, to which they belonged: That he had offered himself to mediate a Peace between the Emperor and the Lombards, and that the Emperor refused to hearken to it: That he had heaped a multitude of Favors upon Frederick, and that that Prince in acknowledgment of them had aimed at nothing less than the destruction of the liberty of the Churches, the robbing them of their Possessions, the stopping and hindring Crusades, and ruining the Authority of the Holy See. These Accusations on one side and the other, were follow'd by an intestine War; most of the Provinces and Cities in Italy being divided into two Parties, that of the Gibelins which held with the Emperor, and that of the Guelphs which was for the Pope. The party of the Gibelins, being encouraged by the presence of the Emperor and his Army, almost always had the upper hand, so that the greatest part of the Cities were brought under obedience to the Emperor; and there had been good reason to fear that he had taken Rome it self, where he kept secret corres∣pondence with the principal Citizens, had not the Pope made all the People of Rome take upon them the Cross for their defence. The noble resistance of these religious Soldiers obliged Fre∣derick to leave Rome, only laying all the Country about it waste; his Army dispersed them∣selves all over Italy, and whereever they came made havock of the Goods of the Church, of Monasteries and religious Orders. The Pope, to oppose this Torrent, published plenary In∣dulgences for all those that would undertake the Holy War against Frederick, and call'd a Ge∣neral Council at Rome, to make a more solemn matter of his Deposition. Frederick that he might put by this thrust, and prevent the sitting of this Council, takes care to have all passages by Sea and •…•…nd well guarded for the stopping those Prelates that would come to it. The Pisans who were let to guard the Sea Coasts having met with the Genoese Galleys, which were bringing a good number of Cardinals, Bishops, and other Prelates to the Council, set upon them, and having taken them, brought all the Prelates to Frederick, who put them all in prison. Much about the same time Frederick took a Castle of Campania, and in it many of the Pope's Relations, whom he caused all to be hanged. Gregory could not bear up under the grief of so many dismal Mis∣fortunes, and so falling sick, died at Rome the 30th of September in the year 1241.

Pope Celestin the Fourth, who succeeded him, seemed very inclinable to a Peace; but living * 1.18 but eighteen days, had not time to make any thing of it. After his death the Holy See was vacant nineteen months, because of the Imprisonment of the Cardinals; but Frederick having at last set them at liberty at the request of Baldwin Emperor of Constantinople, they chose Cardinal Sinibaud a Genouese, Pope, who took the name of Innocent the Fourth. This Pope it was hoped would conclude the Peace, having been a Friend of Frederick's while he was Cardinal: and indeed he said as much at the beginning of his Popedom, and made use therein of the mediation of Baldwin. 'Twas agreed that the Pope and Frederick should have a meet∣ing

at Castellane; but the Pope, not willing to trust him, being afraid of being taken Prisoner, never came to the place; or, if he did, made great haste away again, took ship at Civita Vecchia, and passed into France: where being kindly received by order of King St. Louis, he seated himself at Lyons; and thither call'd a General Council, citing Frederick to make his appearance.

