Villani's Chronicle: Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni VillaniVillani, Giovanni
History
Villani's Chronicle: Being Selections from the First Nine Books of the Croniche Fiorentine of Giovanni Villani
Villani, Giovanni
Florence (Italy) -- History
Conradino, with the duke of Austria and with many others, which were
fled from the field with him, arrived at the beach towards Rome upon
the seashore hard by a place which is called Asturi, which pertained
to the Infragnipani, noblemen of Rome; and when they were come
thither, they had a pinnace furnished to pass into Sicily, hoping to
escape from King Charles; and in Sicily, which had almost all rebelled
against the king, to recover state and lordship. They having already
embarked unrecognised on the said vessel, one of the said Infragnipani
which was in Asturi, seeing that they were in great part Germans, and
fine men and of noble aspect, and knowing of the defeat, was minded to
gain riches for himself, and therefore he took the said lords
prisoners; and having learnt of their conditions, and how Conradino
was among them, he led them captive to King Charles, for which cause
the king gave him land and lordship at Pilosa, between Naples and
Benivento. And when the king had Conradino and those lords in his
hands, he took counsel what he should do. At last he was minded to put
them to death, and he caused by way of process an inquisition to be
made against them, as against traitors to the Crown and enemies of
Holy Church, and this was carried out; for on the . . . day were
beheaded Conradino, and the duke of Austria, and Count Calvagno, and
Count Gualferano, and Count Bartolommeo and two of his sons, and Count
Gherardo of the counts of Doneratico of Pisa, on the market place at
Naples, beside the stream of water which runs over against the church
of the Carmelite friars; and the king would not suffer them to be
buried in a sacred place, but under the sand of the market place,
forasmuch as they were excommunicate. And thus with Conradino ended
the line of the house of Suabia, which was so powerful both in
emperors and in kings, as before we have made mention. But certainly
we may see, both by reason and by experience, that whosoever rises
against Holy Church, and is excommunicate, his end must needs be evil
for soul and for body; and therefore the sentence of excommunication
of Holy Church, just or unjust, is always to be feared, for very open
miracles have come to pass confirming this, as whoso will may read in
ancient chronicles; as also by this present chronicle it may be seen
with regard to the emperors and lords of past times, which were rebels
and persecutors of Holy Church. Yet because of the said judgment King
Charles was much blamed by the Pope and by his cardinals, and by all
wise men, forasmuch as he had taken Conradino and his followers by
chance of battle, and not by treachery, and it would have been better
to keep him prisoner than to put him to death. And some said that the
Pope assented thereto; but we do not give faith to this, forasmuch as
he was held to be a holy man. And it seems that by reason of
Conradino's innocence, which was of such tender age to be adjudged to
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