"to sale," he thus addressed the audacious ecclesiastics: "If we have prostituted the benefices of the "church for hire, you yourselves are the most proper

persons to convict us of that simony. Say then, I "conjure you, in the name of the eternal God! what "have we exacted, or what have we received, for having "promoted you to the dignities which you now enjoy?" They acknowledged he was innocent, as far as regarded their preferment :-" and yet," continued he, "the "archbishopricks of Mentz and Cologne being two of "the best in our gift, we might have filled our coffers 66 by exposing them to sale. We bestowed them, however, on you, out of free grace and favour ;-and a wor

66

thy return you make to our benevolence !-Do not, we "beseech you, become abettors of those who have "lifted up their hand against their lord and master, in "defiance of faith, gratitude, and allegiance."

The two archbishops, unmoved by that pathetic address, insisted on his compliance with the purport of their errand. On this he retired, and put on his royal ornaments; then returning to the apartment he had left, and seating himself on a chair of state, he renewed his remonstrance in these words: "Here are the marks of "that royalty with which we were invested by God and "the princes of the empire; if you disregard the wrath "of Heaven, and the eternal reproach of mankind, so "much as to lay violent hands on your sovereign, you "may strip us of them. We are not in a condition to

"defend ourselves."

This speech had no more effect than the former upon the unfeeling prelates, who instantly snatched the crown from his head; and dragging him from his chair, pulled off his royal robes by force. While they were thus employed, Henry exclaimed, "Great God !" -the tears trickled down his venerable cheeks-" thou "art the God of vengeance, and wilt repay this outrage.

"I have

"I have sinned, I own, and merited such shame by the "follies of my youth; but thou wilt not fail to punish "those traitors, for their perjury, insolence, and ingra❝titude 32."

To such a degree of wretchedness was this unhappy prince reduced by the barbarity of his son, that, destitute of the common necessaries of life, he intreated Gertard, bishop of Spire, whom he had created, to grant him a canonicate for his subsistence; representing that he was capable of performing the office of "chanter or reader!" Being denied that humble request, he shed a flood of tears, and turning to those who were present, said, with a deep sigh," My dear friends, at least have pity on "my condition, for I am touched by the hand of the "Lord33!" The hand of man, at least, was heavy upon him for he was not only in want, but under confine

ment.

In the midst of these distresses, when every one thought his courage was utterly extinguished, and his soul overwhelmed by despondence, Henry found means to escape from his keepers, and reached Cologne, where he was recognized as lawful emperor. He next repaired to the Low Countries, where he found friends, who raised a considerable body of troops to facilitate his restoration; and he sent circular letters to all the princes of Christendom, in order to interest them in his cause. He even wrote to the pope, giving him to understand, that he was inclined to an accommodation, provided it could be settled without prejudice to his crown. But before any thing material could be executed in Henry's favour, he died at Liege, in the fiftysixth year of his age, and the forty-ninth of his reign. He was a prince of great courage, and excellent endowments both of body and mind. There was an air of dignity in his appearance that spoke the greatness of his soul. He possessed a natural fund of eloquence and

AUG. 7.

32. Dithmar, ubi sup. Heiss, ii. cap. ix. 33. Id. ibid. vivacity;

vivacity; was of a mild and merciful temper; extremely charitable; and an admirable pattern of fortitude and resignation34.

Henry V. put the finishing stroke to his barbarous, unnatural, and hypocritical conduct, by causing his father's body, as the carcase of an excommunicated wretch, to be dug out of the grave where it was buried, in the cathedral of Liege, and be carried to a cave at Spire3s. But notwithstanding his obligations and seeming attachment to the church, this paracidious zealot no sooner found himself established upon the imperial throne, than he maintained that right of investiture, in opposition to which he had taken arms against his father, and the exer. cise of which was thought to merit anathemas so fright ful as to disturb the sacred mansions of the dead.

In order to terminate that old dispute, Henry invited the pope into Germany. But Pascal, who was well acquainted with the emperor's haughty and implacable disposition, thought proper to take a different route, and put himself under the protection of Philip I. king of France, who undertook to mediate an accommodation between the empire and the holy see. A conference was accordingly held at Chalons, in Champagne, but without effect.

