- ARCHIVE - Court of His Holiness in Rome

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Pius was greatly excited.

"Praise the Lord! How excellent it is, that the good prince Ugo has come to the aid of the church, and with great zeal defeated those heretic Albanians! Oh, thank you Lord, for granting us the help of prince Ugo. May You always, in your eternal wisdom, grant him the strength and fortune to succeed in his noble goals, let him always strike down the enemies of Hungary and the enemies of the church. Let him always..."

Pius continued like this for about 15 minutes, then he ended it with an amen and looked at Benedek.

"Ah, my good bishop, God bless you for bringing me such magnificent news. Let us go to the river and see what you have brought me... uhmm, the church..."

 

[cccino]

Archbishop Benedek coughed politely.

"Your holiness, the diocese of Sclavia has been poorly led for many years, indeed, since the passing of the last Archbishop of Krakow. Unfortunately, the disruptions to the Church of the last five years have meant nothing has been done about it. It is my firm belief that the Church would be more successful in the region if it were led from a more prominent and central location. A holy city, in a holy nation..."

The Archbishop of Esztergom did not go so far as to actually mention the city he had in mind. "The Primate should be a man of dedication and piety. A man who will fight the heretical eastern doctrines and bring the Balkans back to the true Church. Most importantly, he should be the representative of a Kingdom both prominent and loyal to Rome..."

 

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Pius smiles.

"Yes, I had the feeling you might mention that. I think that can be arranged. In the not so distant future, I will summon the cardinals for a meeting, and we will then reform the entire college of cardinals. One of those matters will be your... suggestion."

 

[cccino]

"Thank you, your grace."

Benedek decided to strike while the iron was hot. "There is, ahem, one other matter that concerns me. It is something I have been trying to achieve for some time but the passing of three Popes in five years has made it quite difficult.

"But I do not want to bore you any further. Here is a letter that explains what I believe is God's purpose for me in life, and I ask only that you review it when you have a spare moment."

He handed Pius a letter which he had retrieved from somewhere inside his red cloak.

"Well, we have almost reached our destination. I believe there is amongst the spoils a magnificent cross recovered from the estate of one of the rebel leaders - who had been using his house as a church to practice the eastern rites - a cross that is as tall as a man and solid gold, etched with intricately worked designs such as of only the greatest of artisans, that you could melt down and have cast into more... holy items."

 

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Pius nods.

"Yes, I have heard of your troubles with the last popes. Indeed, I shall make a formal investigation into her case, and I think I can safely say, that Hungary will soon have a new saint."

 

[Mettermrck]

King Reginald was impressed at the splendour of the Papal palace. Gilded candelabras, silk curtains, plush carpeting. What exquisite decor...truly befitting the Lord's representative here on earth. He mentally thanked himself for arranging the delivery of the ivory. He'd been hearing many tales on the unceasing generosity of Europe to the new Pope.

He followed Cardinal Montais as he led the King to His Holiness, and waited while they conversed. At last, I can find the comfort I so want. After ensuring that the Pope had suitably received the gift and was pleased by it, Reginald stepped forward and bowed, kissing Pope Pius' signet ring.

"Your Holiness, thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I only trust my token donative is worthy of your valuable time. I have longed hoped to visit the city of Rome and it soothes my heart to finally come. I have a few matters I wish to discuss, some of which might be best discussed in private."

He waits for Cardinal Montais to move sufficiently far away so they won't be overheard or disturbed.

"Your Holiness, I come on a matter of conscience that has been disturbing me for some time. When the great St. Augustine laid out his seven cardinal sins, I applied myself to following as best I could during my life thus far. I've strived to be humble, moderate, chaste, frugal, content, calm, and active. For most of my life, I feel I've accomplished this to some degree."

Reginald's features tighten as he summons up the strength to continue his tale.

Yet, Your Holiness, I feel I have erred in a major way. Perhaps, in following St. Augustine too closely, I have erred by committing the sin of Pride. And it was Pride, I feel, that brought me to Sparta for the tournament. Pride in myself as a knight and as a servant of God. And somehow I feel that that Pride is what made me fall so badly."

He whimpered slightly and bowed his head. Slowly, and in full detail, he described what he knew of the events of the tournament to His Holiness, particularly his dalliance with the 'ladies'. Reginald revealed his horrible guilt, his betrayal of his wife, and worse of all, his secret enjoyment of the whole affair.