This Council began about the end of the month of June, in the year 1245. Baldwin Empe∣ror * 1.19 of Constantinople assisted there in person, with the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Antioch, and the Archbishop of Aquileia or Venice notwithstanding the opposition of some, took his place among the Patriarchs. The Kings of France and England sent thither their Deputies, so that what with Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and the Deputies of those that could not come themselves, there were present about a hundred and forty six. The Emperor Frederick did not appear himself, but sent Thadaeus of Sessa with a joint Deputation to act in his name with the Bishop of Strasburg, Hugh General of the Teutonic Order, and Peter des Vignes. The Pope assembled the Prelates on the Monday after the Feast of St. John Baptist, to consider of the things which should be proposed in Council. The Patriarch of Constantinople laid open the miserable estate and condition of the Latins in the East, and the great danger that the City of Constantinople was in. To this the Pope said not a word. Then another proposed the Cano∣nizing of St. Edmond Archbishop of Canterbury; but the Pope put that off till another time. Then Thadaeus proposed an Accommodation with Frederick, declaring, That he was ready to make peace, and be reconciled to the Pope: That he profered to reunite all Greece to the Holy See; to oppose the Progress of the Tartars and Saracens, by carrying on a War against them at his own charge; to restore to the Church of Rome whatsoever he had taken from it, and to make the Pope full satisfaction. To this the Pope made answer, That there was no reason to trust him that had often cajol'd them with as fair promises as these, which he had broken, and that he did this only for the present to evade the Judgment of the Council: and moreover that Thadaeus had no special Order to make any such Proposals. Then the Bishop of Beritus made a Discourse upon the apparent danger that the Holy Land was in, and read a very mournful Letter from the Christian Lords that remained in Palestine to desire some Sup∣plies. These were the Preliminaries of the Council, whose first Session was upon St. Peter's Eve. After the Pope had sung the Veni Creator, wherein he was assisted by all present, and had made a Prayer for the Assistance of the Holy Spirit, he preach'd a Sermon, wherein he took for his Text those words of the 94th Psalm, In the multitude of the Sorrows that I had in my Heart, thy Comforts have refreshed my Soul. He told them that he had five Sorrows; the Cause of the first was the Irregularity of the Clergy and Laity; that of the second was the haughty Insolence of the Saracens; that of the third the Schism of the Greeks; that of the fourth the Cruelty of the Tartars; and lastly, that of the fifth, the Persecution of the Emperor Frede∣rick. He enlarged upon every one of these heads: First, he exclaim'd against the Irregularities of the Clergy and common Christians. Secondly, he laid forth the Cruelties that the Saracens had exercised against the Faithful, when they took the Holy City, and the Sepulchre of our Lord. Thence he passed on to the Progress that the Emperor of the Greek Hereticks had made, insomuch that the City of Constantinople it self was in danger. Fourthly, he spoke of the Destruction that the Tartars had made in Hungary, where they had put ev'ry thing to fire and sword. And, Fifthly, of the Persecution that he pretended Frederick had raised against the Church; of the Injuries that he had done his Predecessor Pope Gregory, and of those that he was every day labouring to do him, while he boasted that 'twas not the Church, but the Persons of the Popes that he aimed at; which was absolutely false, seeing that during the Vacancy of the Holy See, he was so far from ceasing from Hostilities, that he took that advantage of oppressing the Church and Clergy the more. About the end of his Discourse he exhibited against Frederick a particular Charge of Heresy and Sacrilege, for having built a City upon Christian Ground which he peopled with Saracens, only to curry favor with the Sultan of Babylon and the Saracen Princes; for keeping Saracen Ladies for his Mistresses; and for having broke the Oath he had taken. To prove this last Accusation, he caused the Edict of Frederick which was called the Golden Bull, and other Declarations of his to be read, wherein he promises Obedience and Allegiance to the Pope, acknowledges that the Kingdom of Sicily and Apuleia is a dependance on the Holy See, and by which he had restored to the Church of Rome many Lands. This Discourse being finished, Thadaeus rose up, and answer'd to all the Pope had advanced against his Master, and in his turn accused the Pope of having done many things very injurious to him: and produced some Letters of the Pope, which shew∣ed that he had not been as good to his promise as it became him; and as for the Accusation of Heresy, he reply'd, That that Prince if he were there could easily justify himself in that, but that they might judg he was a true Catholick by this, that he would suffer no Usurers in his Kingdom: which was, says Matthew Paris,

A touch for the Court of Rome, where ev'ry one knows there is store of this sort of Cattle.

