_CHAPTER III_.
_THE CHANCELLOR RINALDO_.
The Imperial escort had halted in the valley, the horses were unsaddledand grazing in the meadows, while the soldiers in groups were restingbeneath the shade of the pines and oak-trees.
Three of the knights had chosen the most picturesque spot among theruins, and from the slight elevation, on which they stood, coulddiscern all the surrounding country, and even the lofty summits of theAlps, which bounded the horizon toward the North. It was to thisdirection that was turned the anxious gaze of one of the knights, who,with his hands resting on his sword-hilt, stood before the gateway ofthe ruined church. But little above the middle height, he waspowerfully built, and his long mantle, thrown behind him, showed thathis arms, legs, and feet were cased in mail, and that above hisordinary armor he wore a coat of silver links which came down to theknee. On his head was a steel helmet of proof, which shone brilliantlyin the sun, and a heavy two-handled sword with a double hilt, and in aplain leathern scabbard, completed his accoutrement.
At first sight, the form of the young soldier scarcely seemed towarrant his ponderous armor. Strikingly handsome, with hands ofremarkable delicacy, with a bright fair complexion, and a mouth aroundwhich played a smile of frankness and amiability, it needed a secondglance to discover that, under this engaging exterior, was concealed aviolent energy, an iron will, and a pride without limit. His full blueeyes inspired confidence, but at times his glance could threaten asfiercely as it now seemed kind and gentle. His brow was high and broad,his nose aquiline, and his beard and hair of a bright red.
Such was the appearance of the Emperor Frederic I., the mightiestsovereign of his age, and one of the most illustrious men of whomhistory has made mention.
His two companions were striking contrasts. The first was tall, with agrave dark face, and long black hair; and his stern features indicatedthe soldier whose life had been passed in action. Thoroughly devoted tohis sovereign, the Count Palatine Otho de Wittelsbach was the faithfuland constant attendant of the Emperor.
The other was a small fair man, with a gentle and smiling face. UnlikeOtho, he was not in armor, but wore a long embroidered gown, greentrunk-hose, and a black hat. Yet in spite of his amiable expression,there was an air of dissimulation about him, and his eyes were as falseand deceitful as his language was elegant and persuasive. He was thecelebrated Chancellor Rinaldo, Count of Dussel, and Archbishop ofCologne, in whom the Emperor reposed the most implicit confidence, aconfidence fully justified by the political talents of the wilystatesman. It was said that his ideas were even more progressive thanthose of the prince himself, and that he pushed him forward in hispolicy, despite the many serious obstacles in the path of his Imperialsovereign.
The Emperor was still gazing toward the north, when a young man ofhandsome bearing and with an almost childlike expression of amiabilityon his features, approached, holding a cup of wine. Frederic's wholeexpression changed to one of almost paternal fondness, as he glanced atthe young soldier.
"Always mindful of your godfather, my good Erwin," said he, drainingthe goblet. "By my faith, if the repast be but proportionate to yourattentions, we shall feast most regally to-day."
"The table awaits you, Sire," said the young man, pointing to a shieldwhich was placed on a stone near by. "Pray, pardon the frugality of theentertainment." Barbarossa turned towards the shield emblazoned in blueand white _lozenges_, on which was placed the Emperor's meal,consisting of bread and a little smoked meat.
"Sit down, gentlemen," said he. "Ah! not so bad; I see that Bavaria hassent us her food as far as Lombardy."
"Aye!" replied Count Otho, "and her contingent will be here soon to aidus with their good lances. According to the last despatches, theadvanced guard should arrive to-morrow."
"It is full time to chastise these disloyal Guelphs," said Frederic."The rebellion has become general; Milan openly defies us; Genoa growseach day more factious, and even Venice, despite our Chancellor'seloquence, has assumed an air of insolence."
"Right and reason," replied Rinaldo, "have but little chance of successagainst fraud and dissimulation."
"Well answered," cried Otho; "I am glad to hear such sentimentsproclaimed. We must draw the sword, and prove to these insurgents thatthey owe obedience and respect to their sovereign."
"You are right, my lord Count," said Rinaldo, glancing at the Emperor."After vainly trying mildness and conciliation, it would be rankcowardice not to use the sword."
At the close of their frugal repast, the Emperor directed hischancellor to read to him, until it was time to mount again; andRinaldo, taking a book which was brought to him by the young knightErwin, opened it at a marked page, while Otho, too thorough a soldierto care much for literature, withdrew on one side.
"We have learned the ideas of His Holiness as to the origin of allpower," said the Chancellor to the Emperor, who was seated on thepedestal of a fallen column. "The following letter from Pope GregoryVII. will fully explain what these ideas mean, and to what they tend.
"'The Church is our common Mother, the source and origin of all lightand vitality. It is on this account that all emperors and kings,princes and archbishops, bishops and prelates, are her vassals. Thanksto the power of the Apostolic keys, she can make and unmake them, forthe power which she delegates is not for a passing fame, but for a holyeternity. To her, then, they all owe a respectful and modestobedience.'"
