EPISTLE

You can behold with your own eyes so many distinguished provinces and noble cities, along with the Empire of Constantinople The capital of the Byzantine Empire, which fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, a loss still deeply felt in Albertini's time.—in which places the Christian people were once accustomed to preach the Holy Gospel—now occupied by the enemies of the Christian faith. Heed must be taken of the True Judge who says: "Every tree that does not bear fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire." A reference to the Gospel of Matthew 3:10. And again: "The kingdom shall be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit." Matthew 21:43. Awaken, you faint-hearted, and do not fear; for the Lord fights for the faithful. If Saul struck down a thousand and David ten thousand 1 Samuel 18:7. as a figure of the Old Testament original: "prioris testamenti", will not our Lord Jesus Christ, in the True Testament, strike and shatter the heads of all the enemies of His Holy Church? Let civil wars cease now; let the wars of Christian princes against Christians cease already. Now princes are armed on all sides for battle within Italy itself. Now the time of harvest has arrived. Behold, I say, all things are ready; there is danger is? in delay. original: "periculum est in mora," a classical Latin proverb urging immediate action.

Germans

French

Spanish

Hungarians

Italians

O unconquered Germans, where are your ancient victories? O Most Christian French, you who have already recovered the Sepulcher of Christ A reference to the First Crusade and the Frankish role in the Crusader States.? O most faithful Spanish, who have so often fought against the infidels Referring to the Reconquista, which had concluded recently in 1492.? O most brave Hungarians original: "Pannonij." Pannonia was the Roman name for the region including modern Hungary, then the primary defensive line against Ottoman expansion., who fight daily against the Muslims original: "maumethanos." like a shield of the faith? O illustrious and powerful Italians, where are your strength, your wits, and your very riches? Where, I ask, are the wondrous deeds of your ancestors worthy of memory, who gathered the whole world under their empire? What shall I say of all the kings, and