He added, that if his Master was in any Confederacy with the Sultan, or any other Saracen Princes, or if he suffered the Saracens to settle in his Dominions, it was that he might make use of them in keeping under his rebelli∣ous Subjects, choosing rather to expose their Persons than those of Christians: and for the other thing, that he had no Saracen Ladies for his Mistresses; that indeed he suffered

some of them in his Court, but 'twas for the diversion they gave him by their conversation; but that he had sent them back again, and that he would have no more for the future. Af∣ter he had done, Thadaeus required time to give his Master notice, and to desire him to come to the Council in person: the Pope answered that he could not in wisdom allow any delay, that he was afraid of some Plots which he had already narrowly escaped; that if the Emperor came, he must be gone; that he was in danger of his life, and that he did not much care for dying a Martyr, or being clap'd up in Prison. However the next day by the intercession of the English and French Deputies, they gained five days. Thadaeus having given his Master notice how things went in that Council, that Prince saw plainly that the Pope was set upon it to condemn him, and therefore thought it would not be wisdom in him to ex∣pose his Person in a Council that he knew were his Adversaries. When the News came to Lions that Frederick would not come to Council, his Enemies made triumph of it, and his Friends so much discontented, that they did not dare to favour his In∣terests openly; insomuch that at the second Session of the Council, which was eight days after the first, one Apuleian, and two Spanish Bishops made very violent Discour∣ses against him, particularly for daring to stop and imprison the Cardinals and other Prelates, who were coming to assist at the Council call'd at Rome by Pope Gregory. Thadaeus with a great deal of courage defended his Master, and affirmed that he could not have done other∣wise, because that those Prelates were going to Rome to assist his Enemies in their design to depose him. The Pope gave his Vote against the Emperor, and this Session was wholly spent in disputes. Before it rose, Thadaeus demanded some longer time, making them hope that Frederick himself would come. The Pope put off the next Session for eight days, and then, being satisfied that the Emperor did not design to come, the third Session was upon the ap∣pointed day. They then treated of some other matters; as, of the means of recovering the Holy Land, upon which the Pope order'd certain old Constitutions to be read; and like∣wise confirmed all those Privileges and Rights that Emperors and Princes had granted to the Holy See. The Deputies of the King of England made their complaints of the excessive Taxes that the Court of Rome raised in England; and desired the Pope to take order about his Legate Martin, who had taken upon him to dispose of the Benefices of that Kingdom to the Italians, to the great prejudice of their Patrons; and had tried a great many new devices which were very chargeable both to the Church and State. He would not give them an Answer to this out of hand, but put it off till another time, that he might be more at lei∣sure for Frederick's business. At last Thadaeus seeing that the condemnation of the Emperor was resolved upon, appeal'd in the name of this Prince to another Pope, and a more General Council; alledging that there were many Bishops and Deputies that were not come to the Council. The Pope made answer, that the Council was General enough, that all the World was invited to it, and that the Bishops and Princes that were absent, were such as depended upon Frederick, whom he would not permit to come to the Council, and that consequently there was no regard to be had to the appeal of Thadaeus; so as upon the account of it to forbear proceeding against the Emperor. After he had made a Speech, wherein he enlarged upon the friendship that had formerly been between that Prince and him, and upon his rare Qualities, he pronounced Sentence against him, by which he deprived him of his Empire, of all his Estates, and all his Dignities. This he afterwards put into form, and made it be pub∣lickly read in the Council. The substance of it was, that ever since his first being raised to the Sovereign Dignity of Pope, his chief business had been to reestablish the Peace of Christendom: that upon this design he had sent some Cardinals to Frederick, who was the Author and occa∣sion of the War, and who had been excommunicated by his Predecessor Pope Gregory, with Proposals of an Accommodation; and that he had by them remonstrated to him, that for this he must begin with the setting all those Prelates, and Ecclesiasticks, and other Persons at liberty, which he had taken in the Gallies of Genoa; that at the same time he had assured him of his readiness to treat with him about a Peace, and to hearken to any Proposals which he would please to make for the satisfaction of the Holy See in those things for which he had been excommunicated; and that he had fairly offered to make reparation in case the Holy See had done him any injury; that if he would stand it out that he had done no inju∣ry to the Church, he would call an Assembly of the Kings, Prelates, and Ecclesiastical and Secular Princes to some free and safe place, and willingly stand to their Determination: and that if it should be the judgment of the Council that the Church had in any thing injured him, he was as ready to repeal any thing that had been so acted against him, as he was to re∣ceive satisfaction in case the Council should determin on the other side: that Frederick would not at first hearken to any Propositions; that at last he had sent the Earl of Tholouse, Peter de Vignes, and Thadaeus of Sessa, to make Articles of Obedience and Submission, and had promised with an Oath to make the Church satisfaction: but that having so often fail'd of his word, and now continuing his Violences, he found himself forced to punish him for his faults. Particularly he accused him of three principal Crimes: namely of Perjury, because he had often sacredly sworn to reunite the Church and Empire, and had as often broken his Oath: Of Sacrilege, for arresting those Prelates that were coming to the Council: Of Heresy, be∣cause he had laid aside that Fealty which he owed the Holy See, had slighted its Authority,

