uch, to possess themselves of my soul the
moment it leaves my body. I entreat you--you, and all the faithful, not
to pray for me after my death!" With this he died in despair. The same
day, the cathedral of Utrecht, in which he had preached, and the royal
pavilion, were suddenly consumed by fire from heaven. Burchard, Bishop
of Misne, Eppo of Ceitz, Henry of Spire, and the Duke Gazelon, were
successively the victims of sudden and fatal misfortunes. Whatever may
be the impression produced at the present day, it is certain that these
examples and a great number of others, struck terror into the partisans
of the king, and many prelates and priests threw themselves at the feet
of the Pope and renounced their errors. Thus, Udo, Archbishop of Treves,
repaired all penitent to Rome, and Herman of Metz began to waver in his
hitherto steady fidelity to Henry.

While these causes were sapping the imperial power, Henry was
unexpectedly menaced from another quarter. The two sons of Count Geron,
William and Thiery, who had for some time secretly cherished the hope of
regaining the lost freedom of their country, saw in the present
confusion the moment for which they had sighed. They raised the standard
of revolt, and were soon at the head of a band of young and noble
chieftains, whose intrepid bearing and dauntless confidence inspired the
nation with the desire and the hope of liberty. The escape of the two
Saxon princes from Henry's hands and their arrival in Saxony gave an
irresistible impulse to the movement, and the whole circle, animated by
the same spirit, rose haughtily to throw off the heavy yoke, never
patiently endured.

Rodolph lost not a moment in concentrating his forces and in profiting
by this new defection. He had already secured the powerful assistance of
Berthold of Carinthia and Welf of Bavaria, and could now oppose to the
emperor the formidable league of Suabia, Carinthia, Bavaria, and a
portion of Lombardy. His policy evidently was to conciliate the Saxons,
and he deemed their impiety sufficiently chastised at Hohenburg. He took
care to assure them that so far from having anything to apprehend from
his opposition to their enterprise, they might rely upon his assistance
and countenance.

Henry had long affected a contempt for the anathemas of Gregory and an
unconcern he was far from feeling; but this formidable coalition burst
the shell of his apathy and laid bare his uneasiness. He supplicates his
nobles in the