A. D. 1107.

After this unsuccessful meeting, the pope held a council at Troyes, and Henry convoked a diet at Mentz: the first supported Pascal's pretensions, and the last declared for the emperor's right of investiture. But more weighty affairs demanding Henry's attention, the dispute was laid aside for a time. He was engaged for several years in wars with Hungary and Poland, which ended in the weariness of all parties, and left things nearly as at the beginning.

When tired of fighting, Henry thought of disputing : he was desirous of settling his contest with the pope ;

34. Gob. Pers. Leo Ostiens. Chron. Magdeb. 35. Annal, de l'Emp.

tom. i.

and,

A. D. 1111.

and, lest force should be necessary, he entered Italy with an army of eighty-thousand men. Pascal received him with the greatest appearance of cordiality, but would not renounce the claim of investitures; and Henry, finding himself deceived in his expectations, ordered the pope to be seized. The consul put the citi

zens in arms, and a battle was fought within the walls of Rome. The Romans were defeated; and the carnage was so great, that the waters of the Tiber were stained with blood. Pascal was taken prisoner, and became less inflexible. He crowned Henry, and confirmed him in the right of investiture; dividing the host with him, at the same time, in token of perfect reconciliation, and pronouncing the following anathema: "As this part of the vivifying body," breaking it, "is separated from the "other, let him of us two, who shall infringe the treaty, "be separated from the kingdom of Christ!"

A. D. 1112.

But Henry had no sooner left Italy than it appeared that the court of Rome was by no means sincere in the concessions it had made; for although Pascal himself still preserved the exteriors of friendship and good faith, a council of the Lateran, called by him, set aside the bull touching the investiture of benefices, and ordered the emperor to be excommunicated. The clergy every where attempted to fill the vacant sees, and the whole empire was again involved in trouble and dissention.

A rebellion broke out in Saxony, which Henry was enabled to quell by the valour of his nephew, A. D. 1114. Frederick duke of Suabia and Alsace, whom he promoted to the supreme command of his army. In the meantime the countess Matilda dying, the emperor, as her nearest relation, claimed the succession, notwithstanding the steps she had taken in favour of the holy see, alledging that it was not in her power to alienate her estates, which depended imme

A. D. 1115.

36. Chron. Abb. St. Petri de Burgo. Padre Paolo, Benef. Éccles.

He therefore set out for

diately upon the empire. Lombardy, and sent ambassadors to Rome, beseeching the pope to revoke the sentence of excommunication, which had been fulminated against him, expressly contrary to their last agreement.

Pascal would not so much as favour the ambassadors with an audience; but convoked a council, in which his treaty with the emperor, was a second time A. D. 1116. condemned. Incensed at such arrogance, Henry advanced towards Rome, determined to make his authority respected: and the pope, well acquainted with his inflexible disposition, took shelter among the Norman princes in Apulia, the new vassals and protectors of the church.

A. D. 1117.

The emperor entered Rome in triumph, and was crowned a second time by Bardinus, arch'bishop of Prague, who attended him in this expedition. But Henry's presence being necessary in Tuscany, Pascal privately returned to Rome, where he died in a few days; and on the third day after A. D. 1118., his decease, cardinal Cajetan was elected his successor, without the privity of the emperor, under the name of Gelasius II.

A. D. 1119.,

Enraged at this presumption, Henry declared the election of Gelasius void, and appointed in his place Bardinus, who assumed the name of Gregory VIII. revoked the sentence of excommunication against the emperor, and confirmed his right of investiture. Gelasius, though supported by the Norman princes, was obliged to take refuge in France, where he died; and the arch. 'bisop of Vienna was elected in his room by the cardinals then present, under the name of Calixtus II. Calixtus attempted an accommodation with Henry; which not succeeding, he called a council, and again excommunicated the emperor, the anti-pope, and "their adherents. He next set out for Rome, where he was honourably received, and Gregory VIII. retired to Sutri, a strong town, garrisoned by the

A. D. 1120.

emperor's