The Pageant of Popes, Book 6 · Part 31
151. Martin the fift.
MArtin the fift was borne in Rome & called Otho Columna Cardinall of S. George: he was made Pope by the decree of ye councell of Constance, which to establish him did depriue three other, that is Benedict, Gregorie & Iohn. He being broughte vp by his parentes in learninge from his youth, when he grewe to yeares attended vponupon ye Popeship still at Peruse in such order as he mighte creepe forward toward it. He returning to Rome was made Rememberer vntounto Vrban the sixt, which office he discharged with so great shew of humilitye and curteous nature, that Innocent the seuenth made him Cardinall. For in all controuersyes he woulde agree to neither parte, no not to the truer, but so keepe in a meane yt he pleased all, & offended none. For this cause he was so in fauour with the Emperour and Cardinals, that in the foresaide councell he was made Pope. At whose election the Emperour Sigismond was so ioyfull of it that he thanked them all for chusinge such a Pope, & humbling himselfe to him kissed his feete. The Pope again embrasing him like a brother did thanke him on the other side, because his diligence had at ye length restored ye peace to ye Church. After this salutaciō ye Pope moūted on his palfreye, his coronation being also ended wt great triumph he passed pompously (from the place where he was crowned) through the Citye of Constance with his horse trapped in skarlet, and all his abbottes and bishops in roabes and miters rydinge after him, & his Cardinals wyth their horses trapped in white silke. But the Emperour on the one side of the Popes horse, and the prince Electour on ye other side wayted on foote vponupon him throughe the Citye. And yet soone after he conueyed himselfe away, and as (Volateranus sayth) maugre ye Emperours head, he returned in all poast hast into Italy. He passed through Millen, Mantua, Ferraria, Rauenna, and other townes til he came to Florence: but mistrusting daunger he shonned Bononia. He abode at Florence two yeares lyuing in all fleshlye pleasures, pompe and idlenesse, and preached not the Gospell so much as once. Furthermore while he was before at Constance, when the Emperour & other Princes made often complaintes to him of naughty behauiour, and detestable maners of the clergye, he deferred the time to redresse it, saying yt it was a matter that required both leasure and good aduise. For (quoth he as Ierome sayth) Euerye prouince hath his fashions and customes, which cannot be altered without much hurlye burlye. And nowe because it was feared, that the generall councels auctority should be takē to be aboue the Popes, he made this decree concerning councels, yt none shoulde be sommoned againe till fiue yeares were expired, and then from that time it should be continued for ten yeares, and so from ten yeares to ten yeares the generall councell should be kept. Therfore Pope Martin hauing spēt in his iourneing (as is said) two yeares, after he had beene much desired & longed for, he came to Rome and repayred ye Citye in outwarde buildinges and Popishe traditions. He demaūded the Church inheritaunce wt cruell warre. He established Lewis sonne to Alouicius in the kingdome of Naples, & deposed Alphō sus Arrogan: he appeased certaine sciesmes in ye Church: he caused the Germaynes to warre vponupon the Bohemians, for heresye (as they call it). He hyred VValdenus an Englishe Cardinall, to write against those that defended the doctrine of Husse & VVickliffe. He made more Cardinals, and cōdemned all those decrees which the Popes had made in the time of the sciesme. He had a nephewe (as they call theyr sonnes) called Prosperus Columna, and caused him to succede him in his Cardinalship of S. George. He published a certaine forme for bargeninge, byinge and selling. He heaped vp store of treasure: he entring into Rome and finding it all ruinous, did repayre not onelyonly ye houses, streates and Churches, but the walles also with greate & sumptuous cost and gorgeous worke diuerslye. Beside he bestowed much cost vponupon Churches and cloysters: and repayred olde ruinous houses dedicated to the xii. Apostles. He held two Sinodes one at Sene, and another at Papia: & confirmed by his decree that the next councel after ten yeares should be held at Basill. Finallye he dyed of the falling sicknes at Rome Anno 1431. and was buryed in a bras…n tombe in Lateran.