ABSTRACT
Fra Salimbene of Parma’s recollection of the shock which came upon him on learning of the death of Emperor Frederick II has justly become famous:
When I heard this, I was horrified and could scarcely believe it. For I was a Joachimite, and I fully believed and even hoped that Frederick would do even greater wicked deeds in the future than he had yet done, numerous as his past evils had already been. 1
