et inanes resolvuntur in favillas contra hominem in Domine confidentem, qui, sicut Mons Syon, non poterit commoveri : nec obmittimus, quod Comes Campanie cum aliquibus tirampnis damnabilibus, machinatus procuravit tres Bannerias equitum a se dolose removere, quasi renunciasset eisdem, et ipsi venientes ad nostra stipendia, debebant nos occidere, prout inter eos fuerat ordinatum. Sed Deus, defensor noster, de eorum manibus nostram innocentiam liberavit. Sciatis eciam ad despectum, et dedecus Joannis de Vico, nequissimi proditoris, recepimus a Romano Populo officium Prefecture urbis ad gaudium, subjungentes, quod in Dei nomine in Kalendis Augusti proxime futuro die Pontificali, ac Imperiali intendimus per Romanum Populum, Spiritus Sancti gratia, ad militiam promoveri, et sic existentes Spiritus Sancti Miles, in festo gloriose Virginis Marie ejusdem mensis, Tribunicia laurea, quam Tribuni antiquitus assumebant disposuimus coronari, mores eorum imitari eciam non verebamur, qui ab aratris ad officia promoti videbantur. De iis omnibus informatis reverendum Patrem Dominum F. de filiis Ursis Domini Papi Notarii, qui nobis quam plurimum ascripsit, nec habuimus adhuc sibi copiam rescribendi. Et excusatis nos ei, quod si modo non scribimus, est enim propter festinanciam hujus occurrentis; vos quoque kalidissime studeatis et vestrum reditum festinare, quia vobis providimus de officio honorabili, atque bono; scientes, quod non de facili, non simonia, non precibus, et instancia aliena officiales assumimus, sed opinione virtutis viros probos ad officia promovemus. Datum in Capitolio, in quo, regnante justicia, recto corde vigemus, die decimaquinta Julii, decimaquinta indicione, liberate rei publice anno primo.* *The foregoing letter has never been published: it is marked fol. 175, 176 of the Turin MSS. ( TRANSLATION. Third Part. It has lately happened to our discomfort, that, whilst we held in prison certain princes suspected of opposition to this state, and amongst them very recently Luca of Sabello, the Vicar of our lord the Pope, either overcome with terror of the said Luke, or influenced by the treachery of usurpers (who could find no other means of disturbing this holy state) is seeking to quit the Capitol: nor would we ever do anything contrary to his dignity and wishes out of the reverence we bear our lord the Pope, towards whom also the Roman people are moved with wonder and grief on beholding the officers of our lord the supreme Pontiff endangering the tranquillity of this holy state, some from malice, others by negligence. But the billows swell in vain-in vain the winds rage, and in vain the fires crackle and are dissipated into empty sparks against the man who puts his trust in God, who is as immoveable as Mount Sion. We do not omit that the Count of Campania with certain damnable tyrants has contrived that three banners of horse should leave his party by stealth as if he had renounced them, and come into our pay for the purpose of slaying us, as had been determined amongst them. But God, our defender, has saved our innocence out of their hands. Know, also, that in contempt and to the disgrace of John de Vico, that most wicked traitor, we have received from the Roman people the prefectureship, to the joy of the city, and that, through the Roman people and the grace of the Holy Spirit, we in the name of God on the pontifical and imperial day of the approaching kalends of August do intend to be promoted to the knighthood; and thus having become a knight of the Holy Ghost, we have arranged that we shall be crowned on the festival of the glorious Virgin Mary, in the same month, with the Tribunician Laurel, which the tribunes assumed of old, not fearing to imitate their customs, who were promoted from the plough to high duties. You will tell all these things to the reverend lord father Orsini,* the notary of our lord the Pope, who wrote to us much at large, and we have not yet had an opportunity of replying to him; and you will excuse us to him that if we do not now write, it is by reason of these events. You also will eagerly endeavour to hasten your return, because we are looking out for some honourable and good office for you, knowing that we do not easily, nor by simony, appoint our officers, nor at the intreaties and instance of other persons, but promote honest men approved for their virtuous characters. Given in the Capitol, where in this reign of justice we flourish in upright heart, on the 15th day of July, the 15th indiction, and 1st year of the freedom of the republic. Copia litterarum missarum per Tribunum urbis ad Dominum Papam excusando se ab inimicis