When he had finished, he felt a lot better, having gotten the matter off his chest. If anybody was the right person to tell, it was the Pope.

 

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Pius held a grave face, but inside he admired the man, even envied him. He, Pius, had not had female company since his election, though this would soon change. As for Reginald, Pius knew just what to do.

"Reginald! You shock me! Oh, God, this is terrible, a tragedy. You have fallen victim to the temptations of the Devil and the fires of Hell are licking your legs! Sinner!"

Pius rose from his seat and put his hand to his head, in a dramatic display of theatrical emotion. With closed eyes, he begins walking back and forth, then suddenly stops!

"Oh... oh no! My God, no! Anything but THAT, oh Lord!" he moaned.

"I see fire, Reginald! FIRE! The Devil... the DEVIL... is thrusting his spear of pain through your... oh, terrible, your manlihood! Reginald, your soul is in grave, GRAVE danger!"

Pius then made an artistic pause in his performance, slightly opening his left eye, seeing how Reginald was reacting.

 

[Mettermrck]

Reginald gasped as he watched the Pope cringe and yell. He had expected soothing words of comfort, firm advice, gentle suggestions for his behavior...anything but this.

He fell to his knees, his hands clasped.

"M..my God. What have I done? Forgive me, Your Holiness. Forgive me, Lord. What must I do?"

And with a sighing breath, he looked at the floor once more, whispering.

"I would do anything..."

 

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Pius tried not to smile, then continued.

"Ahem... *cough*... I see... I see... A great cathedral! The mightiest in all of Portugal. It's holy roof tops reach for the sky, while its bells ring for the forgiveness of the Lord. Mmmn-yes! Ooo-oohh-oh! Glory, glory! I see the cathedral is rich! The richest church in the country! I see huge tracks of fertile land, all of them working to bring wealth and glory to the great house of God! Glory to His name! Glory to His name! Ooo-ohh-oh."

Pius then acts tired and sits back down.

"Reginald, you must build a cathedral in Portugal, greater than any cathedral that Iberia has ever seen. You must grant the cathedral 30... no, 40 rich villages for expenses and glory of the church. That is the will of God! That is the indulgence you have to pay to save your soul!"

 

[Mettermrck]

Reginald listened as the Pope made his pronouncement. An entire Cathedral? For three nights? He looked at the Pope and caught a momentary glimpse of a shrewd, calculating eye. Of course, he mused. This was how it was to be.

"Very well, Your Holiness. I will build a Cathedral in honor of your generosity and kindness. All of the tithes from this church and fifty surrounding villages shall provide their income directly for your use in spread the Word of our Faith."

He thinks for a moment, and then stands and moves closer to His Holiness, whispering something in his ear.

 

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Pius nods and whispers something back to the king. He then gives Reginald absolution.

"... sancti. Amen. Now, good Reginald, visit the churches of Rome and let God know that you shall honour your promises to him. Tonight, come to the banquet here, and we shall talk some more."

 

[Mettermrck]

Reginald kneels as the Pope speaks his words. Most of him was delighted that the Pope had granted him absolution, along with his 'other' requests. Truly this was a wise and holy man.

A small part of him wondered at how easy it was for him to get rid of his sin simply by ordering the construction of a building. But this was quickly supressed. The Pope was infallible, and Reginald, as a loyal son of the Church, believed that the Papacy was doing what was best for the Church. And certainly the funds would be of great use.

He bowed his head, his conscience cleared at last.

 

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Bishop Fernando Ortega of Castile-Leon enters the Papal residence with two items in hand. One is the letter from the pope commanding him to come to rome, and in the other is a large Moorish sword covered in gold and richely decorated. Comming before the Papal Secretary he introduces himself and slips the man a golden cross and a bag of coins. He awaits eagerly to be lead to the holy father.

 

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The Papal secretary carefully inspects the sword, nods, then shows the Castillan to His Holiness.