Until then, the Emperor had listened in silence, although his featuresbetrayed the violent emotions of his inner self. Suddenly interruptingthe Chancellor, he exclaimed,--
"By my faith, the reasoning is highly logical! The Church rules all!She can make and depose both emperors and princes!--All must passivelyobey her mandates!--What arrogance!--Princes are naught but simplevassals of the Pope!"
"Absolutely nothing else," replied Rinaldo; "the Pope is the sun, theEmperor the moon, who receives from His Holiness light and brilliancyand power."
"Enough! enough!" cried Frederic, angrily; "mark the place and closethe book--the reading of such enormities is an insult to the Imperialdignity." A crafty smile played around the Chancellor's lips as hereplied,--
"Great men, unluckily, make great blunders; but for your unfortunateoversight, no Pope would have ventured to make such an extravagantclaim to universal sovereignty."
"Was it not the duty of Charles to defer to the request of Rome?"
"Most certainly! but his liberality to the Church might have been moremeasured, and the honors conceded more judiciously denned. Hold thePope's stirrup!--yes, the Emperor must even stoop to that--although itis, in reality, a mere idle form," added the Chancellor, hurriedly, asFrederic's face colored up. "Surely none can blame the Popes if theyconstrue what was a mere form into an obligation of importance."
"When I held the stirrup of His Holiness, my lord Chancellor," saidBarbarossa with great dignity, "it was the homage paid by a Christianto the chief of Christendom."
"A most excellent reason, Sire," replied the Chancellor, in aninsinuating tone. "The fulfilment of a Christian's religious duties canbut honor an Emperor. But I have yet to learn in what way those dutiesinterfere with the prerogatives of a Sovereign."
"Well!--you would elevate then the monarch's rights above theChristian's responsibilities?"
The smiling glance of the statesman dwelt for an instant upon hissovereign, who had given his minister to understand that he regardedhis opinions as somewhat heretical and very difficult of realization.Barbarossa was willing to admit, to a certain extent, the superiorityof the temporal over the spiritual power, but he still hesitated beforethe impiety of claiming the supremacy.
"Although you may place the Emperor above the Christian," resumed theChancellor, "you will not on that account cease to be one. I will sayeven more: to reign, truly, the separation of the Empire from thePapacy is a necessity. Look towards the monarchs of France and Saxony;for them the Pope has never been anything more than the Bishop of R
ome,chosen from among the most worthy prelates. They were the temporalmasters of the Roman Pontiff, although ever the first to honor him asthe Head of the Church. And what, to-day, is the Papal supremacy overthe Emperor, what is his influence? You selected Victor as SovereignPontiff, while the College of Cardinals elected Roland, who, under thetitle of Alexander III., reigns in spite of you! Victor, the feeblecreation of your own hands, will fall as soon as your support bewithdrawn, while Alexander, your triumphant adversary, is seated morefirmly than ever upon the throne of St. Peter. His legates, only, arereceived in Spain, in France, in England; they only are acknowledgedthroughout the civilized world!"
"Enough of this!" said Frederic. "To what end serves your discourse? Itis but a waste of time to prove to me, now, that during the past twoyears we have plotted, and toiled, and fought in vain."
"In vain! Sire!--but why? Because you neglected the golden opportunity!Milan, the bulwark of Alexander's power, was in your hands; you shouldhave levelled her to the ground!"
"Always ready, my lord, to tell me what should have been done! Why wasnot this advice offered sooner?"
"It is not yet too late," replied Rinaldo. "The German bands havepassed the Alps; let their first exploit be the capture of Milan."
"Naturally; and their second?"
"The overthrow of the present _status_ of Italy, and the installationof Victor at Rome."
"And then the heretic Barbarossa, the persecutor of the Holy Church,will be put under the ban of the Universe!" replied Frederic, with abitter laugh.
"Heretic? No! But the astonished world will hail in you the worthyrival of the great Emperor. What did Charlemagne, and Otho, and HenryIII. do? Did they not give Rome to the Popes? And if you, theirsuccessor, should place in Rome a bishop of your own selection, whocould dispute your authority? Act, break down all opposition, and thePapacy, henceforward, will be no more the enemy, but the obedientvassal of the Germanic Empire." Whilst Rinaldo spoke, Barbarossa seemedlost in thought; every word of the crafty statesman produced itseffect, for it answered the ambitious cravings of his own nature, whichhad long aimed at the subjection of the spiritual to the temporalpower. Could his dreams be realized, the Emperor would reign supreme,and the Church, shorn of all her prerogatives, would remain, as she hadexisted during the dark ages, the source of all faith, but a mere fiefof the Empire.
The difficulties of the undertaking did not escape him, but far fromcausing discouragement, they pleased him the more, by their bold andhazardous originality. Rinaldo, in silence, with folded arms anddown-cast eyes, watched narrowly the effect produced on the Emperor byhis discourse.
Suddenly Otho of Wittelsbach advanced hurriedly.
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