occultis, narrans etiam aliqua contra Comitem Fondorum. Sanctissime Pater, et clementissime Domine, ne dolosarum linguarum astucia, a quibus . . . . . liberari, vestra clemencia quatenus non facilis, imo impossibilis, sicut reor, verbis inclinari fallacibus, cum sit scriptum omni sermoni non esse credendum, suspectum teneat tamen de cognicione mee puritatis auditum, presens litera sanctitati vestre transmittitur veri nuncia, mendacii inimici et dolo obvia alicujus, qui ex acuta lingua ut gladio in jaculatum sagittarum nititur in occulto, cujus innata et inveterata nequicia non participio status, et honoris ecclesie ipsum facit im * This was Raynaldo degli Orsini, the same to whom the long letter is addressed which is given in Hocsemius. meritum, verum efficit suscepcione aule vestre sanctitatis indignum. Noverit igitur sanctitatis vestre benignitas, me humilem servum vestrum in festo beatissime Marie Virginis de presenti mense Augusti fuisse per manus Preceptoris Hospitalis sancti spiritus, et Vicariorum ecclesiarum cathedralium urbis antiquitus solita dari tribunis laurea coronatum: videlicet sex coronis, quarum quinque fuerunt frondee, secundum Romanorum antiquum institutum, dari augentibus rem publicam consuete, et sexta fuit argentea, que valorem quinque florenorum auri non excedit; et post ipsarum susceptionem sex hujusmodi coronarum pomum recepi per manus Syndici Romani Populi milicie signatum, que devote suscipiens ad memoriam sex donorum Spiritus Sancti ab ejusdem largitate alui, et sub sancte Romane Ecclesie, et Sanctitatis vestre reverencia recognovi, in quibusque suscipiendis nulla perpetuabitur auctoritas in consensu, sive licentia nulla fuit Pontificalis oportuna potestas curie. Non in pleno, at plenissimo publico parlamento, de assensu tocius Romani Populi, et aliorum quamplurium omnium fere civitatum Tuscie Syndicorum Ecclesie Zelo fratres, omnes homines civitatum, in quibus etiam cardinalium tituli, et bona eorum ab omni vassalagio liberavi, cives Romanos effeci et reduxi ad vestrum dominium, Dominorum Cardinalium, quorum in eis non modicum jurisdicio lesa erat, adversis potentibus vestre urbis. Item quod nullus Imperator, Rex, Princeps, Marchio, sive quovis alio consitus nomine cum gente audeat in Italiam mittere sine vestre Sanctitatis, vel Romani Populi licencia speciali; ad que me induxit pura, quam habeo ad Ecclesiam, sancta fides, et desiderium pacis, et quietis Italie, atque Regni. Item quod nemo detestabilia nomina Guelfum, et Guibellinum tanti jam proh dolor! Christiani sanguinis estuaria, audeat per totam Italiam nominare, sed, omni deposita, fidelem sexorem sancte Ecclesie in uni tate, et pace,. asserat, et cognoscat. In quibus, et aliis per me gestis, si aliquid potest reputari Ecclesie sancte contrarium, que per universum pacem decantant, et predicant, relinquo vestre judicio sanctitatis, cupiens anxie, et non ficte, quod dignetur vestra sanctitas mittere aliquem virum Dei, ut de singulis, que peregi, voluntate vestri Romani Populi discuciat, et inquirat; et si forte mali quo me inculpat reperiat, ante pedes vestros venturum me obligo, pena qualibet, juxta sanctitatis vestre justiciam sine misericordia puniendus. Nec vestram clemenciam lateat, quod contra hostem Ecclesie, atque vestrum Nicolaum Gartanum, olim Fondorum comitem, per exercitum victoriosum procedo viriliter, paratis opportunis, et jam misi Cancellarium, urbis Angelum Malabreme in ostensionem terrarum Comitis prelibati cum equitibus quadringentis positis in campo feliciter, cum Spiritus Sancti gratia, et favore, uttra duodecim centenaria equitum strenuorum cum balistariis, et hominibus aliis infinitis, et quod ipsum spero faciliter conculcare, quod nunquam ut resurgat. Cujus exercitus Joannem natum Stephani de Columpna, Principem milicie ordinavi. Et quod in iis partibus cepit indere aliqua, licet modica carestia, cui adhibui, et adhibeo proposse remedia, procurans de Sicilie partibus granum defferri facere, ac eciam aliunde, et terras Romani districtus, quarum diu inculta pars maxima jacuit, reduci faciens ad culturam; et per concessionem Jubilei nisi provideatur aliter posset excrescere, dum multi de diversis mundi partibus Romam perperam confluent, multique granum procurabant abscondere.* Cetera desiderantur. TRANSLATION. Copy of the Letters sent by the Tribune of the City to the Lord the Pope, defending himself from his secret Enemies, and mentioning certain things against the Count of Fondi. Most holy Father, and most merciful Lord, lest through the craftiness of deceitful tongues, from which even *This letter is not in Hocsemius: it is marked fol. 167 of the Turin MSS. |