330

THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.

common sense. But in a great empire like Germany,
swayed by a number of turbulent, jealous, and ambitious
petty rulers, several of whom were almost equal in power,
and could naturally aspire to the place of an emperor,
they were not sorry (indeed, never were sorry) to have an
excuse for deposing him. The threat of Gregory meant the
raising up of a rival to Frederick, in his own land,
and was eagerly listened to with hope by one party, and
fear by another. But the Roman nobles and people did
not support their furious and savage Sovereign at this
outbreak, and took, instead, the contrary side.
The Pope had attended mass at the Lateran, and had
from thence repaired to Saint Peter’s, where he had
preached another sermon, equally if not more vitupera-
tive than the former, against Frederick ; when a tumult
arose, headed by the Imperialist nobles, and was as usual
warmly seconded by the mob. The riot spread from the
church to the city ; and Gregory, alone in the hands of
the lowest orders, and grievously maltreated, was glad to
fly for his life to Viterbo, followed hotly by his foes. From
Viterbo he withdrew to the faithful city of Perugia, where
he resided, until he was recalled by the Romans, about
three years afterwards.
As if in warning against the folly of superannuated
fury, and the indulgence of savage and unchristian, as
well as impolitic rage, an opportunity now presented
itself which, if it had but been improved by the vindictive
and sullen Pontiff, would have, in all earthly probability,
assured to Christianity and to Rome the supremacy over
the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, and Palestine. This part
of the history of Pope and Emperor is well worthy of a
somewhat detailed narration.
Malek-Adel, the great Soldan of the East, had died,
leaving fifteen sons, each of whom was desirous of ob-
taining the richer portions of the paternal inheritance.
One of these, Malek-Kami], the Sultan of Babylon (or
Egypt), as he was called, having heard of Frederick’s in-
tended expedition to the Holy Land, and knowing him to
be a man famed for learning and power, bethought him of