_CHAPTER XXXVII_.
_THE SPY_.
The Chancellor Rinaldo and the Count Palatine Otho de Wittelsbach wereat the head of the embassy which had been sent by Frederic tocongratulate the French King. Whilst their retinue dispersed throughthe town, the marshal of the palace introduced the two German noblesinto the royal apartments.
The reception-hall took up the entire length of the palace, andresembled a market-house, rather than a room, for the accommodation ofpersons of distinction. The bare walls were destitute of hangings, andornamented only with trophies of arms, among which was a collectiondating back to the time of the Franks. The sunlight dimly penetratedthrough the narrow loopholes; the ground was coarsely floored, andstone benches along the walls were the only furniture. The CountPalatine examined, with some curiosity, the armor, and particularly anancient shield, which, it was said, had once be longed to Charlemagne.Rinaldo placed himself in the recess of a window where he couldconverse freely with the Count of Champagne. At last Louis appeared; hewas richly dressed and followed by a numerous retinue of French nobles,among whom could be remarked his brother Henry, Archbishop of Rheimsand primate of France,--a prelate of great distinction and a devotedadherent of Alexander III.
The monarch proceeded to the upper end of the hall, where he mounted athrone of carved oak, whose only value consisted in having once beenused by the Emperor Charlemagne.
While the Count Palatine boldly approached the King, Rinaldo advancedwith a profound obeisance, (his eye eagerly scanning the faces of theroyal suite,) and remarked with uneasiness the presence of thevenerable prelate. Louis acknowledged the Chancellor's obsequioushomage by a simple wave of his hand, but his face wore a look of sterndetermination, which gradually gave way to one of attentive curiosity,as the Count of Champagne named the different persons composing theembassy.
Dassel noticed the surprise with which the King looked at him, and wasflattered by it, while the Count Palatine Otho, cased in armor fromhead to foot, stared with utter unconcern at the monarch and his court.
Dassel at once brought into play all his crafty diplomatic science, andmet the cold expression and indifferent manner of the sovereign with acoldness and indifference, if possible, more strongly marked. After abrief compliment, he broached the subject of the treaty.
"We bear to your Majesty," he said, "the friendship and best wishes ofour sovereign lord and master, the Emperor. Your Majesty is aware ofthe grave concern which the important affair of the election of a Popehas caused him; and he is rejoiced at being able to come to someunderstanding with you, by which the schism may be arrested before itcan spread itself through all Christendom. From all that can be learnedup to the present moment, the only means of securing the peace of theworld is by the assembling of a general council. The princes of Europewill be present, together with all the bishops of the Empire; and it ishoped that your Majesty will call to it the French prelates. The twoPopes should appear, and each present his respective claims for theconsideration of the solemn conclave. The wisdom of the council canthen definitely settle the question. The Emperor trusts that you are asanxious as himself to give peace to the Church, and that you will aidhim to the utmost of your ability."
"We thank the Emperor for his kind wishes," replied the King, "and ourdesires are the same, but we do not agree upon the means to be used.The right to assemble a plenary council does not belong to temporalprinces, but to the Pope alone. We will never allow ourself toencroach upon the privileges of the Head of the Church; the Frenchprelates are very strict in their observance of the canonical rules,and would scarcely notice our invitation. Besides, the ecclesiasticalstatutes forbid any layman, even though he be a sovereign prince, tohave a vote in a plenary council. The bishops only can take part intheir proceedings and deliberations."
"Allow me to observe," answered Dassel, "that the Roman Emperor is theborn protector of the Church, and has always had the right of convokinga plenary council; consequently, Frederic's pretensions are notoriginal with him. His intention is, by no means, to take part in thedeliberations, but simply to be present as a spectator. Besides, mymission now is only to congratulate your Majesty, and inquire when andwhere an interview can take place with the Emperor."
This request was embarrassing; Louis scarcely ventured to refuse, andyet he dreaded the results of the meeting.
"Certainly, my lord Chancellor," he said, "we ardently desire aninterview with your noble sovereign in order to renew our ancientfriendship; but we fear lest it be interpreted in a manner entirelyopposed to our present intentions."
"And in what might this erroneous interpretation consist?" askedDassel, in his most submissive tone.
"I might be supposed to agree with the Emperor in his intention todepose Pope Alexander."
"But I scarcely think that judgment would be a false one," replied theChancellor, smiling.
"What! you think, my lord, that we are capable of such an impiouscrime?" exclaimed Louis, who was astonished at Rinaldo's assurance.
