_II. Their Treachery._--The Emperor Frederick, at the diet of Nuremburg, openly complained of the treachery of Pope Alexander III, and that in the presence of the princes of the empire, before whom he read the letter containing the treason, which the pope had sent to the soldiers of the Turkish emperor. Gregory II. secretly issued a prohibition, not to pay to the Emperor Leo his customary (and due) tax. Alexander VI. availed himself of the assistance of the Turks (or at least, called upon them), against the French. _III. Their Poisoning._--Ancient writers mention, that Pope Paul III. poisoned his own mother and niece, that the inheritance of the Farnesi might fall to him. Innocentius IV., through a priest, administered poison to the emperor, in a host, thus removing him from this life. Moreover, how another pope, whose name is sufficiently known, put to death by poison, in accordance with Turkish custom, the brother of Gemeno Bajazet, the Mohammedan emperor, which was contrary to common justice, because he was ransomed with two tonnen treasure, needs not to be recounted, as the fame of it has gone out both into the east and the west. This same pope had at a certain time determined to poison in like manner some cardinals, when the cupbearer made a mistake in the tankard containing the poison (as the ancient writers have annotated), and he who had arranged this, was himself served with it, insomuch that he died with the cardinals who had drank of it. Compare _De Tractaten Contarœne, Vergerij des Onpartijdigen Rechters_, especially _pp. 48, 49, 50_, with the _Chronijk van den Ondergang, first part, for the year 1227. p. 544. col. 1. 2._ Also, _p. 768. col. 2._ of the bad conduct of Pope John XXIV., taken from _Fasc. Temp. fol. 187. Platin. fol. 401. Onufr. fol. 406. 417. Hist. Eccl. Casp. Hedio. part 3. lib. 11. Chronolog. Leonh. lib. 6. Henr. Bull. of the councils, 2d Book, chap. 8. Joh. Stumph. fol. 21. Hist. Georg. lib. 6. Seb. Fra._ (old edition) _fol. 31_ to _fol. 89. Hist. Andriani fol. 53_ to _fol. 66._ _Jan Crisp. fol. 256_ to _369. Chron. Car. lib. 5. Zeg. fol. 326._ OF THE DIVINE JUDGMENTS AND PUNISHMENTS VISITED UPON SOME OF THE POPES. The divine vengeance for great misdeeds is sometimes carried out in this life, and sometimes reserved for the life to come.[64] The vengeance which is inflicted in this life, is sometimes executed immediately by God himself; at other times he uses means--either the elements, or things composed of the elements, yet without life; and sometimes he does it by means of living creatures as, men, beasts, etc. However, here we shall only speak of the judgments of God visited upon some of the popes in such a manner and through such means, as will be shown. [64] But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds. Rom. 2:5,6.