had invaded its Possessions, had stopt its regular Elections, had rob'd the Churches, and per∣secuted the Ecclesiasticks and Religious Orders; all which justly render'd him suspected of Heresy, as well as his League with the Saracens, whom he made use of against the Chri∣stians, and his other many Irregularities. As a just consequence of these Crimes, and Dis∣orders, he declared this Prince, who by his Sins had made himself unfit to reign, despoil'd of all his Honour and Dignity; of which he is by this Sentence deprived, and all his Subjects discharged from the Obligation of the Oath of Fidelity which they had taken to him, and forbidden under pain of Excommunication, ipso facto, to acknowledg him for their Emperor and King: and finally, those whose business it was to elect an Emperor, were order'd to choose him a Successor, leaving it to the Pope to take care for the Kingdom of Sicily. This Sen∣tence was read to the astonishment of all that were present, and was published and sent about on all sides.

Frederick in his defence writ a Letter to the King of France and other Princes of Europe, * 1.20 wherein, having first acknowledged the spiritual Authority of the Bishop of Rome, he denies his Power to extend to the disposing of the Empire, and the punishing of Kings and Princes, by depriving them of their Temporalties: alledging, that tho he have the Privilege of conse∣crating Emperors, yet he has no more right to depose them, than other Bishops have those Kings whom it is the custom for them to anoint. But supposing he had that Authority, which he has not, yet that he could not make use of it against whom he pleased, as he had done in his procedure against the Emperor, without due form of Law. For that he had no Accuser, no lawful Summons to appear, nor Charge against him; nor did they make a just and fair In∣formation, but only declared that the things were notorious, which they were not; that there were very few in the Council which had deposed any thing against him, namely one Bishop of Apuleia, whose Brothers and Nephew he had hanged for Treason, and two Spanish Bishops, who were too far off to have good information of what had passed in Italy: that had the Pope proceeded against him in due form, and he had been allowed to have his Accu∣sers and Witnesses, yet he could not have cast him, because he was not present, nor lawfully summoned; and had by his Deputies given such good Reasons for his absence, that no one could interpret it to have been out of pride and contumacy; and that had he been present, he could not have been condemned by a peremptory Sentence: nay, more than all, had the whole Procedure been according to Law and Justice, yet the Sentence was not justifiable, be∣cause it was founded on facts notoriously false, and because the Punishment inflicted exceeded as well the Power of him that gave sentence (which reaches no farther than spiritual things) as the demerit of the Crimes laid to his charge. About the end of the Letter he gave the Kings notice how it was their common Interest to disallow this Sentence; that they were in danger of being served at the same rate; that the Pope had begun with him, but would end with them if they did not side with him for the support of their Authority. He wrote in particular to the King of France, making him Umpire of his Differences with the Pope, and referring himself to his Judgment, and that of his Peers. The King of France sensibly touched with these Letters, offers Proposals of Accommodation to the Pope, assuring him that Frederick was ready to give him due satisfaction, and would spend the rest of his days in warring against the Infidels in the Holy Land. The Pope did but laugh at it, and replyed, That he had often promised as much, and more, but never performed any thing. The King of France remon∣strated to the Pope that he ought to forgive sixty, or seventy times seven times; and there∣fore counsell'd and intreated him in the name of a great number of Holy Soldiers that were in a readiness to go for the Holy Land, for the good of the Catholick Church, and the benefit of Reli∣gion, in imitation of JESUS CHRIST who submitted himself even to the Death of the Cross, to accept of that humble Proposition that he made him on the Emperor's part: but the Pope still refusing to hearken, St. Louis went away very much disturbed, says Matthew Paris, that he could not find that Humility in the Servant of the Servants of God which he himself was master of. Many other Princes cryed out against this Sentence of the Pope, maintaining that 'twas not in his power to raise and put down Kings at his pleasure; and the greatest part of * 1.21 the Electors and Princes of Germany always received Frederick for their lawful Emperor. Only a few Malecontents that had been gained by the Pope's Agents, elected Henry Landt∣grave of Thuringen King of Germany, who made no great advances; but was killed before Ulme in the year 1247. William Earl of Holland was chosen in his stead, and having taken Aix la Chapelle, was there Crowned in 1248. All this while Frederick with no small success was carrying on the War against the Guelphs in Italy; but his Son Entius, who was his Lieu∣tenant General, being taken by the Bolognians, and put into prison, abated his heat, and re∣tired into Apuleia, where he ended his days in 1250, leaving his Son Conrade Heir to his Estates. The Pope confirmed William in the Empire, excommunicated Conrade, and sent his * 1.22 Legates into Sicily to hinder that Kingdom from receiving any other Soveraign than the Holy See.

