EPISTLE

...they would threaten him with prison. This is because those monastic sycophants Gnathones: a reference to Gnatho, a parasitic character in classical Roman comedy who are put in charge of educating boys now shamelessly and endlessly cry out. They scream that the monastic vow and the mark of the Antichrist are so permanent that even if all the waters of the Rhine and Elbe rivers were poured over a single monk who broke his faith, they could not be washed away.

He also recites the most foul crimes of the Roman and other popes. He focuses especially on Pope John, the thirteenth of that name. John was called to Rome by Otto the First. He was accused before the whole Synod of sacrilege, incest, debauchery, murder, perjury, and other most wicked crimes. He was deposed, and Leo, the eighth of that name, was substituted in his place. He also reports that Hatto, the Bishop of Mainz, was consumed by mice because of his excessive cruelty toward the poor. The legend of the Mouse Tower of Bingen claims Bishop Hatto was eaten by mice after he burned starving peasants in a barn during a famine.

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Furthermore, he recites a notable history, worthy of memory, concerning "papal fidelity" and pride regarding Siegfried, Archbishop of Cologne. After seven years of captivity, Siegfried was freed from the hand of the Count of Berg at a great price. Not long after, he used skill and industry against his sworn oath of alliance. He captured the Count, who feared no such thing. He shut him in a harsh prison and enslaved him. The captured Count was held in great misery. He freely and of his own accord promised to return everything to the archbishop that he had taken from him. He promised to add even more for his liberation. The prelate not only refused to hear or release him, but moreover, out of great pride and papal arrogance, gave this answer:

Saint Peter has the means to feed his own servants without your promised goods. Therefore, while I live you shall not be released, but you shall face death in prison. You will learn how you ought to hold an archbishop captive.
And so he reports that the Count died, having received no consolation from the bishop, or rather the arch-thief of Cologne. original: "archilatro," a pun on "archiepiscopus" (archbishop) and "latro" (thief or robber).

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Trithemius sometimes praises his monks too much, although he also often enough sharply accuses their laziness and fearlessly criticizes their other vices. He also excessively commends Hildebrand (also known as Pope Gregory, the seventh of that name) because he was a monk of his own order. Other writers of that time depict Gregory in far different and truer colors because of his Antichristian religion. All pious and God-fearing people should attribute this to his personal feelings and the darkness of his own time. Let them instead give thanks to God that we are now fed almost to satiety with spiritual manna. We can now judge correctly about all things from the word of God.

These Chronicles contain other memorable histories. They describe the wonderful changes and devastations of regions and empires. They include horrifying wonders. These events ought to stir all pious people toward the fear of God and earnest prayer.

It seemed right to dedicate these Chronicles of Trithemius to your Reverend Person for many reasons. First, because of your notable piety and generosity...