Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/335

The Hohenstaufen Emperors and the Popes 299 In the bishopric of Cologne there was fearful apprehension. Rumor in The rumor had spread that the emperor wished to lead an p^^J^ army through the territory of Cologne, ostensibly to aid the Barbarossa French king, but really with the purpose of surrounding was about and laying siege to the city. He had already constructed a ^dty^ bridge of boats and planks over the Moselle in order that his troops might cross. Excited by this, the townspeople put the moat in order and set to work to construct new gates. The archbishop supplied his people with guards and provi- sions and saw to the walls and moats of his various towns. Now the archbishop was not on especially good terms with the emperor, since he seemed rather to incline to the side of the pope, who was hostile to the imperial party; and it was this suspicion of the emperor's disfavor that led the people to accept his rumored plans as true. Nevertheless it is clear that the emperor was not at this time planning to attack Cologne, and consequently he was much irritated when he learned of the excitement and preparations. On the day of the Assumption he held a diet at Worms and complained, in the presence of the princes, of the con- duct of the archbishop of Cologne and the people of that city, who had dared to bar his way through a part of his realm and had circulated such a shameful rumor about him throughout the Roman Empire. In consequence of this he had caused the Rhine to be blocked since the festival of St. James, so that the people of Cologne could not procure the grain and wine which usually reached them by river. At this time a mighty feud prevailed between Bishop Baldwin of Utrecht and Count Otto of Geldern over Veluwe. Fire and murder raged, and it was said that all this happened with the approbation of the emperor, for during the feud neither of the parties engaged could bear aid to the people of Cologne, nor could any ships pass up the river. The excellent annals of Liege throw much light on the troubles which were constantly arising between the townspeople and their bishop or the neighboring secular