"To keep one's solemn promise is not a crime, but a duty."
"Yes, when our envoys have not exceeded their powers," replied Louis,quickly. "The Count of Champagne had no authority whatever to pledgehimself for us to take part against the Head of the Church."
The blood rushed to the Count of Champagne's face, and his lips movedconvulsively, but he said nothing.
"Your Majesty is pledged only to a personal interview with the Emperor.The non-fulfilment of this promise would be a grave outrage. If yourefuse, the Emperor will keep his engagements, and come in person withall his retinue."
This threat produced a marked effect upon the French nobles. The Kinghesitated a moment, but before he could reply, the Duke of Burgundyexclaimed,--
"If this be a menace, my lord Chancellor, you may tell your master thatwe will receive him and his followers as they deserve!"
"Let us have no violence, my dear Duke," said Louis. "We have alreadytold you that we are ready to accept the Emperor's invitation, and havenever had any intention of insulting him. Let him appoint the place andtime for our meeting; we will be there."
If this were a trick to gain time, Dassel was prepared for it, andanswered immediately,--
"Since your Majesty leaves everything to the Emperor's discretion,Frederic will expect you at the bridge over the Saone, on the 29th ofthis month."
Louis had no further excuse, and the Count of Dassel having terminatedhis mission, left the city after partaking of a banquet. The King'sindecision, or rather his unexpected determination, amazed the Imperialfaction. The Count of Champagne went to his sister's apartments, whileBishop Manases paced the room in great agitation.
"Cluny reconciled to Alexander!" he exclaimed; "the primate at theCourt and Louis more undecided than ever! All that is wanting to assureour defeat, is an arrangement between the King and Henry of England. IfAlexander succeed, there will be nothing for us to do, but bow down andsubmit to severe ecclesiastical penances. There is no time to lose. Imust act at once, and see that the news of the divorce of Henry theLion reaches the Pope's ear;--this repudiated princess must be sent toCluny. Alexander will be exasperated, and our nobles will learn what isto be feared from the Pope's severity. The spirit of opposition oncearoused, court hatred will do the rest. Send my spy to me immediately!"he cried, opening the door.
The order had scarcely been given, when Antonio appeared.
"I have not yet had time to reward your services. For the present, takethis;" and the Bishop handed Antonio a purse, which the latter put inhis pocket, with a smile.
"Thank you, my lord; can my limited intelligence be again useful toyour policy?"
"We shall see, Antonio; you promised to bring about Richenza's marriagewith this cousin of the Emperor, and so far I can see very slightprogress in the affair, although it appears that the young man is stillan inmate of her father's castle. If Louis were even to suspect thisproject, it would be all over with the Count of Champagne
, for thealliance is inimical to the interests of France."
"I confess, my lord, that so far I have been unsuccessful. But it isnot my fault. The Count of Champagne himself----"
"You do not understand me; the Count desires to remain neutral; it isyour business to arrange it. Rechberg is already betrothed, you tellme, and his future wife is in the neighborhood.--Come, Antonio, youshould be able by some clever piece of rascality, to destroy all theirprojects; I trust that you will succeed."
Manases paused, and then after making a few steps in the room,resumed,--
"The Duchess Clemence is secretly staying at the castle."
"Yes."
"She must go to Cluny to-morrow; you will accompany her."
The order disconcerted Antonio, who had proposed visiting Hermengardeon the ensuing day, in company with Pietro.
"I am ready to obey you, my lord," he replied, after a moment'sreflection.
"When you are at Cluny," continued Manases, "keep your ears and eyesopen; let nothing escape you. Watch, above all, the prelates whoreside there, and see upon what terms Henry and Alexander appear to be.Mingle with the servants of the house, for you must know every nook andcorner in it, and the vassals will suspect nothing."
"You will be satisfied with me, my lord."
"But, take care, the Italian roads are infested with banditti, andClemence cannot travel without an escort."
"You need have no apprehension on that score; the best sword in Germanywill accompany her."
"Who will it be?"
"Erwin of Rechberg."
"Very good; he will then leave the castle. But are you sure of him?"
"Perfectly. Rechberg is a valiant knight: if it be necessary, I willtell him her name, and that will be sufficient for him to consider it aduty not to leave her until she is at her journey's end."
"Antonio, be active, faithful, and discreet, and you will lose nothing.Now go; invent some pretext to hasten your departure."
Antonio found the Duchess ready, but Erwin was not to be found; he hadgone, early in the morning, to the Imperial camp, and thither the spywent to look for him.
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