Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/345

. Philip's troops devas tate the land TJte Hohenstaufen Emperors and the Popes 309 with the intention of moving into Lower Germany and devas- tating the bishopric of Cologne. King Otto and the arch- bishop of Cologne also gathered together their adherents and encamped on the opposite bank of the river. The citizens of Cologne came too, in well armed and well manned boats. For some time the outcome seemed doubtful for neither side dared to attack the other. Finally, King Philip and his followers took courage and attempted to effect a crossing, while the forces from Lorraine made a stand against them in the river itself. The battle continued until nightfall with varying fortunes. The following morning the Lorrainers retired to their camp, thinking it unwise to measure their own small forces against the innumerable host of the enemy, who immediately crossed the river. They gave the men of Lorraine, who prepared to make a stand at Andernach, no opportunity for an engagement, but laid waste the land far and wide with fire and sword. Remagen and Bonn, with many outlying villages, were burned to the ground, and there was no one to stay the ravages of the enemy, for every one fled before them to the most strongly fortified places. The atrocities which they committed in their brutal inso- lence are too revolting to relate. I will describe but a single case among many, which will furnish some notion of the rest. A nun whom they had stripped of her clothing was covered with honey and rolled in feathers ; in this horrible condition she was placed on a horse with her face toward the beast's tail. When they had paraded this ridiculous, or rather, lamentable, spectacle for several days the matter came to King Philip's ears. He, in holy indignation, had all who had taken any part in the affair drowned in boiling water. BIBLIOGRAPHY General Summary: ADAMS, Civilization, pp. 247-257; MUNRO, A. Refer- pp. 184-202. ences - Conditions in Germany under the Hohenstaufens : BEMONT and MONOD, pp. 479-487. Frederick Barbarossa : BEMONT and MONOD, pp. 301-317; BRYCE, Chapter XI, pp. 167-181 ; EMERTON, pp. 282-312 ; HENDERSON, Atrocities committed by Philip's troops.