Conrade, whose Affairs went but ill in Germany, did nevertheless raise an Army, and pass * 1.23 into Italy to secure the Estates his Father had left him: and after having spent some time in Lombardy, he went into Apuleia, where his natural Brother Manfred governed with the Title of Viceroy; but with the design of making himself Soveraign. Conrade was received

and acknowledged by all the Cities of Sicily and Apuleia, except that of Naples, which he laid Siege to; and took at the end of eight months. But William in the mean while making great progress in Germany, Conrade was forced to return in the year 1251, and took the City of Ratisbone with the help of Henry Duke of Bavaria; but understanding that William was in his march to set upon him with a numerous Army, he betook himself back again into Apuleia, where he died, not without suspicion of being poisoned by his Brother Manfred, the 22d of May in 1254, leaving his Son Conradine Heir to Sicily. Manfred, who did not care for * 1.24 parting with Sicily, pretended a desire of being friends with the Pope, and thereupon invites him to come to Sicily. Accordingly the Pope comes with an Army to make himself acknowledged Soveraign of that Kingdom; but Manfred quickly picks a quarrel with him, and routs part of his Army; which so seized upon Innocent's Spirits, that he died at Naples the 7th of De∣cember, 1254. Alexander the 4th, who succeeded him, did not lay down his Predecessor's de∣sign upon Sicily: but he had no better fortune; Manfred defeated his Troops, and made himself Master of Apuleia and Sicily. The Pope seeing he was not able to maintain this War, gave the Kingdom to Edmund Son of the King of England, and dispensed with the Vow of that King to go for the Holy Land, on condition he would make war upon Manfred, against whom he also appointed a Crusade.

