Page:A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, volume 2.djvu/356

 „,Q GERMANY. exercising their powers in any diocese ; finally, it anticipated the resistance of Count Sayn and the other inculpated nob es, by di- recting that if any magnate, relying upon the strength ot uis castles and the support of his subjects, should refuse to appear after three citations, his bishop should preach a crusade against him with indulgences, and he should be manfully assailed. Thus, while ostensibly obeying the commands of the pope and emperor, the action of the bishops was practica ly directed to limiting the powers of the inquisitors. As for the tlireat of a crusade, its significance is seen in the steps actually taken in the case of Count Sayn. That shrewd noble saw that he could rely upon episcopal protection if he could promise the bishops efiicient support, and he had suflicient interest with King Henry to induce him to join with Sigfried of Mainz in caUing a council for July 25 to consider his case. The king and his princes attended the assembly as weU as the prelates, so that it was rather an imperial diet than an ecclesiastical council. The count asserted his inno- cence and offered to prove it by conjurators. Conrad, who was present, found his position suddenly changed. The assembly was fn reaUty, a national protest against the supremacy of the papal Inquisition, and the inquisitor, in place of being a judge armed wi?h absolute jurisdiction, was merely a prosecutor. He presented his witnesses, but in that august presence the hearts of some of them failed, and they withdrew ; others felt emboldened to declare that they had been forced to accuse the count in order to save their own lives, and those who persisted were easily shown to be personal enemies of the accused. The whole assemWage seemed fnspired with a common desire to put an end to Conrad s arbitrary proceedings, and the prosecution broke down totally. King Heru-y llone, perhaps already meditating his rebellion agamst tis fathei and anxious not to offend either the nobles or the Pap-J^ d--^ to postpone the matter for further consideration. The count pressed earnestly for immediate judgment, but the Archbishop of Treves interposed-" My lord, the king wishes the case post- poned;" then turning to the people " I announce to you that Count Sayn departs from here unconvicted, and as a good Catho- . Annal. Wormatie.s. (Hist. Dip. Frid. II. T. IV. pp. 616-17).-Kaltner, pp. 19, 146-8.— Eplstt. Select. Sfec. XIII. No. 514.