ommeo 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
death, God showed forth a miracle against King Charles, for not many
years after God sent him great adversities when he thought himself to
be in highest state, as hereafter in his history we shall make
mention. To the judge which condemned Conradino, Robert, son of the
count of Flanders, the king's son-in-law, when he had read the
condemnation, gave a sword-thrust, saying that it was not lawful for
him to sentence to death so great and noble a man, from which blow the
judge died; and it was in the king's presence, and there was never a
word said thereof, forasmuch as Robert was very high in the favour of
the king, and it seemed to the king and to all the barons that he had
acted like a worthy lord. Now Don Henry of Spain was likewise in the
king's prison, but forasmuch as he was his cousin by blood, and
because the abbot of Monte Cascino, which had brought him prisoner to
the king, to the end he might not brea