A.J. 1246, THE KING OF FEANCE GOES TO THE POPE. 263 chiefs of Germany on whom he relied, having been bribed by the papal treasure, deserted Conrad in the critical moment of battle, favouring the opposite party, and in this way deserted wickedly to the enemies of Conrad; by which conduct Conrad himself was exposed to imminent danger in the battle, and forced to defend himself gallantly as well as he could. And at last, stained with the blood of the numbers whom he had slain, he with great difficulty saved himself, with a few others, from death by flight. About the same time, Frederic, recollecting himself a little, humbled himself, being a good deal alarmed, and fearing the attacks of the insurgents. And so he offered to the lord the pope to make adequate satisfaction for his excesses ; to negotiate which affair, he appointed as his procurator and mediator the lord king of the French, who, pitying the disordered state of the empire and church, interposed his mediation, being prompted by the suggestions of piety, and without sparing any expense or labour on his part, went down to the district of Lyons, where the pope was at that time staying with his cardinals. For he had a confident hope of being able to appease the rancour of the pope, BO as to be able to relieve that great prince Frederic, and reconcile him to the church. And the lord the pope, to show his respect for, and to honour so great a king, came as far as Cluny to meet him on his approach. And when they met together, and held a serious debate on the before-mentioned subject, the lord the king spoke earnestly and vigorously for Frederic. For he said Frederic offered to go as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, and never to return during his whole life, but to serve as a soldier of God in that land, while his son should be established in the empire in hie stead. But the pope replied, " Ha ! how often have similar offers been made by him, which have never been fulfilled." And the king said, " My father, is it not written in the Gospel that if thy brother sin against thee, he is to be forgiven seventy times seven times ?" And the pope replied, " My son, his heart is hardened ; he is a second Pharaoh, in all things he has proved himself one who cannot be trusted.'9 But when the most pious king of France could not find the favour which he had hoped for in the eyes of the pope, he departed in indignation and anger, at having found no humility in the servant of servants. On which account, when the lord the pope wished to enter the kingdom of France, in order to dwell there in greater safety, the king