While Manfred was strengthening himself in the Kingdom of Sicily, Ecelin, who took the * 1.25 part of Frederick's Heirs, had made himself master of Lombardy; and the Pope to drive him from thence, had published a Crusade against him too at Venice. The greatest part of Germany had acknowledged William for their Soveraign, and as he was preparing to take a journey into Italy, there to receive the Imperial Crown, he was forced to march against the Friezlanders who had entered into Holland; but going against them, he fell into a Fen that was frozen, and was there killed by an Ambuscade of his Enemies, in December 1256. After his death the German Princes were divided about the Election of an Emperor, some of them declaring for Richard Brother to the King of England, and the others for Alphonsus King of * 1.26 Castile. The former was Elected at Francfort on the Octave of the Epiphany, in the year 1257, by Conrade Archbishop of Cologn (who was also Proxy for Gerard Archbishop of Mentz) by Lewis Count Palatine of the Rhine, and Henry Duke of Bavaria; the other in Lent, by Arnold Archbishop of Treves as Proxy for the King of Bohemia, the Duke of Saxony, the Marquiss of Brandenburgh, and many other Princes. Thus did the German Prin∣ces basely sell the Honor of their Nation, and their own Votes to Strangers, who for many years together disputed the Empire without ever agreeing the matter. All which time Lom∣bardy was the Seat of the War between the Guelphs and Gibelines; of the former of which Albert, of the latter Ecelin was the Head. The latter was wounded, and taken Prisoner in 1260, and died of his wounds, after having for four and thirty years been master of the most considerable Cities in Lombardy. His death set Italy at rest, which was not long after broken by the War between the Venetians and Genouese.

Richard and Alphonsus were elected Emperors, but got nothing by it save the bare Title. Alphonsus never set foot in Germany; and Richard being come to Francfort, after having spent all that he was worth, was forced to return to England. In their absence Ottogar King of Bohemia extended his Dominions in Germany, so that in a short time he was become one of the most powerful Princes in Europe. In Italy Urban the 4th, who succeeded Alexander, had published a Crusade against Manfred, and all that sided with him in Apuleia or Lombardy, and stirred up some French Lords to come into Italy. Manfred on his part entred with his Troops into the Estate of the Church, and to strengthen himself against the Pope, entred into an Alliance with Jame's the 3d King of Arragon, by marrying his Daughter Constantia to Peter the King's eldest Son. The Pope on his side seeing that Edmund could not prosecute the Conquest of the Kingdom of Sicily, by reason of the Troubles that were in England, invested Charles Earl of Anjou Brother of St. Louis therewith, who came to Rome in 1265, and was there crown'd King of Sicily on the 28th of June, by Clement the 4th Urban's Suc∣cessor, * 1.27 who also made him Senator of that City. He was followed with an Army by Sea and Land; and giving Battel to Manfred on the 26th of February the following year near Bene∣vento, he gained an absolute and bloody Victory over his Troops, Manfred himself being killed upon the spot. After his Death the Kingdom of Sicily submitted to the Conqueror; but Conradin, whose right this Kingdom was, wrote a Letter to the Princes of Europe, wherein he laid open the justice of his Pretensions, and implored their assistance for its recovery. He got together an Army composed for the most part of Voluntiers, with which, by the advice * 1.28 of Henry Brother of Alphonsus, he made a Descent into Tuscany, where he surprized and cut in pieces those Forces which Charles, whom the Pope had constituted Vicar of the Empire in that Country, had left there; and at the same time Conrade, a Son of one of the Emperor Frederick's Bastards, who was come from Antioch, drew off all Sicily from their Obedience, except Messma and Palermos, while Conradin by the assistance of the Gibelines, made himself Master of all Tuscany and Romagna, and entred in Triumph into Rome, where he was pro∣claimed Emperor by the People. But being entred into Campania with a design to go into Sicily, Charles met him at the Lake of Fucin, called the Lake of Celano, where he gave him Battel on the 25th of August 1268, in which Charles got the day. Conradin, Frederick Duke of Austria, and Henry of Castile betook themselves to flight; but happening to be known in the way, were brought back again to the Conqueror, who put them into prison, and gave

them their Trial the next year. Conradin and Frederick were put to death, and Henry of Castile confined to Prison. Just about the same time too Conrade was taken by some of Charles's Party, who hanged him up; and a short time after Entius, the only one remaining of the Princes of Suabia, died in his Prison of Bologna. Thus unhappily perished the whole Race of the Emperor Frederick.

