Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/269

257 REPLY OF ALEXANDER III. TO BELA. 257 It is stated therein that when your kingdom was eruelly devastated by the Tartars, you asked for help from our predecessor Gregory, and that that pontiff, as if he had forgotten your signal devotion and that of your ancestors, was not willing to show even in words, far less in actions, that he grieved for the slaughter of your subjects. You add, that after his death, and during the vacancy of the apostolic see, the cardinals gave you the consoling promise that the future Pope would exert himself to drive the barbarians from your frontier, but that this hope had not been realised. " In seeking the assistance and advice of the Church against the fresh attacks of the Tartars, you show that she scorned and forsook you in your former peril — but if you will consider the unfortunate situation of the Church herself at that period, we believe that you will absolve her from blame, and agree that the omission of which you complain can only be attributed to the mis- fortunes of the time, and to the iniquity of those who were then troubling the Church. The Emperor Frederick exercised the most violent tyranny against the Apostolic See; he attacked it with his whole power, in order that, when he had crushed it, he himself might receive the supreme honour. To defend her own liberty and that of her sons, the Church had to make such great expenditure, and became herself so oppressed by debts, that it was impossible for her to afford succour to others, — and even to this day her resources have not enabled her to acquit herself of all her liabilities. "If after the accession of the new pontiff the promises given by the cardinals were not fulfilled, vol. i. s