 

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Bishop Fernando Ortega upon being lead to the doorway of the Papal Chamber suddenly dropped upon his knees, and crossing the hard marble floor with the moorish sword over his head bowed before the Holy Father and after kissing his feet spoke:


Good and gracious Holy Father I present this ornate sword taken from a Jewish Banker of Castile-Leon who had finally agreed to take Christ as his saviour after the Inquisition persuaded him. I have recieved your letter and I have come as quickly as was humanly possible. I hope i have not offended you with my lavish gifts of my act for an Inquisition. I pray that you accept my gift and know that I wish for any position that you think I could better serve the church.

 

[Petrarca]

Herr Bischof von Mollwitz was struggling with the wine and coins. It was so taxing, directing the servants around. If only they would put down the bottles and purses, they would understand the labor he performed to order them into the appropriate position.

He hoped the Papal Secretary would approve. Just in case, he left a bottle and a pouch on his scriptorium. Hopefully he would find it and allow the Holy Father to receive the full extent of the gifts.

Sigismund von Mollwitz was suddenly surprised by some papal legate nearby, and so he began his recitation: "We have for the Holy Father two dozen cases of Moravian wine, taken from the royal cellars at Schloss Karlstein, eight of dry white and sixteen of deep reds, two dozen pouches, of thirty coins each for six hundred and forty in total, of silver pragergroschen, the coin of the realm and the most common of the Empire, marked with "ladislavus dei gratia rex boemie" and fresh from the mints of Kutna Hora. In addition, I bear the title for twelve hundred acres of fertile Silesian land, taken by the Habsburgs when they conquered the land from the Teutonic Knights. I have also left some scattered gifts among the various scriptorium in hopes that if I saw the Pontifex Maximus, more such gifts would be sent from Praha." Sigismund smiled as a nearby clerk sprinted to his scriptorium in jubilation at the site of another pouch laying there.

 

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Pablo, the Papal Secretary, came back and greeted the Bohemian bishop, while inspecting the wine and measuring the weight of the coins. He then nodded and addressed the bishop.

"Bishop, if you would be so kind as to follow me, I will show you to the office of His Holiness."

Walking through the corridors and halls of the Papal palazzo, they finally reached the office of Pius. The bishop was allowed to enter...

 

[Lord E]

Cardinal Frontenac enters before his Holiness, bows and kisses his ring.

“Your Holiness!
I hope you got the fine wine and the fine gifts from France that your secretary took hold on. He said that he would bring it to you, and I hope he did. How ever I have brought some more fine French wine for you, and this gifts from His Majesty, King Louis XI of France him self.”

He gives His Holiness the gift, a beautiful set of jewels made by the finest craftsmen in France.

“I hope your Holiness will like the gifts.
Now I would like to discuss with your Holiness the return of the vassalship over Bourbonnais. As your Holiness might know it was given to the Pope after the peace in Calais several years ago, to be kept for some years. Now over 10 years have passed, and Provence has returned to the French crown, but not Bourbonnais. It has now gone several years, and no other of the articles in the Treaty is now longer in use. So your Holiness we would like to know if an arrangement could be made?”

 

[Petrarca]

Sigismund entered the office of the Petrine Office and kissed the papal ring. After reciting the manifest of gifts delivered to the Holy Father, he proceeds to more private discussions.

 

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Pius looked at the French cardinal for some time. Then he started walking back and forth in his office, circling around the cardinal.

"Ahh, yes, Bourbonnais. A tricky, tricky matter. You see cardinal, the church has spent many, MANY ressources on... hmm... establishing peace, spreading the word of Christ our saviour, that sort of thing. Our expenses in Bourbonnais have been... conciderable. Now, if we did hand over the land to the French crown right now, we would be losing a land where the Christian spirit is high and a place where we have invested heavily. It would not be noble in the eyes of our Lord, to simply let the church leave Bourbonnais... empty handed.
Now, I have the following proposition, one that your king should find reasonable. The Papal governor of the land has taken the liberty to draw up a nice map of the region. Now..."

His Holiness takes forth a map, about a meter wide and tall.

"... our work on raising the Christian spirit in Bourbonnais has costed the church a great deal of money and put pressure on the churches and monasteries. I suggest that when the two provinces are turned over to the French king, the church receives 15.000 acres of good fertile land around Berry and an additional 10.000 acres around Bourbon, put under control of the Papacy. Also, some 15.000 acres spread around the lands of the French king. I think this will assure a smooth and quick transition of power in Bourbonnais. I know that we can reach such a solution, don't you, cardinal?"