The House of Austria quickly succeeded that of Suabia in Glory and Power: for Richard * 1.29 being dead, and Alphonsus having no friends left him in Germany, the Electors assembled them∣selves in October 1273 at Francfort, according to the counsel of Pope Gregory X. and there elected Rodolphus Earl of Hapsburg, without any regard had to the Remonstrances of the Deputies of Alphonsus, or the Sollicitations of those of Ottogar King of Bohemia, who thought the Empire had been assured to him (tho some Historians say that he refused it.) Rodolphus was crowned the same year at Aix la Chapelle, and the next was confirmed by the Pope in the Council at Lions, and acknowledged in an Assembly at Nuremberg, by all the Princes of Ger∣many, except Ottogar King of Bohemia, who refused to be there. Rodolphus declared him a Rebel, and required him to deliver up Austria, and many other Provinces which he pretended belonged to the Empire. Ottogar refusing to deliver them, Rodolphus declares War against him, and lays siege to Vienna in 1276. Ottogar came with an Army to its assistance, and the King of Hungary to that of Rodolphus; but yet they did not come to a Battel, the Princes of Germany interposing their Authority to make up these Differences. 'Twas agreed that King Ottogar should content himself with Bohemia and Moravia, and should restore Austria, Stiria, Carinthia, Carniola, and the other Provinces to Rodolphus, for the performance of which he should take his Oath; and to the King of Hungary those Cities which he had taken from him, as well as the Hostages and Treasures that he had of his. This Peace did not last long, for the King of Bohemia, not caring faithfully to perform these Articles, and being very angry that he should be thus forced to submit to Rodolphus, provides a new Army, and comes to set upon the Emperor, but he lost the Battel and his own life. Rodolphus took Moravia from Wenceslaus the Son of Ottogar about eight years old, leaving him Bohemia, under the Tuition of his Uncle Otho Marquess of Brandenburg. He gave Austria to his eldest Son Albert, whose Posterity took the name of Austria, as more illustrious than that of Hapsburg.

The Establishment of Rodolphus lessen'd Charles the King of Sicily's Authority in Italy. Pope * 1.30 Nicholas III. took from him the Vicariate of Tuscany, and the Quality of Senator of Rome; and in recompence received of Rodolphus, Romagna, and the Lieutenancy of Ravenna which he gave to the Holy See, leaving all the other States of Italy in a sort of liberty dependant upon the Empire. But it would not content the Pope that he had deprived Charles of his Authority in the upper Italy; he had a design to get the Kingdom of Sicily from him too: and about this, deals with Peter King of Arragon, as Heir of the House of Suabia by his Mother Constantia the Daughter of Manfred. This gave occasion to the Conspiracy that was laid by * 1.31 John Lord of the Island of Crocida, whom Charles had rob'd of his Possessions, against this Prince, and all the French that were in Sicily, which did not break out till after the death of Nicholas, when the Sicilians massacred all the French in the Kingdom, on Easter Sunday 1282. Charles coming to revenge this cruel Action, the King of Arragon enters into Sicily with his Army, and amuses Charles with a Truce. His Admiral Soria lays siege to Naples in the year 1284, and, having defeated Charles his Troops, takes his Son Charles the Lame Prisoner, and sends him into Arragon. Charles had enough to do to keep Apuleia and Calabria, and not being able long to survive his Misfortunes, died at Foggia in Apuleia the 7th of January 1285, leaving his Son Charles the Lame his Heir, who got out of Prison in 1287, but on condition that he should renounce all Pretences to Sicily. Yet he was no sooner got out but he made him∣self * 1.32 be crowned at Rome King of Sicily and Apuleia, on the 28th of May 1289. Alphonsus dying some time after, Charles made up the matter with Dangianus his Successor, the latter renouncing his Pretensions to the Kingdom of Sicily, on condition that Charles of Valois should lay down his to Arragon. Yet for all this, Charles the Lame could not enjoy Sicily in peace, for Frederick the younger Brother of Dangianus, to whom Alphonsus by his Will had left this Kingdom, got himself crowned King by the Sicilians, so that Charles was never in pos∣session of any but the Continent; the Kingdom of Sicily as it is called being from that time divided into two: one beyond the Pharos of Messina which is the Island of Sicily; the other on this side of that Tower, call'd the Kingdom of Naples.

