CHAPTER IX.
Glory is like a circle in the water, which never ceaseth to enlarge itself Till, by wide spreading, it disperse to nought.
SHAKESPEARE.
The battle of Fladenheim was fought just as Gregory VII was opening his seventh synod at Rome.

Hardly had the ancient canons been renewed and Guibert of Ravenna excommunicated, before the envoys of Rodolph appeared, and, after reciting Henry's fresh iniquities, supplicated their master's coronation and his rival's deposition.
The Pope had not failed to invite his impious antagonist to abide by his decision, but his recent defeat seemed only to have confirmed his obstinacy.

It was evident that Henry would keep the field while a hope of success remained, and that peace could not be recovered but by the complete triumph of one of the hostile parties.

The Pontiff no longer hesitated.

Since all hope of an amicable adjustment had fled, the interests of the Church and of mankind required the ascendency of Rodolph; and Gregory saw that to withhold his sanction now, was to peril his cause, or at least to prolong the contest.