The Emperor Rodolphus ended his days at Germesheim near Spire, the last day of September * 1.33 1291, having reigned eighteen years. He laid the foundation of the prodigious Greatness of the House of Austria; but he laid down as it were the Empire of Italy, by neglecting to go thi∣ther, as well as by selling his Power over many Cities of Tuscany. Adolphus Earl of Nassaw was chosen into his place the 6th of January 1292, and crowned at Francfort. He peacea∣bly enjoyed the Empire for some years; but the German Lords being discontented that he had not allow'd them a share in a sum of Mony that the King of England had given for help * 1.34 against France, and seeing that he had not authority nor strength sufficient to maintain the peace of Germany, deposed him in 1298, and in his stead elected Albert Duke of Austria, Son of the Emperor Rodolphus. Adolphus defended his right, but the fortune of War quickly de∣cided * 1.35 the case in favour of Albert; Adolphus being defeated and kill'd in the first Engagement near Worms, in the month of July. After his death Albert was elected anew, and crowned at Aix la Chapelle, and remain'd in peaceable possession of the Empire of Germany.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Contests about the Empire be∣tween Philip and Otho.
• * 1.2

  Otho acknow∣ledg'd Empe∣ror.
• * 1.3

  Otho goes in∣to Italy, and there makes War.
• * 1.4

  Sentence of Excommunica∣tion out against Otho.
• * 1.5

  Frederick chosen Emperor, goes into Ger∣man 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Frederick crown'd Empe∣ror by Honori∣us III.
• * 1.7

  Scuffles be∣tween the Pope and Frede∣rick.
• * 1.8

  The Sentence of the Pope against Fre∣derick.
• * 1.9

  Frederick's departure for the Holy Land.
• * 1.10

  Gregory the IXth's Excom∣munication of Frederick.
• * 1.11

  Frederick's Voyage to the Holy Land.
• * 1.12

  Frederick's Peace made with the Pope.
• * 1.13

  Frederick's Son Henry re∣volts against his Father.
• * 1.14

  The War of Frederick a∣gainst the Pope.
• * 1.15

  The Sentence of Pope Gre∣gory against Frederick.
• * 1.16

  The Opinion of the French up∣on the Deposi∣tion of Fre∣derick.
• * 1.17

  The War be∣tween Frede∣rick and the Pope.
• * 1.18

  The Election of Celestin IV. and Innocent IV.
• * 1.19

  A General Council at Lyons in the year 1245.
• * 1.20

  Frederick's Defence.
• * 1.21

  The Landt∣grave of Thu∣ringen, and Earl of Hol∣land Elected Emperors by some of the Princes of the Empire.
• * 1.22

  The Death of Frederick.
• * 1.23

  The History of Conrade Fre∣derick's Son.
• * 1.24

  The Govern∣ment of Man∣fred in Sicily.
• * 1.25

  Troubles in the Empire and Italy.
• * 1.26

  The Elections of Alphonsus and Richard to the Empire.
• * 1.27

  Charles Earl of Anjou de∣feats Manfred, and seizes him∣self upon Sicily.
• * 1.28

  Conradin dis∣putes the King∣dom of Sicily with Charles; he is defeated and executed.
• * 1.29

  The Election of Rodolphus to the Empire, and his Actions.
• * 1.30

  Charles des∣poiled of his Authority by the Pope.
• * 1.31

  Sicily rebels against Charles. The Sicilian Vespers. Charles his defeat and death.
• * 1.32

  The division of the King∣dom of Sicily.
• * 1.33

  The Reign of Adolphus.
• * 1.34

  The deposing of Adolphus.
• * 1.35

  Election of Al∣bert Duke of Austria.